How to reset settings in Safari

Why do you need resetting Safari settings?

Safari is the most popular browser for macOS. Since Mac computers have gained popularity in the last 10 years, Safari has won 15% of the world-wide browser market share. Because of these reasons, Safari is subjected to daily attacks by viruses, hijackers, adware. Users often install doubtful and potentially unwanted extensions, that can modify homepage, search engine, and new tab settings. Such extension may also steal private data from the browser and display annoying ads and pop-ups. After removal of such elements, it is useful to perform the partial or full browser reset to clean up leftover records. In this illustrated tutorial we will show how to do it.

Remove viruses, hijackers, adware, unwanted apps from MacOS

Before manipulating with browser settings we recommend to check your Mac for all types of malicious objects. One of the best all-in-one tools, that combines in itself advanced antivirus scanner and maintenance utilities is Combo Cleaner. This utility provides such features as “Apps Uninstaller”, “Privacy Cleaner”, “Disk Cleaner”, “Antivirus Scanner”, “Duplicate Files Finder”. Please, download Combo Cleaner by clicking on the green button below.

Download Combo Cleaner

How to reset Safari settings manually

Remove Safari extensions

One of the most important steps is removing browser extensions. The add-ons can control browser settings and won’t allow you to perform further manipulations. To remove the unwanted extensions do the following:

  1. Click Safari menu and choose Preferences.
  2. Go to Extensions tab.
  3. Choose unwanted extension and click Uninstall button.
  4. You should mention, that some extensions cannot be removed without uninstalling the corresponding app from Applications. In this case you can use Uninstaller feature in Combo Cleaner

Clear Safari history

  1. Click Safari menu and choose Clear History….
  2. In the drop-down menu choose all history and click on Clear History button.
  3. You should mention, that after removal of all history in your browser, it will not autocomplete website URLs in the address bar, when you type them.

Clear Safari cache

  1. Click Safari menu and choose Preferences.
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Look at the bottom and put a tick near Show Develop menu in menu bar checkbox.
  4. Now Develop menu is available. Click on Develop in the top menu and choose Empty Caches.

Remove websites cookies and other data

  1. Click Safari menu and choose Preferences.
  2. Go to Privacy tab.
  3. Click Manage Website Data… button.
  4. Click Remove All button to eliminate cookies for all websites.

Disable and remove plug-ins

  1. Click Safari menu and choose Preferences.
  2. Go to Websites tab.
  3. Look at the left-bottom part and uncheck unwanted plug-ins.
  4. In the top menu of the Finder find Go menu and choose Go to Folder… option.
  5. Type ~/Library and click Go button.
  6. In the Library find Internet Plug-ins folder and remove plug-ins from ther by dragging them to Trash.

Final tips

Following abovementioned steps may seem complicated for some users. That is why there are many so-called “cleanup utilities” out there. Such tools simplify the process and make it safer. Aside from Combo Cleaner, that we described in the beginning, there is CleanMyMac X program, that is also able to do Mac cleaning, is very user-friendly and have to be put in the list of “must-have” applications for macOS. Below, you can find some screenshots and download button.

Download CleanMyMac