firefox and safari not working on mac

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• 21 have this problem
• Last reply by FredMcD

9 years ago

I have a Macbook Pro I purchased new this summer (2014). I installed the latest version of Firefox in July 2014 and it worked fine for over 2 months. Suddenly, Firefox no longer opens. It flashes like it's opened a window but nothing shows. I created a new user profile and it worked fine on the new profile, and gradually Firefox is having the same problem on each user profile I create. Please help!

I am using OSX 10.9.2 In the notifications on my mac, it says I can download an update for Firefox version 32.0.3...but when I click on that notification to do so, it slides back off the screen and doesn't install.

Chosen solution

Download the current full installer and save it. After, remove Firefox. Do not remove user information. After, reboot the computer. Then the full installer.

Uninstall Firefox from your computer {web link}

Download Firefox Full Installer For All languages And Systems {web link}

All Replies (4)

Chosen Solution

• Top 10 Contributor

Did you install extensions in the new profile?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

• Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
• Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Try to disable IPv6 (check for other possible causes as well).

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Error_loading_websites

I tried starting in safe mode by holding down the option key, and it still won't launch.

Start your Computer in safe mode. Then start Firefox. Try Safe web sites.

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;

If running, turn your computer off. Remove any disks and thumb drives that are in your hard drives or ports. Now start your computer but also;

Windows; Press the <F8> key repeatedly. Mac: Hold down the Shift key. Linux; Using the command line, Linux/Unix computers can be booted into various run levels that determine which resources are loaded. For example, "runlevel 1" is typically the equivalent to Windows and Mac safe modes.

• Source; Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

When the Boot menu is displayed, release the key you were pressing. You must now choose what mode you want. The most used are;

• Safe Mode; The computer runs with only a minimum set of programs.
• Safe Mode With Networking; Same as above, but with internet access.

We do not use any AI writing tools. All our content is written by humans, not robots. See our editorial process .

How to Fix Safari Not Working on Mac

When you are browsing the web, either for work or for play, it can be very frustrating when Safari starts running slow or quits working altogether. So what causes Safari to malfunction? And how can you fix it?

We use our web browsers every day, so it can be pretty alarming when they don’t work right. Safari, just like every other browser, has its fair share of problems. Fortunately, there are a few solutions you can try to get back on track.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Solution 1: verify your network, solution 2: turn off vpn (virtual private network), solution 3: close unused tabs, solution 4: force quit safari, solution 5: clear website data and cache, solution 6: disable safari extensions, solution 7: clear safari history, solution 8: view safari processes in activity monitor, solution 9: restart mac, solution 10: update safari by updating macos, solution 11: use safe mode, solution 12: scan your mac for malware, final thoughts.

• Safari could malfunction due to a poor internet connection or a VPN, so verify that your network hardware is working properly and that your VPN is not causing any problems.
• You might need to force quit Safari , especially if it is frozen or if you have too many tabs open at once.
• Clearing website data and disabling unused extensions will go a long way in getting Safari back up and running.
• You should keep Safari updated to take advantage of any security fixes and patches.
• Booting up into Safe Mode is a good option if some of the simpler fixes do not work.
• If malware gets onto your computer, this could cause issues with Safari. Clearing out suspicious programs and running a malware scan on your Mac is a great solution to get things working again.

What to Do When Safari Is Not Working?

Safari might not be working for a number of reasons. The issue could be anything from a faulty internet connection to malware on your computer. Let’s start with some of the easier fixes first and rule out any possible causes.

The first reason that Safari may not be responding is that you may not have the proper internet connection. Verify if you are able to see any other websites or applications that require internet, if you cannot, then check your internet hardware to ensure everything is running correctly and the internet provider’s website for information on any potential outages in your area. 

If you use a VPN, try turning it off to see if Safari begins to work again. VPNs are known to slow down internet connection due to the additional steps it takes in order for data to be transferred from your network to the internet provider and back. 

There are also instances when VPNs can become “blocked” and no longer allow data to flow through, causing you to lose your internet connection. If you have no internet, Safari will not work. Unfortunately, all VPNs are configured differently on how to turn them off, so I suggest looking into your specific VPN on how to disconnect it.

Another item that could be slowing down your internet or the processing power for Safari is if you have a large number of tabs open. Having many tabs open, all loading different content and transferring different data, can become overwhelming for your Mac. 

Close all unused tabs (preferably all but the one you are currently trying to load) and see if this improves Safari.

If Safari is still unresponsive, it may need to be reset by force quitting . By quitting immediately, we stop all processes in their tracks. 

This means you may lose any unsaved data. There are several ways to Force Quit an application on Mac, let’s look at the three easiest ways.

Option 1 to Force Quit – Using the Dock

Right-click (click with two fingers) on the Safari icon. Click Quit in the menu that comes up.

Option 2 to Force Quit – Using the Apple Menu

With Safari Open, click the Safari Menu along the top, and select Quit Safari .

