User level: Level 1 (103 points)When I try to save something to my reading list using the plus symbol in a circle at the left of the smart search bar, safari is now arbitrarily creating a bookmark instead.
Can I configure this back to the previous behavior of just putting everything into one monolithic reading list?
Posted on Oct 20, 2026 8:17 AM
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)Oct 20, 2026 11:04 AM in response to cordchanger
Ther (+) icon doesn't do anything when I click it. It does not add it to a reading list, nor does it add it as a bookmark anywhere that I can see.
I think the most foolproof way for adding a website to the reading list is to use the share icon at the top right corner and then choosing "Add to Reading List" from the menu. Granted it takes 2 clicks, but at least it works as advertised.
User level: Level 1 (103 points)Oct 20, 2026 11:40 AM in response to cordchanger
I found and deleted the groups that safari created in my bookmarks -> favorites. It had created one named "news" and one named "popular", perhaps when I responded to a prompt asking if I wanted to enable automatic grouping of tabs. I don't think they are related.
Now with these groups deleted it seems to be back to adding everything to my reading list.
I would like to better understand how to control this behavior.
User level: Level 10 (162,806 points)Oct 20, 2026 9:34 AM in response to cordchanger
User level: Level 1 (103 points)Oct 20, 2026 10:50 AM in response to John Galt
macOS 27
I know about (and have been using) the circled + button in the smart search bar. But now safari wants to decide for me where to put it - reading list vs bookmark in a group it makes up.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256379202