How to remove browser bookmarks on Mac: My top methods + hacks

Are you stuck with a long list of bookmarks you never use? I’ve been there too. I saved links to websites I thought I’d visit again but never did. To stay organized, I put them into folders like work, entertainment, and news so I can find them quickly. Bookmarks make it easy for me to visit websites without typing long URLs. But if you have old bookmarks piling up like me, it’s time to remove them and free up some space! Wondering how do I delete bookmarks on my Mac? Let's find out!

Simple steps to remove browser bookmarks on Mac effortlessly

Here’s a helpful table summarizing all the steps for removing bookmarks on Mac:

If you use	Do this
Safari	Open Safari > Sidebar > Right-click bookmark > Delete.
Google Chrome	Open Chrome > Bookmarks Bar > Right-click bookmark > Delete.
Mozilla Firefox	Open Firefox > Library > Manage Bookmarks > Right-click bookmark > Delete.
Opera	Open Opera > Bookmarks > Right-click bookmark > Delete.

What are bookmarks?

The browser includes a bookmark feature that allows users to save web page addresses. This feature provides easy access to a website's URL without the need to remember or enter it manually each time. I bookmarked my favorite websites or webpages and categorized them into folders and lists so that I could access them easily anytime on the browser. 

How to delete bookmarks in Mac browsers? 

Bookmarks get cluttered over time. I deleted bookmarks from my Chrome to keep it organized and efficient. But how to erase bookmarks on Mac browsers?   

Managing bookmarks on Safari

I noticed that my Safari browser took a long time to load and respond to the input. Therefore, I checked the Bookmarks Bar and found a build-up of too many saved links, which were causing my browser to slow down. 

Here’s how to unbookmark on Mac’s Safari:

1. Open Safari > Press Command + Option + L > Click Bookmarks.
2. View a list of saved Bookmarks appearing on the Sidebar or Bookmarks Bar.
3. Right-click on any Bookmark you no longer need > Delete.

Managing bookmarks on Google Chrome

I was experiencing slow performance on Chrome and discovered that my Bookmarks Bar was full of links I hadn’t used for long. 

Here’s how to remove a bookmark on a Mac:

1. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Move the pointer to Bookmarks and Lists, and choose Bookmark Manager.
3. Click three vertical dots next to each bookmark > Delete.
4. If you want to delete all bookmarks, press Command + A > Delete.

Managing bookmarks on Mozilla Firefox

My Mozilla Firefox was acting a bit sluggish. I found that my Bookmarks Bar had accumulated too many links that I no longer needed. 

Here’s the process I followed to delete bookmarks in my Mozilla Firefox browser on Mac:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox > Click three horizontal lines.
2. Choose Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks to see all the saved URLs.
3. Alternatively, press Command + Shift + B to open the Bookmarks strip.
4. Right-click on any bookmark or folder to delete bookmarks.

Managing bookmarks on other browsers

Deleting bookmarks on Mac in other browsers like Opera is a simple and straightforward process. 

Here’s how to delete bookmarks on your Mac’s Opera browser: 

1. Open Opera on Mac.
2. Click Bookmarks in the side panel.
3. Choose Other Bookmarks from the menu.
4. Select the bookmark you want to delete.
5. Right-click on the special bookmark files, folders, or URLs and choose Move to Trash.

How to manage links you need without deleting bookmarks on Mac?

Managing links without deleting bookmarks on Mac can help keep your browsing organized. Take a look at the ways I managed the links without deleting bookmarks on Mac.

1. Organize bookmarks by folders

I grouped related bookmarks together in folders based on categories like work, hobbies, or more. This way, I can keep track of the links I always need and delete the rest whenever I want. 

I mostly use Safari, so here’s how I optimized bookmarks by folders in different browsers on Mac:

1. Open Safari on Mac.
2. Go to the Bookmarks menu from the top menu bar and choose Show Bookmarks or press Command + Option + B.
3. You can also click the Sidebar icon ( or press Command + Shift + L) to display all bookmarks.
4. Right-click on the Bookmarks Bar or the Bookmarks page and choose New Folder.
5. Name the folder based on the category to organize bookmarks.
6. Drag and drop bookmarks into the folder.

2. Use tab groups

Tab groups are a great way to keep your browser organized and improve productivity. Whether you're using Safari, Chrome, Opera, or looking for alternatives in Firefox, grouping tabs can help streamline your workflow. 

Here is how I created tab groups on different browsers in Safari:

1. Open Safari on Mac.
2. Right-click on any tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click Open in Tab Group > New Tab Group.
4. Name the tab group. Your new Tab Group is now created.

3. Use MenubarX to manage links

If you're looking for a way to access links without opening another tab in your browser, give MenuBarX a try. It’s like having your own personal search assistant right in your menu bar. You can easily catch up on the latest news, check your Instagram feed, or find that apple pie recipe you've been wanting to try. It’s really convenient.

Once you goog something, you can copy the link at the bottom and save it in your Notes or add it to your Reminder lists, so you’ll totally find the time to cook that pie (I did!).

Deleting bookmarks on Mac keeps browsing efficient!

I hope I have answered all your questions about how to unbookmark, delete favorites on Mac, and remove bookmarks on different browsers. Suppose you get confused by the manual process. In that case, you can try organizing links with folders, using tab groups, and utilizing tools like MenubarX and Tab Finder to keep everything accessible without cluttering the browsers.

You can find these apps and more on Setapp, a useful repository of Mac apps that help you make the most of your dazzling machine. These and more are also available on a 7-day free trial.

Get ready to take control of your browsing experience and get bookmarks deleted from your Mac on different browsers!

FAQs

How to unbookmark on Mac?

Each browser follows different steps to unbookmark a URL on your Mac. To unbookmark on Mac: 

• Safari: Open Safari > Go to Sidebar ( Command + Shift + L) > Right-click the bookmark > Delete.
• Google Chrome: Open Chrome > Go to the Bookmarks Bar > Right-click the bookmark > Delete.
• Mozilla Firefox: Open Firefox > Go to Library > Manage Bookmarks > Right-click the bookmark > Delete.
• Opera: Open Opera > Go to Bookmarks > Right-click the bookmark > Delete.

How do I delete favorites on Mac in Safari?

To delete favorites on Mac in Safari:

1. Open Safari.
2. Go to the Sidebar (Command + Shift + L).
3. Right-click the favorite you want to delete.
4. Choose Delete from the context menu.

Does deleting bookmarks affect browsing speed?

Yes, deleting bookmarks makes your browsing experience smoother and less cluttered, which positively affects your browser speed.

Can I use MenubarX to manage my bookmarks on my Mac?

Yes, you can use MenubarX to manage bookmarks on Mac. It clearly displays your favorite URLs in the menu bar, so you can access them quickly without making your browser look messy.