Hide Safari's Frequently Visited Sites & Top Sites - Guide
Controlling Website Visibility in Safari
Safari, the web browser developed by Apple, has a feature that displays websites you access often. This is presented as "Frequently Visited Sites" on iPhones and iPads, and as "Top Sites" on Mac computers.
Users have the ability to manage this functionality. It's possible to prevent Safari from showcasing these frequently accessed web locations, enhancing your browsing privacy.
Customization Options on iOS
The behavior of this feature can be tailored to your preferences. You can selectively remove specific websites from the displayed list while still benefiting from Safari’s other features.
On iOS devices, a complete disabling of the feature is available. This ensures no websites are advertised through the frequently visited sites section.
Managing Top Sites on macOS
On Mac computers, the approach differs slightly. Instead of a complete disable, you can refine the settings.
This refinement allows you to prevent the display of potentially sensitive or personal websites within the "Top Sites" area. You maintain the convenience of quick access to other frequently used sites.
Privacy is a key benefit of managing these settings. By controlling which sites are displayed, you limit the information shared through your browser's interface.
Ultimately, Safari provides users with control over their browsing experience. Adjusting these settings allows for a balance between convenience and data privacy.
Controlling Frequently Visited Website Display on iOS Devices
Beginning with iOS 9, users gained the ability to turn off the display of Frequently Visited Sites. This prevents regularly accessed websites from being shown on the new tab page within Safari on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices.
Consequently, only the icons representing your saved favorites will be visible when opening a new tab in Safari.
How to Disable the Feature
The process for disabling this functionality is straightforward. First, launch the Settings application on your device.
Next, navigate to and select the Safari category within the Settings menu.
Finally, locate the Frequently Visited Sites option under the General settings and toggle it to the off position.
Removing Individual Sites
Alternatively, instead of disabling the feature entirely, you can remove specific websites from the frequently visited list.
To do this, open a new tab in Safari and view the icons representing your frequently visited sites.
A long press on the icon of the site you wish to remove will bring up a menu.
Select Delete from the menu to remove that particular website from the display. Safari will no longer showcase it on the new tab page, regardless of future visits.
Managing Top Sites in Safari on a Mac
The Safari browser, available on Mac OS X, features a "Top Sites" display. This view presents thumbnail previews of the websites you access most often when Safari is launched or a new tab is opened.
While a complete removal of the top sites feature isn't possible on a Mac, similar to its functionality on iOS, you can control its visibility. This can be achieved by preventing automatic display or by curating a specific list of websites that consistently appear.
Hiding Top Sites via Favorites
A straightforward method involves clicking the star icon located at the top-right of the favorites page. This ensures Safari consistently opens to your designated favorite websites, rather than the top sites unless specifically selected.
It's important to note that the favorites page will always include an access point to the top sites. This approach is suitable if your primary concern is preventing casual observation of your browsing history.
Adjusting New Window and Tab Settings
Alternatively, you can modify Safari's preferences. Navigate to the Safari menu and select "Preferences."
For both "New windows open with" and "New tabs open with," choose an option other than "Favorites"—such as your homepage or a blank page. Accessing the top sites then requires navigating through History > Show top sites, followed by clicking the top sites icon on the favorites page.
Customizing and Locking Top Sites
Safari organizes top sites in a 4x3 grid, displaying a total of 12 thumbnails.
You have the ability to add websites to this list, remove unwanted sites, and even lock specific sites in place. By locking twelve sites, you effectively prevent any other websites from automatically appearing.
Adding Websites to Top Sites
To manually include a website in your top sites, simply visit the page, click the share button in Safari’s toolbar, and select "Add Bookmark." Then, designate "Top sites" as the location for the bookmark.
Once added, access the top sites view and hover over the desired site. Click the pin icon to lock it in place, ensuring it remains visible.
Removing Unwanted Sites
Conversely, if a website appears that you wish to remove, hover over it and click the 'x' button. This will remove it from the page.
Through this process of adding desired sites, removing unwanted ones, and locking each entry, you can fully customize your top sites list and prevent the automatic addition of other websites. Regularly clearing your Safari browser history is recommended if unauthorized removal is a concern.
Many web browsers offer similar features for managing frequently visited sites. If you are concerned about privacy, regularly clearing your browser’s history and private data is a crucial step.
However, you might simply want to minimize the visibility of these sites, preventing accidental exposure when opening new tabs or focusing on your preferred websites. Customizing your top sites allows you to prioritize the content you want to see immediately upon launching your browser.
