The basic steps to add a website to your favorites
To add a website to your favorites in Safari, open the page you want to save, then tap or click the share button — it looks like a square with an arrow pointing out of it. A menu will appear with several options. Select Add Bookmark (on iPhone or iPad) or Bookmark This Page (on Mac). A small window will pop up asking where you want to save it. Choose Favorites from the dropdown menu, then tap or click Save.
The website now appears in your Favorites folder. On iPhone and iPad, you'll see it when you open a new tab. On Mac, it shows in the Favorites bar at the top of the browser window, or you can access it through the Bookmarks menu.
If you want to organize your favorites into groups or change where they appear, you can edit them later. On Mac, go to Bookmarks menu and select Edit Bookmarks. On iPhone or iPad, tap the Bookmarks icon (it looks like an open book) and then tap Edit in the lower right corner.
Key Takeaways
- The share button (square with arrow) is your starting point for saving any website in Safari.
- You must choose Favorites as the destination folder when the save window appears, or the page goes into your general bookmarks instead.
- Favorites appear automatically on new tabs in iPhone and iPad, and in the top bar on Mac.
- You can rename, move, or delete favorites anytime through the Bookmarks menu or Edit option.
Where your favorites actually appear
On iPhone and iPad, when you open a new tab, your Favorites show up in a grid below the search bar. You can tap any one to jump straight to that website. This makes them faster to reach than scrolling through your full bookmark list.
On Mac, Favorites live in the Favorites bar — the row of buttons just below the address bar. You can see them at a glance and click any one without opening a menu. If your Favorites bar is hidden, go to View menu and select Show Favorites Bar to turn it on.
You can also reach your Favorites through the Bookmarks menu on any device. This is useful if your Favorites bar is full or if you prefer to keep them out of sight.
Organizing favorites into folders
If you have many favorites, you can group them into folders to keep things tidy. When you save a website, instead of choosing Favorites as the destination, create a new folder or pick an existing one. For example, you might have folders for News, Shopping, Work, or Travel.
To create a folder on Mac, open the Bookmarks menu, select Edit Bookmarks, then right-click in the sidebar and choose New Folder. On iPhone or iPad, tap the Bookmarks icon, tap Edit, then tap New Folder at the bottom of the screen.
Once your folders are set up, you can drag websites into them or move them around. This keeps your Favorites bar or grid from getting crowded and makes it easier to find what you're looking for.
Editing or removing a favorite
To change the name of a favorite, go to the Bookmarks menu (Mac) or tap the Bookmarks icon (iPhone/iPad), find the site you want to edit, and tap or right-click it. Select Edit and change the name to something shorter or more descriptive. This doesn't change the actual website — only how it appears in your browser.
To remove a favorite you no longer use, find it in your Bookmarks, tap or right-click it, and select Delete. The website itself stays on the internet; you're just removing your shortcut to it.
You can also reorder your Favorites by dragging them around. On Mac, open Edit Bookmarks and drag items up or down in the list. On iPhone or iPad, tap Edit in the Bookmarks view and use the three-line handle next to each favorite to move it.
The difference between Favorites and Bookmarks
In Safari, Favorites and Bookmarks are related but separate. Favorites are the websites you use most often and want quick access to — they appear in your new tab grid or Favorites bar. Bookmarks are a broader category that includes everything you've saved, whether or not you use it regularly.
When you save a website, you choose whether it goes into Favorites or into a Bookmarks folder. You can have up to 12 Favorites showing on your new tab page (iPhone/iPad) or in your Favorites bar (Mac). Bookmarks can be unlimited and are organized however you want.
If you save something as a Bookmark but later decide you want it in your Favorites too, you can move it. Just edit it and change its location to the Favorites folder.
Syncing favorites across your devices
If you use Safari on multiple Apple devices and have iCloud turned on, your Favorites sync automatically. That means a website you add to Favorites on your iPhone will show up in your Favorites on your Mac and iPad within a few minutes.
To check that syncing is on, go to Settings (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings (Mac), tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and make sure Safari is toggled on. If it's already on and your Favorites aren't showing up, try signing out of iCloud and signing back in.
Syncing works in both directions — changes you make on any device update everywhere. If you delete a favorite on your Mac, it disappears from your iPhone too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a favorite without using the share button?
On Mac, you can right-click any link and select Bookmark Link, then choose Favorites as the destination. On iPhone and iPad, the share button is the main method, but you can also long-press a link and select Add to Favorites from the menu that appears.
Why don't my favorites show up on my other devices?
Check that iCloud is turned on for Safari in your settings. If it is, wait a few minutes for them to sync. If they still don't appear, sign out of iCloud and sign back in on the device that's missing them. Make sure you're using the same Apple ID on all devices.
How many favorites can I have?
There's no hard limit, but on iPhone and iPad only 12 show in your new tab grid. On Mac, your Favorites bar can hold as many as fit in the space, though you can scroll if needed. Use folders to organize large collections.
Can I export my favorites to another browser?
Yes. On Mac, go to File menu, select Export Bookmarks, and save the file. You can then import it into another browser like Chrome or Firefox. On iPhone and iPad, this option isn't built in, but you can use third-party apps to export your bookmarks.