Are you bored seeing the same white or black background Safari throws at you whenever you open a new tab or window? Well, you’re not alone. But thankfully, starting with iOS 15 and macOS Monterery, Apple lets you customize the background wallpaper of a new Safari tab on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to personalize your browsing experience.
Keep reading to learn how to change Safari background on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Why Change Your Safari Background?
Customizing your Safari Start Page background isn’t just about looks; it’s about enhancing your personal experience in several subtle but meaningful ways:
- Visual appeal: Replace the plain white background with scenic photos, textures, or aesthetic patterns that match your taste or mood.
- Better focus: Minimalist or dark backgrounds can help reduce visual clutter and eye strain, especially if you regularly have long browsing sessions.
- Device personality: Assign different backgrounds to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to give each one a unique identity.
- Motivation boost: Add a custom quote or daily reminder image to your Start Page for a bit of inspiration every time you open a new Safari tab or window.
How to Change the Safari background on an iPhone and iPad
Changing the Safari background is pretty straightforward and requires no technical competence. All you need to do is ensure your iPhone is up and running on iOS 15 or a newer version and follow these steps:
- Open the Safari app and tap the All Tabs button (with the two-overlapping square icon) in the bottom-right corner.
- Now, tap the + button at the bottom left corner to open a new Safari Start Page.
- Here, scroll down and tap the Edit button.
- Next, toggle on the Background Image option.
- You can now choose one of the preset wallpapers available or tap the + button to upload a custom image from your library.
No matter what you choose, the change will immediately be reflected on the Safari Start Page.
Additionally, toggle on Use Start Page on All Devices if you want the same background to appear on the Start Page across your Apple devices.
If you no longer want your custom image as the Safari background, simply select a preset wallpaper, and the custom background will be removed.
How to Change the Safari background on a Mac
The process of changing the Safari background on a Mac is similar to that on iPhone, though the larger screen on the Mac offers a better view of background previews. This is what you need to do:
- Open the Safari app on your Mac and click the + button to open a new Start Page.
- Here, click the Edit button in the bottom-right corner.
- Now, check the box next to the Background Image.
- Next, choose a background from Apple’s curated background collection. Swipe right to reveal new backgrounds.
- Alternatively, click the + button to select an image from your local files.
Once done, the uploaded image or selected background will immediately appear as a Start Page background. If you want the same background to appear on your iPhone as well, don’t forget to check the box next to Use Start Page on All Devices.
To remove a custom Safari Start Page background, simply access the Edit menu and click the X button appearing over the uploaded image.
Tips for Choosing the Right Safari Background
Choosing the right background can make your Safari Start Page more inspiring and functional. Here are a few tips to help you pick one that suits your style and browsing habits:
- Keep it clean: Choose simple, non-distracting images that don’t clash with icons.
- Match your vibe: Use light or dark images to complement your system theme.
- Get personal: Set a favorite photo for a more meaningful browsing experience.
- Stay inspired: Add a motivational quote or calming scene to boost your mood.
- Refresh often: Switch it up with seasonal or themed backgrounds.
Sync Safari Start Page Customizations Across Devices
While you know that toggling on or checking the Use Start Page on All Devices checkbox syncs your Start Page customization across your Apple devices, you won’t see the option if you haven’t allowed Safari to sync its data to iCloud. Here’s how you can change that:
- Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top.
- Now, select iCloud.
- Next, tap See All next to Saved to iCloud.
- Now, make sure the Safari toggle is turned on, i.e., it’s green.
Note: The steps to enable Safari for iCloud are identical on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Can You Set Different Safari Backgrounds on Each Device?
Yes, you can set different backgrounds on each device while still allowing Safari to sync its settings, bookmarks, and reading list across all devices using iCloud. To do so, toggle off the Use Start Page on All Devices on iPhone and check off the same box on Mac.
Make Safari Truly Yours
Changing the background may feel like a small move, but it can make Safari feel less like a tool and more like your personal workspace—one that’s comfortable, motivating, and uniquely yours. Whether you want to use the same background across your devices or different backgrounds to match the vibe of each device, the choice is yours.
Feel free to reach out to us via comments if you have any doubts.
FAQs
You won’t see the option to change the Safari Background if the Background Image toggle is off.
Starting iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, the background image you set for the Safari Start Page is visible in both regular and private tabs.
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