how to get frequently visited websites to show?

Hey mrchntmarine,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. The information below may help.

When "Frequently Visited" is enabled and you open a new tab, Safari should go straight to the websites you visit most. For more information, click here: Customize your Safari settings on iPhone.

Here's the information on how to customize a start page in Safari: Customize a start page in Safari on Mac.

If you're wanting this information to be shared across all your Apple devices, make sure they are signed in using the same Apple ID, and in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > under "Apps using iCloud" locate Safari. you may have to tap "Show All" to locate it.

Also make sure all the devices are up-to-date. Below are articles that will help.

Update your iPhone or iPad

Update macOS on Mac

If the steps above do not help. Turn "Frequently Visited" setting off on all devices and then toggle it back on. Refreshing the setting may help resolve your issue.

On your Mac, you can pin frequently listed websites in Safari by following the steps below.

1. In the Safari app  on your Mac, drag the tab with the website you want to pin to the left side of the tab bar.

2. When the tab shrinks and displays the website’s icon, or the pin  appears, drop the tab in place.

3. You can also Control-click a tab, then choose Pin Tab.

Take care.

Hello mrchntmarine,

Since you continue to experience that behavior, we'll want to see if that persists after booting your Mac into safe mode using the applicable steps below:

Start up in safe mode

Find out whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps.

If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold the power button, your Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see Options, release the power button.

3. Select your startup disk. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name.

4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click the “Continue in Safe Mode” button below your startup disk.

5. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

If you're using an Intel-based Mac

If you're not using a Mac with Apple silicon, you're using an Intel-based Mac.

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac. 

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window. If you can't start up in safe mode, make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.

You can also find those steps in this resource: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

It can take a few extra minutes to boot into safe mode. Your screen may flash or flicker while in safe mode. Those behaviors are expected. Testing in safe mode runs a check on your disk, removes some cached files, and can help isolate conflicts with startup items. Once you've tested that behavior in safe mode, you can restart to leave safe mode.

Let us know your results, and we'll keep moving forward from there.

mrchntmarine,

As the issue still persists it may help to try reaching out to Apple Support again for a further investigation into the issue.

This page can help to start the support request: Get Support

Cheers.