safari internet problem

Sign up for our daily newsletter

• Privacy Policy
• Advertise with Us

Safari Not Working on Your iPhone? Here’s How to Fix It

Although iPhones and iPads support other apps to reach the Web, Safari remains the most favored and frequently used browser for iOS users. Troubleshooting on Safari can be frustrating, especially if its issues prevent you from searching for a solution online. Here are a few common reasons why Safari may not be working on your iPhone and how to fix the problems.

Turn on Mobile Data for the Safari App

Disable experimental features, change your network settings.

Also read: How to Make Mobile Safari Save Your Passwords on iOS

Test Your Internet Connection

To begin with, ensure that the problem is with Safari and not with your internet connection. For this, open, say, a non-Apple app like Facebook or Chrome, and see whether the website or the feed loads. If it does, then Safari is at fault. Otherwise, your internet connection is at fault. If it’s the former, move on to the next step.

If you’ve been exploring your iPhone’s data-saving features, which let you specify which apps have access to your phone’s mobile data, then there’s a chance that you turned off mobile data for the Safari app. That means Safari will work when you’re connected to Wi-Fi but not to mobile data. (Try running Safari over Wi-Fi to test this.)

If that’s the case, then to turn mobile data back on for Safari, go to “Settings -> Mobile Data,” and then in the “Mobile Data” list, make sure the slider next to Safari is in the green “On” position.

Also read: 20 of the Best Siri Shortcuts for iOS Power Users

You may not know about this, but Safari for the iPhone has a whole load of experimental features that you can disable and enable as you please.

The problem with these, as the name suggests, is that they are indeed experimental and subsequently don’t all work properly. Disabling them one by one can fix Safari if it’s not working and help you discover which exact feature was causing the problem,

On your iPhone, go to “Settings -> Safari -> Advanced -> Experimental Features.”

If you have more than one feature enabled here, disable just one, then check to see if Safari works normally again. If it doesn’t, re-enable that feature (if you want it) and disable the next one. Keep repeating this procedure until Safari starts working again.

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Using “Shared with You” in iOS 15

Try resetting your Wi-Fi connection and reconnecting to the network.

• Go to “Settings -> Wi-Fi” and turn it off, then turn it back on after a few seconds.

• If you’re using mobile data, go to “Settings -> Mobile Data” and turn “Mobile Data” off and back on after a few seconds.

• If neither option works, go to “Settings -> Wi-Fi,” connect to a different Wi-Fi network, and try loading the web page again.

If the problem persists, try restoring your network settings to their original configuration.

• Go to “Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset” and choose “Reset Network Settings.”

Also read: How to Fix Contact Names Not Showing, Appearing as Numbers in iOS

Common Problems With Safari And How To Solve Them

By following the fixes we’ve mentioned above, you should be able to revive Safari and make it work normally again. However, there are some specific issues that commonly come up with Safari. Here’s how to solve them.

Problem: Safari Crashed and Won’t Open

If you’ve ever panicked after Safari closed unexpectedly and couldn’t get the app to start, you probably encountered a bug that affects Safari’s search engine suggestions. This issue can cause the app to crash, freeze, or fail to start altogether. Although the bug usually plagues devices running iOS 10, it can affect just about any iPhone or iPad.

How to Fix It: Disable Search Engine Suggestions

Go to “Settings” and choose “Safari” in your list of apps. Here, find “Search Engine Suggestions” and turn it off.

This feature offers suggestions for what you can search for as you type into Safari’s search bar. Disabling it gets rid of the problem for many users.

Problem: Safari Is Gray (and Won’t Open)

Sometimes when you update your iPhone’s iOS to a newer version, you may encounter a bug that turns some apps gray and prevent them from opening.This bug causes Safari to stop working and turns its icon gray when you switch to another app while Safari is running in the background.

How to Fix It: Update Your Software

To solve this problem, update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Apple includes important bug fixes in each software update, so it’s important to keep your iPhone or iPad up to date. iOS 11.1 fixed this bug for most users, so be sure to update to 11.1 or greater if you’re running an older version of iOS.

Go to “Settings -> General,” choose “Software Update,” and install the latest update.

Also read: How to Update to iOS 17 Smoothly

Problem: Safari Is Slow

As powerful as your iPhone can be, it can get bogged down with all the extraneous information that it processes. If you notice that Safari takes longer to load pages or graphics, it may be time to do some housekeeping. Try clearing your browser history, website data, and cache to make Safari run more smoothly.

How to Fix It: Clear Your Data

To delete your cookies, cache, and browsing history, go to “Settings -> Safari,” choose “Clear History and Data,” and confirm that you want to go ahead. Safari will remember your AutoFill information if you choose this option.

To keep your browsing history but clear your cache and cookies, first go to “Settings -> Safari -> Advanced.”

There, choose “Website Data -> Remove All Website Data” and tap “Remove Now.” Note that Safari will not remember your AutoFill information if you choose this option.

To remove only a portion of your browsing history, cache, and cookies, start by opening Safari and tapping the Bookmark icon. Here, open your history and tap “Clear.” Now Safari will give you the option to clear your history, cookies, and browsing data from the past hour, the past day, the past 48 hours, or from your entire history. Pick the relevant option.

Problem: Safari Still Isn’t Working

Although it sounds cliche, turning your phone off and back on again can be the solution to any number of Safari-related issues.

How to Fix It: Restart Safari or Reboot Your Phone

If none of the previous fixes help solve your problem, try restarting the app or rebooting your phone.

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and press on the screen when your finger is near the center to open the multitasking view, and then swipe up on Safari to close it. This will reset Safari.
• To shut down your phone, press and hold the sleep/wake button until a slider appears. Slide to the right to power off your phone. For iPhone X and above, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the slider appears. Then slide it to the right to power off your phone.

Also read: How to Block Websites on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Android, and iOS

Frequently Asked Questions

How to fix "safari can't find server" on iphone.

The most probable and common reason behind the “Safari can’t find server” error is not with Safari but with your internet connection. Here are a few ways to fix it.

• Reset your wireless router.
• Turn mobile data off and turn it back on again.
• Clear Safari cache and data.
• Restart your iPhone.

How to reset Safari on iPhone?

To reset Safari on your iPhone, open the Settings app and scroll to the Safari settings. There, tap on “Clear History and Website Data” and the bottom of the page and follow up along with the pop-up on your screen to confirm the action. Once it’s complete, all your data and cookies will be wiped clean, and Safari will be as good as new.

Can you reinstall Safari on your iPhone?

Yes, just like any other app, you can uninstall Safari from your iPhone by holding down the Safari icon on the home screen and tapping “Remove app.” Then, visit the App Store, search for Safari, and reinstall it from there. Can’t find the Safari app to delete it? Here’s how to delete hidden apps .

Image credit: Flickr

Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox

Ojash has been writing about tech back since Symbian-based Nokia was the closest thing to a smartphone. He spends most of his time writing, researching, or ranting about Bitcoin. Ojash also contributes to other popular sites like MakeUseOf, SlashGear, and MacBookJournal.

Safari Not Working on iPhone? Here’s How to Fix It

What to know.

• If Safari is not working, be sure to check your cellular and Wi-Fi connection.
• Confirm that you have not set any Screen Time limits for Safari.
• If all else fails, try clearing Safari history and browsing data.

It can be incredibly frustrating when Safari is not working on iPhone. Whether web pages are not loading or you’re getting a “Safari cannot open page” error message, we’re going to go over a few different fixes that should help resolve any issues you are having with your web browser.

Why Is Safari Not Working?

• How to Check Screen Time Settings

How to Clear Safari Browsing Data

There are a few different reasons why Safari is not working on your iPhone, so we'll recommend multiple solutions to help resolve the problem. Let’s get started with how to fix Safari on iPhone.

