With the release of Safari 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple made it easier than ever to manage favicons in Safari Favorites Bar. These small icons, known as favicons, are now a core part of your browser’s visual identity system — and if used well, they can save space and boost your productivity.
But not everyone likes a crowded browser bar. Luckily, Safari gives you the power to show or hide favicons according to your preference.
What Are Favicons?
Favicons are miniature logos that represent websites. In Safari, they appear:
- In tabs
- In the Favorites Bar
- In bookmarks
- In the history and search bar
These icons help you visually identify sites quickly — especially useful when you’ve saved many bookmarks or have multiple tabs open.
How to Enable the Favorites Bar in Safari
If the Favorites Bar isn’t already showing, do the following:
- Open Safari on your Mac.
- In the menu bar, click View.
- Select Show Favorites Bar.
This activates the bar just below the URL/search field where your favorite sites live.
Control Favicons in the Favorites Bar
Safari 17+ lets you change how favicons display in your Favorites Bar, giving you three clean layout options:
Option 1: Show Text Only (Hide Icons)
Want a minimalist look?
- Right-click anywhere on the Favorites Bar.
- Select Show Text Only from the popup menu.
This removes all favicons and shows just the bookmark names, which reduces clutter and increases readability.
Option 2: Show Icons and Text
Prefer a hybrid approach?
- Right-click the Favorites Bar and choose Show Icons and Text.
- Favicons appear next to site names, combining clarity with functionality.
Option 3: Show Icons Only (No Text)
Maximize space and speed:
- Choose Show Icons Only to display just the favicons.
- Ideal for users who identify websites by logo alone.
This setting lets you pack more favorites into a single view without hitting the overflow limit.
Why Customize Favicons in Safari?
Customizing favicons in Safari Favorites Bar enhances your:
- Efficiency – Quickly identify sites at a glance.
- Organization – Tailor your bar to your workflow style.
- Aesthetics – Reduce visual clutter or embrace icon-based navigation.
If you have too many bookmarks, Safari will hide some under a double-chevron (») icon. Hiding text or icons can help you fit more visible links.
Conclusion
Apple now gives you more control over how your Safari Favorites Bar looks and works. Whether you want a clean, text-only view or a full visual icon grid, knowing how to manage favicons in Safari Favorites Bar lets you optimize space and personalize your browsing experience.
Make the Favorites Bar your own — with or without favicons.
