iOS 27 introduces a new Safari feature called “Describe an Extension” that lets you generate a custom browser extension simply by typing what you want it to do, with no coding knowledge required. Previously, creating a Safari extension meant either downloading one from the App Store or building one from scratch using Xcode, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The new AI-powered approach removes all of that friction.
To follow along, you will need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or any iPhone 17 model, since the feature requires Apple Intelligence. iOS 27 is currently in developer beta, with a public beta planned for July 2026 and a full release expected in fall 2026.
How to Create a Custom Safari Extension in iOS 27 with AI
- Open Safari on your iPhone and navigate to any webpage, since the feature works regardless of which site you start on.
- Tap the settings icon to the left of the URL bar in Safari, which opens the Safari settings menu where page controls and browser options are listed.
- Select Describe Extension from the menu to enter the extension creation interface, where a text field is waiting for your description.
- Type a plain-language description of what you want the extension to do. You can write something like “add a toolbar button that saves and rates recipes from cooking sites” or “create a citation for the current webpage and copy it to the clipboard.” Safari understands natural language, so no technical terminology is needed.
- If you are not sure what to ask for, Apple includes built-in prompt suggestions organized into four categories: Boost Productivity, Improve Focus, Get Creative, and Develop and Design. Browsing these categories is a practical way to get a sense of what the feature can realistically produce.
- Confirm your description and let Safari generate the extension. Once complete, the custom extension appears directly in your Safari toolbar, ready to use on the current page or any other site you visit.
Test the extension on a relevant webpage to verify it behaves the way you intended. Since this feature is in beta, early testers in the developer beta have noted that AI-generated extensions do not always work perfectly for every use case, so treat complex or highly specific requests as experimental for now.
Apple says the entire process is built with privacy in mind and that no personal browsing data is exposed to Apple or anyone else during extension creation. This approach mirrors Safari’s broader privacy-first design that Apple has been building on for several releases. The feature is consistent with how Apple Intelligence handles other tasks across iOS 27.
One important caveat: if you are based in the European Union, Describe an Extension and other Apple Intelligence features will not be available at launch due to ongoing regulatory issues with the Digital Markets Act. Apple has not given a specific timeline for EU availability.
Once the feature is working for you, the four prompt categories are worth exploring to find ideas that fit your actual browsing habits. Extensions that reformat dense articles or automate repetitive page actions can make a meaningful difference day to day, even if the more ambitious requests take some trial and error to get right. Describe an Extension is part of a wider set of new iOS 27 Safari features that also includes Notify Me for webpage monitoring, alongside AI-powered automatic tab organization.
