Safari Profiles let you split one browser into separate worlds — a work profile and a personal profile that never see each other's history, cookies, favorites, or extensions. It is the cleanest way to stop work logins, personal shopping, and side-project tabs from bleeding into one another. This guide walks through creating, switching, customizing, and deleting Profiles on a Mac, and how they differ from Tab Groups.
The quick answer: Safari → Settings → Profiles
Open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar → Settings (or press ⌘,), then choose the Profiles tab. Click Start Using Profiles (first time) or the + to add one. That is the whole setup — everything below is the detail.
Profiles need Safari 17 or later (macOS Sonoma / macOS 14 and up). If you do not see a Profiles tab in Settings, your Mac is on an older macOS.
Method 1: Create your first Profile
- Safari → Settings → Profiles.
- Click Start Using Profiles. Safari sets up a default Personal profile for everything you already have.
- Click the + (Add Profile) to make a second one — for example Work.
- Give it a name, pick a symbol and color (this tints the toolbar so you can tell profiles apart at a glance), and choose whether it starts with a new set of favorites or copies your existing ones.
- Click Create Profile.
Each profile keeps its own history, cookies, website data, extensions, favorites, and Tab Groups — a true wall between contexts.
Method 2: Switch between Profiles
There are three ways to jump between them:
- File → New [Profile] Window — opens a fresh window in that profile.
- Click the profile button in the toolbar (it shows the current profile's symbol/color) and pick another.
- ⌘⌘ (Command)-based shortcut: use File → New Window for your default, or set which profile new windows open in under Settings → General.
The toolbar color is your cue — a blue-tinted Work window will never share a login or search history with your default Personal window.
Method 3: Give each Profile its own extensions and favorites
This is where Profiles earn their keep. In Settings → Profiles, select a profile and you can:
- Toggle which extensions are on for that profile only (keep a password manager everywhere, but a work-only clipper in Work).
- Set a separate Favorites bar and New Tab page.
- Hold each profile's own Tab Groups — so your Work profile can have "Q3 Launch" and "Invoices" groups your personal browsing never touches.
Method 4: Delete a Profile
- Safari → Settings → Profiles.
- Select the profile in the left list.
- Click the – (minus) button at the bottom, then confirm Delete Profile.
Deleting a profile removes its history, cookies, and Tab Groups but does not touch your other profiles or your default one. Your bookmarks in the default profile stay put.
Profiles vs. Tab Groups: which do you need?
People mix these up. The difference is how completely they separate things:
- Tab Groups organize tabs within one shared set of history, cookies, and extensions. Great for sorting projects during the same day. (See our full guide to Safari Tab Groups.)
- Profiles give each context its own separate history, cookies, favorites, and extensions — and each profile can hold its own Tab Groups.
Rule of thumb: use Tab Groups for everyday sorting, and add a Profile when you want work and personal Safari to never see each other.
When Profiles will not sync across devices
Profiles sync over iCloud, so if a profile you made on your Mac does not appear on your iPhone or iPad, work through these in order:
- Same Apple Account? Every device must be signed in to the exact same account (check under System Settings / Settings at the top).
- Safari enabled for iCloud? On each device: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → turn the Safari switch off, wait ten seconds, and back on to force a refresh.
- Both devices updated? Profiles need iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 or later to sync — an older iPhone will not show them.
- Give it a minute. Sync is not instant; make sure both devices are online.
Buying a Mac that stays current for years
Safari Profiles, Tab Groups syncing, and every future macOS feature all depend on running a recent macOS. Any Apple-silicon Mac handles them effortlessly. A refurbished MacBook Air (M2) from $549 or an M1 Air from $450 will run current macOS for years — and our Apple clearance section is the cheapest place to find one, each backed by our own one-year warranty.
FAQ
How do I create a Safari Profile on a Mac?
Open Safari → Settings (⌘,) → Profiles → Start Using Profiles, then click + to add one, name it, pick a color, and click Create Profile. You need Safari 17 (macOS Sonoma) or later.
Do Safari Profiles keep separate history and cookies?
Yes. Each profile has its own history, cookies, website data, favorites, extensions, and Tab Groups — a full wall between, say, work and personal.
What is the difference between a Profile and a Tab Group?
A Tab Group organizes tabs within one shared browsing context; a Profile gives a whole context its own separate history, cookies, and extensions. Each Profile can contain its own Tab Groups.
How do I switch between Safari Profiles?
Use File → New [Profile] Window, or click the profile button in the toolbar and choose another. The toolbar color tells you which profile a window belongs to.
Do I need a new Mac to use Profiles?
No — any Mac running macOS Sonoma (14) or later supports Profiles, including refurbished Apple-silicon MacBooks that stay current for years.