Option 3 to Force Quit – Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Press the three keys: Command + Option + Escape . The following will appear:

Click Safari and Force Quit . Click Force Quit again to confirm.

Another option that could be helpful for you to get Safari working again is to clear the Website Data and Cache that Safari is holding. 

Not only can deleting this information help to speed up Safari by removing tracking from different websites and clearing unnecessary data from Cache, but it is also a good practice to follow for your own security and privacy as well. 

To clear website data and cache in Safari, first, go to the Safari menu located at the top of your screen and click Settings .

Under the Privacy tab at the top, click Manage Website Data .

You can either remove data per website by choosing a website and clicking Remove or remove all website data by clicking Remove All . I suggest removing all. 

Note : This will clear all Cache data, Cookies, and local storage information. 

Click Remove Now to confirm.

While Safari Extensions are a great option, they also increase the load on your Mac. This means that you may experience the computer slowing down or even Safari not responding properly.

To disable Safari Extensions, enter the Safari menu at the top of your screen and click Settings .

In the Extensions tab at the top, you will see the extensions that are turned on indicated by a blue checkmark on the left. 

To turn that particular extension off, click the blue check mark so a gray box appears in its place (or light blue for the selected extension).

The last step to removing unnecessary data from Safari is to clear your history. This will remove the previous pages that you have visited on Safari. 

Open the History tab and click Clear history .

Change the drop-down menu to your desired time frame (for best results, I suggest choosing all history), and click Clear History to confirm.

Another option to see what could potentially be wrong with your Safari is to view the processes in Activity Monitor. 

This way, we can see what pieces of Safari are taking up a higher amount of processing power. We can also quit or restart these processes to see if allowing them to stop can help Safari begin to work as expected again. 

To View the CPU Activity of Safari, open Activity Monitor .

Under the CPU tab at the top, we can search Safari, and all the Safari-related processes will pop up. Using the X at the top of the screen, we can stop any processes that seem to be taking up a large amount of the CPU load. 

Note : My Safari application is working as expected, so my CPU usage percentages are very low. If there are any of yours that appear to be much higher than others or if they relate to items that are not responding, try to quit them using the X. 

If none of the above options work, you could try to restart your Mac. This will stop all the processes that are running, not just Safari related. If the problem was not truly Safari, this would be a good way to figure this out. 

In the Apple Menu, click Restart .

It is also possible that Safari needs an update to work properly. Apple releases their Safari updates with their macOS. This means, we will need to update the operating system for your Mac to see if it improves the performance of Safari. 

To check if you have a macOS update, go to the Apple Menu and click System Settings .

In the System Settings , navigate to General on the left and choose Software Update .

This screen will tell you if there are any updates available for your Mac at this time. Follow the prompts to update if needed. 

Note : I suggest keeping on automatic updates. While automatic updates are not always able to be installed on their own, they will remind you when they are unable to be installed. This is the easiest way to be on top of your software updates. Be sure to periodically check back to ensure you didn’t miss any!

At this point, there is a possibility that the problem could be more than just Safari. To rule this out, you can boot your Mac in Safe Mode in order to determine where the issue lies. Safe Mode helps to identify if the problem is in the software or the startup procedure.

To Open Safe Mode in Apple Silicon Macs

• Go to the Apple Menu and click Shut Down . Ensure your Mac is entirely shut down.
• Press and hold the power button until the Loading Startup Options screen appears.
• Choose a volume, if asked.
• Press and hold the Shift key and click continue in Safe Mode.

To Open Safe Mode on Intel Macs

• Turn on or restart the Mac, press and hold the Shift key immediately.
• Log in to your Mac. You may be asked to log in twice.

Note: for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, you will see Safe Boot in the menu bar to confirm that you are in Safe Mode.

If you are experiencing issues with the overall performance of your Mac – Safari included – I would suggest looking for possible malware on your machine. To start, use Activity Monitor as discussed above, looking out for suspicious activity that you don’t recognize.

Another way to identify Malware is by looking at your Applications. There may be applications that you do not recall installing. There may also be applications that look similar to your legitimate applications, but are slightly different and contain malware. 

Additionally, check your login items. 

To Access your Login Items, Go to Apple Menu and System Settings .

Look for General on the Left sidebar . Then select Login Items on the Right.

Look at the items that are under the Open at Login section. Anything here that you do not recognize could potentially be malware. 

Note : Parallels Toolbox is not Malware. I recognize this as an application as something that I installed and use personally, so I do not have a reason to be concerned.  

If you don’t want to go through all of these steps manually, you can always use a third-party application to clean up your Mac and remove malware. CleanMyMac X is one such app that I’ve had a good experience with in the past.

While not entirely free, it will go a long way in removing malware on your Mac, and ultimately making your system perform better. If malware or system junk is causing Safari to malfunction, running a scan using CleanMyMac X is a great solution.

