Since Safari version 9.0 (macOS El Capitan), Apple have removed the menu option to Reset Safari to defaults. Why they’ve done this I’m not entirely sure, but probably to do with data collection and digital fingerprinting. To properly reset Safari, you need to run some code, or simply buy my script which does it automatically ($5 bucks).

Reset Safari to default settings

1. Open a Terminal window: Applications > Utilities > Terminal

2. Backup your bookmarks (optional). Copy-paste the following code into Terminal:

cp ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist ~/Desktop/Bookmarks.plist;

3. Force Safari to quit:

killall Safari;

4. Clear cache, cookies and Safari folders (copy-paste each line separately):

rm -Rf ~/Library/Cookies/*;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Cache/*;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Safari/*;

5. Remove some stubborn files and settings (copy-paste each line separately):

rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/Apple\ -\ Safari\ -\ Safari\ Extensions\ Gallery;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.WebKit.PluginProcess;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.binarycookies;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/Apple\ -\ Safari\ -\ Safari\ Extensions\ Gallery;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.LSSharedFileList.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.RSS.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebFoundation.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebKit.PluginHost.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebKit.PluginProcess.plist;
rm -Rf ~/Library/PubSub/Database;
rm -Rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.apple.Safari.savedState;

6. Restore your bookmarks (optional). Copy-paste each line separately:

rm -Rf ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist;
cp ~/Desktop/Bookmarks.plist ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist;

You can now open Safari and star afresh!

Remember if you’re not tech savvy, head on over to my shop and buy my script that does all this in a few seconds for $5 bucks.

Links & Resources

• ReSaf – Reset Safari Script
• Reset Safari menu option gone (Apple forums)
• Apple Safari version 9.0 (Wikipedia)
• macOS Catalina