Safari Extension Management in iOS 15

With the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced comprehensive support for Safari Web Extensions on iPhone and iPad, accompanied by a redesigned extension management panel. This update brought desktop-class extension capabilities to mobile devices, allowing users to centrally manage add-ons, configure granular website permissions, toggle extensions on or off, and browse new extensions directly from the browser interface.

Centralized Extension Controls

In iOS 15, users can manage their active extensions directly within Safari without navigating away from their current page. Tapping the "Page Settings" button (the "aA" icon in the address bar) reveals a dedicated Extensions menu item. This panel displays all currently installed extensions, showing their active statuses and allowing users to enable or disable them with a single tap.

Granular Website Permissions

A key security capability added to the iOS 15 management interface is per-site permission control. When an extension requests access to webpage content, the management panel allows users to choose specific access levels:

  • Ask: Prompts the user each time the extension requests access to a site.
  • Allow for One Day: Grants temporary access to the active domain for a 24-hour period.
  • Always Allow on This Website: Permanently grants permission for the specific domain currently in use.
  • Always Allow on Every Website: Grants broad permission across all browsing sessions.

Users can modify these permissions at any time from the extension panel by tapping the specific extension name while browsing.

System Settings Integration

Beyond the in-browser menu, iOS 15 introduced an expanded management section in the device's Settings app under Settings > Safari > Extensions. This area provides:

  • Master toggles to enable or disable extensions system-wide.
  • Separate permission configurations for standard browsing and Private Browsing modes.
  • A direct link labeled More Extensions, which opens a curated collection of Safari-compatible extensions in the App Store.