After downloading and installing the app, launch it and look for Malware Removal from the options in the left sidebar. Then, hit Scan, and CleanMyMac X will handle the rest.

This article walked you through 12 different ways to identify why your Safari is not working on Mac and how to fix it. We also included other tips and tricks to ensure that you keep your Mac safe from potential Malware. 

Did this article help you solve your problem with Safari? What method did you use? Let us know in the comments!

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With every new update, Apple adds more features to the Safari browser on Mac. Unfortunately, sometimes, these updates may bring unexpected guests, like bugs, that can affect the browser. So, let’s look at solutions to fix Safari not working on Mac after the update.

Why is Safari not working on my Mac?

Before getting into the fixes, here’s a look at the major culprits behind the Safari not working on Mac issue.

• Software glitches that came with macOS update.
• The website you are trying to access is down for maintenance or other issues.
• Your Mac might not have a stable internet connection.
• Heavy accumulation of cookies or cache.
• Viruses from plugins or extensions.

How to fix Safari not working on Mac

Here are some effective troubleshooting steps to fix Safari if it’s not working on your Mac.

1. Reload the webpage

Since Safari is not loading webpages on Mac after the update, you can start fixing it by reloading the webpage you are currently on. To reload : Press Cmd (⌘) + R .

Also, to ensure the problem is not with one particular website, try accessing another web page on Safari.

Alternatively, click View from the menu bar and select Reload Page . If neither is working, ensure you have a stable internet connection and look at other fixes.

2. Force Quit Safari

If Safari is frozen or not loading, try to force quit the app and see if that helps.

Once done, reopen the app, and it will automatically continue from where you left off.

3. Check and Reset Network Settings

If some bugs have fiddled with the default settings, even that may stop Safari from working.

To solve that, you can reset the network settings on your Mac and see if you are still facing the issue.

4. Turn off VPN

If you are using a VPN on your Mac, it might stop you from accessing geo-restricted websites. So, it would be wise to turn off the VPN and re-check if you can access the desired website in Safari.

Go to Apple menu → System Settings → Pick VPN in the sidebar → Toggle off VPN .

If you are using a third-party VPN app for your Mac, you might need to open the app and disconnect the service.

Then, retry using Safari. If this doesn’t fix the issue, proceed towards other fixes.

5. Try using a Private window

As mentioned before, the problem might be with certain websites. Interestingly, you can access some of the websites flawlessly when opened in a private window.

To open a private window in Safari, use Cmd (⌘) + Shift + N .

6. Give your Mac a quick restart

With a quick Mac restart, you might be able to solve the Safari not working issue.

Click Apple menu → Restart → Click Restart again to confirm.

7. Delete Safari History, Cache, and Cookies

Have you ever wished to erase some memories in life to start afresh?

While it’s not entirely possible in life, you can clear cache, history, and cookies on Safari on Mac . This will help load your web pages quicker.

That’s not all. You can further clear other unwanted files from Safari using Finder. Here’s how:

• Open Finder → click Go option from the menu bar.

You can use this to clean up the corrupted Safari PLIST files and database. Don’t worry; Safari will eventually regenerate these files. Clearing these files will also remove what’s making Safari not work on Mac after the update.

8. Disable Safari Extensions

While you downloaded them to improve your browsing experience, some corrupted extensions might be the reason Safari does not work on your Mac after the macOS Sonoma update.

• Launch Safari → click Safari in the menu bar → go to  Settings .
• Click  Extension s → disable extensions by unchecking them.
• To  uninstall  these extensions, press  delete .

9. Enable JavaScript

This is a solution that often goes under the radar. Certain websites need JavaScript to load properly.

To enable it, go to Safari Settings → Security → Check Enable JavaScript .

10. Disable iCloud Private Relay

Enabling iCloud Private Relay can mask your IP address and make it hard for you to access certain websites.

If you trust the website, try disabling Private Relay and accessing it again.

To do so, go to Apple menu → Click System Settings → Pick your Apple ID → Select iCloud → Click Private Relay → Toggle off Private Relay .

11. Delete Preference files 

As one can guess, Safari’s preference files contain information regarding all the settings and changes you have made in the browser. It might be why Safari is not working on Mac after the update. To solve that, you can simply clear it:

• Quit Safari if it’s running.
• Launch Finder .
• Hold the Option key and hit the Go menu.

12. Flush your DNS cache on Mac

Sometimes, adding multiple Domain Name Systems (DNS) can cause issues with Safari.

So, clear the DNS cache and see if the issue is solved.

13. Login using Safe mode 

Ever heard of playing it safe? While it is close to impossible in life, it’s possible in macOS with Safe Mode . With this, you can save Safari from freezing.

14. Update macOS

Suppose the underlying issue is indeed a result of the glitches that came with a macOS update you downloaded. Apple will surely release another update to fix such bugs.

So, update macOS as soon as the next version is available.

Happy browsing with Safari

With this tutorial, I hope these solutions could help you save Safari from not working on MacBook Air or other Macs after the update.

If none of the solutions are helpful, the last resort is to contact Apple Support and see if they can help you look at the issue.

If you still have any doubts or suggestions, do let me know in the comments.

More interesting reads:

• Safari running slow on Mac? 18 Ways to fix it!
• How to stop autoplay videos in Safari on Mac
• Safari keeps crashing on Mac? 11 Ways to fix it!

Anoop loves to find solutions for all your doubts on Tech. When he's not on his quest, you can find him on Twitter talking about what's in his mind.

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Fix: Safari Not Working On Mac

Updated: September 19, 2022

9 Revisions

Check the solutions we’ve put together to help you when your Safari browser is not opening or not working properly on your Mac computer.

Many Mac users have recently reported issues with their Safari Browser. What usually happen are they can’t open their Safari or the browser is not working properly.

If you’re also experiencing this issue, you’re no doubt very frustrated. But don’t worry. The following are a few fixes that have helped many Mac users.

Try these fixes

You may not have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

• Update your Safari
• Temporarily disable your antivirus
• Clean your browser cache
• Restore your Mac computer with Time Machine
• Reinstall your macOS

Fix 1: Update your Safari

You may be having your issue with your Safari because you are using an old version . You should try updating your browser and see if this fixes the issues for you. To do so:

• Click the UPDATE button next to Safari if there’s any update available.
• Wait for the update process to complete.

Now check to see if this fixes your Safari issue. If it does, great! But if not, there are still other fixes you can try…

Fix 2: Temporarily disable your antivirus

Your firewall or antivirus software can sometimes cause interference to your Safari browser. To see if that’s the case for you, temporarily disable your firewall and see if your problem remains. (You may need to consult your firewall documentation for instructions on disabling it.)

If this resolves your problem, you can add your game to the whitelist of your firewall. You can contact the vendor of your firewall and ask them for advice. Or you can install a different antivirus solution.

IMPORTANT: Be extra careful about what sites you visit, what emails you open and what files you download when you have disabled your firewall.

Fix 3: Clean your browser cache

Corrupted cache can cause issues to your Safari browser. In this case, you should try cleaning it. Here’s how you can do it:

• Close your Safari browser if it is running.
• On your keyboard, press the Shift key, the Command key and G at the same time to invoke the Go to Folder dialog.

You’ve now removed your Safari cache. Try launching your browser and see if this fix works for you.

Fix 4: Restore your Mac computer with Time Machine

You can fix your Safari browser by restoring your Mac system to a previous state. If you’ve previously set up Time Machine to create backups for your Mac computer, you can use these backups to restore your computer.

To open Time Machine:

• Follow its instructions to restore your Mac computer from a backup.

Hopefully, this fixes your browser issue. But if not, you may need to…

Fix 5: Reinstall your macOS

If none of the fixes above works for you, you should try reinstalling your Safari to see if this fixes your browser issues. As it is included with your operating system, you should reinstall your macOS to reinstall the browser (this won’t erase your personal data and settings). To reinstall your macOS:

• Back up your important data on your Mac computer. ( Reinstalling macOS won’t erase your data in most cases, but it’s better safe than sorry. )
• Make sure your Mac computer is connected to the Internet.

• Immediately as your Mac computer restarts, press and hold the Command key and R on your keyboard at the same time. Then release the keys when you see the Apple logo appears.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reinstallation.

Hopefully one of the fixes above works for you. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment below!

By Jonny Lin

Jonny, a Microsoft Certified Professional, is a technical writer and technology enthusiast. He believes technology should bring users satisfaction, not annoyance, so he writes to help people overcome their tech troubles.

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Safari Not Working on Mac/MacBook, How to Fix?

Updated on Wednesday, April 24, 2024

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Safari Not Working on Mac/MacBook? Simple Fixes Are Here

Summary:  Safari not working on Mac? Follow this guide that explains how to troubleshoot Safari that's not working properly on Mac/MacBook Pro. All possible solutions are included.

As the default search engine on Mac computers, Safari has powerful features. Most Mac users work well with Safari until some recently find it is not working without warning. You may undergo Safari not working on Mac after an update or Safari not responding.

Whatever your specific problem with Safari is, this post can give you a hand. It contains almost all general solutions to troubleshoot the Safari not working on Mac/MacBook issue. Follow the methods in this post and make your Safari browser perform properly again.

Safari not working on Mac, try these solutions

If you are experiencing the Safari not working on MacBook issues, such as not opening because  Safari can't establish a secure connection  to the server or not responding, quitting unexpectedly, running slowly, not loading web pages, online  videos not playing on MacBook , or other problems, you can try the solutions below.

Quick solutions to fix Safari not working on Mac :

Check the network

Force quit safari, restart mac, clear the website data in safari, disable safari extensions, clean up the corrupted safari plist files and database, terminate the processes that may affect safari running, update safari.