How to Check Cellular & Wi-Fi Connection

Like any web browser, Safari needs an internet connection to work. For more Safari troubleshooting fixes, like how to fix the Safari cannot open page error, be sure to sign up for our Tip of the Day newsletter. Now, to fix any problems with Safari not working on your iPhone, let’s first check your cellular and Wi-Fi connection:

If these settings are already enabled, but your web browser is still giving you trouble or Safari can't find server, there are other solutions to try.

How to Enable Cellular Data for Safari

One of the iPhone’s many useful features is that you can restrict certain apps from using your cellular data . This is great for those who do not have unlimited data plans. However, that also means that if you disable data for Safari, then the web browser will be unable to load any web pages if you're not connected to Wi-Fi. If Safari is not working on your iPhone, here’s how to check your cellular data settings:

Once you've confirmed that cellular data is enabled for Safari, try opening a web page to see if the issue has been resolved.

Safari Won’t Open on iPhone? Check Screen Time Settings

Screen Time is a handy feature that is designed to help you reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone, including restricting access to a particular app. If you played around with Screen Time settings in the past, you might have accidentally set an App Limit for Safari by accident. If Safari won't open this is one of the first things you should check. Here’s how to check your Screen Time settings when Safari is not working on iPhone:

If you do not see Safari in this list, then you have not set any Screen Time limits for your web browser. If Safari is still not opening on your iPhone, the issue could be elsewhere.

Sometimes clearing out old website history and data can help with issues related to Safari not working. Here’s how to do it:

Note:  Clearing this data will log you out of your online accounts and clear recent websites from your browsing history. While that is not a huge loss for most people, it can be a bit annoying when you get Safari working again, so it is best to use this option as a last resort.

If Safari is not working on your iPhone after clearing your browsing data, try closing the app completely.

Close & Re-open Safari

If Safari is still not working on iPhone, try closing and re-opening the app . Sometimes apps stop functioning correctly so completely closing it can help resolve things. When you close the app and re-open it, this effectively restarts the app.

If Safari cannot open a page, the above fixes should help resolve any underlying issues. However, if you are still having trouble with Safari not working on iPhone, you may need to seek further assistance from Apple Support . Next, find out how to block or allow pop-ups in Safari .

• How do I get the Safari icon back on my iPhone?  Safari is one of the few Apple apps that cannot be removed from your iPhone. However, if it has somehow vanished from your phone, there are a few different ways to get Safari back on iPhone . Our article covers each method in detail, ensuring you can find the app.
• Why won't Safari open on my iPhone?  If Safari won't open at all, the problem could be your Screen Time settings. If you don't have any Screen Time restrictions, you could be experiencing a software bug, in which case, I would recommend reaching out to Apple Support for help.
• How do I reset Safari on my iPhone? You can close and re-open Safari to reset it. However, if that does not work, you can follow the above steps for clearing your browsing data .

Author Details

Rhett Intriago

Rhett Intriago is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, offering his expertise in all things iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He enjoys writing on topics related to maintaining privacy in a digital world, as well as iPhone security. He’s been a tech enthusiast all his life, with experiences ranging from jailbreaking his iPhone to building his own gaming PC.

Despite his disdain for the beach, Rhett is based in Florida. In his free time, he enjoys playing the latest games, spoiling his cats, or discovering new places with his wife, Kyla.

Article Spotlight

Matias is launching a brand new keyboard based on a classic design.

The Matias Sculpted Ergonomic Keyboard improves on the legacy of the beloved Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard with upgrades that make it more functional and comfortable than ever before! The Matias Sculpted Ergonomic Keyboard stays true to the spirit of the discontinued Microsoft original.

Featured Products

In episode 211, David and Donna cover Apple's "Let Loose" event that went live on May 7th, 2024. This event was all about the new supercharged iPads. From the AI-focused M4 chip to inky-black OLED, tune in to find out if it really is the biggest iPad update since its original release! Listen now and find out !

Most Popular

How to Tell If Someone Blocked Your Number on iPhone

How to Record a Phone Call on an iPhone for Free

How to Tell If a Dead iPhone Is Charging

How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone

10 Simple Tips To Fix iPhone Battery Drain

How To Put Two Pictures Together on iPhone

How To Find My iPhone From Another iPhone

Can iPhones Get Viruses? How to Detect & Remove Malware (iOS 17)

iPhone Notes Disappeared? Recover the App & Lost Notes

How To Get an App Back on Your Home Screen

How to Refresh AirTag Location Manually & More Often

iPhone Control Center Icons

Featured articles, why is my iphone battery draining so fast 13 easy fixes.

Identify Mystery Numbers: How to Find No Caller ID on iPhone

Apple ID Not Active? Here’s the Fix!

How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast for Easy Viewing

Fix Photos Not Uploading to iCloud Once & for All (iOS 17)

There Was an Error Connecting to the Apple ID Server: Fixed

CarPlay Not Working? 4 Ways to Fix Apple CarPlay Today

Check out our sponsors.

• Each email reveals new things you can do with your phone (and other devices) with easy-to-follow screenshots.
• Enter your email to get your first tip immediately!

Top 8 Ways to Fix Safari Not Loading Websites and Pages on Mac

Thanks to the groundbreaking Apple M1 chip , the popularity of the Mac lineup is rising to new heights. On macOS, most users stick with what comes out of the box and that includes the Safari browser. While it gets the job done with a nice look and a good set of extension lists, sometimes, you run into websites not loading issues on the Safari browser. Mac not loading websites and pages mostly happens on Safari browser, sometimes due to Webkit. Before you go ahead and download Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for macOS, do check out the troubleshooting guide below to fix the issue. 

Fix Safari on Mac Not Loading Websites Issue

There are many factors behind the strange behavior. We will go through some of the basic steps and jump to extreme actions only if it doesn’t solve the issue. 

1. Check Internet Connection

This one is obvious. You should check if the Mac is properly connected to the internet. A sketchy internet connection might interfere with the website loading performance. It’s especially true when you try to load heavy web pages with lots of images and videos in Safari. 

Go to the macOS menu bar and click on the Wi-Fi icon. Make sure that it’s connected to the 5G network and not the 2.4G. I usually face this issue on my MacBook Air. Every now and then, my MacBook Air decides to connect to the 2.4G band and not the 5G band. The practice results in extremely long webpage loading times. 

2. Reset Router

Sometimes, the real culprit can be the router that you are using for the Wi-Fi connection. In such cases, you won’t be able to connect to the internet on any device, let alone loading websites on the Mac. 

In such cases, you need to reset the router or upgrade the firmware to the latest version available. Try connecting to the internet and browse the web comfortably.

3. Disable Extensions

Extensions play a major role in any browser’s ecosystem. The Safari browser is no exception here. Apple tightly controls the whole experience and only allows legitimate extensions from the App Store. 

However, some extensions might go out of date or become incompatible with the new macOS version resulting in Safari not loading websites on Mac. 

It can be hard to determine which extension is causing Safari to not load pages. In such cases, you need to disable all extensions and try your luck with the web browser again. Follow the steps below. 

1. Open the Safari browser. 

2. Click on the Safari option in the Menu bar. 

3. Go to Preferences . 

4. Move to the Extensions menu. 

5. On the right side, you will find all the installed extensions. 

6. Select an extension one by one and use the Uninstall button from the right side to remove them. 

4. Uninstall AdBlocker

No, I’m not talking about the Adblocker extension in a browser . Many users opt for a system-wide adblocker such as AdLock to remove any kind of ads from the OS. 

These programs might affect the webpage performance on the device. If you are using such software then you need to uninstall the program.

Open the Finder menu on Mac. Go to the Applications option. Identify the culprit app and move it to the Trash . 

5. Disable VPN

VPN apps allow you to establish a secure and private network connection . Some websites might not be accessible from the selected VPN location. You need to disable VPN and try the website loading again. 

Most VPN apps for Mac offer a shortcut through the menu bar. Click on the VPN icon in the menu bar and turn off the service. 

6. Clear Cache

A bad cache can ruin the day. It’s always advisable to clear cache and cookies from the browser at a regular interval. We are going to apply the same trick here to fix the website not loading issue on the Mac. Go through the steps below. 

3. Go to the Clear History menu. 

4. The following menu will offer to delete all the browsing history along with cookies and related website data. 

7. Update macOS

Safari not loading pages issue might be due to the recent macOS bug. Thankfully, Apple is quick to fix such annoyances. Go to the System Preferences > Software Update and install the latest macOS build. 

8. Switch to a Chromium Browser

Chromium is a universally accepted rendering engine. Some websites are specifically designed keeping Chromium in mind. The Safari browser uses a Webkit rendering engine to load web pages. You can switch to the Safari rival such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge and try accessing the website again. 

Wrap Up: Safari in Mac Not Loading Websites

Go through the troubleshooting tips above and one of them should easily fix the website not loading on Mac issue. For me, the cache and VPN tricks work all the time to fix the website loading issues on Safari.

Parth previously worked at EOTO.tech covering tech news. He is currently freelancing at TechWiser, Android Police, and GuidingTech writing about apps comparisons, tutorials, software tips and tricks, and diving deep into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms.

You may also like

How to disable automatic driver updates on windows..., 6 free tools to create a bootable usb..., 9 fixes for poor print quality on an..., is copy and paste not working on windows..., 6 fixes for windows computer restarts instead of..., you need to try these fixes when whatsapp..., 7 fixes for sd card not showing up..., how to enable snipping tool to show recent..., 6 fixes for bluetooth device connected but no..., 10 fixes for snipping tool not working on....

10 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on an iPhone

Follow these simple troubleshooting steps to fix Safari if it isn’t working properly on your iPhone.

Safari is the native browser for iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. It comes pre-installed on almost every Apple device, and it's designed to be fast and efficient for them. However, there are times when Safari doesn't work.

When this happens, it usually means there's a setting or software issue. There are even cases where you might not be able to access the internet at all on your iPhone or iPad. Luckily, there are a variety of things you can try to get Safari working again.

1. Restart Your Device

You hear it all the time—turn your device off and on again. While this may sound too simple to work, restarting your iPhone or iPad has been known to clear your usable memory, which can speed up Safari.

If Safari is frozen or just a blank white screen, restarting your iPhone or iPad can also fix these problems. Before you try anything else, just make sure you cover the basics.

If you're new to Safari or Apple devices, you might want to check out our beginner's guide to Safari for iPhone and iPad users .

2. Turn Off Safari Suggestions

Turning off Safari Suggestions is one of the simplest and most common fixes for Safari not loading or crashing on an Apple device. While we aren't sure why this works, many users have reported that turning this off fixes the problem.

To turn off suggestions, head to Settings > Safari > Safari Suggestions and turn this off. You can also turn off Search Engine Suggestions while you're there too, as some users reported this also fixes the issue.

Some users have also said that blocking Safari popups on your iPhone can improve the memory usage of Safari. So, you may also want to give this a try.

If this fixes your issue, then you're all set. If not, try the following steps.

3. Turn On Cellular Data for Safari

If you're frequently connected to Wi-Fi, you may have cellular data off for Safari to save internet data. While helpful, if your Wi-Fi isn't functioning right, connecting to cellular data could fix your issue.

To do this, head to Settings > Cellular > Safari and turn this on. If it was off, this was most likely the cause of your issue. Alternatively, you can turn off Wi-Fi if you're connected and just connect with cellular data. If you can connect this way, that means there's a network issue with your Wi-Fi network.

4. Edit Your Screen Time Settings

If you've ever changed your Screen Time settings or blocked certain websites through Screen Time, try turning these settings off. To block websites, you need to enable Content Restrictions which can inadvertently block websites you still want to use. If you can't load a link from an email or text message, this could also be a sign that content restrictions are on.

To fix this issue, head to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn this option off. If it was on, then this was most likely your issue. If it was off already, proceed to the next fix.

5. Clear All Safari's Data

If you frequently use Safari, you might have a lot of data stored within the app, making it fail to load correctly. This is especially true if you're using an iPhone or iPad with a lower storage capacity. If you get low storage notifications, this fix could resolve your issue.

To clear Safari's data, head to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data . This will erase all extra data in the Safari app. Some users report this works, but you'll need to do it often if you can't eliminate storage space elsewhere on your iPhone.

6. Update iOS to the Latest Version

Some users have reported that updating iOS resolves issues with Safari. Whether Safari isn't loading, is crashing, or just isn't connecting to websites, try updating iOS on your iPhone .

Apple does a great job of fixing widespread issues with iOS updates. So, if there is an issue that Apple is aware of, it could get fixed by a subsequent update.

7. Reset Your Network Settings

If you've had issues with your network before, like not getting service or pages timing out, resetting your Network Settings could help.

To reset the Network Settings on your iPhone or iPad, head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (iPad) > Reset > Reset Network Settings . This will reset only your Network Settings and won't erase any other data on your iPhone.

After you finish this, try opening Safari to see if it's working again. If not, proceed to the next fix.

8. Reset to Factory Default Settings

If all else fails, you can try resetting your iPhone to the default settings. This will erase all the data on your iPhone, and you'll have to set it up from scratch. However, this is also a very effective way to resolve all kinds of software problems. To do this, head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (iPad) > Erase All Content and Settings .

After resetting to the default settings, test out the Safari app before you install your usual apps. If Safari is working then but stops working when a certain app is installed, that means the app installed is interfering with Safari.

If Safari isn't working when you have a fresh install, make sure you didn't restore a backup of your iPhone or iPad . If you restored a backup, there could be something interfering with Safari that transferred over. If you reset your device without a backup and Safari still doesn't work, you can try one of the two last troubleshooting steps.

9. Turn On JavaScript

JavaScript is on by default on most iOS devices. However, if you're having issues with Safari, it's likely that JavaScript is off. Sometimes, one might turn JavsScript off as some websites might not support it.

If you've turned JavaScript off or want to check if it's off and turn it back on, head to Settings > Safari > Advanced on your iOS or iPadOS device.

10. Use an Alternative Browser

If the above fixes didn't work, then unfortunately, there might be an iOS bug with Safari, and you'll need to wait for the next update and hope it's patched. Until then, you can try using an alternative browser to access the internet on your device. There are many great browsers available in the App Store that can cater to your needs.

Be sure to check back for iOS updates and see if Apple has addressed the bug. You can also start a new discussion in the Apple Discussions Community to see if anyone else is experiencing the same issue.

Safari Not Working on Your iPhone or iPad? It's Most Likely a Software Issue

Cracked screens and broken buttons are easy to diagnose as we can instantly see what's wrong. But when Safari or other apps on your iPhone stop working, that usually means a software issue is at play.

You can usually fix these issues by updating iOS, changing your settings, or resetting your device. However, if the issue still isn't fixed after trying everything above, you might need to post in the Apple forum about your issue for more help.

We explain and teach technology, solve tech problems and help you make gadget buying decisions.

Top 12 Fixes for Safari Not Loading Pages on iPhone and iPad

Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps.

The Safari browser comes pre-installed on Apple devices such as iPhone and iPad. Many iOS and iPadOS users prefer using it as the default browser . Sadly, the browser doesn’t work at times, for pages do not load in it. If you are from the unlucky ones, then you have landed on the right page. You can easily fix it when Safari does not open web pages on iPhone and iPad, as shown in this post.

iPhone and iPad users face different kinds of issues related to Safari . Some see a blank, white page and others get errors like ‘Safari cannot open the page because iPhone isn’t connected to the internet,’ or the browser freezes and crashes without loading any page.

