How to uninstall Safari extensions

Safari is the most popular browser on the Mac, mostly because it’s made by Apple and is installed when you buy your Mac or install a new version of macOS. It’s also set as the default browser so that when you click on a link in an email, for example, the web page opens in Safari.

Like Chrome and Firefox, you can install extensions in Safari to add extra features. For example, if you use a password manager, you can install an extension that autofills your username and password on certain websites. Or you can add an extension that grabs a web page for a bookmarking or note-taking app.

However, as with extensions in other browsers, Safari extensions can be problematic. Out-of-date extensions may cause Safari to run more slowly, for example. But even worse than that is those browser extensions are a favorite way for hackers to download malware to your Mac. It’s usually disguised as a legitimate extension, but once you’ve installed it, it will display adverts or steal your data. Fortunately, getting rid of extensions in Safari is not difficult. There are a number of ways to do it and we’ll cover them in this article.

Tip: If you’re worried that you may have already downloaded malware via an extension or some other method, CleanMyMac X can scan your Mac and check. All you need to do is download and install CleanMyMac X, then click on its Malware utility. It will then scan your Mac and tell you if it finds any malware. If it does, it will offer to remove it for you.

How to remove extensions in Safari

1. Launch Safari > Safari menu > Preferences.

2. Select the Extensions pane. 

3. To disable an extension but leave it installed, uncheck the box next to its name. To delete an extension completely, click on it, then in the main window, choose Uninstall.

4. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for every extension you want to remove.

5. Close Preferences.

How to remove extensions from Safari using Finder

Safari extensions are stored in your user Library folder. You can access that by clicking on your user name in the Finder and then choosing the Library folder. If you can’t see it, click on the Go menu in the Finder and choose Go to Folder, then in the text box, type “~/Library”. The Library folder will now open in the Finder.

1. Open the Library folder, as described above.

2. Open the Safari folder.

3. Double-click on Extensions.

4. You’ll notice that, unlike other browsers, extensions in Safari have meaningful names that make them easy to identify. Drag the extension you want to remove to the Trash.

5. Empty the Trash.

How to uninstall Safari extensions using CleanMyMac X 

If all the steps above seem like a lot of effort, there is another way to remove extensions in Safari, using CleanMyMac X.

1. Download and install CleanMyMac X.

2. Launch CleanMyMac X.

3. Choose the Extensions utility.

4. In the main window, choose Safari. Click on the extensions you want to delete and press Remove.

6. If an extension you want to get rid of is greyed out, press the ‘i’ next to it to discover how to remove it.

How to get rid of malware with CleanMyMac X

As we said above, CleanMyMac X can detect and scan malware that has already been downloaded to your Mac. If you found an extension that you think is suspicious, then you should use CleanMyMac X to scan and remove it. Here’s how to do it.

1. Launch CleanMyMac X.

2. In the sidebar, choose the Malware tool.

3. Press the Scan button.

4. If it hasn’t found any malware, CleanMyMac will tell you that and you’ll see a green tick. If it has found something, you have two choices: you can get rid of it straight away by pressing Clean, or you can go to a details page and read more about what it’s found.

Don’t just scan your Mac for malware once and then forget about it. The threat of viruses, adware, ransomware, and other malicious code is ever-present. CleanMyMac X’s malware database is updated regularly, so you can be sure it always knows about the latest threats. Scan your Mac once a month, it only takes a few minutes and is a good way of keeping it safe.

One of the ways in which malware threatens your Mac is by stealing your private data. However, it’s not just malware that can leak sensitive information about you. Files downloaded and stored by your browser legitimately can also compromise your privacy and security. These files include those that store autofill data, your browsing history, cookies, and other cache files. You can use CleanMyMac X to get rid of those two, by using its Privacy Module.

Deleting extensions in Safari is very straightforward. You can do it in the Extensions tab in Safari’s Preferences or by tracking down the files in the Finder. The easiest way to get rid of Safari extensions, though, is to use CleanMyMac X. There, you can select and delete all the extensions you want rid of in one go. At the same time, you can remove extensions from other browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox.