Delete a single bookmark in Safari

To remove one bookmark, open Safari and click the Bookmarks menu at the top. Find the bookmark you want to delete, hover over it, and a small × button appears on the right side of the name. Click that button and the bookmark is gone immediately — no confirmation dialog.

On iPhone or iPad, tap the Bookmarks icon (it looks like an open book) at the bottom of the screen. Tap Edit in the lower right corner. Find the bookmark and swipe left across it, then tap the red Delete button that slides in from the right.

If you cannot find the bookmark in the menu, it may be inside a folder. Click or tap the folder name to open it, then delete the bookmark the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Single bookmarks delete instantly from the Bookmarks menu on Mac by clicking the × button next to the name.
  • On iPhone and iPad, open Bookmarks, tap Edit, swipe left on the bookmark, and tap Delete.
  • Bookmarks stored in folders must be opened first before you can delete them.
  • Deleting a bookmark folder removes all bookmarks inside it at once, with no way to undo the action.
  • Bookmarks deleted on one device sync to all your other devices signed into the same iCloud account.

Delete a bookmark folder and everything in it

If you want to remove an entire folder of bookmarks at once, the process is the same as deleting a single bookmark. On Mac, go to Bookmarks menu, hover over the folder name, and click the × button. On iPhone or iPad, tap Edit in the Bookmarks view, swipe left on the folder, and tap Delete.

Deleting a folder removes every bookmark inside it. Safari does not ask you to confirm, and you cannot undo this action. If you are unsure whether you need the bookmarks, move them to a temporary folder first instead of deleting them outright.

Delete bookmarks from the Bookmarks sidebar

On Mac, you can also show the Bookmarks sidebar on the left side of Safari. Click View at the top, then Show Bookmarks Sidebar. The sidebar stays open while you browse, showing all your bookmarks and folders in a list.

To delete a bookmark from the sidebar, right-click on it and select Delete from the menu that appears. You can also select the bookmark and press the Delete key on your keyboard. Deleting from the sidebar works the same way as deleting from the menu — the bookmark is removed immediately.

Delete bookmarks from the Bookmarks editor

For managing many bookmarks at once, use Safari's Bookmarks editor. On Mac, click Bookmarks at the top, then Edit Bookmarks. A window opens showing all your bookmarks organized by folder.

Select any bookmark by clicking it once. To select multiple bookmarks, hold Command and click each one. Once selected, press the Delete key or right-click and choose Delete. You can also drag bookmarks between folders to reorganize them before deleting.

On iPhone and iPad, the Bookmarks editor is simpler. Tap the Bookmarks icon, tap Edit, and you can delete or move bookmarks one at a time. There is no way to select multiple bookmarks on mobile devices.

How bookmark deletion syncs across your devices

If you sign into Safari with the same iCloud account on multiple devices, your bookmarks sync automatically. When you delete a bookmark on your Mac, it disappears from your iPhone, iPad, and any other device using that iCloud account within a few minutes.

This sync works in both directions — deleting a bookmark on your iPhone removes it from your Mac as well. If you delete a bookmark by mistake and want it back, you can undo the deletion on any device by pressing Command + Z (Mac) or shaking your iPhone or iPad and tapping Undo immediately after the deletion.

Restore a deleted bookmark if you act quickly

Safari does not keep a trash folder for deleted bookmarks. Your only option to recover one is to undo the deletion right away. On Mac, press Command + Z immediately after you delete. On iPhone or iPad, shake the device and tap Undo from the menu that appears.

If you have already closed Safari or switched to another app, the undo option is gone. Once a bookmark syncs as deleted to your other devices, there is no way to recover it through Safari itself. If you need to restore many bookmarks, you would need to check whether your computer has a backup from before the deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete multiple bookmarks at once on iPhone?

No. On iPhone and iPad, you can only delete one bookmark at a time. Tap Edit in the Bookmarks view, swipe left on each bookmark, and tap Delete. On Mac, you can select multiple bookmarks in the Bookmarks editor by holding Command and clicking each one, then press Delete to remove them all.

What happens if I delete a bookmark folder by accident?

Press Command + Z on Mac or shake your iPhone and tap Undo immediately. If you have already closed Safari or the undo window has closed, the bookmarks are gone. Check your computer's backup system if you need to recover them.

Will deleting a bookmark from Safari delete it from Chrome or Firefox?

No. Bookmarks are stored separately in each browser. Deleting a bookmark in Safari does not affect bookmarks in any other browser on your computer or phone.

Do I need to delete bookmarks to free up space on my device?

No. Bookmarks use almost no storage space. Deleting them will not noticeably improve your device's performance or free up any meaningful amount of storage.