Find answers to common questions about Keyword Search, or get in touch directly.
Enable the Keyword Search extension in Safari Settings, then type a keyword followed by your search term in the address bar.
For example, type g swift closures to search Google, or yt lofi music
for YouTube.
Open the Safari extension popup and go to Settings. Tap the "+" button to add a new keyword.
Enter:
gh)GitHub)@@@ as the placeholder (e.g.
https://github.com/search?q=@@@)
You can combine multiple keywords in a single query. The extension will open all matching search engines for that query simultaneously.
In the app, go to Settings and tap "Export". Your keyword list will be saved as a JSON file that you can store in Files, share via email, or import on another device.
To restore, tap "Import" and select your saved JSON file.
This is a known Safari bug on macOS. To fix it:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -f -R /Applications/Safari.app
On modern versions of iOS and macOS, Safari requires this permission for the extension to identify the current search query in your address bar.
Keyword Search only accesses the current session's URL at the moment you perform a search to perform its routing. It does not read, store, or transmit your overall browsing history. All processing is done locally on your device.
Yes. Keyword Search supports a URL scheme to open the native app and perform a search:
keywordsearch://search?q=g+swift — opens the native app and automatically triggers a
search with your keyword.
keywordsearch://add?keyword=gh&name=GitHub&url=https://github.com/search?q=@@@
— adds a new keyword via URL.
You can use these from the Shortcuts app, automation tools, or any app that supports URL actions to launch the search interface.
Bangs allow you to trigger a specific search engine regardless of your current search mode or location. You can use them as a prefix or suffix:
!g iphone or iphone g! — searches Google for 'iphone' even if Google is
not your default.
The !l shortcut (Last Search) automatically replaces itself with your most recent
search phrase.
If you just searched for "best mechanic", you can then type !l apple maps to
instantly find them on Maps without re-typing.
Yes. Say "Quick Search with Keyword Search" to Siri, or use the Shortcuts app to create custom Siri phrases that trigger a keyword search.
| Action | URL Pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Search | keywordsearch://search?q=QUERY |
Open the native app and automatically perform a keyword search (e.g., g swift). |
| Add keyword | keywordsearch://add?keyword=KW&name=NAME&url=URL |
Add a new custom keyword. Use @@@ as the search placeholder in the URL. |
Send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please include your iOS or macOS version and a description of the issue.