Remove an extension in three steps

Open Safari and go to the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click Safari, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Extensions tab on the right side. Find the extension you want to remove, click it once to select it, then click the Uninstall button. The extension is now gone from Safari.

That is the complete process. The extension stops running when ready, and Safari will not load it again when you restart the browser. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store or the extension's website.

The steps are the same whether you are on a Mac or an iPad. On iPhone, extensions work differently — they are managed through the Settings app instead of Safari itself, but the removal process is similar.

Key Takeaways

  • Extensions are removed through Safari Settings, not by dragging them to trash or deleting files.
  • Uninstalling an extension stops it from running when ready and does not require a browser restart.
  • You can reinstall a removed extension later from the App Store or the developer's website without losing any settings you had saved.
  • On iPhone, extensions are managed through the main Settings app under Safari, not through Safari itself.
  • Removing an extension does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, or other Safari data.

Where to find the Extensions tab

The Extensions tab is in Safari Settings, but its location changed between older and newer versions of macOS. On macOS Monterey and later, click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings. On macOS Big Sur and earlier, click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences. Either way, the Extensions tab appears as a row of icons across the top of the window.

If you do not see an Extensions tab at all, your version of Safari may not support extensions, or you may not have installed any yet. Safari added full extension support in version 13, released in 2019. If you are using an older Mac, you may need to update macOS to use extensions.

What happens when you uninstall an extension

Uninstalling removes the extension from Safari completely. It stops running, it no longer appears in your toolbar, and it no longer has permission to access the websites you visit. The next time you open Safari, the extension will not load.

Uninstalling does not affect your other Safari data. Your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, and autofill information all stay in place. If the extension stored its own settings or data, that information is usually deleted, but you can reinstall the extension later and set it up again from scratch.

Some extensions ask for permission to access your browsing data or your location. Uninstalling revokes all of those permissions when ready. If you were concerned about an extension's access, removing it is the fastest way to stop it.

Reinstalling an extension you removed

If you uninstall an extension and want it back, you can reinstall it from the App Store or from the developer's website. Open the App Store on your Mac, search for the extension by name, and click Get, then Install. Alternatively, visit the extension developer's website and look for a link to read or install it.

When you reinstall, Safari treats it as a fresh installation. Any settings or data the extension had stored are gone. You will need to set it up again, log in again if it requires an account, and grant it permissions again. This is normal and expected.

Removing extensions on iPad and iPhone

On iPad, extensions are managed the same way as on Mac: open Safari Settings, click Extensions, select the extension, and click Uninstall. On iPhone, the process is different because iPhone does not have a Safari Settings panel in the same way. Instead, go to the main Settings app, scroll down and tap Safari, then tap Extensions. Find the extension you want to remove, tap it, and select Remove.

iPhone extensions are also more limited than Mac extensions. Not all extensions that work on Mac are available for iPhone, and some extensions behave differently on a smaller screen. If an extension is not showing up in your iPhone Settings, it may not be compatible with iPhone, or you may need to update Safari or iOS.

Disabling an extension without removing it

If you want to turn off an extension temporarily without uninstalling it, you can disable it instead. Open Safari Settings, click Extensions, find the extension, and toggle the switch next to its name to the off position. The extension stays installed, but Safari will not run it.

Disabling is useful if an extension is causing problems but you might want to use it again later. It keeps your settings and data intact, so when you turn it back on, everything is exactly as you left it. Uninstalling, by contrast, deletes the extension's data and requires a fresh setup when you reinstall.

Troubleshooting extensions that will not uninstall

In rare cases, an extension may not uninstall from the normal Settings panel. If you click Uninstall and nothing happens, try restarting Safari completely. Close all Safari windows, wait a few seconds, and open Safari again. Then return to Settings and try uninstalling again.

If the extension still will not uninstall, restart your entire Mac. Sometimes Safari holds a lock on an extension file that prevents removal until the system restarts. After restarting, open Safari Settings and try again. If the extension is still stuck, it may be corrupted, and you may need to contact the extension developer for support.

Do not try to manually delete extension files from your Mac's file system. Extensions are stored in protected folders, and removing them by hand can cause Safari to behave unpredictably. Always use the Settings panel to remove extensions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling an extension delete my passwords or browsing history?

No. Uninstalling only removes the extension itself and any data that extension stored. Your Safari passwords, history, bookmarks, and autofill information are separate and are not affected. Only the extension's own settings are deleted.

Can I remove an extension that came with Safari?

Safari does not come with any extensions pre-installed. Every extension you see in your Extensions list was installed by you or by someone else using your Mac. All of them can be uninstalled the same way.

What if I remove an extension by accident?

You can reinstall it when ready from the App Store or the developer's website. Reinstalling takes less than a minute. You will need to set it up again and grant permissions again, but the process is straightforward.

Will removing an extension speed up Safari?

Possibly. Extensions use memory and can slow down page loading, especially if you have many installed. Removing extensions you do not use regularly may make Safari run faster, but the effect depends on which extensions you remove and how much you browse.

Can I remove extensions on Safari for Windows?

Safari is not available for Windows. If you use Safari on a Mac or iPad, the removal process is the same as described here. If you use a different browser on Windows, each browser has its own extension management system.