Using Safari Extensions in Safari Technology Preview

This article explains how extensions downloaded from the Mac App Store for the standard Safari browser are fully compatible with Safari Technology Preview, detailing how the two browsers share extension resources and providing the exact steps required to enable and manage them.

Yes, extensions installed from the Mac App Store for the standard Safari web browser can also be enabled inside Safari Technology Preview. Because modern Safari extensions are packaged within macOS applications, the operating system makes them available to both versions of the browser simultaneously once they are installed on your computer.

While the extensions are automatically detected by Safari Technology Preview, they are turned off by default. You do not need to download them a second time, but you must manually enable them and configure their permissions within the preview browser.

How to Enable Your Extensions

Follow these steps to turn on your existing extensions inside Safari Technology Preview:

  1. Open Safari Technology Preview on your Mac.
  2. Click Safari Technology Preview in the top-left menu bar.
  3. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS) from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click the Extensions tab at the top of the window.
  5. Locate your desired extension in the left-hand sidebar and check the box next to its name to enable it.

Managing Permissions and Settings

Enabling the extension is only the first step. Because Safari Technology Preview operates as a separate application from standard Safari, your extension configurations and website permissions do not carry over automatically.

After checking the box to enable an extension, you will need to review its specific permissions in the main panel of the Extensions tab. You must explicitly grant the extension access to the websites you visit (such as selecting "Allow" or "Always Allow on Every Website") just as you did when setting it up in the standard Safari browser.

Troubleshooting Missing Extensions

If an extension you downloaded from the Mac App Store does not immediately appear in the Safari Technology Preview Extensions tab, try the following fixes:

  • Open the Host App: Many Mac App Store extensions require you to open the standalone application they came with at least once before they register with the browsers. Locate the extension's app in your Applications folder, open it, and then check the browser settings again.
  • Restart the Browser: Completely quit Safari Technology Preview (Command + Q) and relaunch it to force it to scan your system for newly installed extensions.
  • Check for Updates: Safari Technology Preview uses experimental web kit features. Occasionally, an extension may temporarily break or fail to load if it is incompatible with the latest preview build. Ensure the extension is fully updated in the Mac App Store.