It is worth mentioning that the network will affect your access to a website in the Safari browser. If your Safari not working on Mac , you can check if your Wi-Fi is down and reset your network settings.

When Safari is not responding on Mac, you can activate it by force quitting and relaunching it.

• Click the Apple logo and select Force Quit.

• Wait a few seconds and reopen Safari.

Sometimes, the Safari browser that doesn't perform properly on Mac is due to temporary operating system glitches. A restart will  refresh your Mac  and all programs.

To  restart your Mac device , go to the Apple menu > Restart.

Have you ever cleared the Safari browser data? If haven't, that may be the cause of your Safari not working on MacBook well. The accumulated website data will slow down the speed at which Safari loads pages.  

And also, some website data carry viruses that can lead to Safari freezing, crashing, or not responding.

To delete the website data, including cache files, cookies, and history, follow these steps:

Delete Safari cache:

• Launch Safari and click Safari at the top menu bar. Then, select the Preferences option.

• Choose Develop at the top Safari menu bar > Empty Caches.

Remove cookies and history:

• Choose the length of time you want (better choose all history) to clear cookies and other website data in Safari.

Extensions add new features to Safari and simplify your internet experience. But some extensions are auto-added to your Safari. And some of them may make conflicts in Safari when they proceed with tasks or self-maintenance, leading to Safari crashing or sudden quitting.

When that happens, you can disable all the extensions immediately to do troubleshooting.

• Open Safari and select Safari from the top menu bar > Preferences.
• Click the Extensions tab.
• Uncheck the extensions you are unfamiliar with or don't need.

Maybe the corrupted PLIST files or database of Safari result in Safari in a disordered state. You can remove this data to debug your Safari.

• Open Finder and click Go at the top menu bar.
• Select Go to Folder from the Go menu.
• Copy and paste ~/Library/Safari into the box and click Go.
• Move the LastSession.plist and file names containing "History.db" to Trash.

Then, relaunching Safari can enable it to recreate these PLIST files and history databases automatically. You'll find your unresponsive Safari back to normal now.

If Safari not working on Mac even after the above troubleshooting on it, check if other programs block Safari from normal working. Especially some third-party browsers or the recently installed software.

You can close the running third-party programs and then reopen the Safari app to see if it performs well now.

Apple releases software updates in routine to enhance software performance and fix existing bugs. So, when Safari not working on your MacBook properly, you also need to check if your Safari browser is up-to-date.

Safari is the default software in macOS. That means Safari will be updated along with a  macOS update .

• Select the Apple logo > About This Mac > Software Update.
• Click Update Now or Upgrade Now if new versions are available.

Safari won't open on Mac, what to do?

Unfortunately, you may even fail to launch the Safari browser on Mac. In that case, try the three general ways mentioned above - restart your Mac, clear up website data, and update Safari.

If these ways are useless, you can read this post carefully to fix your Safari that's not opening on Mac:  How to Fix Safari Won't Open Issue?

Fix the error Safari can not be opened because of a problem

Some Mac users report that they have received an error message from Safari - Safari can not be opened because of a problem. This error pops up at your every attempt to access Safari.

It is said that this problem is caused by the incompatibility between iTunes 12.8.1 and Safari. And some users give a testified but the temporary solution:

• Open Finder and select Go from the top Finder menu bar > Go to Folder.
• Enter /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ in the pop-up box and click Go.
• Find and remove the MobileDevice.framework file in the Library folder.

Then you can open Safari again to check if the Safari not working on Mac error is resolved.

[Proved] 9 Ways to Speed Up Safari on Mac

This article will tell you how to speed up Safari on Mac with nine proven ways and help you get Safari running smoothly on Mac again.  Read more >>

Why is Safari not working on Mac?

Whether your Safari is crashing, not responding, not opening, or has other abnormal performances, the Safari that's not working on Mac is usually caused by:

• The outdated current Safari version
• The old macOS
• Software bugs
• Too many tabs opened in Safari at once
• The accumulated cookies, cache, and history logs in Safar
• The viruses or errors in extensions, plugins, or opened websites

Google Drive Not Working on Mac [Proven Fixes]

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FAQs about Safari not working on Mac

To reset Safari on a Mac, open Safari and select Safari at the top menu bar. Then, click Preferences from the drop-down menu. Under the Privacy tab, select Manage Website Data to remove cookies. And you can also remove extensions and reset security in the Safari preferences window.

To debug Safari preferences, launch Safari and click Safari at the top menu bar > Preferences. To set preferences of a website on Safari, open the target website in Safari. Then, move to the top Safari menu bar and click Safari > Settings for this website.

You can clear the website cache, cookies, and history in Safari, restart Mac and update Safari.

Connie Yang is the primary columnist in the computer field at iBoysoft. She is enthusiastic about sharing tech tutorials on data recovery and operating system-related problems resolution. Over the years, Connie has published many computer-related guides and introductory articles.

