How to delete an extension in Safari
Open Safari and go to Safari > Settings (or Safari > Preferences on older macOS versions). Click the Extensions tab. Find the extension you want to remove in the list on the left, click it once to select it, then click the Uninstall button. The extension is now gone from Safari.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Safari > Extensions. Tap the extension you want to remove, then tap Remove Extension. Confirm when prompted. The process is the same whether you're using iOS 15 or later.
After you uninstall an extension, it stops running when ready. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store or wherever you originally found it — your settings won't be saved, so you'll need to set it up again from scratch.
Key Takeaways
- On Mac, open Safari Settings, click Extensions, select the extension, and click Uninstall.
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Extensions, tap the extension, and tap Remove Extension.
- Uninstalling an extension removes it completely; reinstalling it later requires setting it up again.
- Some extensions may leave behind cached data or settings even after removal, which you can clear separately through Safari settings.
- Disabling an extension (turning it off without removing it) is faster if you might want to use it again soon.
The difference between disabling and uninstalling
Disabling an extension turns it off but leaves it installed. Uninstalling removes it completely. If you're not sure whether you'll need an extension again, disabling is the safer choice — you can turn it back on with one click.
To disable an extension on Mac without removing it, open Safari Settings, click Extensions, select the extension, and uncheck the box next to "Show in menu bar" or toggle off the extension's permission for the websites you visit. On iPhone, tap the extension in Settings > Safari > Extensions and toggle it off.
Disabling is useful when an extension slows down Safari, conflicts with another extension, or breaks a website you need to use. You can test whether the extension is the problem by turning it off, reloading the page, and seeing if the issue goes away.
Clearing extension data after removal
When you uninstall an extension, Safari usually removes its data automatically. However, some extensions store information in your browser cache or in Safari's stored website data, and this leftover data may not be deleted.
To clear this data on Mac, open Safari Settings, click Privacy, and click Manage Website Data. Search for the extension's name or the websites it used, select them, and click Remove. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, search for the extension or its associated sites, swipe left, and tap Delete.
This step is optional for most extensions but worth doing if the extension collected passwords, browsing history, or other sensitive information, or if you want to free up storage space.
Removing extensions that won't uninstall
Occasionally an extension gets stuck and won't uninstall from the normal menu. The fastest fix is to restart Safari completely: quit the app (Command+Q on Mac), wait a few seconds, and reopen it. Then try uninstalling again.
If that doesn't work, the extension may be managed by your organization or linked to another app on your computer. On Mac, check System Settings > General > Login Items to see if the extension's parent app is set to launch automatically. If it is, remove it from that list, restart your Mac, and try uninstalling the extension again.
On iPhone, if an extension won't remove, try restarting your device (power off and back on). If it still won't budge, the extension may be installed as part of an app — in that case, you'll need to uninstall the parent app itself through the App Store.
Why Safari extensions sometimes cause problems
Extensions can slow down Safari, drain battery life, or break websites by modifying how pages load. If Safari feels sluggish or a website stops working after you install an extension, that extension is usually the culprit.
Test by disabling all extensions, reloading the page, and seeing if the problem goes away. If it does, turn extensions back on one at a time and reload the page after each one until the problem returns — that's your problem extension. Then decide whether to uninstall it or look for an alternative that does the same job without the slowdown.
Some extensions also request broad permissions to read your browsing history or access passwords. Before installing any extension, check what permissions it asks for in the App Store listing. If the permissions seem excessive for what the extension claims to do, it's safer to skip it.
Reinstalling an extension you removed
If you uninstall an extension and later want it back, the process depends on where you got it. Most Safari extensions come from the App Store — search for the extension by name, click Get, and follow the prompts to install it. Some extensions are built into other apps, so reinstalling the parent app will bring the extension back.
A few older extensions may no longer be available in the App Store because they were discontinued or removed by their developer. If you can't find an extension you used before, search for a newer alternative that does the same thing, or check the developer's website to see if they offer a direct read link.
When you reinstall an extension, you'll need to set it up again — your old settings, passwords, or preferences won't come back. This is by design: Safari doesn't store extension data after removal to protect your privacy.
Managing extensions across your Apple devices
If you use Safari on both Mac and iPhone, extensions don't automatically sync between devices. An extension you install on your Mac won't appear on your iPhone unless you install it separately there.
This means you can have different extensions on different devices. You might want a password manager on your Mac but not on your iPhone, or a content blocker on your phone but not your computer. Install each extension only on the devices where you actually need it to keep Safari lean and fast.
If you want to keep your setup consistent across devices, make a list of the extensions you use and install them manually on each device. There's no built-in sync feature for extensions, so this is the only way to match your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling an extension delete my saved passwords or browsing history?
No. Uninstalling an extension only removes the extension itself and any data it stored. Your Safari passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history are separate and won't be affected. If you want to clear the extension's leftover data, you can do that separately through Safari Privacy settings.
Can I remove an extension that came with macOS or an Apple app?
Extensions that are part of macOS or built into Apple apps (like Mail or News) can usually be disabled but not uninstalled. Open Safari Settings, click Extensions, find the extension, and toggle it off. If you want to remove it completely, you may need to uninstall the parent app, though this will remove other features too.
Why does Safari ask for permission when I install an extension?
Safari asks for permission because extensions can read your browsing history, access passwords, or modify websites. Before installing, check what permissions the extension requests in the App Store listing. If they seem too broad for what the extension does, it's safer to skip it or find an alternative.
What happens if I uninstall an extension while it's actively running on a webpage?
The extension stops working when ready, and the webpage may not display correctly if the extension was modifying it. Reload the page and it should display normally. If something looks broken, that's a sign the extension was doing something important on that site — you may want to reinstall it or find a replacement.
Can I hide an extension instead of deleting it?
Yes. On Mac, open Safari Settings, click Extensions, select the extension, and uncheck "Show in menu bar" to hide it from view. The extension still runs in the background. On iPhone, you can't hide extensions from the menu, but you can disable them by toggling them off in Settings > Safari > Extensions.