The following fixes will help you resolve all kinds of problems related to Safari not loading pages on iOS and iPadOS. Let’s start.

1. Restart Phone and Modem

To start the troubleshooting process, restart your iPhone and iPad . Also, reboot your modem if you are using Wi-Fi. In case you are connected via cellular data, please turn it off for a few seconds and turn it on again.

Tip: You should also remove the SIM card from your phone for a while.

2. Check Network Connection

Next, verify whether the issue is with Safari alone or not. For that, check if other apps are working on your iPhone or iPad. If you cannot connect to the internet using other apps, then the problem is with your network connection. Switch to mobile data from Wi-Fi or vice versa.

Tip: Check out 8 fixes for can’t find server error on Safari .

3. Enable Airplane Mode

Another way to troubleshoot issues due to network connections is to put your device in Airplane mode . That will turn off and refresh all network connections. To enable Airplane mode on your iPhone or iPad, open Control Center and tap on the Airplane mode icon. Alternatively, go to Settings and enable Airplane mode. Keep it on for a few seconds, and then turn it off.

4. Turn off VPN

Are you using any VPN on your iPhone or iPad? If yes, disable it for a while and see if you can open web pages through Safari.

Tip: Find out whether you need security apps on your iPhone or iPad .

5. Update Software

Before you try the below-mentioned fixes, we would suggest you update the Safari browser from App Store. Often there is a bug in the app or phone’s software. So you should look for any available software updates and install them. To check for the phone’s software, go to Settings > General > Software update.

6. Check Cellular Data Settings

If you can load web pages on Wi-Fi, but pages do not load on cellular data, you must check mobile data settings. For that, go to Settings > Cellular data/Mobile data. Scroll down and make sure the toggle next to Safari is green. If it’s off, turn it on.

Tip: Check out other ways to fix iPhone apps only work on Wi-Fi and not mobile data .

7. Check Content Restrictions

You must check on your iPhone/iPad if any content restrictions are enabled. To do so, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If the Content & privacy restrictions toggle on the next screen is turned off, skip this fix and jump to the next one.

In case it is on, scroll down and tap on Content Restrictions. Go to Web content and select Unrestricted access.

Tip: Find out how to block and unblock certain websites on iPhone .

8. Enable JavaScript

You should check if the Safari browser has permission to use JavaScript. For that, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Safari > Advanced. Enable the toggle next to JavaScript.

9. Clear Cache and Browsing Data

This is one of the fixes that has solved the web pages not loading issue for many users. To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad. Go to Safari.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Advanced.

Step 3: Tap on Website data. Scroll down and hit Remove all website data.

Step 4 : Restart the phone and see if you can open web pages. If the issue persists, come back to Settings > Safari. Scroll down and tap on Clear History and Website data. Confirm when asked. This will delete all your browsing history and other browsing data from all the Apple devices using the same iCloud account.

Tip: Find out how to fix if the Clear history and website data button is greyed out .

10. Reset Network Settings

Often the problem of web pages not opening on Safari happens due to some problematic network setting. The best way to fix this is to reset network settings. Doing so will not affect your personal data. Only settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc., will be reset to their default values. You will need to set them up again. Find out in detail what happens by resetting network settings .

To reset network settings on iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings.

11. Disable Content Blockers

If you have installed any content blocker on your iPhone or iPad, you should try disabling it for a while. To do so, go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers. Disable all of them and see if you can load pages now. Know what are content blockers and whether you should use them on your iPhone.

You should also try disabling various Safari experimental features one-by-one. For that, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Experimental features.

12. Change Wi-Fi DNS

Sometimes, the issue happens to a wrongly configured DNS server. You should change it to Google DNS and see if websites open in the Safari browser.

To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1 : Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

Step 2 : Tap on the (i) icon next to the problematic Wi-Fi. Tap on Configure DNS.

Step 3: If Automatic is selected, tap on Manual > Add server. Enter 8.8.8.8, remove existing ones, and hit Save. If Manual is selected, tap on Automatic.

Change Default Browser

We are positive that at least one of the above fixes should solve issues with the Safari browser. We would also suggest that if you have a huge number of tabs open in the Safari browser, you should close at least some of them. If the issue continues, you can always use Chrome, and now you can even make it your default browser .

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 28 November, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

DID YOU KNOW

More in iOS

6 Best Ways to Fix Apple Books Not Syncing Between iPhone and iPad

Top 8 Ways to Fix ChatGPT App Not Working on Android and iPhone

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

• Stream Your Favorite Sports
• Where to Watch WNBA Games

How to Fix It When Safari Is Not Working on an iPad

Restarts, updates, and checking your network are common fixes

• Swansea University, Staffordshire University

• Wichita Technical Institute

Fixing Safari issues on iPad can take seconds to fix due to an unknown minor issue, or it can take a lot longer. Here's how to fix it when Safari won't work on an iPad.

Causes of Safari Not Working On iPad 

There are many reasons why Safari may not be working on iPad. Try these troubleshooting tips to figure out what's happened.

• Your iPad is out of date. If your iPad is not up to date, you may find yourself running into trouble loading standard apps including Safari.
• You're offline. If your iPad doesn't have a data connection, Safari won't be able to load any websites, making it look as if Safari is the issue.
• Your iPad has a major problem. If your iPad won't load any apps including Safari, the problem may be deeper than just the one app.

How to Fix Safari Not Working On iPad 

If your iPad won't open Safari or it won't load correctly, it severely limits your ability to browse the internet. Here's how to fix Safari not working on iPad. 

Restart your iPad . Many common issues are solved by restarting or rebooting the device in question. Restart your iPad to hopefully fix Safari.

Check your data connection . If your iPad is a Wi-Fi model, check you're connected to a Wi-Fi network with internet access. If your iPad has a cellular connection, check it has a signal and is working correctly. Tap Settings > Cellular and check the toggle next to Safari is On.

Check Airplane mode . Check if Airplane mode is enabled on your iPad. If it is, you won't be able to browse online.

Check content restrictions . If you have parental controls set up on your iPad, these may stop you from browsing using Safari. Check the settings to confirm this isn't the issue.

Clear your browsing history . If Safari opens but is unresponsive, clear your browsing history to see if that makes it work more effectively. 

Disable Safari suggestions. Safari suggestions can sometimes cause Safari to crash. Try disabling them by tapping Settings > Safari > then toggle off the Safari Suggestions switch.

Update your iPad . If you haven't updated your iPad in a while, you may need the latest version of iPadOS to correct any issues. It's simple to do but set aside a while for the update process to complete.

Reset your iPad . Resetting your iPad to factory settings removes all your personal information but can sometimes solve an underlying issue previous steps haven't solved.

Contact Apple . If none of the above fixes work, you may have a hardware issue with your iPad. If you have remaining warranty or AppleCare+ , the appointment and fix may be free.

The first thing you should check is that you're entering the correct URL. If you're typing it manually, try finding a link. If you're following a link, try typing it by hand. The website may also be down, and you should try again later.

The best way is to delete your Safari data. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data .

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• How to Fix It When TikTok Isn't Working
• How to Fix a Google Chrome Black Screen Issue
• How to Fix It When Facebook Messenger Won’t Load Messages
• How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working
• How to Fix It When Facebook Messenger Isn’t Sending Messages
• How to Fix It When Facebook Dating Is Not Working
• How to Fix It When Reddit Apps Aren’t Working
• How to Fix It When an Apple Watch Is Not Getting Texts
• How to Fix It When Your iPad Won't Turn On
• How to Fix: Can't Add Bookmarks in iPad's Safari
• How to Fix a Black Screen on FaceTime
• How to Fix an iPad That Won't Update
• How to Fix It When You're Not Receiving Texts on Android
• 8 Reasons Why Your iPad Keeps Crashing
• 10 Ways to Fix It When Your Android Phone Won't Charge
• 13 Ways to Fix It When a Fire Stick Is Not Loading Properly or Working Right

How to Fix the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error (6 Solutions)

When you’re browsing the web, the last thing you want is to run into an error message. If you’re a macOS user, one of the issues you might come across is: “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” error.

