Can't rearrange bookmarks in Safari 26 and macOS 15.7

I also had this problem, so passing along a solution found on a reddit thread: when you click the ellipsis at the top of the bookmarks sidebar, the third option down is "Show Folders on Top", which is checked by default. This option apparently removes the ability to move bookmarks around via drag-drop. When I cleared this checkmark, I was able to re-order bookmarks as before. Clearing it also lets me leave a bookmark folder open to display the contents along with other bookmarks in different folders, which is my preferred set up.

Hope this works for you as well.

sequoia 15.7.1 with safari 26.0.1

I have always used the apple menu to access my bookmarks. I only ever opened my sidebar to rearrange them. (drag and drop) but since upgrading to safari 26, I could no longer use the sidebar to rearrange bookmarks. then I was pointed to "edit bookmarks" from the apple menu, where I CAN still drag and drop.

so basically, to me, the safari sidebar is now obsolete. :)

EDITED

jeffreythefrog wrote:

I cannot upgrade to Tahoe, so I have no idea if that step will work on Tahoe. But if it won’t work on Tahoe, then you may still want to provide feedback to apple.

Jeffrey, I just tested in Tahoe. If you use the "Edit Bookmarks" option instead of the "Show Bookmarks" option, drag-n-drop works as it always has for me, and I think I've used Safari since v1.

[M4 Pro Macbook Pro 14" macOS 26.0.1]

Allan Jones wrote:

Jeffrey, I just tested in Tahoe. If you use the "Edit Bookmarks" option instead of the "Show Bookmarks" option, drag-n-drop works as it always has for me, and I think I've used Safari since v1.

thanks for that. :) and apparently, removing the checkmark from "Show Folders on Top" also lets drag and drop work. (thanks to jkrys for that suggestion).

thanks Brian mcc! I just installed safari 26.0.1and tested. and YES we can use Apple Menu > Safari > Bookmarks > Edit Bookmarks to rearrange bookmarks with Safari 26.0.1 while on Sequoia.

Jeffrey, If I use the "Edit Bookmarks" option instead of the "Show Bookmarks" option, drag-n-drop also works for me. But I don't understand why it doesn't work in "Show Bookmarks" when both "Edit Bookmarks" and "Show Bookmarks" use the same bookmarks in Safari.

Bookmarks: To Sort any Folder By Name - we used to simply R-Click on a Folder displayed in the sidebar & were presented with the "Sort By Name" option.

In MacOS 15.7.1 & Safari 26.0.1, this option is not presented when we R-Click on a Folder in the sidebar.

But, by going to the Bookmarks Menu (top of screen) -> Edit Bookmarks -> we are presented with the list of Folders.

R-Click on any folder & you are presented with the "Sort By Name" option!

Sure hope Apple restores the old function so we could Sort By Name directly from the sidebar🥴

You can drag it in the dropdown but that does not change it in the sidebar. My bookmarks dropdown does not match my bookmarks in the sidebar. In 26 I can no longer rearrange the bookmarks in the sidebar.

that is also my biggest issue with safari 26.

the only thing we can do is let apple know our feelings. maybe if enough people voice their concerns, apple will fix this.

please visit Feedback - Safari - Apple

brian mck wrote:

This post also refers to "click the ellipsis at the top of the bookmarks sidebar," but this ellipsis is not shown at the top of my bookmarks sidebar?

so then that means your Mac is on sequoia.

you can either "live with it" and send feedback to apple. Feedback - Safari - Apple

or you can reinstall sequoia over your current sequoia that has safari 26 to get back to sequoia with safari 18.6. a full system erase is not needed.

brian mck wrote:

Jeffrey, If I use the "Edit Bookmarks" option instead of the "Show Bookmarks" option, drag-n-drop also works for me.

are you using Sequoia or Tahoe?

But I don't understand why it doesn't work in "Show Bookmarks" when both "Edit Bookmarks" and "Show Bookmarks" use the same bookmarks in Safari.

I don't get that either. but in Sequoia, when I want to reorganize my bookmarks, I open the safari bookmarks sidebar. that is where I can drag and drop. I don't use the menubar option to choose "edit bookmarks". frankly, I never even noticed that option before. are you saying that I could use that option on safari 26, but while still on Sequoia?

Hi Jeffrey, I installed Sequoia 15.7 and Safari 20 over the weekend. Prior to the upgrades I could drag-n-drop bookmarks in the sidebar to suit my preference, but I cannot drag-n-drop since installing the upgrades. If I click Bookmarks>Edit Bookmarks my favourites are displayed as a list and I can drag-n-drop there. 

One of my bookmark links was incorrect and instead of changing the URL I deleted the bookmark and created a fresh one with the correct URL. On opening the bookmarks sidebar this bookmark was at the top of the other bookmarks and I cannot drag-n-drop it to display my bookmarks in alphabetical order. I was able to do this under edit bookmarks. After rearranging my bookmarks in edit bookmarks I opened the sidebar, but the bookmark was still at the top of the list. I rebooted my Mac and opened the bookmarks sidebar, but this bookmark was still on top and I can't drag-n-drop. 

Perhaps your'e running the earlier versions of Sequoia and Safari?

UPDATE:

please see 6x6's reply in this discussion. if you are comfortable using terminal, their suggestion fixes things for those of us on sequoia with safari 26.0.1.

For those of us on Sequoia, and unhappy with safari 26, you might want to look at FitzltEng’s reply in this thread. You can lay Sequoia in place over the Sequoia with safari 26.0.1 to end up back on Sequoia with safari 18.6 without a system wipe and reinstall.

I cannot upgrade to Tahoe, so I have no idea if that step will work on Tahoe. But if it won’t work on Tahoe, then you may still want to provide feedback to apple.

Please see Feedback - Safari - Apple.

jkrys wrote:

when you click the ellipsis at the top of the bookmarks sidebar, the third option down is "Show Folders on Top", which is checked by default. This option apparently removes the ability to move bookmarks around via drag-drop.

Hope this works for you as well.

for those on macOS Tahoe, that is the fix.(judging on what I've read) but for those of us on macOS Sequoia (including the OP), the ellipsis is not present, so it's not possible