{"id":46694,"date":"2025-02-10T13:47:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T18:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=46694"},"modified":"2025-03-04T15:26:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T20:26:29","slug":"how-safari-search-engine-extensions-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/10\/how-safari-search-engine-extensions-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Safari Search Engine Extensions Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jeff Johnson<\/a> (Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Note below how Safari says “Search Google” and “Google Search”, even though I’m supposed to be using Kagi.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

Safari connects to Kagi only after<\/em> connecting to Google.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

An unfortunate consequence is that Safari always sends your search to your default search engine, Google for example, before it sends your search to your custom search engine! Is that what you wanted? If you’re trying to protect your privacy, well… you’re failing. Another unfortunate consequence is that you can’t use your default search engine in Safari—if you want to check Google occasionally and compare to Kagi—because the Safari extension will always redirect your searches.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Unique among major browsers, Safari doesn’t let users select a custom search engine. The built-in choices include subpar offerings<\/a> like Yahoo and the failed<\/a> Ecosia but not newer, better entrants such as Kagi and Brave. Safari extensions are a hacky substitute that offers a bad user experience.<\/p>\n

Even though Chrome is made by Google, it lets you pick another search engine. Even though Edge is made by Microsoft, it doesn’t lock you into Bing, and you can add any search URL template that you want. Apple is not encumbered with its own<\/em> search engine to push, yet it seems to be constrained by its desire for revenue sharing, so Safari users get stuck with fewer choices that are arguably lower quality and less private.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n