How can I make Safari show the URL when I hover over a link?

Question

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?

BTW, I'm using Safari 5.0.1 on Snow Leopard, in case that matters. — DarenW, Jun 29 '11 at 22:43

score 370 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 13 '16 at 02:54

370

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:

Go into the View menu.
Select "Show status bar".
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:

Click and drag the link out of where it will originally appear.
At your mouse will be a small box telling you the title of the new window and its URL, although it may be shortened.
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.

edited Aug 13 '16 at 02:54

bb216b3acfd8f72cbc8f899d4d6963

2,473

answered Jun 30 '11 at 07:09

Whit3rd

4,056
1
14
8

2

Good, useful tips, but after seeing the slickness of Ultimate Status Bar, I'm sold on that, especially un-tinying tiny urls. – DarenW Jul 01 '11 at 00:18
17

I prefer this answer if only need to show link destination. Use native feature if possible, extention may adding memory usage. – GusDeCooL Apr 12 '13 at 19:04
1

Aw yeah. Great info. :) – Almo May 01 '13 at 12:52
3

This information is still valid as of Safari 9.1.2 – Yzmir Ramirez Sep 16 '16 at 17:26
3

This information is still valid as of Safari 11.0 – Adam Lindberg Oct 26 '17 at 08:42
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 Nov 23 '18 at 14:38
1

@devios1 makes for a cleaner UI. Also makes it more consistent with iOS - you don't automatically see URLs before tapping a link on iOS. – ArtOfWarfare Sep 05 '19 at 20:17
This information is still valid as of Safari 14.0 – LeslieOA Nov 21 '20 at 13:56
This information is still valid as of Safari 15.1. – Dmitry Serov Nov 12 '21 at 11:37
1

On German keyboard, the toggle shortcut is cmd+ß which is strong s. – Timo Mar 29 '22 at 13:47
This information is still valid as of Safari 17.1 – Ben Lindsay Dec 12 '23 at 20:51

score 19 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 26 '17 at 11:03

19

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

edited Sep 26 '17 at 11:03

Glorfindel

4,057

answered Jun 30 '11 at 03:08

molle

1,365

Hey, that extension does precisely what I'm looking for! +1 – DarenW Jun 30 '11 at 22:57
I can confirm it works with Yosemite and Safari 8. – Jerry Nov 13 '14 at 15:41

mmmmmm · Answer 3 · 2019-02-11T10:05:31.023

11

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.

edited Feb 11 '19 at 10:05

answered Jun 29 '11 at 23:15

mmmmmm

30,160

7

It is not always present in a new window. However, it is user-toggleable (View > Show Status Bar; or the ⌘/ shortcut). – Chris Johnsen Jun 30 '11 at 01:52
Duplicate answer of https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/16775/489896 – Thinkr May 08 '23 at 14:01
@Thinkr How - it predates the other answer. The other is the duplicate but covers more than this – mmmmmm May 08 '23 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 May 08 '23 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 May 08 '23 at 16:29
@mmmmmm On June 29, your answer did not contain the parts of the other answer yet. – Thinkr May 08 '23 at 16:50

How can I make Safari show the URL when I hover over a link?

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