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06 Numbers and Powers

Customize Safari Settings for Individual Websites

Card No. 06·63992 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to set unique Safari settings for individual websites, such as enabling content blockers, requesting the desktop version, or allowing camera access. You’ll learn to control how each site behaves in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so you can tailor your browsing experience without affecting other sites.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Safari (iOS 13 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, macOS Catalina or later).
  • The website you want to customize already open in Safari.
  • For some settings, you may need to have the site loaded and be signed in (if applicable).

Step-by-Step

On iPhone and iPad

  1. Open Safari and navigate to the website you want to customize.
  2. Tap the aA icon on the left side of the address bar. This opens the website settings menu.
  3. Tap Website Settings.
  4. You’ll see a list of options that apply to this site only:
    • Use Reader: Toggle this on to automatically use Reader mode for this site (removes ads and clutter).
    • Request Desktop Website: Toggle this on to always load the desktop version of this site instead of the mobile version.
    • Content Blockers: Toggle this to enable or disable content blockers (like ad blockers) for this site.
    • Auto-Play: Choose Allow All Auto-Play, Stop Media, or Allow Auto-Play with Sound.
    • Camera: Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow for camera access.
    • Microphone: Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow for microphone access.
    • Location: Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow for location access.
  5. Make your changes. They are saved automatically and apply only to this website.
  6. Tap Done to close the menu.

On Mac

  1. Open Safari and go to the website you want to customize.
  2. Click the aA icon in the Smart Search field (address bar).
  3. You’ll see a dropdown menu with options like Settings for This Website. Click it.
  4. A small window appears with settings that apply only to this site:
    • Use Reader: Check this to automatically use Reader mode.
    • Request Desktop Website: Check this to load the desktop version.
    • Content Blockers: Enable or disable content blockers.
    • Auto-Play: Select from Allow All Auto-Play, Stop Media, or Allow Auto-Play with Sound.
    • Camera, Microphone, Location: Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
  5. Changes are saved automatically. Close the window when done.

Common Mistakes

  • Not using the aA icon: Some users try to change settings via Safari’s main preferences, but per-site settings are only available through the aA icon on the specific page.
  • Confusing per-site with global settings: Changing the global Safari settings (e.g., in Settings > Safari on iOS) affects all websites. Per-site settings only affect the current site.
  • Expecting settings to apply to subdomains: Per-site settings apply to the exact domain (e.g., example.com) but not necessarily to subdomains (like blog.example.com). You may need to set them separately.
  • Not refreshing after changes: After changing settings, you may need to reload the page for the change to take effect.

Tips

  • Use Reader mode for articles: For news sites or blogs, enabling Reader mode can make reading more comfortable by removing distractions.
  • Request Desktop Site for mobile-unfriendly pages: If a site’s mobile version is broken or limited, switch to desktop version to get the full functionality.
  • Deny camera/microphone access for suspicious sites: For privacy, set camera and microphone to “Deny” for sites that don’t need them.
  • Clear per-site settings: To remove all customizations for a site, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data (on iOS) or Safari > Settings > Websites (on Mac) and delete the site’s data.

Troubleshooting

Changes don’t seem to stick: Make sure you’re using the aA icon on the specific page, not the browser’s general settings. Also, reload the page after making changes.

I don’t see the aA icon: The aA icon appears in the address bar. If it’s not visible, try scrolling up on the page or ensure you’re not in full-screen mode. On Mac, it’s in the Smart Search field.

Site still behaves the same: Some websites use JavaScript to override browser settings. Try clearing the site’s data (Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data on iOS; Safari > Settings > Websites on Mac) and then reload.

Settings apply to all sites: If your changes are affecting all sites, you might have changed the global settings instead of per-site. Check the URL in the aA menu to confirm it says “Settings for This Website.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset a website to default settings?

On iOS, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, find the site, and swipe left to delete. On Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites, select the site, and click “Remove.” This clears all per-site settings.

Can I set per-site settings for multiple sites at once?

No, per-site settings are individual. You must visit each site and set the options you want.

Will per-site settings sync across my devices?

Yes, if you have iCloud Keychain and Safari sync enabled, per-site settings will sync across your Apple devices.

Why can’t I change the location setting for a site?

Some sites may not request location, so the option might be grayed out. Also, if you’ve previously denied location globally for all sites, you may need to enable it in Safari’s general settings first.

Does Reader mode work on all sites?

Reader mode works on most article-style pages, but not on all sites. If the option is grayed out, the site may not support it.

How do I know which settings are active for a site?

Open the aA menu for that site; the settings that are enabled will be highlighted or toggled on.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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