While it may seem intimidating at first, this is a relatively common problem with a few simple solutions. All it usually takes is a little bit of troubleshooting before you’re able to effectively (and safely) access the site.

This post will explain what this Safari error message is and some of its common causes. Then we’ll provide you with six easy ways to fix the problem.

Let’s get started!

What’s the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error?

Some of the best features of Mac devices are their built-in security settings . Apple has created an experience designed to keep you and your device safe, especially while browsing the web.

This is why its native browser, Safari, will sometimes prevent you from accessing a website that it doesn’t deem as secure. When this happens, you’ll likely see an error message that says, “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server.”

The specific wording of the error may vary. For example, as you can see in the image above, you might also come across a notification letting you know that “Safari Can’t Open the Page.”

In a nutshell, this error message means that the browser doesn’t trust the encrypted data on the site. Alternatively, Safari could not access and verify the information successfully. For example, this might happen when a site doesn’t have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate  properly configured.

Using SSL and Secure Shell Access (SSH)  is critical for websites today. This is especially true when you have a site that handles sensitive customer data, such as a WooCommerce store .

However, if you know the site that you’re accessing is secure, the problem is likely with Safari. Many people experience this error message when accessing popular websites, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Google.

What Causes “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error?

There are many different reasons you might be seeing this error message. As we mentioned, the main explanation is that Safari can’t verify that the website you’re trying to access is secure enough to protect your data.

However, it’s essential to understand  why it deems the site unsecured to know how to resolve it. Sometimes, you may not know what the culprit is until you try troubleshooting it.

With that said, there are a handful of common causes behind the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” message. For example, the issue may be attributed to a third-party extension or add-on you have installed on your browser. It could be something as simple as having outdated cache data. However, it could be a more complicated problem, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) version you’re using.

How To Fix the “Safari Can’t Establish a Secure Connection to the Server” Error (6 Solutions)

Now that we understand more about the issue and its potential causes, it’s time to look at how to fix it. Below are six solutions you can use to resolve the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” error.

1. Clear Your Browser Data

When you visit websites, Safari will store some of the information in the browser cache and cookies. If this data includes outdated details relating to the site’s SSL or encryption , it can be the reason you see the error message.

Therefore, one of the quickest and simplest methods you can use to resolve this error is to clear your browser cache . To do that in Safari, you can start by opening up the browser.

Next, click on Preferences  > Privacy , then select Remove All Website Data .

After it finishes loading (it may take a minute or two), you can decide which websites to clear the data from. For example, you can select them all or simply the one you’re having trouble accessing.

When done, click on the Done  button at the bottom of the screen.

Next, to clear your entire browsing history, you can navigate to  Safari  > History  > Clear History .

When finished, try revisiting the site that was showing the error message. If it’s still there, you can move on to the next solution.

2. Check Your Device’s Date and Time

While it may seem odd, sometimes having the incorrect date and time on your Mac device can cause some issues within Safari. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that yours is set to the correct time zone and date.

To get started, you can click on the Apple icon, then navigate to System Preferences  > Date & Time .

From here, you can verify that you’re using the right date and time.

Under the  Time Zone tab, you can also enable your device to sync to your current location automatically. When you’re done, you can exit the window and try re-accessing the site.

3. Change Your DNS Settings

If the error is still there, you might want to check out your Domain Name Server (DNS)  settings. In a nutshell, your DNS acts like a phonebook that allows devices and sites to reach each other. Safari uses your DNS settings to connect to websites.

If there are issues with your DNS settings, it might be why you see the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection to the server” message. To see if this is the case (and resolve it), you can try changing your DNS addresses. For example, you could use Google’s Public DNS.

To get started, browse to Apple  >  System Preferences  > Network .

From this window, select your connection, then click on the Advanced tab, followed by DNS . Next, click on the (+) icon next to IPv4 or IPv6 addresses .

Then you can enter the new DNS IP addresses. For example, if you want to use Google’s Public DNS, you can enter “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4”.

When you’re finished, click on the OK  button. Recheck the website to see if this process removed the error message.

4. Uninstall or Disable Your Browser Extensions

As we mentioned earlier, an extension or add-on in your browser may be conflicting with Safari’s ability to connect to a site securely. Sometimes, this is common with anti-virus programs and security-related extensions.

Therefore, the next step is to try deactivating all your browser extensions. To do this, you can open Safari, then navigate to Preferences  and click on the Extensions  tab.

A list of your extensions will display in the left column. You can click on the checkmark next to the add-on name to disable it.

Once you’re done, try revisiting the site. If this solves the problem, you’ll need to pinpoint which extension was to blame. You can do this by systematically enabling each add-on and visiting the site after each time.

5. Disable IPv6

Internet Protocol (IP) is a set of rules that controls how data moves across the internet. IPv6 is a newer protocol version. However, some websites still use the older version, IPv4. If this is the case, it might be why you’re running into the “Safari can’t establish a secure connection” message.

Therefore, you can try disabling IPv6 on your network. To do so, navigate to System Preferences > Network once again, then click on your network connection, followed by the Advanced  button.

Under the TC P/IP tab, click on the dropdown menu under  Configure IPv6  and select Manually .

When you’re done, click on the OK button. This should resolve the issue if IPv6 were the problem. If not, there’s one last solution you can try.

6. Make Sure Keychain Trusts the Certificate

Earlier, we mentioned how Safari could sometimes present the connection error message if it cannot verify the validity of the site’s SSL certificate. If this is the case, you can bypass the issue by configuring settings in your macOS’s Keychain Access app.

Keychain Access is the application that stores your passwords , account details, and application certificates. It keeps your data secure and can control which sites are trusted by your device. As such, you can tell it to accept a site’s SSL certificate moving forward.

To do this, you can go to the website showing the error message, then click on the lock icon to the left of the address bar, followed by View/Show Certificate  > Details .

With the Details panel expanded, click Control + Space Bar . A Spotlight Search bar will appear in the top right-hand corner of your screen. Enter “Keychain” in the search field.

Next, on the left, click on System Roots . Search for the website’s certificate. Once you locate it, go to the Trust section. Then click on the dropdown menu next to When using this certificate section  and select Always trust :

That’s it! You should now be able to access the site successfully.

Trying to access a website only to be met with an error message can be highly frustrating. While Safari is simply trying to keep your data protected, sometimes it can get misconfigured. In this case, the browser may unnecessarily present a security notification such as “Safari can’t establish a secure connection.”

There are six methods you can use to fix this issue when it happens:

• Clear your browser data, including the cache and cookies.
• Check your device’s data and time.
• Change your DNS settings.
• Uninstall or disable your browser extensions and add-ons.
• Disable IPv6.
• Make sure Keychain trusts the SSL certificate.

Do you have any questions about fixing the Safari secure connection issue? Let us know in the comments section below!

Content & Marketing Editor at Kinsta, WordPress Web Developer, and Content Writer. Outside of all things WordPress, I enjoy the beach, golf, and movies. I also have tall people problems ;).

Related Articles and Topics

Powerful Managed WordPress Hosting

6 Most Secure Browsers to Stay Safe and Protect Your Privacy

• Content Management Systems

Tried as much of this as possible, and Safari still doesn’t work. Couldn’t try some things, because I’m running it on a PC, and not on a Mac.

However, I am able to access all sites with FireFox, so teh problem does seem to be with Safari. Too bad.

Thank you so much!!! My date was wrong and it fixed the issue thank u ❤️👍

I tried all six of the fixes you offered. All seemed to work – except I did not fully grasp the extensions one. Also cannot get to the lock on the website I’m trying to open (gov.uk) because that website won’t open so no lock is shown.

