Delete a favorite by right-clicking it in the sidebar

The fastest way to remove a favorite from Safari is to right-click it in the Favorites sidebar and select Delete. The sidebar appears on the left side of your browser window when you open a new tab or click the sidebar icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.

If the sidebar is not visible, go to View in the menu bar, then select Show Sidebar. Your favorites will appear in a list under the address bar. Right-click any favorite and choose Delete from the menu that appears. The favorite is removed immediately.

This method works the same way whether your favorites are stored in the main Favorites folder or in a custom folder you created inside it.

Remove favorites from the Favorites Bar at the top of the page

If you have favorites pinned to the Favorites Bar — the row of bookmarks that appears directly below the address bar — right-click the favorite and select Delete. The icon disappears from the bar right away.

To show or hide the Favorites Bar, go to View in the menu bar and toggle Show Favorites Bar. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + B to turn it on or off quickly.

Delete favorites through the Bookmarks menu

You can also remove favorites by opening the Bookmarks menu in the top menu bar and hovering over Favorites. A submenu will show all your saved favorites. Right-click the one you want to remove and select Delete.

This route is useful if you prefer not to keep the sidebar or Favorites Bar visible while browsing. The Bookmarks menu gives you access to all your favorites without taking up screen space.

Delete favorites on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone or iPad, open Safari and tap the Bookmarks icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like an open book). Tap Favorites at the top to see your saved favorites.

Tap Edit in the bottom-right corner. Red minus signs will appear next to each favorite. Tap the minus sign next to the favorite you want to remove, then tap Delete to confirm. When you are finished, tap Done in the bottom-right corner.

Alternatively, swipe left on any favorite in the list and tap the red Delete button that appears. This removes it without entering edit mode.

Remove favorites from a custom folder

If you organized your favorites into folders, open the sidebar or Bookmarks menu and navigate to the folder. Right-click the favorite inside the folder and select Delete. You can delete the entire folder the same way if you no longer need it.

On iPhone and iPad, tap Bookmarks, then tap Favorites and navigate to the folder. Tap Edit, tap the minus sign next to the folder or favorite, and tap Delete to remove it.

Sync changes across your devices

If you use iCloud to sync Safari across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, deleting a favorite on one device will remove it from all your devices within a few minutes. Make sure iCloud sync is turned on by going to System Settings (Mac) or Settings (iPhone/iPad), selecting your Apple ID, and checking that Safari is toggled on under iCloud.

If you delete a favorite by mistake, you can undo the action on Mac by pressing Command + Z immediately after deletion. On iPhone and iPad, tap Undo if it appears at the bottom of the screen right after you delete.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any favorite in the Safari sidebar or Favorites Bar and select Delete to remove it immediately.
  • On iPhone and iPad, tap the Bookmarks icon, select Favorites, tap Edit, and tap the red minus sign next to the favorite you want to remove.
  • Favorites stored in custom folders can be deleted the same way as favorites in the main Favorites folder.
  • If you use iCloud to sync Safari, deleting a favorite on one device removes it from all your devices within a few minutes.
  • You can undo a deletion on Mac by pressing Command + Z immediately after removing the favorite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete multiple favorites at once?

On Mac, you can select multiple favorites in the sidebar by holding Command and clicking each one, then right-click and select Delete. On iPhone and iPad, enter edit mode and tap the minus sign next to each favorite individually — there is no multi-select option.

What happens if I delete a favorite by mistake?

On Mac, press Command + Z immediately to undo the deletion. On iPhone and iPad, look for an Undo button at the bottom of the screen right after you delete. If you do not see it or too much time has passed, the favorite is permanently removed but you can bookmark the website again.

Will deleting a favorite delete the website itself?

No. Deleting a favorite only removes the bookmark from Safari. The website itself remains on the internet and you can still visit it by typing the address in the search bar or finding it through a search engine.

Can I recover a deleted favorite if I wait a few days?

No. Once you delete a favorite, it is gone permanently unless you undo it immediately on Mac. Safari does not keep a trash folder or recovery option for deleted bookmarks. If you need the website again, you will have to bookmark it a second time.