CSE
CSE is a Safari extension app for Mac that lets you customize Safari search behavior, switch engines, and use keyword shortcuts.
What is CSE?
CSE, listed on its official site as Customize Search Engine, is a Safari extension app for Mac that helps users change how Safari handles web searches. It is designed for people who want more control over their default search engine, prefer alternatives to the built-in options, or want quick ways to send searches to different services. The app supports custom search engine settings, keyword-based quick search shortcuts, and separate behavior for Private Browsing. It also includes options that help adjust search results behavior, such as hiding AI overviews on supported engines, and it can work with Shortcuts and Focus modes for context-based switching. Published by Cizzuk Shihu, CSE is available for macOS and focuses on making Safari search workflows more flexible without requiring users to leave the browser they already use.
Key features
- Change Safari's default search engine to a custom or non-default option
- Switch search engines separately while using Private Browsing
- Use keyword shortcuts to send searches to different services quickly
- Search a single emoji directly on Emojipedia
- Adjust search behavior such as hiding AI overviews on supported engines
- Switch or disable custom search behavior with Shortcuts and Focus modes
Review app leftovers with diCleaner
Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
CSE is a Safari extension whose normal purpose is to read and redirect search queries in Safari so it can apply your chosen search engine settings. That level of browser access is expected for this kind of tool, but it also means the app can affect where your searches go and how results pages open. Review the search engines and shortcuts you configure, and keep the app only if you actively use those custom search features.
Recommendation: Keep CSE if you want more control over Safari search behavior or rely on custom search shortcuts. If you do not use Safari search customization, you can remove it without affecting macOS itself, though your custom search settings and extension-based workflow will stop working.
Common paths
/Applications/Customize Search Engine.app
Share your experience
Be the first to share your experience.