Jessica Shee is a senior tech editor at iBoysoft. Throughout her 4 years of experience, Jessica has written many informative and instructional articles in data recovery, data security, and disk management to help a lot of readers secure their important documents and take the best advantage of their devices.

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Is Safari Not Working on Mac? How You Can Fix It

This article explains how you can troubleshoot Safari if it’s not working properly on your Mac. This article addresses the following issues. This article may help if Safari:

• won’t open or load,
• is running slow or unresponsive,
• menus are grayed out,
• crashes after it opens.

This issue is important. For example, if Safari is running slow, it can be very frustrating for you.

Please note that, before doing anything, simply restart your computer. This may fix your problem.

This guide will show you how to fix this. The steps below are listed in order, so start with the first one and keep going until you have fixed your issue.

Related articles:

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• Netflix Not Playing in Safari: Error Code S7702 – 1003

Update Safari

Before you do anything, make sure that Safari is up-to-date. Safari is part of macOS and included with macOS. This means when you update macOS , Safari will also be updated. This further means that you need to update macOS to install the latest Safari updates. Here is how:

• if you are using macOS Mojave or later: Open System Preferences and click Software Update. If there is a new macOS version, click Update Now and then follow the on-screen instructions. You can also turn on automatic macOS updates by checking the ”Automatically keep my Mac up to date.” box.
• If you are using an earlier version (e.g., macOS High Sierra, etc), open the App Store app on your Mac then click the Updates tab. Then follow the on-screen instructions.

Let’s do, next, basic troubleshooting methods if they help.

• Delete stored website data and cookies. Open Safari, click Safari > Preferences > Privacy. Then click the Manage Website Data button. Then click Remove All.
• One or more of your extensions may be causing your problem. Check your extensions by going to Safari > Preferences > Extensions. Turn off all of them by deselecting the checkbox “Enable… extension.” for all of them. Then quit Safari and open again. If Safari is now working, this means that one or more of your extensions are causing your problem. What you can do is to turn on extensions one by one until you find the problematic one. When you find it, you can update or uninstall to fix your problem. If Safari is not working still, you can now enable your extensions.
• Clear the Browser Cache in Safari on your Mac.
• Reset Safari .

Reset NVRAM or PRAM

Resetting NVRAM or PRAM may fix your problem. Here is how you can do this:

• Turn off your Mac (Apple menu > Shut Down).
• Locate these keys on your keyboard: Option, Command, P, and R.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold these four keys.
• Keep holding these keys for 20 seconds.
• Release the keys. This will reset NVRAM or PRAM.

If this does not help, the next step is to reset the SMC .

Safe Mode conducts basic checks and this may fix your problem. Usually, Safe Mode is used to diagnose problems. Follow the steps below:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see a login screen.
• Release the Shift key and log in to your Mac.

Your Mac is in Safe Mode. Open Safari and test. Does your problem occur in Safe Mode?

In either case, restart your Mac normally. Just turn off and turn on your Mac and do not press the Shift key. Your Mac will start up. Test your problem again. Open Safari to see if your problem is resolved.

Use Disk Utility

You may be having your Safari problems because of disk errors, for example, it is possible that a Safari file may be corrupted. Using Disk Utility, we will check the startup disk. Follow the steps below to do this:

Note: back up your Mac before continuing.

• We will restart the Mac in macOS Recover. Simply keep following the steps.
• Now turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) and R keys.
• Release these keys when you see an Apple logo or a spinning globe image.
• Enter your password, if asked.
• And you will see the “macOS Utilities” window.
• Select Disk Utility and click Continue.
• Check your startup volume which is usually Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD – Data. Select both of them.
• Click the First Aid button.
• Click Run, then Continue.
• Disk Utility will run. If Disk Utility finds no errors or repairs errors, then click Done and restart your Mac from the Apple menu. Then test Safari.
• “An Error Occurred While Preparing the Installation”, Fix
• Mac Not Updating To The Latest macOS Version? Fix
• The macOS Installation Couldn’t Be Completed Error Fix
• How To Back Up Your Mac That Won’t Boot

Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director specializing in Apple solutions for small and medium-sized educational institutions. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. He is a former faculty member. Here is his LinkedIn profile and Google Scholar profile . Email Serhat Kurt .

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Xfinity streaming is not working on MacBookPro M3 with Safari 17.4.1

MacBookPro M3 running Mac OS 14.4.1 does not stream Xfinity video via Safari 17.41. Seems to work OK with Firefox 125.02 though. Can't seem to figure out what's going on or how to fix. Anyone else experiencing this with a fix?

MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)

Posted on Apr 24, 2024 3:34 PM

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Mac cannot browse, ping works fine

I cannot browse websites in Chrome/Safari. Internet works, ping works, traceroute works.

Even " telnet google.com 80 " works!! (shows me html-code).

But not in browsers. Tried Safari, Chrome - timeout.

Tried this, didn't help:

killing "mDNSResponder"

restarting router

resetting pram

Nothing helps.

