Safari bookmarks appear twice after being moved to a folder

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Level 1

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Safari bookmarks appear twice after being moved to a folder

I am having a problem with the bookmarks in Safari. I have created bookmark folders for broad categories, and within each category there are other bookmark folders (sub folders?). When I "add a bookmark" for a website, it appears at the bottom of the list of bookmarks, then I drag it to the appropriate folder. However, sometimes, maybe often, the website is bookmarked in the folder, but is still listed outside the folder. So, the bookmark is listed twice. This redundancy makes for a very long list of bookmarks. When I drag a bookmark to a folder, shouldn't that be the only place for it? I am using a Mac with Sequoia 15.7.7

iMac 21.5″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Jul 26, 2026 7:49 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

WheelieNick

Level 9

54,573 points

Aug 17, 2026 5:40 AM in response to TimTamTommy

Yes, when you drag a bookmark into a folder, it should move there exclusively and not leave a duplicate copy behind. If a copy remains outside the folder, you are accidentally Option-dragging (which copies the item in macOS) or experiencing an iCloud sync glitch duplicating the entry across devices

Try this

Check Your Drag Habit: Ensure you are dragging the bookmark without touching the Option key.

Use the Edit Window: Instead of dragging in the sidebar, go to the top menu bar and select Bookmarks > Edit Bookmarks (or press Option + Command + B). This dedicated manager makes precise moves cleaner.

Toggle iCloud Sync: If duplicates keep spawning out of nowhere, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, turn off Safari, choose "Keep on Mac," wait a minute, and turn it back on to clear out sync conflicts

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