Safari, Apple’s web browser, is one of the best browsers for the Mac. Out of the box, Safari is fast and can handle just about any type of web site.
As is true of most browsers (and some other software programs), you can expand Safari’s feature set by adding modules called plug-ins. Plug-ins are small programs that can add functionality that a software program lacks; they can also enhance a program’s existing capabilities.
Plug-ins can have a down side. Poorly written plug-ins can slow down Safari’s web rendering performance. Plug-ins can compete with other plug-ins, causing stability issues, or replace a program’s built-in functionality with methods that aren’t as, well, functional.
Whether you want to add functionality or fix a plug-in problem, it’s a good idea to know how to find out what plug-ins Safari is currently using, and how to remove the ones you don’t wish to use.
As is true of most browsers (and some other software programs), you can expand Safari’s feature set by adding modules called plug-ins. Plug-ins are small programs that can add functionality that a software program lacks; they can also enhance a program’s existing capabilities.
Plug-ins can have a down side. Poorly written plug-ins can slow down Safari’s web rendering performance. Plug-ins can compete with other plug-ins, causing stability issues, or replace a program’s built-in functionality with methods that aren’t as, well, functional.
Whether you want to add functionality or fix a plug-in problem, it’s a good idea to know how to find out what plug-ins Safari is currently using, and how to remove the ones you don’t wish to use.
Find Your Installed Safari Plug-ins
Safari is quite willing to disclose which plug-ins are installed, although many people end up looking in the wrong place for this information. The first time I wanted to find out how Safari manages plug-ins, I looked in Safari’s preferences (from the Safari menu, select ‘Preferences’). Nope, they’re not there. The View menu seemed to be the next likely possibility; after all, I wanted to view the installed plug-ins. Nope, they’re not there either. When all else fails, try the Help menu. A search on ‘plug-ins’ revealed their location.- Launch Safari.
- From the Help menu, select ‘Installed Plug-ins.’
- Safari will display a new web page that lists all of the Safari plug-ins that are currently installed on your system.
