Help & Support

Redirect Engine needs two pieces working together: the app (where you create and manage recipes) and the Safari extension (which applies those recipes while you browse). This page walks through setup on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Jump to

• Before you start
• Enable on Mac (macOS)
• Enable on iPhone or iPad (iOS / iPadOS)
• Add recipes and turn them on
• Platform Sync (Pro)
• Check that redirects work
• Free vs Pro limits
• Troubleshooting

Before you start

1. Install Redirect Engine from the App Store on the device where you browse with Safari.
2. Open the app once so the Safari extension is registered with the system.
3. Enable the Safari extension (steps below). Recipes only apply when the extension is on.
4. Create or install at least one recipe and make sure it is enabled.

You manage recipes in the Redirect Engine app. Safari applies them automatically when a URL matches an enabled recipe.

Enable on Mac (macOS)

Recipes only run in Safari after the Redirect Engine extension is turned on.

Option A - From the Redirect Engine app (easiest)

1. Open Redirect Engine.
2. Go to Settings.
3. In the Safari section, check whether the extension status shows On.
4. If it is Off, tap Open Safari Extension Settings….
5. In the list of extensions, find Redirect Engine and turn it on.
6. With Redirect Engine selected, open Edit Websites… (website permissions for the extension).
7. Set For other websites to Allow so recipes can run on matching URLs as you browse.
8. Return to Redirect Engine - the status should update to On when the app is active again.

Option B - From Safari

1. Open Safari.
2. Choose Safari → Settings… (or Preferences… on older macOS) from the menu bar.
3. Open the Extensions tab.
4. Select Redirect Engine in the sidebar.
5. Turn Redirect Engine on.
6. Click Edit Websites… while viewing the extension.
7. Set For other websites to Allow (or allow specific sites you care about). Without this, Safari may block redirects even when the extension is on.

macOS tips

• You can also open extension settings from Safari’s menu: Safari → Settings → Extensions.
• After enabling the extension, use Edit Websites… and set For other websites to Allow - turning the extension on alone is not enough if website access is denied.
• Extension status in Redirect Engine updates when you come back to the app.
• You can re-check status anytime under Settings → Safari in the Redirect Engine app.

Enable on iPhone or iPad (iOS / iPadOS)

Safari extensions are managed in the system Settings app, not only inside Redirect Engine.

Option A - From the Redirect Engine app

1. Open Redirect Engine.
2. Go to Settings.
3. In the Safari section, note the extension status.
4. Tap Open Settings….
5. In system Settings, open Apps → Safari → Extensions (on some iOS versions: Safari → Extensions).
6. Tap Redirect Engine and turn the extension on.
7. Under Permissions set All Websites website access to Allow so recipes can match while you browse.
8. Return to Redirect Engine - status updates when you come back to the app.

Option B - From system Settings

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps → Safari → Extensions.
   On some system versions the path is Settings → Safari → Extensions.
3. Tap Redirect Engine.
4. Enable the extension.
5. Under Permissions set All Websites website access to Allow so recipes can match while you browse.

iPhone & iPad tips

• The extension must be enabled on each device where you want redirects (Mac, iPhone, and iPad are separate unless you re-enable on each).
• With Pro, recipes can sync via iCloud, but you still enable the Safari extension once per device.
• After enabling, try a known matching URL in Safari (not only in other browsers).

Add recipes and turn them on

The extension only applies enabled recipes.

Install a recipe preset

1. Open Redirect Engine.
2. Open Recipes Library.
3. Pick a preset (for example Google → Kagi, Google Maps → Apple Maps, Strip Tracking, or a Mail preset on Mac).
4. Install it, then open My Recipes and make sure the recipe is enabled.

Create a custom recipe

1. Open My Recipes.
2. Add a recipe with:
   • Name - anything you recognize
   • Pattern - what to match (for example https://maps.google.com/*)
   • Destination - where to go (for example https://maps.apple.com/?q=$1)
3. Turn the recipe on.

AI Describe Recipe (Pro)

1. Unlock Redirect Engine Pro if needed.
2. Use AI Describe Recipe and type a short plain-language description.
3. Review the draft pattern and destination, then save and enable the recipe.

Email links to web based email (Pro, Mac only)

1. Unlock Redirect Engine Pro if needed.
2. On Mac, open Recipes → Mail and install a web preset (Gmail Web, Outlook.com, Outlook Microsoft 365, Yahoo Mail, Fastmail, Proton Mail, HEY, and more).
3. Enable the recipe in My Recipes. Enable only one mailto preset at a time.
4. Click a mailto: link in Safari - the compose page opens in the web based email provider you chose.

Mail presets do not run on iOS or iPadOS (Safari already uses the system mail client).

Free enabled-recipe limit

Free accounts can create unlimited recipes but only enable a limited number at once (currently 1). Disable another recipe, or upgrade to Pro for unlimited enabled recipes.

Platform Sync (Pro)

With Pro, each recipe has a Sync target that controls which platforms keep the status in sync. Recipes still appear in your list on every device when iCloud is on; Sync only decides where redirects can fire.

How to set Sync

1. Open My Recipes.
2. Open a recipe (or create one).
3. Choose Sync: All Devices, iOS/iPadOS, Mac, or Off.
4. Use Enabled to turn redirects on or off for the current device (or for all devices when Sync is All Devices or the group you’ve selected).

Free doesn’t sync recipes between devices or the status of the recipe.

Check that redirects work

1. Confirm the Safari extension is On in Redirect Engine → Settings.
2. Confirm at least one matching recipe is enabled.
3. In Safari, open a URL that should match (for example a Google Search or Maps link if you installed those presets).
4. Safari should open the destination instead of the original URL.

If nothing happens, see Troubleshooting.

Free vs Pro limits

Pro is a one-time App Store purchase. Restore anytime with the same Apple ID under Pro or Settings.

Troubleshooting

Redirects never happen

• Enable the Safari extension (steps above). Status should read On.
• Enable the recipe in My Recipes. Disabled recipes are ignored.
• Test in Safari. Other browsers do not use this extension.
• Make sure the URL matches the pattern (for example *://*.google.com/search* only matches Google Search, not all of google.com).
• On free, you may already be at the enabled recipe limit (1) - disable another recipe or upgrade to Pro.

Extension status is Off or Unknown

• Open Redirect Engine → Settings → Safari and use Open Safari Extension Settings… (Mac) or Open Settings… (iPhone / iPad).
• Turn Redirect Engine on in the system Safari extensions list.
• Return to the app so status can refresh.
• Quit and reopen Safari after enabling, then try again.

Works on Mac but not on iPhone (or the reverse)

• Install Redirect Engine and enable the extension on that device.
• With Pro + iCloud, recipes can sync, but the Safari extension is still per-device.
• Confirm you are signed into the same Apple Account if you expect syncing between devices.

Permission or “website access” prompts

• On Mac, open Safari → Settings → Extensions → Redirect Engine, then Edit Websites….
• Set For other websites to Allow so redirect recipes can run while you browse.
• On iPhone / iPad, allow access for All Websites (or the sites you want redirected).
• If access is denied for a site, that site will not redirect.

Describe Recipe fails or hits a limit

• Describe Recipe is a Pro feature.
• It has a daily draft limit; counts reset at midnight on the device.
• Only the short description you enter is sent when you generate a draft - see the privacy policy.

Still stuck?

• Force-quit Safari and Redirect Engine, then reopen both.
• Confirm you are on a recent iOS / iPadOS / macOS version that supports Safari web extensions.
• Reinstall Redirect Engine from the App Store if the extension never appears in Safari’s list (open the app once after install).

Feel free to reach out to us as well if you need assistance.