If you want to make the most of Apple's Safari browser in macOS Monterey and add some features, you can add some extensions. Here's how to get it done.
Safari extensions can add new features and abilities to the browser.
Back in macOS Big Sur, Apple made finding Safari extensions much easier for users while also making it easier for developers to create or port extensions to the browser.
It took a while, but the new Safari features and related developer tools allowed Safari to catch up to more popular web browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The functionality is still present in macOS Monterey, and not much has changed since its improvement in Big Sur.
However, a year later, there are a variety of high-quality Safari extensions available that could add new features and abilities to the Apple browser. Here's how to find and use them.
How to find and install Safari extensions
You can find new Safari extensions in the Mac App Store.
On macOS, Safari Extensions are treated like apps. Instead of an in-browser marketplace, you'll discover and install Safari extensions from the Mac App Store
- Open Safari on your Mac
- Click the Safari button in the top menu bar
- Then, click Safari Extensions from the drop-down menu
- You'll be brought to the Mac App Store, where you can browse or search for Safari extensions
- When you find one you like, click Install
Alternatively, you can simply open up the App Store on your Mac and run a search for "Safari extensions" or a specific app. While you won't be brought to the main extensions page of the App Store, you might be able to find extensions for specific
apps easier.
How to enable Safari extensions
Before you can use extensions in Safari, you'll need to enable them in Preferences.
If you're used to using Google Chrome or Firefox, you might be wondering where the extensions you just installed ended up. At first, you won't see them because they're installed but not enabled.
To actually start using your Safari extensions, you'll need to dive into another menu to turn them on.
- Click Safari in the top menu bar
- Click on Preferences
- Navigate to the Extensions page
- Find the extension you'd like to enable and tick the box next to it
A single app could include multiple extensions, and it isn't always clear which specific one you're enabling.
In the Extensions page, you'll find more information about an extension, which app it originates from, and what it does. If you find that you don't want or need an extension any more, you can click Uninstall next to any specific extension to get rid of it.
How to use Safari extensions
Unlike on competing web browsers, Safari extensions appear to the left of the URL or address bar. To use an extension, simply click on its icon in the Extensions row. Some extensions will offer a drop-down menu with extension options, while others offer one-click functionality.
Once you click on an Extension to use it, what happens after depends on what kind of extension it is. A password manager like 1Password could auto-fill a login form. If you have a read-later app like Instapaper or Pocket, the webpage or article you're on will be saved to your reading list.
In any case, the extensions feature is aimed at simplifying the Safari experience and allowing users quick access to handy features.
Whether you're looking to increase you online privacy, save a salad recipe for later, or add a paragraph from a webpage to a note-taking application, there's likely a Safari extension to suit your needs.