10 Safari Hacks Every Mac User Should Know
Supercharge Apple’s most efficient browser like a pro.
If you think Safari’s only good for downloading Chrome, it’s time to rethink that. For Mac users, Safari isn’t just the default browser — it’s an optimized powerhouse built specifically for Apple’s ecosystem. It’s faster, more energy-efficient, and better integrated than most alternatives. Safari sips memory, preserves your battery, protects your privacy, and now even supports extensions and advanced features once exclusive to Chrome or Firefox.
Let’s explore ten powerful Safari hacks that can transform how you browse every day.
Personalize Your Start Page
Your Safari start page doesn’t have to be boring. Open a new tab, scroll to the bottom, and click Edit to customize what appears — Favorites, Reading List, iCloud Tabs, or background color.
For a more aesthetic dashboard, try the Bonjourr extension. It replaces the default start page with a minimalist design that shows time, weather, and rotating scenic backgrounds — a calm, productivity-friendly upgrade.
Listen to Web Pages Aloud
Safari can read articles out loud — perfect for multitasking or accessibility. Tap the aA icon → Listen to Page. To get the best results, first enable Reader Mode (same menu) so Safari reads only the main text, skipping ads and clutter. Ideal for long articles, news pieces, or study sessions.
Auto-Close Old Tabs
If you’re guilty of having 100+ tabs open, Safari can tidy things up for you. Navigate to Settings → Safari → Close Tabs, and set it to automatically close tabs after one day, one week, or one month. You’ll keep your browser fast and uncluttered without lifting a finger.
Turn Websites into Stand-Alone Apps
Safari lets you turn your favorite sites into apps that live in your Dock or Home Screen. On Mac, open a site, click Share → Add to Dock. On iPhone, tap Share → Add to Home Screen. You’ll get a one-tap shortcut with full login support and a color-matched toolbar. It’s a great way to “app-ify” web tools you use daily — like Gmail, Notion, or ChatGPT.
Separate Work and Personal Life with Profiles
Safari now supports Profiles, similar to Chrome. Each profile keeps its own cookies, history, logins, extensions, and tab groups. Perfect for managing separate digital lives — work, school, or personal browsing — without overlap.
Create one via Settings → Safari → Profiles on Mac or Settings → Safari → Profiles → New Profile on iPhone, assign a name and color, and you’re set.
Prefer the Old Safari Layout? Bring It Back
Not a fan of the new compact tab bar? Go to Settings → Safari → Tabs and choose between Bottom Tab Bar or Top Tab Bar. This lets you decide whether Safari feels new-school or classic.
Master Safari’s New iPhone Gestures
The redesigned Safari in iOS 17 (or later) introduced gesture shortcuts that make browsing smoother:
- Swipe left or right on the address bar to switch between open tabs.
- Press and hold the address bar to quickly copy links, paste, or close all tabs.
- Swipe up to view every open tab or switch between tab groups effortlessly.
- Pin tabs by pressing and holding on a site and selecting Pin Tab for instant access.
Organize Your Tabs with Groups and the Sidebar
Safari’s Tab Groups are like personal workspaces for different tasks. Create one for research, one for entertainment, and another for reading long articles. Combine this with Safari’s Sidebar view, and you’ll get a vertical-tabs layout similar to Arc or Edge.
To create a new group, click the Sidebar button, select New Tab Group, or right-click on multiple tabs and choose Move to Tab Group → New Tab Group. The best part? Your tab groups sync seamlessly between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Use a Real Ad Blocker That Works
For years, Safari lagged behind Chrome and Firefox in ad blocking. But with wBlock, that’s changed. It’s a lightweight, open-source ad blocker that runs natively on Safari, offering performance on par with uBlock Origin — without draining resources. Install wBlock and enjoy cleaner, faster, distraction-free browsing across all your Apple devices.
Instantly Remove Ads and Annoying Pop-Ups
Safari’s Hide Distracting Items feature lets you eliminate intrusive elements from a webpage with a single click. Go to the page options menu (the “aA” icon beside the address bar) and activate it. Then click on any unwanted item — pop-ups, autoplay videos, banners — and watch it vanish. Safari remembers your preferences, so those distractions stay gone, even when you revisit the site on another Apple device.
Final Thoughts
Safari has evolved far beyond being “the default browser.” It’s now a high-performance, privacy-focused, and feature-rich tool that can easily rival Chrome or Firefox — especially on Apple devices. With the right tweaks and extensions, Safari becomes not just efficient, but indispensable for everyday browsing.