MacBook Air, no antiviruses, firewall disabled .

• wireless-networking
• internet-connection

7 Answers 7

While an old question, it still appears at the top on Google, so it makes sense to add a new answer.

I found a helpful hint at this Apple discussion . In short, a rogue process could be holding a crazy number of TCP connections. In my case it was Kaspersky that was failing to connect to the update server but seemingly never releasing connections.

To check for this, run:

If there's a huge number of open connections (in the hundreds) this might be your issue. Try killing the process that is holding them and see if it helps. After killing Kaspersky (and, probably needlessly, restating WiFi) it all went back to normal for me.

How this affects some sites but not others is beyond me.

• 1 Thanks, my anti-virus, Sophos, had a few hundred TCP connections in CLOSE_WAIT state . I ran sudo kill -9 on the Sophos PID and connectivity was restored. I didn’t reset my router. –  Joe Oct 2, 2019 at 22:34
• 1 Same here, Sophos consumed all filedescriptors,for me it worked again when i disable the "web protection" –  enthus1ast Nov 11, 2019 at 13:30

OK, this helped:

• Removing ALL wi-fi networks from "System preferences - Networking - Advanced"
• Restarting the router again (weird since all other devices, smartphones and my windows laptop were working fine)
• 1 Wow, is this some secret code or what?! Little Snitch and Radio Silence trials messed up my internet connectivity. Can ping but not browse. This trick works, so far. –  ThinkCode Mar 16, 2017 at 5:48

Lifting this answer verbatim from another SE site: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/208796/163653

Go to System Preferences,choose network Click "advanced", go to the "Hardware" tab, and click on "configure", choose "manually" Click on mtu, change it to "custom" and set the mtu number to 1453 (I dont why but the number is something like a networking secret from ancient times)

In my case I installed flash player virus and it did lot of changes on my system, I think one of them was adding a proxy.

This discussion helped to me to fix it. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8363208

In short, Go to Settings->Network->Wifi->Advanced..-> Proxies

Uncheck all and we can keep Use Passive FTP Mode checked.

I have seen these symptoms when for some reason the wireless network i joined did not have a DNS server configured on the network.

By manually adding a DNS server, such as Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8), to my connection I am able to access all websites just fine.

My customer's MacBook Pro 6,1 got this symptom when it was updated to Sierra 10.12.4. After trying steps above and on other forums, and failing to fix after a 3-1/2 hour reinstall ('remaining' timer counted down from 5 minutes!) there was still connectivity with pings but no traffic getting through to Firefox, Safari, Mail or system connections (no App Store or updates).

The discussion of Extensions led me to the System>Library>Extensions folder where I found a 2010 copy of the AppleAirPort2.kext file. All I had to do to regain full connectivity was delete this file (backed it up of course) and reboot the machine! NOTHING ELSE WORKED. This fix worked first time. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE...

I had the same problem, I could ping but my browser was not responding. I solved this by going into my network preferences > advanced > and adding 8.8.8.8 to my DNS server

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If Safari isn't loading websites or quits on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you can't load a website or webpage, or Safari quits unexpectedly, follow these steps.

Connect to a different network

Try to load a website, like www.apple.com , using cellular data. If you don't have cellular data, connect to a different Wi-Fi network , then load the website.

If you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), check your VPN settings . If you have a VPN turned on, some apps or websites might block content from loading.

Restart your device

Turn off your device and turn it on again.

Restart your iPhone

Restart your iPad

Restart your iPod touch

Clear website data

You can clear website data occasionally to improve Safari performance.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Tap Clear History to confirm.

Turn on JavaScript

Turn on JavaScript if it's not already on.

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on JavaScript.

Get more help

If the issue continues and only affects a certain website or webpage, check if you have Private Relay turned on. You can temporarily turn off Private Relay in iCloud Settings . If Safari still doesn't load websites and you tried all of these steps, contact the website developer for more help.

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Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

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Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Is Safari Not Working on Mac – Here’s How to Fix It

In a moment, you’re surfing the web, and the next,  poof!  – your trusty browser decides to take a nap. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve encountered the all-too-common issue of Safari not working on Mac.

But fear not, dear reader! This isn’t the end of your digital adventures. Join us as we delve deep into this challenging issue, navigating you through a labyrinth of potential solutions.

We’ll quickly get Safari back on track with patience and some tech magic. Let’s embark on this journey together and ensure your Mac and Safari are in perfect harmony again.

But before you enter deep, make sure your Mac is working properly. You can find  easy ways to fix universal control not working on Mac , then proceed to properly working.

Table of Contents

Why is Safari Not Working on Mac?

If you’ve ever had a moment where you thought, “Why is Safari not working on Mac?” you’re not alone.

Let’s dive into some common reasons Safari might be giving you a hard time.

1. Safari is Failing to Load Web Pages

With every new macOS update, Apple introduces new features to Safari. However, these updates sometimes have unexpected bugs affecting the browser’s performance, leading to issues like Safari failing to load webpages.

