Safari is Apple’s default web browser for Mac OS. It is known for its speed and user-friendly interface. However, sometimes due to various reasons like browser crashes or bugs, the browser might perform sluggishly or behave erratically. Moreover, there may be privacy and security issues if the browser is not configured properly. In such situations, it may be necessary to reset Safari to its default settings to restore its functionality. Here are the steps to reset Safari to default settings on your Mac.

Step 1: Open Safari on your Mac

To reset Safari to its default settings, you must first open the browser on your Mac.

Step 2: Backup Your Data

Before resetting Safari, you should back up any important data like bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history. This will make it easier for you to get back to your previous settings and prevent any data loss.

To backup bookmarks, go to the File menu and click on “Export Bookmarks”. Choose where you want to save the exported file and click “Save”.

To backup passwords, go to System Preferences and then click on “Accounts”. Select your account and then click on “Login Items”. Choose Safari and then click on the “Add” button. Restart your Mac.

To backup browsing history, go to the History menu and then click on “Show All History”. Click on a date range and then click on “Export” to save it to your Mac.

Step 3: Reset Safari to Default Settings

Once you’ve backed up your data, you can now reset Safari to its default settings. Here’s how:

Go to the Safari menu and click on “Preferences”.

Click on “Advanced”.

Click on “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.

Go to the Develop menu and click on “Empty Caches”.

Go back to the Safari menu and click on “Reset Safari”.

Choose the checkboxes for the items you want to remove, like history, bookmarks, and saved passwords.

Click “Reset” to complete the reset process.

Step 4: Restore Your Data

Once Safari has been reset to its default settings, you can restore your backed-up data. Here’s how:

To restore bookmarks, go to the File menu and click on “Import Bookmarks”. Select the file you exported earlier and click “Import”.

To restore passwords, go to System Preferences and then click on “Accounts”. Select your account and then click on “Login Items”. Choose Safari and then click on the “Remove” button. Restart your Mac.

To restore browsing history, go to the History menu and then click on “Import”. Select the file you exported earlier and click “Import”.