Ready to get on the web? Use the Safari web browser to quickly find, view, and interact with all your favorite websites. Just click the Safari icon in the Dock, and then type a URL (web address) in Safari’s address bar, click a bookmark, or select a thumbnail in Top Sites.
Type a webpage address (URL)
To visit a webpage, type all or part of the page’s title, name, or address (URL). If you’ve previously visited or bookmarked the page, Safari automatically completes the field with the most likely match.
If the site Safari suggests is correct, press Return to connect to the site. If it is not the site you intended to visit, check the list of suggestions, drawn from your bookmarks and browsing history. Click the site you want to visit.
Click a bookmark
To take a shortcut to a webpage, click a bookmark in the Safari toolbar. For example, go to Google Maps to get directions, or click News and choose from the New York Times, Wired, or another news site.
To add a bookmark of your own, go to a webpage you want to bookmark, and then click the Add button (+) in the Safari toolbar.
To see all your bookmarks, click the open-book icon.
View your Top Sites
Safari identifies your favorite sites and displays previews of them on the Top Sites page. Safari chooses Top Sites based on how often and how recently you’ve visited each site. As you explore the web and discover new websites, the Top Sites page changes to match your interests.
To view the Top Sites page, click this icon in the Safari bookmarks bar:
Use reading tools to view articles on webpages
If you come across a webpage or link that you want to read later, Reading List gives you an easy way to save the link.
To add a webpage to your Reading List, open the page you want to add, and then choose Bookmarks > ”Add to Reading List.”
To add a link to your Reading List without opening it, Shift-click the link.
To read an article free from ads and other distractions, click the Reader button at the right end of the Safari address field. The Reader button appears when a webpage contains text-based articles.
Protect your personal information
Safari has several features to help you maintain privacy and security.
If you browse the web on a Mac that’s also used by other people, or if you want to prevent websites from storing tracking cookies and other data on your computer, turn on Private Browsing.
To partially or totally block cookies, manage data stored by websites, and limit websites’ ability to use information about your location, use the Privacy pane of Safari preferences.
To block unwanted webpage content and receive warnings about fraudulent websites, use the Security pane of Safari preferences.
To prevent children from viewing inappropriate websites when using Safari, use the Web pane of Parental Controls preferences.
Safari is designed to maximize your view of webpages, so you can focus on browsing and forget about the browser. You’ll find minimal controls, such as a scroll bar that appears only when it’s needed, and customizable toolbars that you can hide so more of the window is available for content.