2. Safari Freezing or Not Responding

Users have reported that Safari sometimes freezes or becomes unresponsive. This can be due to various reasons, including running out of physical memory on the Mac or having too many tabs open.

3. Issues Post macOS Updates

After a macOS update, there might be compatibility issues or bugs that can cause Safari to malfunction.

4. Overloaded Cache

Think of the cache as Safari’s memory. It stores bits of websites to make them load faster the next time you visit.

But if this memory gets too full or stores outdated information, it can cause issues. Clearing Safari’s cache might help if you’re facing problems.

If you are a gaming buff, you can play games like  Maplestory on Mac  and watch the  NFL games on the Macbook  too.

Quick Fixes for Immediate Relief From Safari Not Working on Mac

When Safari throws a wrench in your browsing plans, it’s essential to have some quick solutions up your sleeve.

Here are some immediate fixes to try when Safari’s not working on your Mac:

1. Force Quit Safari

If Safari becomes unresponsive, the quickest solution is to force quit the app. Here’s a quick fix:

• Keyboard Shortcut:  Press Command ( ⌘ ) + Option + Esc . In the pop-up, select Safari and click “Force Quit.”
• Apple Menu:  Tap on the Apple logo at the top-left. Choose “ Force Quit ,” select Safari, and confirm.
• Activity Monitor:  Open Activity Monitor from Utilities Folder , find Safari, click the “ X ” at the top left, and confirm.

2. Reload the Webpage

• If a particular webpage isn’t loading, try reloading it. Click the circular arrow near the address bar.
• Or, press Command ( ⌘ ) + R .

3. Ensure the Mac is Connected to the Internet

Always check your internet connection. Safari won’t be able to load web pages if you’re offline.

• Check the Wi-Fi icon at the top-right. A grayed-out icon indicates no connection.
• Go to “ System Preferences ” > “ Network ” to see the connection status.
• Test with another browser or app.

4. Check Apple’s System Status Page

Sometimes, the issue might be on Apple’s end. 

• Visit Apple’s official System Status page in any browser.
• Look for Safari. A yellow or red dot indicates a known issue.
• Monitor for real-time updates.

How to Fix Safari Not Working on Mac?

Safari not working on Mac! Before panic sets in, know that there are several strategies to bring your browser back to life. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigating this issue:

1. Update macOS

Here’s how to update:

• Click the Apple logo at the top-left.
• Select “ System Preferences ” > “ Software Update .”
• If there’s an update, install it.

2. Clear Cache and Browsing Data

• Launch Safari .
• Click “ Safari ” in the top “ Menu > Preferences > Privacy ” tab.
• Click on ‘ Manage Website Data ,’ followed by ‘ Remove All ‘.

3. Manage Extensions

• Launch Safari and click Safari > Preferences .
• Select the “ Extensions ” tab.
• Toggle off extensions individually to identify any issues or uninstall problematic ones.

4. Network Solutions

Here’s a quick checklist:

• Ensure a stable Wi-Fi connection. If weak, move closer to the router.
• Try restarting your router.
• Consider using an Ethernet cable for direct connection.
• Check and adjust DNS settings if needed.

5. Advanced Fixes

• Safe Mode:  Boot your Mac to run only essential software.
• Update Plugins:  Ensure all Safari plugins are current.
• Reset Safari:  Consider giving Safari a complete reset, but remember that this clears settings and history.
• Check User Profile:  Log in as a different user to see if the issue is profile-specific.

6. Alternative Browsers

• Google Chrome:  Fast with a vast extension library.
• Mozilla Firefox:  Great for privacy and security enthusiasts.
• Microsoft Edge:  Smooth performance, especially for Windows users.
• Brave:  Prioritizes privacy by blocking trackers and ads.

Maintaining Safari’s Performance

Safari is the crown jewel of browsers for many Mac users. But like all things tech, it needs a little TLC now and then.

If you’ve faced issues with Safari not working on Mac, it’s essential to know how to maintain its performance for a hassle-free browsing experience.

Here’s how to keep Safari in top shape:

• Regular Updates:  Always keep your macOS and Safari updated. Apple frequently releases patches that fix known bugs and enhance performance.
• Manage Tabs:  Too many open tabs can slow down Safari. Regularly close unnecessary tabs and consider using bookmarks for important pages.
• Clear cache Periodically:  Over time, Safari stores data to speed up browsing. Clearing this cache occasionally can prevent it from becoming a burden.
• Review Extensions:  While extensions enhance functionality, some can be resource-heavy. Periodically review and remove any you no longer use.
• Opt for Default Settings:  If you’ve tinkered with Safari’s settings and noticed performance issues, consider resetting to default settings.

While Safari is a robust browser, it still needs its issues. However, you can quickly troubleshoot and fix any problems with the above solutions.

Remember to keep your software updated and check for any issues post updates.

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