Safari is your Mac's default browser and is usually fast and efficient. But sometimes Safari will not load pages, freezes, is suddenly slow or websites show odd things. Often an extension, stored website data or a network setting is to blame. This article explains step by step how to fix Safari problems on your MacBook.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If your whole Mac is slow, and not just Safari, something else may be going on; more about that at the end.
Step 1: is it Safari or the internet?
Open the same website in another browser or on your phone over the same Wi-Fi network. If it does not work there either, the problem is your internet or the website itself. If it does work there, the problem is Safari.
Step 2: restart Safari
Quit Safari completely with Command + Q and open it again. If Safari does not respond, force quit it with Command + Option + Esc. If you do not want old tabs back when opening (for example because a page causes the problem), hold Shift while opening Safari.
Step 3: turn off extensions
Extensions such as ad blockers and password managers can slow Safari down or break pages. Open Safari, Settings, Extensions and turn them all off. If Safari works then, turn them back on one by one to find the culprit. If you do not recognise an extension, remove it.
Step 4: clear website data and cache
- For one website: Safari, Settings, Privacy, Manage Website Data. Find the website and click Remove.
- Everything: choose Clear History in the History menu. Note: you are then signed out of websites.
Then try a private window (Shift + Command + N). If it works there, stored data or an extension was the cause. Private windows load no saved cookies and usually no extensions.
Step 5: updates
Safari is updated with macOS. Install the latest update via System Settings, General, Software Update. On a very old Mac without updates, modern websites may no longer work properly in the old Safari; then use another browser that still gets updates.
Pages do not load or only partly
- Try flushing the DNS cache.
- Temporarily turn off a VPN or security program.
- Check System Settings, Network for a proxy you do not recognise.
Odd pop-ups or your home page changed
If you see ads where they do not belong, Safari opens pages by itself or your search engine changed, there may be adware on your Mac. Remove unknown extensions and apps. See a virus scanner on a Mac. A message saying your Mac is infected is usually a fake alert.
Safari uses a lot of memory or energy
Many open tabs cost a lot of memory. Close what you are not using. Activity Monitor shows how much each tab demands. See Activity Monitor explained.
Your whole Mac is slow
If not only Safari but everything is slow, the storage, memory or hardware may be the cause. Read MacBook keeps freezing.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If the cause is not Safari but the Mac itself, such as a slow drive, overheating or faltering Wi-Fi, we test the hardware and tell you what is needed. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my passwords if I clear history?
No, passwords are kept separately in the Passwords app. You are signed out of websites, though.
Can I reinstall Safari?
Not on its own; Safari is part of macOS. Reinstalling macOS also restores Safari.
Is another browser better?
On a Mac Safari is often the most battery-efficient. Another browser is fine if it suits you better.
