Set a company portal, intranet, internal help page, or search engine as Safari's homepage instead of the Favorites-based Start Page on your Mac.
In Safari Settings, enter the site address, choose whether new tabs and windows open with it, and check how Safari separates Homepage from Start Page.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Set a Site Address as Safari’s Homepage on Mac
You want Safari to open a specific site, not the Favorites grid, when you start a new session. On a Mac, the setting you need is Homepage, not Start Page. Safari keeps the saved URL in one field and the Favorites grid in a separate view.
A custom homepage suits a company portal, intranet, internal help page, or a search engine you use every day.
- Open Safari on your Mac.
- Choose Safari from the macOS menu bar.
- Choose Settings… from the Safari menu.
- Select the General tab in the Settings window.
- In the Homepage field, replace the current address with the full site address, such as https://example.com.
If the site is already open, select to copy that page’s address into the Homepage field instead of typing it.
Close the Settings window and open it again. The address should still sit in the Homepage field. You’ll know it worked when Safari remembers the URL, even if new tabs still open with the Start Page.
Make New Windows and Tabs Open the Homepage
You saved the address, but new windows still open with Favorites. That is expected. The New windows open with and New tabs open with menus decide which page Safari displays, so change either menu if you want the custom site only for new windows or only for new tabs.
- Open the New windows open with menu.
- Choose Homepage.
- Open the New tabs open with menu.
- Choose Homepage.
You do not have to change both menus. Leave New tabs open with on Start Page if you want Favorites and Top Sites in new tabs while new windows open with your custom site.
Homepage vs. Start Page in Safari on Mac
The names sound interchangeable. They are not. Homepage is one saved webpage address. Start Page is the Favorites and Top Sites grid, and it remains the default for new tabs and windows unless you choose Homepage in the matching menu.
The Favorites grid has its own controls in the Bookmarks menu, including Show Start Page and Edit. The Homepage field does not change those favorite tiles.
The History menu’s Home command opens the saved homepage directly, even when new tabs still use the Start Page.
Fix a Custom Homepage That Does Not Appear
If the address is correct and a new tab still shows Favorites, one open-with menu is still set to Start Page. The Homepage field stores the URL. It does not change those menus by itself.
Corporate and intranet homepages can also need specific Safari permissions. How to View Site Information and Permissions in Safari on Mac shows how to check the site information when the address is blocked.
Stale cookies, cache, or other stored site data can stop a page from loading. The guide below shows how to reset that data in Safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a new tab in Safari still show the Start Page?
The Homepage field stores a URL. It does not change the default page for new tabs on its own. Set New tabs open with to Homepage, and the saved address appears in every new tab.
Does changing the homepage remove my Favorites?
No. Favorites and Top Sites live on Safari’s separate Start Page. Your custom Homepage URL can be used while the Favorites grid remains available from the Bookmarks menu.
Can I use the page I am already viewing as the homepage?
Yes. Select in Safari Settings and the Homepage field fills with the address of the page you have open. No typing needed.
Does Safari open my homepage as soon as I launch the app?
Not always. The homepage setting does not guarantee that the site loads just because Safari launches. It is used when a new window or tab is set to Homepage. The History menu also has a Home command for opening it directly.
Can I use a search engine URL as the homepage?
Yes. Safari accepts any full webpage address, including a search engine page. With both open-with menus set to Homepage, it appears in new windows and new tabs.
Once the Homepage field and the open-with menus match, Safari opens the site you chose. If it still does not, repeat the permissions and stored-data checks above.