Fixing date and time worked for me

Great information. I went through every step and got to the SSl certificate section. There is no certificate for the site I’m attempting to visit. Safari will not allow me to visit many sites. So it isn’t just the one site.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

By submitting this form: You agree to the processing of the submitted personal data in accordance with Kinsta's Privacy Policy , including the transfer of data to the United States.

You also agree to receive information from Kinsta related to our services, events, and promotions. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions in the communications received.

If you just learned something new want more of that, subscribe to our newsletter.

Safari not Working on iPhone after update

Iphone won’t play videos on safari top 4 solutions, fix: a problem repeatedly occurred safari error on iphone, how to change safari background on ios 16, safari is not connecting to internet try these fixes.

• January 19, 2024

Safari is a pretty stable piece of software. Apple made its default browser work seamlessly in the well-optimized iOS environment. But some problems may arise here and there. And perhaps the biggest nightmare of every user is when Safari is not connecting to internet.

Indeed, reports about Safari connection issues on iPhones are quite common. Users have been reporting this problem for years now. But luckily, most of these internet connection issues are easily solvable. It usually takes a simple, general solution, and the internet connection comes back.

In this article, we’re going to focus on issues tightly connected to Safari itself. So, if you’re unable to connect to the internet using any other app, you have a different kind of problem. In that case, try some other solutions like restarting your router, checking your WiFi connection, etc.

• iPhone won’t connect to Wi-Fi on iOS 15

But if you’re unable to connect to the internet solely through Safari, the following solutions might be helpful:

• Restart your iPhone.
• Clear the Website data in Settings > Safari.
• Update your iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update.
• Reset Network Settings in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Allow Safari to use Cellular data.
• Cellular data not working for IOS

None of these solutions is rocket science, but as unappealing as they might seem, these solved the problem for the majority of users. So, at least give it a try.

In this article:

How to Fix “iPhone not connecting to Internet” Issue

Solution 1 – clear the website data.

The first thing most people do when there’s an app problem is clear the cache and data of that app. And Safari is no different. So, we’re going to start our troubleshooting process by clearing the Safari cache and data .

In case you’re not sure how to do that, just follow these instructions:

• Go to the Settings app, and navigate to Safari .
• Now, scroll to the bottom, and tap the Advanced tab.

That’s about it, your app data is now clear, and hopefully, the problem is resolved now. If you have any issues clearing the site data or cookies, we have an article for you (because that’s been a problem for some people, as well).

Solution 2 – Update your iPhone

It’s quite possible the system itself caused the problem. Most likely after some update. And since Safari receives updates through the system, there’s a good chance the latest patch messed up your browser.

iOS updates are somehow notorious for causing various controversial issues. Although this one isn’t as dangerous as that alleged battery drain incident, it’s still quite annoying. Don’t blame Apple for delivering faulty updates, because every software on every platform is prone to update-caused issues. It’s just how it works.

Anyway, if you find out that Safari is not connecting to the internet was indeed caused by the most recent update, there’s pretty much nothing you can do about it. Except waiting for Apple to release a new update. If the problem is widespread, the development team will quickly acknowledge it and release a follow-up patch.

Of course, there could be something you can do, even if the update causes the problem. However, as each update is different, I can’t tell you exactly what to do here. Just search for some more info about that specific update, and maybe you’ll find something useful.

Solution 3 – “Allow” Safari to use the cellular data

iPhone allows you to apply all sorts of restrictions to which kind of content your apps have access to. So, if you’re unable to access the internet through Safari, there’s a good chance your permissions don’t allow you to.

So, the next thing we’re going to try is to make sure you’ve obtained all the necessary permissions to access the internet through Safari. Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to Settings .
• Tap Cellular .
• Scroll down, and make sure Safari is allowed to use cellular data.

Now you have all the necessary permissions to access websites through Safari. If Safari is still not connecting to the internet, move on to another solution.

Solution 4 – Reset the Network Settings

Resetting the Network Settings is a general solution. But it will also reset the Safari settings, in case we’ve missed something. So, it’s a quick solution, to say so. It will save you some time, and effort.

Here’s how to reset the Network Settings in iOS:

• Open Settings .
• Tap General .
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone .

• Enter your passcode.
• Tap Reset to confirm.
• Restart your device.

Now you have both network and Safari settings reset. If that didn’t get the job done, there’s the last, most strict solution.

Solution 5 – Perform Factory Reset if Safari is not connecting to internet

And finally, the last solution would be to perform the Factory Reset of your system. Doing this has the same purpose as resetting the Network settings, but to a bigger degree, because you’re resetting the whole system. Just don’t forget to back up everything to iCloud before doing so.

Here’s how to factory reset your settings:

• Don’t forget to back up your data before you confirm.
• Confirm the selection and start the process.
• Later on, when your iPhone boots, you should choose Restore from the iCloud Backup feature.

If you’re facing Safari not Working on your iPhone after the update, you can access further information within this article. I hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with the Safari internet connection. You can also report the issue to Apple.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, just write them down in the comments section below.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in April 2018. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.

Images not loading in iMessage? Top 6 solutions

Apple Watch Calendar is not syncing? Top 5 solutions

Apple Watch is not syncing with iPhone? Top 7 fixes

The number you are trying to reach is not reachable? Best fixes

• Entertainment
• Social Media
• Android Apps
• Android Guides

© 2024 Mobile Internist • Polyana Media

• 🤩 Trending:
• iOS 17.4 Features: What’s New?
• iOS 18: Everything We Know
• iPhone 16: Everything We Know
• iPhone 16 Pro: Everything We Know

GeeksChalk is the leading source for all things iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and more

• Apple Watch

Popular Post

How to fix Mail not working on iPhone after iOS 17 update

How to fix iphone speakers not working after ios 17 update issue.

How to fix AirDrop not working on iPhone after iOS 17 update

Iphone 14 pro max not charging past 80 percent fix.

How to fix Safari not working on iPhone after iOS 17 update

Some users have reported that Safari doesn’t load websites or webpages after iOS 17 update. There could be many reasons for Safari not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update. This is especially an issue when you rely heavily on Safari to browse the internet.

Fortunately, most iOS 17 Safari problems are minor and can be fixed within a few minutes without much technical knowledge. Just follow the steps below to fix Safari if it isn’t working properly on your iPhone after iOS 17 update.

Note: Information in this article applies to the iPhone 11 series, 12 series, 13, 14, and 15 series iPhones.

How to fix Safari not working on iPhone in iOS 17

1. update safari.

Before you do anything, make sure that Safari is up-to-date. It is possible that a software update may fix your problem. Safari is part of iOS and included with iOS. This means when you update iOS, Safari will also be updated. This further means that you need to update iOS to install the latest Safari updates. Here is how:

• Go to Settings and tap on General .
• Tap on Software Update and install any available updates.

2. Close Safari and then reopen it

One of the ways you can fix minor app glitches on iOS is by force-quitting problematic apps.

So, if Safari is still not working for you, then you should force-quit and reopen the app. Here’s how:

• iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, go to your Home screen and swipe up from the bottom of the screen. If this is an iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), double press the Home button.
• This will reveal the app switcher which lists your most recently used apps.
• Swipe left or right and find the Safari preview.
• Swipe up on the Safari icon.
• Then reopen Safari normally to see if your issue is resolved.

3. Internet connection issues?

It is possible that Safari is not working after iOS 17 update due to problems with internet connection. Lets first try to test that if you have a strong connection. Open the App Store app on your device, does the App Store app load without an issue? Then probably you have a connection. If not, you may try:

• Turn on Airplane Mode and wait about 30 seconds and then turn it off (Settings > Airplane Mode).
• Restart your modem and router by unplugging the power cord and wait about 1 minute and then plug them back in.
• Try a different connection. If you are using a cellular connection, connect to a Wi-Fi network to see if your problem still occurs. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, then try to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

4. Check for VPN and security software

Sometimes VPN can interfere with website loading on Safari. To disable VPN on your device, follow the steps below:

• Open Settings , then tap on General .
• Tap VPN & Device Management , then tap VPN .
• Also, look at Settings > General > Profiles . If this option doesn’t exist, you don’t have any profiles installed. If you see something here, it may have been installed by the system administrator for your company, and you should talk to them.

