How to Add Background Image in Safari Browser?

Safari is the default browser that comes as part of macOS and iOS. With recent updates, Apple improved the tabs and other customization features in Safari browser. By default, the browser opens new tab pages and new windows with a light grey or white colored background. However, it is easy to add background image to Safari and change the look appealing for your eyes. Good part is that you can sync the background across all your Apple devices to use the same background with Start Page option.

Add Background Image to Mac Safari

Chrome browser allows you to setup a solid color or an image as the background for new tab page. However, Safari only allows images to set as your background.

Opening Start Page as New Tab Page

First, you need to set the Start page as a new tab page in Safari.

• Open Safari browser and go to “Safari > Preferences…” menu. Alternatively, press “Command + ,” shortcut keys when you are in Safari to open preferences window.

• Go to “General” section and check “New tabs open with:” option. Make sure to select “Start Page” option from the dropdown.
• If required select “Start Page” for “New windows open with:” option also. With this, you can show a background image on all new windows also.
• Close the preferences window.

Add Background Image in Safari

Now, you can add background image to your Start page.

• Press “Command + T” or go to “File > New Tab” and open a new tab with Start page.

• Click on the customization icon showing as three lines on the lower right corner of the screen.
• Check the “Background Image” box and Safari will instantly set the first image from the list as your background.

• Scroll horizontally and select any other default image as your background.

• If you want to upload your own image, then click on the + icon which is the first option in the image list.
• This will open “Desktop Pictures” folder which contains all the pictures and solid colors for your wallpapers in Mac.
• Select any picture from “Desktop Pictures” folder to make Safari’s background looking similar to your desktop wallpaper. You can also open the “Solid Colors” folder to set an image with solid color instead of a picture.
• Otherwise, browse through other folders to choose your own picture and set it as Safari background.

Note that you can upload only one image for custom background which will be showing first in the list. If you want to upload another image, first click the x icon to remove previously uploaded image and then click + icon to upload a new image.

Using Safari Extensions

Unlike Chrome, there are few Safari extensions to customize the new tab page. However, we do not find any free extension or theme that can change the background of Safari browser in Mac.

Sync Mac Safari Background with iPhone and iPad

When you click on the customization icon, enable “Use Start Page on All Devices” option. This will allow you to sync the same Safari Start page and background on all your devices logged in with same Apple account. After setting the background in Mac Safari and enabling this option, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad. Now, you will see the browser automatically show the same background. If you want to change the background, scroll down to the bottom of Start page and tap on “Edit” button.

This will show similar customization options like Mac Safari and select an image from the list or upload your image to change the background. You can also disable “Background Image” option to remove the image from all your devices.