For individuals sharing devices, maintaining privacy and customization freedom can be challenging. Fortunately, Safari has introduced a feature allowing users to create multiple profiles. Each profile carries unique browsing information, such as cookies, history, and other customization preferences, like tab groups and extensions. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for creating multiple Safari profiles on your Apple devices.
How to Set Up a Safari Profile
To create your Safari Profile, you must have Safari 17 or later. Safari 17 is included with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma or later. Download it separately on macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura. To check your Safari version, go to Safari -> About Safari.
Note that when you create your first profile, the system will automatically create a default profile, Personal, which includes your current history, tab groups, favorites, extensions, and bookmarks.
Also, remember that if you create a profile on one of your Apple devices, it will appear in the Safari settings on your other devices that use the same Apple ID.
Tip: update your Apple ID and password anytime by entering your system settings.
On a Mac
To create a Safari profile on your Mac, follow these steps:
Open Safari, go to the menu bar, and select Safari -> Create Profile. Alternatively, choose Safari -> Settings, then select the Profiles tab.
Click Start Using Profiles.
Enter a name, and select a symbol and color for your new profile.
Tick Create new bookmarks folder to create a new folder for your favorite bookmarks, then click Create Profile.
After creating your new profile, you can customize how Safari opens new windows and tabs. By default, Safari opens new windows and tabs to your start page.
Click the Extensions tab to select which Safari extensions you would like to use with your profile.
On an iPhone or iPad
To create a Safari profile on your iPhone or iPad, head to Settings -> Safari -> New Profile. Customize your profile by adding a name and selecting an icon and color. Choose whether to create a new Favorites folder or assign an existing one for your profile. Customize it as described above.
How to Switch Profiles in Safari
Once you’ve created your profile, you can see your current profile on the Safari toolbar. Mac has a button with the profile’s name, symbol, and color. You’ll only see the Safari profile’s icon on the iPhone and iPad.
If you want to switch profiles on your Mac, click the Profile button, and select Switch to [Profile] Window.
The process is similar on the iPhone or iPad: tap the Profile icon, tap Profile, then select the profile you want to switch to.
Also Helpful: once you set up your Safari profiles, swap from Chrome to Safari as your default browser in minutes.
How to Delete Profiles in Safari
You can delete a profile you’ve made in Safari anytime, but this can’t be undone and will also delete all the browsing information related to the profile. The only exception is the default Personal profile, which houses all the existing browsing information, like bookmarks and tab groups, that you had before you created a Safari Profile.
To delete a profile on your Mac, go to Safari’s menu bar, and click Safari -> Manage Profiles. Select the profile you want to delete, and click Remove (-).
Once you click the Remove button, a window will pop up asking you if you’re sure you want to delete the profile. Select Delete Profile.
If you only have one profile other than the default profile, removing it will remove the Profiles feature altogether. If you want this, remove the profile and select Delete and Stop Using Profiles.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings -> Safari. Scroll to Profiles, select a profile, and tap Delete Profile -> Delete.
Enjoy a Unique Browsing Experience
With Safari Profiles, you can tailor your browsing experience for each part of your life. This feature also simplifies device-sharing experiences by keeping tabs from different profiles separate, avoiding repetitive logins, and ensuring seamless transitions between users using the same website.
However, creating a Safari Profile is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customization. Pairing it with other Safari customization features, like tab groups and bookmarks, will elevate your browsing journey even more.
All images and screenshots by Rachel Ann Melegrito.
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