To open tabs on startup in Safari, you need to adjust a couple of settings within Safari's preferences, specifically in the General pane. This allows you to configure Safari to automatically restore your previous browsing session, including all open windows and their respective tabs, or to start with a new window containing specific tabs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Configure Startup Tabs
Follow these straightforward steps to set up Safari to open with your desired tabs:
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Access Safari Settings:
- Open the Safari application on your Mac.
- From the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari.
- Choose Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
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Navigate to the General Pane:
- In the Safari Settings window, click on the General tab at the top. This pane contains the crucial options for how Safari behaves on startup.
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Define "Safari opens with":
- Locate the dropdown menu labeled "Safari opens with". This setting determines the initial state of Safari when you launch it.
- To reopen all tabs from your last session: Select "All windows from last session" or "All non-private windows from last session". This is the most direct way to have all your previous tabs and windows reappear.
- To open a new window and define its tabs: If you prefer to start with a new window, select "A new window". If you choose this, the next step becomes vital for defining its tabs.
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Configure "New windows open with" (if "A new window" is chosen):
- If you selected "A new window" in the previous step, then the dropdown menu labeled "New windows open with" becomes active and important for your startup tabs.
- To open a new window with tabs from your last session: Select "Last session's tabs". This will open a single new window populated with the tabs you had open during your previous Safari session.
- Other options for new windows: You can also choose "Homepage", "Empty Page", "Same Page", or "Tabs for Favorites" depending on your preference for how a new window should appear.
Once you've made your selections, simply close the Settings window. Safari will automatically save your changes and apply them the next time you launch the application.
Understanding Your Startup Options
Here’s a breakdown of the primary settings and their impact on how Safari opens:
| Setting: "Safari opens with" | Effect on Startup |
|---|---|
| All windows from last session | Safari restores all windows and their tabs exactly as they were when you last quit the application. |
| All non-private windows from last session | Safari restores all non-private windows and their tabs from the previous session. Private windows are not reopened. |
| A new window | Safari opens a single, fresh window. The content of this window is then determined by the "New windows open with" setting. |
| A new private window | Safari opens a single private browsing window, which does not save your browsing history or data. |
| Your homepage | Safari opens a single window to your designated homepage. |
If you set "Safari opens with" to "A new window", you then utilize the "New windows open with" setting to specify what appears in that new window:
- Homepage: Opens your configured homepage.
- Empty Page: Opens a blank page.
- Same Page: Opens the last active page you were viewing.
- Tabs for Favorites: Opens your bookmarked favorites as individual tabs.
- Last session's tabs: Opens a new window with all the tabs from your previous browsing session.
For a comprehensive guide on managing windows and tabs in Safari, you can refer to Apple's official support documentation on controlling which windows Safari reopens on Mac.
