Removing an extension from Safari takes 30 seconds
Open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Extensions tab. Find the extension you want to remove, click it, then click the Uninstall button. That's it — the extension is gone.
The steps are the same whether you installed the extension from the App Store, from a website, or from a developer directly. Once you uninstall it, Safari stops running that extension immediately. Any data it collected stays on your computer until you clear your browsing history, which we'll cover below.
Key Takeaways
- You remove Safari extensions through Settings > Extensions, not through the App Store or by deleting files.
- Uninstalling an extension stops it from running right away, but it may leave behind cached data on your Mac.
- If you can't find an extension in the Extensions tab, it may be installed as a web app or built into Safari itself.
- Clearing your browsing history removes the data extensions stored while they were active, though some extensions may store data outside the normal cache.
Why you might want to remove an extension
Extensions slow down Safari, even when you're not actively using them. Each one runs in the background, checking web pages as you browse. If you have five extensions installed and only use one regularly, the other four are still consuming memory and battery life.
Extensions also see the websites you visit. Some are trustworthy — a password manager or ad blocker made by a known company. Others are not. An extension you installed months ago might have changed hands, been sold to a different company, or started collecting data you didn't consent to. Removing extensions you don't actively use shrinks the number of programs that can see your browsing.
Finding extensions you forgot you had
Open Safari and go to Safari > Settings > Extensions. You'll see a list of every extension currently installed. Some you'll recognize immediately. Others you may have installed years ago and completely forgotten about.
If an extension is turned off (the toggle next to its name is gray rather than blue), it's not running, but it's still installed and still taking up space. You can leave it off indefinitely, or uninstall it to clean up. There's no penalty for leaving an off extension in place, but uninstalling it removes the possibility that you'll accidentally turn it back on later.
Look for extensions with names you don't recognize or don't remember installing. These are often bundled with other software — you agreed to install them without reading the fine print, or they came as part of a browser update. Removing them won't break anything.
What happens to your data after you uninstall
When you uninstall an extension, Safari stops it from running immediately. However, the extension may have already stored data on your computer — cached images, browsing history, login information, or tracking cookies. Uninstalling doesn't automatically delete that data.
To remove the data an extension collected, clear your browsing history. Go to Safari > Clear History, choose how far back you want to clear (select All History to be thorough), and click Clear History. This removes cached web pages, cookies, and browsing history that extensions saw while they were active.
Some extensions store data in places Safari's standard history clearing doesn't reach — for example, in a local database on your Mac. If you're concerned about a specific extension, search your Mac for its name in Finder. Look in Library > Application Support (you may need to show hidden files by pressing Command-Shift-Period). Delete any folders with the extension's name. This is optional and only necessary if you're worried about a particular extension.
Extensions that won't uninstall or keep coming back
Rarely, an extension will refuse to uninstall or will reappear after you remove it. This usually means it was installed as part of another program — often adware or malware bundled with free software you downloaded.
If an extension keeps reappearing, uninstall the program that installed it. Go to Applications in Finder and look for anything you don't recognize or don't remember installing. Drag it to the Trash. Then uninstall the extension again from Safari Settings.
If you can't find the culprit, restart your Mac in Safe Mode. Hold the power button when your Mac is off until "Loading startup options" appears, click the gear icon, then click Continue in Safe Mode. Log in and try uninstalling the extension again. Safe Mode prevents most background programs from running, which sometimes allows you to remove stubborn extensions. Restart normally when you're done.
Built-in Safari features that look like extensions
Some things in Safari's interface look like extensions but aren't. Safari's built-in features — like Reader, Translate, and Privacy Report — appear in the Extensions tab but can't be uninstalled. You can turn them off by clicking the toggle next to their name, but you can't remove them entirely.
If you see something in the Extensions tab with a toggle but no Uninstall button, it's a built-in feature. Turning it off prevents it from running, which is usually all you need to do.
Web apps and extensions installed from websites
Some websites let you install extensions directly from their site rather than from the App Store. These work the same way as App Store extensions — you remove them through Safari > Settings > Extensions. The process is identical.
Web apps (which appear as icons in your dock but run inside Safari) are different. These aren't extensions and don't appear in the Extensions tab. To remove a web app, right-click its icon in the dock, select Options > Remove from Dock, then go to Applications in Finder, find the app, and drag it to Trash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing an extension break Safari or my Mac?
No. Extensions are optional add-ons. Removing one won't damage Safari or affect any other programs. The only exception is if an extension was doing something you relied on — for example, if you uninstall your password manager, you'll need to enter passwords manually until you reinstall it.
Can I reinstall an extension after I uninstall it?
Yes. If you uninstall an extension and later change your mind, you can reinstall it the same way you did originally — through the App Store, a website, or a developer link. Your settings won't be saved, so you'll need to reconfigure it.
Do I need to restart Safari after uninstalling an extension?
No. Safari stops running the extension immediately when you click Uninstall. You don't need to close and reopen Safari, though restarting it won't hurt.
What if an extension is taking up a lot of storage space?
Most extensions use very little disk space. If you're concerned about storage, the issue is probably cached data rather than the extension itself. Uninstall the extension and clear your browsing history to remove its cached files.
Can I remove an extension without going to Settings?
No. Safari requires you to go through Settings > Extensions to uninstall. You can't remove extensions by deleting files or through any other method. This design prevents accidental removal and keeps extensions from being deleted by other programs.