5. Restart your iPhone

You hear it all the time—turn your device off and on again. While this may sound like a cliche fix, restarting your iPhone has been known to clear your usable memory, which can speed up Safari.

If Safari is frozen or just a blank white screen, restarting your iPhone can also fix these problems. Here’s how:

• iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 : Press the side button and the volume up button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide it, then wait 30 seconds. Press the side button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone SE(2nd or 3rd gen) : Press and hold the side button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide it, then wait 30 seconds. Press the side button until the Apple logo appears.

6. Turn off private relay

Private Relay works like a VPN and routes your Internet traffic through two separate relays to encrypt traffic and hide your IP address. If you have an iCloud Plus subscription, the setting is enabled by default. Private Relay can affect some websites. Here’s what to do:

• Open Settings , then tap on your name at the top.
• Tap on iCloud , then if Private Relay is on, tap on Private Relay .
• Toggle the switch next to Private Relay to turn it off.
• Select Turn Off Until Tomorrow . If you find that this is the problem, you may want to turn it off completely.

7. Disable extensions

Safari extensions are useful tools, but some of them, and ad blockers, in particular, might prevent Safari from working properly. If you are using extensions, disable them and see if that fixes your problem. Here’s how:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Safari .
• Tap Extensions .
• Turn off all of the extensions.

Now, force-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 delete the associated app to fix your problem. If Safari is not working still, you can now enable your extensions.

8. Clear out Safari data

Clearing Safari Website Data whis will remove history, cookies and other data. The history will be cleared from all of your devices signed into iCloud.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone and then go into Safari .
• Tap Clear History and Website Data .
• Choose your time frame. You can choose all history .
• Tap Clear History .

9. Check that JavaScript is enabled

JavaScript is on by default on most iOS devices. However, if you’re having issues with Safari, it’s likely that JavaScript is off. Sometimes, one might turn JavsScript off as some websites might not support it.

If you’ve turned JavaScript off or want to check if it’s off and turn it back on, follow the steps below:

• Open Settings and tap on Safari .
• Scroll down and tap on Advanced .
• If JavaScript is off, toggle the switch to turn it on.

10. Turn off Safari experimental features

The experimental features of Safari give you access to upcoming web tools, ideas about web element changes, new browser initiatives, behavior adjustments, and other under-test development features by the Apple development team.

Sometimes, you’ll find activating these features beneficial to enhance the web app experience on Safari. However, if you don’t possess a clear idea of which experimental features of Safari are beneficial, you shouldn’t toy with this section of the Safari web browser application. Here’s how to check and disable Safari experimental features on your iPhone:

• Open Settings .
• scroll down and tap Advanced .
• Tap Experimental Features . And toggle off everything here. If this does not resolve your problem, you can turn them on again.

11. Reset Network Settings

You can Reset Network Settings if nothing else has fixed your iOS 17 Safari problems. Resetting network settings can solve a variety of connection problems, however, you will need to set up all of your Wi-Fi networks again. Copy down your Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, then Reset Network Settings by following the steps below:

• Go to Settings , then tap General .
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone , then Reset .
• Tap Reset Network Settings , then follow onscreen instructions.

12. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above has solved your iOS 17 Safari issues, you may want to contact Apple Support for more help.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent News Flash

How to Use the iPhone Messages App: The Ultimate Guide

How to use Check In on your iPhone

How to download maps to use offline on your iPhone

How To Turn Off Zoom (Magnifier) On Your iPhone

Trending now.

iPhone System Haptics, What They are, Turn On or Off

Why iPhone Messages Turn Green: Explained

iPad Says “Not Charging” When it’s Plugged In, how to fix it

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

• Home New Posts Forum List Trending New Threads New Media Spy
• WikiPost Latest summaries Watched WikiPosts
• Support FAQ and Rules Contact Us

iOS 17.4.1 Update Issues:Website Errors and Internet Connection Problems

• Thread starter Joshua56363
• Start date Mar 29, 2024
• Tags ios iphone
• Sort by reaction score
• iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
• iOS and iPadOS

Joshua56363

Macrumors newbie.

• Mar 29, 2024

Hey everyone, I recently updated my iPhone to iOS 17.4.1 and encountered some unexpected issues with certain websites and apps. It seems like I'm not alone in this, as I've seen several reports across various forums and social media platforms. One of the most notable issues I've experienced is with browsing websites like social websites https://www.facebook.com https://www.uber.com and garden and home improvement websites https://greenryenthusiast.com/will-a-snow-blower-work-on-a-gravel-driveway . While the app itself seems to be working fine, when trying to access Facebook through Safari, I'm encountering strange loading errors. It's frustrating because I rely on the browser version for certain features that the app doesn't offer. Moreover, I've noticed that some third-party apps from the App Store are also behaving oddly. For instance, when trying to download a game or any app, the app crashes intermittently or displays error messages. This is particularly inconvenient, especially when I'm in a rush and need to get somewhere quickly. To see if others are facing similar problems, I visited the MacRumors forums, a reliable source for troubleshooting iOS issues. However, to my dismay, even accessing this forum has become a challenge. The connection seems to be unstable, with pages taking longer to load or sometimes not loading at all. I've tried troubleshooting by clearing cache and cookies, restarting my device, and even resetting network settings, but none of these solutions seem to resolve the issues. It appears that the problem lies with the iOS update itself. I'm curious to know if anyone else has encountered similar issues after updating to iOS 17.4.1. If so, have you found any workarounds or solutions? It's frustrating to deal with these issues, especially when we rely so heavily on our devices for everyday tasks. Let's share our experiences and hopefully find a resolution together.  

Reverend Benny

Macrumors 6502a.

• Mar 30, 2024
• VPN software, AD blockers, antimalware/antivirus etc?
• Are the phone managed via some MDM software (intune, Jamf etc)?
• What phone are you using?
• Are these issues more common when you are connected to the cellular network or Wi-FI?
• Have you tweaked your Safari Settings? (experimental settings).
• Whats your experience if you use other webbrowsers? (firefox, brave etc?)
• Can you see some similarities to the others that are having these issues, same cellular provider? Same country? Same phone model?
• Apr 2, 2024

I’ve been having similar problems with my iPhone 14 pro max that I upgraded to ios 17.4.1 too. My Yahoo Fantasy app, facebook and Twitter all struggle to load the most. Some of my food apps take forever to load now. There are times where I try making searches and safari won’t load the webpage. I have to keep connecting and disconnecting my internet. I’ve tried factory resetting network settings and it works temporarily. I do a speed test and my speeds are still fine. I have an iPhone 12 that I use for work and didn’t upgrade that and it seems to be working fine and my pro max was working fine before the upgrade with loading everything so it definitely must be a ios 17.4.1 bug  

RunawayJeff

• Apr 6, 2024

I have a 15 Pro Max and am experiencing the same exact issues. Seems like this might be a bug that might only effects certain models?  

macrumors member

• Apr 7, 2024

If it's on, try switching off Icloud Private relay in Settings.  

macrumors 6502

• Apr 9, 2024

iOS 17.4 // Loss of Cellular Connectivity, slow 5G speeds ... ​

• Apr 10, 2024

I visited the Apple Store today explained all my tries to have the issues resolved. They did a diagnostic check on the phone with their tools and with all 5 tries, the phone did not finish the test and hang at something like 60% on cellular connectivity diagnostics. They replaced the motherboard, case, battery, back glass - basically entire thing, except the display. a total of 660 EUR of parts at no cost, as I'm covered with the Netherlands Consumer Warranty (Apple warranty in the Netherlands is 1 year, phone is 1.5 year old) So as I'm restoring the phone, I just wanted to let everyone know that this issue was legitimate and everyone experiencing these should visit the Apple Store.  

