Where to find and remove Safari extensions

Safari extensions live in the Safari menu, not buried in system settings. To remove one, open Safari, click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Extensions tab on the right side of the window.

You will see a list of every extension you have installed, with a checkbox next to each one. To remove an extension completely, click it once to select it, then click the Uninstall button that appears below the list. Safari will ask you to confirm — click Uninstall again, and the extension is gone.

If you only want to turn an extension off without removing it, uncheck the box next to its name instead. The extension stays installed but stops running until you check the box again. This is useful if you want to test whether an extension is causing problems, or if you use it only sometimes.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Safari Settings, click the Extensions tab, select the extension you want to remove, and click Uninstall.
  • Unchecking the box next to an extension turns it off without removing it, which is useful for testing or occasional use.
  • Removing an extension does not delete any files it created on your computer — you may need to delete those separately if they are taking up space.
  • If an extension does not appear in the Extensions tab, it may have been installed as part of another application and needs to be removed through that app instead.

What happens to your data when you uninstall

When you uninstall a Safari extension, the extension itself stops running immediately. However, Safari does not automatically delete the data that extension created or stored — passwords it saved, settings you configured, or files it downloaded.

Most extensions store their data in a folder on your Mac that remains even after you uninstall. If you want to remove that data as well, you will need to find and delete the folder manually. The location varies by extension, but many store data in ~/Library/Safari or ~/Library/Application Support. If you are not comfortable navigating these folders, leaving the data behind is harmless — it just takes up a small amount of disk space.

Extensions that came with another app

Some extensions are installed as part of a larger application on your Mac. Password managers, ad blockers, and VPN apps often work this way. If you try to uninstall the extension from Safari Settings and the Uninstall button is grayed out or missing, the extension is probably controlled by another app.

To remove it, you need to uninstall the parent application instead. Open Applications in Finder, find the app that installed the extension, drag it to the Trash, and empty the Trash. The extension will disappear from Safari automatically. If you are not sure which app installed an extension, right-click the extension name in Safari Settings — some apps show their name there.

Turning off extensions temporarily to fix problems

If Safari is running slowly, crashing, or behaving strangely, an extension may be the cause. The fastest way to test this is to turn off all extensions at once without removing them. Open Safari Settings, click Extensions, and uncheck the box at the top that says Extensions. This disables every extension in one step.

Use Safari normally for a few minutes. If the problem goes away, an extension is causing it. Turn extensions back on one at a time by checking their individual boxes, and use Safari between each one. When the problem returns, you have found the culprit. You can then uninstall that extension or contact its developer for a fix.

Extensions that refuse to uninstall

Occasionally an extension will not uninstall from Safari Settings, or it reappears after you remove it. This usually means the extension is being reinstalled by another application on your Mac, or it is part of your system in a way that Safari Settings cannot control.

First, restart your Mac completely and try uninstalling again. If that does not work, search your Applications folder for any app related to the extension's name — a password manager, VPN, or security tool — and uninstall that app instead. If you still cannot remove it, the extension may be installed at the system level by your workplace or school, and you may need to contact your IT department for help.

How to prevent unwanted extensions from installing

Many extensions ask for permission during installation, but some slip in as part of another app's setup. When you install a new application, read the installation window carefully. Look for checkboxes that say something like "Install browser extension" or "Add to Safari" and uncheck them if you do not want the extension.

If an extension installs without your knowledge, it usually came bundled with another app. Check your Applications folder for any recent installations, and uninstall anything you do not recognize. Going forward, download apps only from the Mac App Store or directly from the developer's official website, as these sources are less likely to bundle unwanted extensions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall a Safari extension from my iPhone or iPad?

Yes. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Safari, tap Extensions, and swipe left on the extension you want to remove. Tap Delete. On iPad, you can also open Safari, tap the Aa icon in the address bar, scroll down to Extensions, and tap Manage Extensions to remove them from there.

Will uninstalling an extension delete my saved passwords?

Not automatically. If the extension was a password manager, the passwords it stored remain on your Mac in a folder even after you uninstall. You can delete that folder manually if you want, but most people leave it alone. If you used Safari's built-in password storage instead, uninstalling an extension will not affect those passwords at all.

Why does an extension keep coming back after I uninstall it?

The extension is probably being reinstalled by another application on your Mac. Look in your Applications folder for any app related to the extension — a security tool, VPN, or browser toolbar — and uninstall that app instead. Restart your Mac after uninstalling to make sure the extension does not reappear.

What if I uninstall an extension by mistake?

You can reinstall it the same way you installed it the first time. If it came from the App Store, search for it there and click Get. If it came from a developer's website, visit that site and download it again. Your settings and data from before the uninstall may or may not be restored, depending on how the extension stores information.