Starting with Safari 17, Safari supports profiles that keep browsing history, cookies, and website data separate, such as for work and personal use. Learn more about Safari profiles.
Switchbar needs Accessibility permission to open links in a specific Safari profile. It uses this permission to select the correct Safari window or create a new one, then open your link.
When is it needed?
Only when you use Safari profiles. Without this permission, links may open in the wrong Safari profile.
Other browsers and Switchbar features work without it.
Is it safe?
Switchbar only uses Accessibility access to control Safari when opening links in a specific profile. It doesn't read your browsing history, passwords, cookies, or page content, and no Accessibility data is sent off your Mac.
How to enable it
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
- Enable Switchbar.
You can revoke access at any time.
Note: Switchbar also needs Full Disk Access to detect Safari profiles because Safari stores their information in a protected folder.