Have you ever wondered how you can Change and customize the Safari background on Mac and add a unique touch to your browsing experience? Customizing Safari's appearance not only makes browsing the internet more enjoyable, but also helps you create an environment that suits your tastes, increasing your comfort and productivity. Thanks to Apple's ongoing updates, it's now easier than ever to tailor your browser window to your personal style by choosing your own images, colors, and settings specific to both Mac and other Apple devices.
In this article we are going to dive into all the options available to customize Safari on Mac, covering everything from installing a new wallpaper to advanced settings with user profiles, syncing between devices, iOS options, and additional tips to help you get the most out of your setup. If you want to know all the tricks and steps, here's the most complete and up-to-date guide based on official information and best practices.
Customize the Safari start page on Mac: Change the background and fine-tune the experience
One of the great advantages of the latest versions of macOS and Safari is the ability to customize the home page and the browser background. Being able to choose the background you see when you open a new window or tab allows you to differentiate your browsing space and give it that special touch that makes it more yours.
The process is quick and easy, but it's worth knowing all the details and options available. Here's how to do it step by step, clearly explained so you don't miss anything along the way.
How to change the Safari background on your Mac
- Open Safari and create a new tab or window, if you don't already have it open. The default home page will usually appear.
- In the Lower right corner from the home page, you will see the button EditClick on it to see the customization options.
- Several options will be displayed under the title Customize home pageThe one we are interested in is towards the end and is called Background image.
- Check the corresponding box and you will see several default background images.
- You can select one of the images suggested by Apple or click the “+” button to choose one image from your photo library or from any folder from your Mac.
- You can also drag an image directly from the desktop or Finder onto the background thumbnail to have it automatically applied.
- Once you select the image you want, it will be set as the background for the Safari start page on that Mac.
Choose images that motivate you or make you feel comfortable browsing.You can change them as often as you like, keeping your experience fresh. This entire process is very intuitive, and you'll have your background ready in a matter of seconds.
Advanced Options: Albums, Folders, and Sync
Safari on Mac lets you take customization to the next level:
- You can add a album or an entire folder from the Photos app. Use the option Add folder or album and select from your favorite albums or stored photo folders.
- It is also possible to add a folder from the Finder. This way, you can choose from images organized outside of Photos.
- If you have several images you like, you can change your background regularly or set up a folder to choose different images depending on your mood.
All of this allows for a level of customization that was previously unavailable in Safari.You can customize your browser as much as you like and make every startup feel different.
Home page customization
Changing Safari's background is just the beginning. The browser's home page is highly configurable to display only what you want when you open a new tab.
From the same section of Customize home page you can choose to display:
- Favorites y tab groups
- Recently closed eyelashes
- Siri suggestions
- Shared with you
- Frequently visited
- Reading list
These elements allow you to have everything relevant to your daily life at the click of a button, without having to search for it every time you open your browser.
Additionally, if you use extensions in Safari, you can also customize the add-ons that act on the home page to further tailor the experience to your preferences.
Use profiles in Safari to separate experiences and personalize even further
With the arrival of Safari 17 and later, Apple has taken a further step in browser customization with the inclusion of the user profiles. This feature allows you create different profiles, such as one for work, one for leisure, and one for personal use, each with its own background, favorites, extensions, and specific settings.
This feature is ideal for those who share a Mac or for users who want to keep their history, bookmarks, website data, and preferences separate. This way, you can have one profile for work tasks and another for personal use without your interests or browsing history getting mixed up.
How to create and manage profiles in Safari
- In the Safari menu bar, Select Safari > Create Profile or access the menu Settings > Profiles.
- Press on Getting started with profiles and configure the name, symbol and color that will visually distinguish your profile in the toolbar and on the default background of that profile's home page.
- Choose if you want to associate a favorites folder specific (you can create a new one or use an existing one).
- Click on Create profileNow, when you open a new window or tab in that profile, you'll see the customization you've given it.
