The fastest way to save a website in Safari

To save a website you want to return to, tap or click the share button — it looks like a box with an arrow pointing out of it. On iPhone and iPad, this button is at the bottom right of the screen. On Mac, it's in the top right corner of the address bar. A menu will appear with several options.

Look for Add Bookmark in that menu and tap or click it. A small window will open asking where you want to save it. By default, Safari suggests the Favorites folder, which is the easiest choice for websites you visit often. Tap or click Save, and the bookmark is stored.

That's the complete process. The next time you open a new tab, your saved websites will appear as icons on the start page, ready to tap or click.

Key Takeaways

  • The share button (box with arrow) opens the menu where you can save any website as a bookmark.
  • Choosing the Favorites folder puts the bookmark on your new tab page for quick access.
  • You can organize bookmarks into folders by selecting a different folder when you save, or by moving them later.
  • Bookmarks sync across your devices if you use the same Apple account and have iCloud Bookmarks turned on.

Where your bookmarks appear after you save them

When you save a website to Favorites, it shows up as an icon on the new tab page — the blank screen you see when you open a new tab in Safari. This is the most visible location, and it's why Favorites is the default choice.

If you save a bookmark to a different folder instead, it won't appear on the new tab page. Instead, you'll find it in the Bookmarks menu at the top of the browser (on Mac) or by tapping the book icon (on iPhone and iPad). You can still reach it quickly, but it takes one extra step.

You can change where a bookmark appears after you've saved it. On Mac, go to Bookmarks menu and select Edit Bookmarks, then drag the bookmark to a different folder. On iPhone and iPad, tap the book icon, then tap Edit in the top right, and move bookmarks between folders by tapping and dragging.

Creating folders to organize bookmarks

If you save many bookmarks, organizing them into folders makes them easier to find. When you save a website, the window that appears has a folder dropdown at the bottom. Instead of choosing Favorites, tap or click that dropdown and select New Folder. Type a name for the folder — for example, "News Sites" or "Work Tools" — and then save the bookmark inside it.

You can also create folders without saving a bookmark. On Mac, open the Bookmarks menu and select Edit Bookmarks, then click the plus sign at the bottom left and choose New Folder. On iPhone and iPad, tap the book icon, tap Edit, and tap the plus sign to add a new folder.

Once you have folders set up, you can move bookmarks between them. On Mac, drag bookmarks in the Edit Bookmarks window. On iPhone and iPad, tap Edit, then tap and hold a bookmark to drag it into a different folder.

Syncing bookmarks across your devices

If you use Safari on multiple devices — an iPhone, iPad, and Mac — your bookmarks can appear on all of them automatically. This requires two things: you must be signed in to the same Apple account on each device, and iCloud Bookmarks must be turned on.

On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and turn on the toggle next to Bookmarks. On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name, select iCloud, and check the box next to Bookmarks.

After you turn this on, any bookmark you save on one device will appear on the others within a few minutes. If you turn off iCloud Bookmarks, your existing bookmarks stay on each device but stop syncing — changes you make on one device won't appear on the others.

Editing or removing bookmarks you no longer need

To change the name of a bookmark or move it to a different folder, open the Bookmarks menu (Mac) or tap the book icon (iPhone and iPad), then tap Edit. On Mac, right-click the bookmark and select Edit, or double-click the name to change it. On iPhone and iPad, tap the bookmark you want to change, and you can edit its name or folder.

To delete a bookmark, open the same menu, tap Edit, then tap the minus sign next to the bookmark (iPhone and iPad) or right-click and select Delete (Mac). The bookmark is removed when ready, but you can always save the website again later if you change your mind.

Bookmarks vs. reading list: which one to use

Safari has two ways to save websites: bookmarks and the reading list. They work differently, and choosing the right one depends on what you're saving.

Bookmarks are for websites you visit regularly or want to keep organized long-term. They appear on your new tab page (if you save them to Favorites) and stay in Safari until you delete them. Use bookmarks for news sites, email, work tools, or anything you return to often.

Reading List is for articles you want to read later but don't need to keep forever. To add to your reading list, tap or click the share button and select Add to Reading List. These articles appear in a separate list that you can view offline, and they're meant to be temporary — once you've read them, you can remove them without losing anything important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see all my bookmarks in one place?

Yes. On Mac, open the Bookmarks menu and select Show All Bookmarks, or press Command+Option+B. On iPhone and iPad, tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen. This opens a window showing all your bookmarks organized by folder.

What happens to my bookmarks if I sign out of my Apple account?

Bookmarks saved on your device stay there. If you had iCloud Bookmarks turned on, they'll remain in Safari even after you sign out. However, they'll stop syncing to your other devices, and any new bookmarks you save won't appear on those devices until you sign back in.

Can I move a bookmark from one folder to another on my phone?

Yes. Tap the book icon, then tap Edit. Tap and hold the bookmark you want to move, and drag it into a different folder. When you're done, tap Done in the top right corner.

Why don't my bookmarks appear on my new tab page?

Bookmarks only appear on the new tab page if they're saved in the Favorites folder. If you saved them to a different folder, they're still in Safari but hidden in the Bookmarks menu. Move them to Favorites to see them on the new tab page.

Can I export my bookmarks to use in a different browser?

On Mac, open Bookmarks menu, select Export Bookmarks, and save the file as an HTML document. Most other browsers can import this file. On iPhone and iPad, you'll need to use a Mac or PC to export bookmarks, as Safari on mobile doesn't have an export option built in.