On October 12, 2026, Apple put up a new “Switch to Safari” page that takes direct aim at Google’s browser, claiming Safari gives a Mac “up to 5 hours more video streaming” than Chrome. If that pitch has you curious, the good news is that you can switch from Chrome to Safari in a few minutes without losing your bookmarks, history or saved passwords.
The trick is doing it in the right order: import on the Mac first, let iCloud carry everything to your iPhone and iPad, then change the default browser on each device. Here is how to switch from Chrome to Safari on every device, plus the catches Apple’s campaign glosses over.
What you need before you switch from Chrome to Safari
- Chrome still installed on your Mac. Apple’s import tool needs Chrome on the Mac, so do not uninstall it yet.
- iCloud turned on for Safari and Passwords. Syncing is what moves your imported bookmarks, history, tabs and passwords to your other Apple devices.
- A recent macOS. Apple’s default-browser steps below apply to macOS 13 or later, and Distraction Control needs macOS 15 Sequoia, iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or newer.
- Ten minutes to tidy up. Imported bookmarks land after the ones Safari already has, so expect a little sorting.
How to switch from Chrome to Safari on Mac
There are two routes. Safari can offer an automatic import, or you can trigger it yourself at any time.
The automatic route. If Chrome is your default browser and you open Safari for the first time since using Chrome, a prompt shows up at the bottom of the Start Page. Pick Keep your imported items to bring over bookmarks, history and passwords. Remove your imported items undoes it, and Decide later parks the choice until you return to Bookmarks > Show Start Page.
The manual route, which works even if you dismissed that prompt months ago:
- Open Safari.
- From the menu bar, choose File > Import From Browser > Google Chrome.
- Tick the items you want, such as bookmarks, history and passwords.
- Click Import.
Chrome bookmarks get added below your current Safari bookmarks, and your Chrome history blends into Safari’s. Passwords go into iCloud Keychain, which is what lets Safari fill in logins for you afterward. You can rerun the import later if you keep using Chrome for a while, which is handy during a trial week. Apple’s Safari import guide also covers bookmark HTML files and password CSV files if you are coming from a browser that is not on the list.
Make Safari your default browser on Mac
Importing alone does not fully switch from Chrome to Safari, because links from Mail or Messages can still open in Chrome. To finish the move:
- Open System Settings.
- Click Desktop & Dock.
- Find Default web browser and choose Safari from the menu.
Switch from Chrome to Safari on iPhone and iPad
If you already imported on your Mac, most of the iPhone work is done. With iCloud syncing on, your bookmarks, history, passwords and open tabs show up in Safari on your iPhone and iPad, and the Start Page lists tabs open on your other devices in its iCloud Tabs section.
No Mac? Apple says the Settings app on iPhone handles the import with a few taps, though its campaign page does not spell out the exact path. Passwords from another password app can also be imported through the Passwords app.
Then set the default so tapped links open in Safari:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Safari.
- Tap Default Browser App and select Safari.
The same steps work on iPad. On a Windows PC, which cannot run Safari, iCloud for Windows offers an extension that keeps your PC browser’s bookmarks in sync with Safari on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Settings to turn on in your first week
Part of the reason to switch from Chrome to Safari is the features Chrome users never see. These are worth setting up early:
- Profiles. Split Personal and Work so history, Tab Groups and favorites stay separate, the closest match to Chrome’s profiles.
- Distraction Control. Hide a cookie banner or sticky video on a site once, and Safari remembers it next time.
- Reader. One tap strips menus and pop-ups from long articles.
- Notify Me. With Apple Intelligence, Safari can watch a page and tell you when a price or stock status changes.
- Extensions. Ad blockers and price trackers live in the App Store, and Describe an Extension can build a simple one from a written request.
Apple Intelligence features need a supported device and language, and Apple says some server features have daily limits that will become a paid upgrade later. For more on how Safari has grown, see our look at new Safari features in iOS 18.
What Apple’s speed and battery claims really mean
Apple’s numbers are eye-catching, but they come from its own lab. The 5-hour battery figure is from 1080p streaming tests run in August 2026 on a 15-inch M5 MacBook Air, comparing prerelease Safari 27.0 with Chrome 151. The claim that Safari loads frequently visited sites up to 35% faster used saved snapshots of 12 popular sites over a simulated network. Apple says results vary, so treat these as a bonus rather than the only reason to switch from Chrome to Safari.
The privacy differences are easier to see day to day. Safari blocks third-party cookies by default, uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention to limit cross-site profiling, upgrades sites to HTTPS when it can, and warns you when a saved password shows up in a data leak. If you still need Chrome for a Chrome-only work tool, keep it installed and open it only for that. Chrome’s own support schedule is a moving target too, as our report on Chrome 150 dropping macOS Monterey showed.
Known snags when you move from Chrome to Safari
- Extensions do not come along. Apple’s import covers bookmarks, history and passwords, not Chrome extensions, so look for Safari versions in the App Store.
- Saved cards are not mentioned. Apple’s guide does not cover payment cards stored in Chrome, so plan to re-add them or use Apple Pay.
- Google apps still work. Apple says Docs, Sheets and Slides run well in Safari, so you do not have to give up Google’s services to leave its browser.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my passwords if I switch from Chrome to Safari?
No. Safari’s import moves Chrome passwords into iCloud Keychain, and Safari can then autofill them on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Can I import Chrome bookmarks to Safari on iPhone?
Yes. The simplest way is to import on a Mac and let iCloud sync the bookmarks to your iPhone, and Apple says the iPhone Settings app can handle the import too.
Can I use Safari on Windows or Android?
No. Safari only runs on macOS, iOS and iPadOS, though iCloud for Windows can keep bookmarks from a PC browser in sync with Safari on your Apple gear.
Should you switch from Chrome to Safari?
If you live mostly on Apple devices, yes: the import takes minutes, iCloud keeps everything in step, and the privacy defaults are stronger out of the box. If your job leans on Chrome extensions or you split time with a Windows PC, try Safari as your default for a week while Chrome stays installed. The worst outcome is a few extra bookmarks to delete.
