Tired of typing out the same website URLs every time? There’s a faster way. By adding sites to your Favorites in Safari, you can instantly access them from the Start Page or address bar—across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This guide shows you how to add, manage, and sync Safari Favorites seamlessly.
What Are Favorites in Safari?
Favorites are a special kind of bookmark in Safari. They appear at the top of the Start Page and in address bar suggestions for quicker access. Plus, with iCloud sync enabled, your favorites stay updated across all your Apple devices automatically.
How to Add a Website to Favorites in Safari
Adding your frequently visited websites to your favorites in Safari empowers you to access them with just a tap or click, eliminating the need to enter the URL every time you want to visit them.
On iPhone and iPad:
- Open Safari and visit the site you want to favorite.
- Tap the Share button at the bottom center.
- Select the Add to Favorites option in the Share Sheet.
- Rename the site if you like → Tap Save.
On Mac:
- Launch Safari and go to the desired website.
- Press Command (⌘) + D.
- In the popup, choose Favorites as the save location.
- Give the website a unique name if you want to, then click the Add button.
How to Access Favorites in Safari
Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, there are multiple ways you can access your favorite websites in Safari.
On iPhone and iPad:
- Start Page: Open a new tab. Favorites appear at the top.
- Address bar: Tap the address bar at the bottom, and your favorite websites will instantly appear at the top for quicker access.
- Bookmarks: Tap the Bookmarks icon → Tap Favorites to view your favorite websites.
On Mac:
- Start Page: Click the + button at the top right corner to open a new tab, and your Favorites will appear at the top of the Start Page.
- Smart Search Field: Click the address bar at the top, and your Favorites will show up under it.
- Bookmarks Sidebar: Press Command (⌘) + Control + 1 to open.
How to Edit or Remove Favorites
There comes a time when you no longer visit a website as frequently as you used to; thus, removing such websites from your favorites list makes more sense. Here’s how:
On iPhone and iPad:
- Open Safari and create a new tab.
- Long press the website icon you want to edit or remove under Favorites on the Start Page.
- Choose Edit to rename or Delete to remove.
Alternative: Go to Bookmarks tab → Long-press the site name → Tap Delete.
On Mac:
- Open a new Safari Start Page.
- Control-click the website icon under Favorites.
- Select Rename or Delete.
If the Favorites section is hidden on Start Page:
- Click the Sidebar button in the toolbar.
- Click the Bookmark option in the sidebar.
- Control-click the website you want to remove under the Favorites section.
- Choose the Delete option in the pop-up menu.
How to Change the Favorites Folder in Safari
Want to separate work and personal sites? You can customize which bookmark folder Safari uses for Favorites.
On iPhone and iPad
Create a Folder:
- Tap the Bookmark icon at the bottom > Tap Edit.
- Tap New Folder in the bottom left corner.
- Enter the folder’s name and tap done.
Set as Favorites:
- Open Settings → Apps → Safari.
- Locate and tap Favorites under the General section.
- Select the desired shortcuts folder.
Now, instead of the websites in the Favorites folder, the website you added to the newly created bookmarks folder will appear on the Safari Start Page.
On Mac
Create a Folder:
- Click the Sidebar icon at the top left.
- Here, Control-click on Favorites, then select New Folder in the contextual menu.
- Give your new folder a name and hit Return.
Set as Favorites:
- Click Safari in the top menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Under the General tab, click the dropdown next to Favorites.
- Select the new folder you just created.
How to Sync Favorites Across Devices with iCloud
To ensure seamless access to your Favorites across iPhone, iPad, and Mac:
On iPhone and iPad:
- Open Settings → Tap Apple ID → iCloud.
- Tap Show All under Apps Using iCloud.
- Make sure Safari is toggled on.
On Mac:
- Go to System Settings → Click iCloud in the sidebar.
- Click the See All button next to Saved to iCloud.
- Locate and toggle on Safari if it’s not already enabled.
One Tap Closer to the Web…
Adding websites to Favorites in Safari saves time and keeps your most-used sites just a tap away. Whether you’re organizing work tools or your go-to news sources, Safari’s Favorites feature—combined with iCloud syncing—makes browsing more personal and efficient.
Take a few minutes today to customize your Favorites folder, and supercharge your Safari experience.
FAQs
Ensure both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID and have Safari iCloud sync enabled.
They may be hidden due to iCloud sync being disabled, using a different Apple ID, or internet connectivity issues.
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