Profiles don't share history, cookies, or website data, which provides much greater privacy and organization. You can easily switch between profiles from the dedicated button in the Safari toolbar and open new windows for each profile as needed.
Additionally, extensions can be managed separately for each profile. This way, you can activate certain extensions only for work, and others only on your personal profile.
If you need to change the name, symbol or color of a profile, just go to Manage profiles, select the profile you want to edit, and make the desired changes. Your bookmarks and favorites will remain correctly associated even if you change the profile name.
Sync across Apple devices: Keep your experience unified
One of the great strengths of the Apple ecosystem is the Automatic synchronization of data and preferences between devicesIf you have multiple computers (Mac, iPhone, iPad), you can set up Safari profiles, bookmarks, and wallpapers to sync via iCloud.
To do this, simply use the same Apple account on all your devices and enable the Safari option in the iCloud section of your account settings. This way, every time you make a change to the Safari background, settings, or profile on one device, it will be automatically reflected on the rest.
This allows you to enjoy a consistent experience, no matter what device you access Safari from.You can start working on your Mac, continue on your iPad, and finish on your iPhone, with all your settings, backgrounds, and bookmarks intact.
Advanced customization: shortcuts and additional settings for a unique experience
There are more ways to customize Safari and make your daily experience even smoother and more efficient. Here are some additional tips and tricks:
- Customize the home page with your favorite websites: You can set the first page that opens in Safari to be the one you use most (such as Google, your work website, etc.). Go to Preferences> General and in Homepage write the address you want to open by default.
- Configure new windows and tabs to open on the home page: This way, every time you open a new window or tab, Safari will take you directly to your preferred page. This is done from the same Safari Preferences section.
- Use keyboard shortcuts: The command Command + , Quickly open Safari preferences, where you can change all of these settings without wasting time navigating through menus.
- Add extensions to SafariExtend your browser's functionality by installing extensions from the Mac App Store. This way, you can improve productivity, change the look and feel, enhance security, and more.
If you want to have the exact same home page and background on all your Apple devices, just customize one of them and make sure the sync option is enabled on each device. This way, your preferences and backgrounds will always stay aligned.
Change Safari Background on iPhone and iPad: Quick Start Guide
It's not just on a Mac that you can change Safari backgrounds; it's also possible Customize the browser's appearance on iPhone and iPad, especially since iOS 15. Apple has introduced the option to choose both default and custom wallpapers from your photo gallery.
The process is simple and very similar to the Mac process: You can set a background image in Safari on iOS, following steps similar to those described above.
- Open Safari and click on the tabs button (two squares icon in the lower right corner).
- Click on the symbol + to create a new tab; this will take you to the home page.
- Swipe to the bottom and tap Edit.
- Activate the Background image and choose from the backgrounds offered by Apple or select one from your photo gallery by tapping on the icon +.
- Select your favorite image and you'll see it immediately applied as the background of your Safari home page.
You can repeat this process as many times as you like to change the appearance according to your mood or preferences. If you have multiple devices signed in to the same Apple account and sync enabled for Safari, the options will also remain unified.
What else can you customize in Safari?
In addition to changing the background and home page, Safari includes other customization options, such as customize the visual and functional aspects, so that your experience is even more tailored to your needs.
- Organize favorites and bookmarks according to your categories, interests or needs.
- Create tab groups to separate projects or navigation types.
- Customize extensions by profile so that each one has their own set of tools depending on the use you are going to give it.
- Adjust privacy and permissions settings to further personalize your experience and protect your information.
Remember to check Safari updates regularly, as Apple frequently adds new features that improve customization and integration with devices in the ecosystem.
Customizing Safari on Mac and other devices is a simple and flexible process that gives your daily browsing a completely new look.By taking advantage of custom image, profile, and sync options, you can customize the browser to your liking, improve organization, and maintain a productive and visually appealing environment, both for professional and personal use. Steps to change the background, manage profiles, and unify the experience across Apple devices make customization more powerful than ever. Experiment with these options and discover how easy it is to make Safari your perfect browser for every occasion.
