The Cluttered Start Page
Whenever you open a new, blank tab in Safari on macOS, you are presented with the Start Page. By default, this page displays a section called “Frequently Visited,” which consists of large, square icons representing the websites you navigate to most often. While this algorithm is designed to save you time, it can quickly turn your clean browser interface into a cluttered mess. More importantly, it creates a significant privacy risk. If you are sharing your screen during a presentation or if a family member borrows your Mac, they will instantly see your most-visited banking sites, social media profiles, or news outlets. If you want a minimalist browser experience, you should hide this section completely.
How to Remove the Frequently Visited Section
You can customize the layout of the Start Page directly from the new tab window without needing to dig through the main Safari preferences menu.
- Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
- Open a new, blank tab by pressing Command + T on your keyboard to view the Start Page.
- Look at the very bottom right corner of the Safari window. You will see an Options icon (it looks like three small slider switches).
- Click the Options icon to open the Start Page customization menu.
- You will see a list of checkboxes for various features, including Favorites, Privacy Report, and Reading List.
- Locate the checkbox labeled Frequently Visited.
- Uncheck the box.
Enjoying the Minimalist View
The change is instantaneous. As soon as you uncheck the box, the grid of frequently visited website icons will vanish from the Start Page. Your layout choice is saved automatically and will apply to every new tab you open in the future. To take the minimalist approach even further, you can uncheck every single box in that menu, leaving you with a completely blank, distraction-free window every time you start a new browsing session.