If you are a Mac user, Safari is your default browser. While some people prefer other browsers like Chrome and Firefox for various reasons, Safari is the best browser for Mac. When it comes to speed, privacy, and security, Safari comes out on top in all those categories.
But while you may be familiar with the browser, do you know how to get the most out of it?
Here are 11 Safari tips that you probably did not know about –
Tip #1: Multi-task with ‘picture in picture.’
Did you know that you could use the ‘PiP or picture-in-picture mode’ on Safari? This allows you to have a floating window on your screen where the video plays while you can work on something else.
To enable this mode, right-click on a video two times. Then hit the Enter Picture in Picture option. This will start the PiP mode. If you need to exit the video, close it by clicking on the X on the top right corner of the video.
Tip #2: Personalize websites as you go
You can customize websites as you go on Safari. You can either apply customization settings to all the websites or to only specific websites. Right-click on the bar where the URL appears, and you will have an option to customize the ‘Settings for This website,’ and you can change the zoom, permissions, auto-play, and more.
Tip #3: Fix Safari WiFi issues
Sometimes, you may notice that Safari does not work on your WiFi but works with your phone’s hotspot. This is probably due to the wrong network settings. A simple reset usually does the trick, but you can read more on the specific errors and troubleshoot the issue yourself.
Tip #4: Arrange tabs on Safari
You can add some orders to your browsing session by using the ‘Arrange tabs’ option. To access this, go to Window -> Arrange Tab. You either reorder tabs by the title of the webpage or the website.
Tip #5: Personalize the toolbar
Safari has an option for you to play around with the toolbar and make it work for you. You can add new items, remove the ones you don’t need, and reorder everything. To do this, go to View -> Customize Toolbar.
Tip #6: Save webpages as PDFs
Whether you need to put together research for work or school, Safari’s option that allows you to convert any webpage into a PDF is going to come in handy. You can save any page and save it as a PDF. To access this File -> Export As and choose PDF.
Tip #7: Access iPhone tabs on Mac
The handoff feature on Apple devices allows you to seamlessly pick up where you left off. If you have an iPhone, you can access iPhone Safari tabs on Mac and vice-versa. You have to activate the Handoff feature on your devices by signing into your iCloud account. On your computer, you will find it under System & Preferences, and for iPhone and iPad, you will have it under Settings.
Tip #8: Create a reading list with Safari
If you come across something you want to read but don’t have the time to dive into it, you can add it to your ‘Reading List’ on Safari and access it on other Apple devices. To use this feature, share the article and then choose ‘Add to Reading List.’ You can also save these web pages so that you can read them offline so that you’re not distracted by an onslaught of notifications.
Tip #9: Fill forms faster
Inevitably, you will come across dozens of forms that ask for the same information. The Autofill feature on Safari is a time saver and saves you a lot of effort.
To use this feature, go to Safari -> Preferences -> AutoFill, and you can edit different fields like passwords, credit cards, and addresses. Set up the iCloud Keychain, and you will have access to this feature on all your Apple devices.
Tip #10: Share pages with AirDrop
If you want to open a URL on a different Apple device, the AirDrop feature is the best way to do this. You can share a page using AirDrop and open it on your iPhone or iPad.
Tip #11: Learn more about something
You can use the ‘Look Up’ feature on Safari to learn more about a particular phrase or word. Select the word or words you want to know more about and long-press on your trackpad if you’re on your Mac. If you are on your phone, right-click on it and choose ‘Look Up.’ You will see a small pop-up that contains more information about the phrase or word with applicable links.
All in all
There are a bunch of other tips that can help you have an improved experience browsing the web on Safari. Safari also offers privacy controls that you can make use of to prevent websites from tracking your activity online.
