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Safari 5.0.1 on OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) doesn't seem to have any status bar in which the URL of a link shows when the user moves the cursor over a link (without clicking) All other browsers I've ever used do this.

Is there a user preference checkbox somewhere for this?

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3
  • BTW, I'm using Safari 5.0.1 on Snow Leopard, in case that matters.
    – DarenW
    Commented Jun 29, 2011 at 22:43
  • Works on macOS Catalina as well :o)
    – Andrew
    Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 7:42
  • Still upvoting in Monterey
    – Louis Waweru
    Commented Dec 17, 2021 at 5:05

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
380

There are two options. One is a setting, and the other is a workaround.

Here are instructions on how to toggle the setting using the Menu Bar:

  1. Go into the View menu.
  2. Select "Show status bar".
  3. Now, there will be a URL that pops up when you hover over a link, and also tells you if it's going to be in a new tab:

You can also press ⌘ + / to toggle this setting at ease.

The second option is a workaround for when you drag links. Here's how to get this feature to appear:

  1. Click and drag the link out of where it will originally appear.
  2. At your mouse will be a small box telling you the title of the new window and its URL, although it may be shortened.
  3. You can also drag the link to the plus sign in your tab list, out of the window, or in a folder/the desktop to open that URL in a new tab, new window or save it to your computer, respectively.
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  • 2
    Good, useful tips, but after seeing the slickness of Ultimate Status Bar, I'm sold on that, especially un-tinying tiny urls.
    – DarenW
    Commented Jul 1, 2011 at 0:18
  • 17
    I prefer this answer if only need to show link destination. Use native feature if possible, extention may adding memory usage.
    – GusDeCooL
    Commented Apr 12, 2013 at 19:04
  • 3
    This information is still valid as of Safari 9.1.2
    – Yzmir Ramirez
    Commented Sep 16, 2016 at 17:26
  • 3
    This information is still valid as of Safari 11.0
    – Adam Lindberg
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 8:42
  • 3
    Why would this be turned off by default requiring a google search to turn it on? Being able to see where a link goes before clicking it is crucial for security/privacy. Wtf is Apple thinking?
    – devios1
    Commented Nov 23, 2018 at 14:38
19

I believe this Safari Extension did precisely what you are looking to do, but it's now abandoned: Ultimate Status Bar.

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2
  • Hey, that extension does precisely what I'm looking for! +1
    – DarenW
    Commented Jun 30, 2011 at 22:57
  • I can confirm it works with Yosemite and Safari 8.
    – Jerry
    Commented Nov 13, 2014 at 15:41
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The URL of links your hover over is shown on the gray status bar at the bottom of the page. The status bar is not always present in a new window, but you can turn it on from View > Show Status Bar or with the ⌘/ shortcut.

Some pages can hide the status bar and it does not restore if you go to a new window. However File->New Window should always show this.

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  • 7
    It is not always present in a new window. However, it is user-toggleable (View > Show Status Bar; or the ⌘/ shortcut).
    – Chris Johnsen
    Commented Jun 30, 2011 at 1:52
  • Duplicate answer of apple.stackexchange.com/a/16775/489896
    – Thinkr
    Commented May 8, 2023 at 14:01
  • @Thinkr How - it predates the other answer. The other is the duplicate but covers more than this
    – mmmmmm
    Commented May 8, 2023 at 14:13
  • @mmmmmm If you check the timeline of your answer, I see the answer which is shown now (View > Show Status Bar) was added after the other post. Yours : November 14th 2014; Other answer : June 30th 2011
    – Thinkr
    Commented May 8, 2023 at 15:09
  • @Thinkr my original is Jun 29 and the newer on Jun 30 - the edit was probably because I got a notification and looked at this answer only an edited.
    – mmmmmm
    Commented May 8, 2023 at 16:29

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