Whether you have just moved from a Windows PC to a Mac or want to switch from Google Chrome to Apple’s Safari because of privacy reasons, here’s a checklist that ensures you can properly transition between browsers.
Note that if you have just set up Google Chrome on your new Mac, sign in with your Google account so all your bookmarks, passwords, and history are synced. Thereafter, you can easily copy them to Safari.
The tips here are also relevant if you’re jumping from some other web browser, like Firefox, to Safari.
Import data from Chrome to Safari
Like most leading browsers, Safari also has a couple of built-in import tools that allow you to bring over your Google Chrome bookmarks, saved login passwords, and browsing history.
- Quit Chrome on your Mac if it’s open.
- Now, open Safari.
- Click File > Import from Browser > Google Chrome.
- Check what you want to bring over (Bookmarks, History, Passwords) and click Import.
If you have exported some data via Google Takeout (similar to Apple’s data request feature), open Safari, and click File > Import Browsing Data from File or Folder to import the data from the downloaded file.
Remember that you can also import Chrome passwords to Safari using your iPhone or iPad, as outlined in our separate tutorial.
Log in to all your accounts
After importing Chrome data to Safari, visit your most important websites, such as Google (and by extension, Gmail, YouTube, and all other Google sites), Amazon, Steam, etc., and log in to your accounts.
Install necessary browser extensions
The number of extensions available for Safari isn’t even close to Google Chrome. But still, popular ones like Grammarly are available. Open Apple’s browser and click Safari > Safari Extensions > Browse Extensions to view and install the ones you need.
Set Safari as the default web browser if not already
Safari is already the default web browser on all Apple platforms. But if you changed it to Google Chrome, switch it back to Safari for a smooth experience.
- macOS: System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Default web browser
- iOS: Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App
Set up iCloud sync for Safari on all your devices
Just like Google Chrome, Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac can sync data to ensure a uniform experience across all your devices. Simply make sure you’re using the same Apple Account on all your devices, then go to iCloud settings on each device and check that the switch next to Safari is enabled.
After that, open Safari, go to the Start Page, hit Edit, and make sure the relevant options, like iCloud Tabs, are checked.
Learn a few basic things about Safari and change some settings
Here are some quick things to keep in mind that will tell you more about Safari and help you use it better:
- Chrome’s Incognito windows are called Private windows on Safari. You can trigger it by clicking File > New Private Window in the menu bar.
- Open Safari, click View, and enable Show Status Bar. Apple’s browser will now show the full URL in the bottom left corner of the screen when you hover the pointer over a hyperlink.
- Click View > Customize Toolbar and add important buttons next to the address bar for quick access.
- Add your most important websites to Favorites on the Start Page.
- Learn about the Reading Lists feature to save and read interesting articles at your leisure, even without Internet connectivity.
- You can go to Safari browser settings by clicking Safari > Settings from the top menu bar or by pressing the Command + , (comma) keys. Explore the options here to customize the browser for your workflow.
- Just like Chrome, you can add multiple Safari profiles to keep your browsing separate.
- Enable developer options in Safari’s advanced settings so you can easily clear the browser cache, open a page directly in another browser (more on that below), or use a website with a different user agent.
If some websites don’t work properly in Safari
Google Chrome is my primary browser on Mac for more than a decade, but I always use Safari for banking, payments, and other sensitive websites.
While most websites work perfectly in Safari, I have come across several government, university, and other sites that don’t. If this happens to you, just use Google Chrome or Firefox.
Similarly, if a particular website refuses to play a video, lags constantly, shows the beachball icon, or has other such issues, open the page in Chrome.
In over a decade of using Chrome on Mac, I only remember it crashing twice, and that was when my computer was on the initial builds of macOS Tahoe developer beta.
In comparison, I have frequently faced Safari crashing, lagging, and websites straight up refusing to load (even though they load in other browsers). But then, I also know many people who swear by Safari and use it as their main and only browser. So, your mileage may vary. But still, even after fully switching to Safari, have at least one backup browser (preferably a Chromium-based browser like Chrome or Brave) installed on your Mac. You never know when you may need it.
What’s your reason for switching to Safari?