Safari User Guide

• Change your homepage
• Import bookmarks, history, and passwords
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Go to websites
• Find what you’re looking for
• Bookmark webpages that you want to revisit
• See your favorite websites
• Use tabs for webpages
• Pin frequently visited websites
• Play web videos
• Mute audio in tabs
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• Autofill contact info
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading articles
• Translate a webpage
• Download items from the web
• Share or post webpages
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
• Customize a start page
• Customize the Safari window
• Customize settings per website
• Zoom in on webpages
• Get extensions
• Manage cookies and website data
• Block pop-ups
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Autofill user name and password info
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• View a Privacy Report
• Change Safari preferences
• Keyboard and other shortcuts
• Troubleshooting

Safari troubleshooting on Mac

If you have trouble browsing the web, try the suggestions listed below.

Open Safari for me

Webpages won’t appear

Make sure cables are connected, and that your network devices (such as a router) are turned on.

Check your internet connection.

Try working in another app that uses the internet, such as Mail, to see if your Mac is connected to the internet.

Problems opening webpages

If your computer is connected to the internet but you still have problems, wait a few minutes, then try again to view the webpage.

For more help, see:

If you can’t open a website in Safari

If you can’t open a Safari window

Webpages are garbled or hard to read

If webpages appear garbled or incomplete, or the text on them is too small, you may need to change Safari preferences. For more help, see:

If webpage text has odd or unusual characters in Safari

If features on a webpage don’t work in Safari

If you don’t see images on a webpage in Safari

Zoom in on webpages in Safari

Searches aren’t effective

If your web searches aren’t finding what you want, you can improve your search results with the right search terms.

AutoFill doesn’t work

The Safari AutoFill feature remembers information you use to fill in forms on webpages. If AutoFill doesn’t work in Safari , you may need to change AutoFill options in Safari preferences.

Problems downloading files

For solutions to other downloading problems, see If you can’t download an item from the web using Safari .

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

East Africa sees internet connectivity disruption, Netblocks and Cloudflare say

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Nuzulack Dausen and Humphrey Malalo in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi respectively; Editing by Alex Richardson

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Business Chevron

Wall St Week Ahead Stock market's record-setting rebound may have further to go

A rebound that has taken the U.S. stock market to record highs this week may have further to run, if history is any guide.

East African Internet Connectivity Impacted by Sub-Sea Cable Cut

Several nations in East Africa including Kenya are experiencing slow internet connections after at least one sub-sea cable serving the region was cut.

“The information we do have has confirmed that one of the sub sea cables seems cut 45 kilometers north of Durban,” Ben Roberts, group chief technology and and innovation officer at Liquid Intelligent Technologies said. “This is causing the internet to be sluggish.”

Chatbots tell people what they want to hear

Chatbots share limited information, reinforce ideologies, and, as a result, can lead to more polarized thinking when it comes to controversial issues, according to new Johns Hopkins University-led research.

The study challenges perceptions that chatbots are impartial and provides insight into how using conversational search systems could widen the public divide on hot-button issues and leave people vulnerable to manipulation.

"Because people are reading a summary paragraph generated by AI, they think they're getting unbiased, fact-based answers," said lead author Ziang Xiao, an assistant professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins who studies human-AI interactions. "Even if a chatbot isn't designed to be biased, its answers reflect the biases or leanings of the person asking the questions. So really, people are getting the answers they want to hear."

Xiao and his team share their findings at the Association of Computing Machinery's CHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, May 13.

To see how chatbots influence online searches, the team compared how people interacted with different search systems and how they felt about controversial issues before and after using them.

The researchers asked 272 participants to write out their thoughts about topics including health care, student loans, or sanctuary cities, and then look up more information online about that topic using either a chatbot or a traditional search engine built for the study. After considering the search results, participants wrote a second essay and answered questions about the topic. Researchers also had participants read two opposing articles and questioned them about how much they trusted the information and if they found the viewpoints to be extreme.

Because chatbots offered a narrower range of information than traditional web searches and provided answers that reflected the participants' preexisting attitudes, the participants who used them became more invested in their original ideas and had stronger reactions to information that challenged their views, the researchers found.

"People tend to seek information that aligns with their viewpoints, a behavior that often traps them in an echo chamber of like-minded opinions," Xiao said. "We found that this echo chamber effect is stronger with the chatbots than traditional web searches."

The echo chamber stems, in part, from the way participants interacted with chatbots, Xiao said. Rather than typing in keywords, as people do for traditional search engines, chatbot users tended to type in full questions, such as, What are the benefits of universal health care? or What are the costs of universal health care? A chatbot would answer with a summary that included only benefits or costs.

"With chatbots, people tend to be more expressive and formulate questions in a more conversational way. It's a function of how we speak," Xiao said. "But our language can be used against us."

AI developers can train chatbots to extract clues from questions and identify people's biases, Xiao said. Once a chatbot knows what a person likes or doesn't like, it can tailor its responses to match.

In fact, when the researchers created a chatbot with a hidden agenda, designed to agree with people, the echo chamber effect was even stronger.

To try to counteract the echo chamber effect, researchers trained a chatbot to provide answers that disagreed with participants. People's opinions didn't change, Xiao said. The researchers also programmed a chatbot to link to source information to encourage people to fact-check, but only a few participants did.

"Given AI-based systems are becoming easier to build, there are going to be opportunities for malicious actors to leverage AIs to make a more polarized society," Xiao said. "Creating agents that always present opinions from the other side is the most obvious intervention, but we found they don't work."

• Computers and Internet
• Information Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Privacy Issues
• STEM Education
• Urbanization
• Environmental Policies
• Funding policies for science
• Search engine
• Artificial intelligence
• Civil libertarianism
• Computer simulation
• Search engine optimization
• Endangered species

Story Source:

Materials provided by Johns Hopkins University . Original written by Hannah Robbins. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page :

Explore More

• Toward a Successful Vaccine for HIV
• Highly Efficient Thermoelectric Materials
• Toward Human Brain Gene Therapy
• Whale Families Learn Each Other's Vocal Style
• AI Can Answer Complex Physics Questions
• Otters Use Tools to Survive a Changing World
• Monogamy in Mice: Newly Evolved Type of Cell
• Sustainable Electronics, Doped With Air
• Male Vs Female Brain Structure
• Breeding 'Carbon Gobbling' Plants

Trending Topics

Strange & offbeat.

An official website of the United States Government

• Kreyòl ayisyen
• Search Toggle search Search Include Historical Content - Any - No Include Historical Content - Any - No Search
• Menu Toggle menu
• INFORMATION FOR…
• Individuals
• Business & Self Employed
• Charities and Nonprofits
• International Taxpayers
• Federal State and Local Governments
• Indian Tribal Governments
• Tax Exempt Bonds
• FILING FOR INDIVIDUALS
• How to File
• When to File
• Where to File
• Update Your Information
• Get Your Tax Record
• Apply for an Employer ID Number (EIN)
• Check Your Amended Return Status
• Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
• File Your Taxes for Free
• Bank Account (Direct Pay)
• Payment Plan (Installment Agreement)
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
• Your Online Account
• Tax Withholding Estimator
• Estimated Taxes
• Where's My Refund
• What to Expect
• Direct Deposit
• Reduced Refunds
• Amend Return

Credits & Deductions

• INFORMATION FOR...
• Businesses & Self-Employed
• Earned Income Credit (EITC)
• Child Tax Credit
• Clean Energy and Vehicle Credits
• Standard Deduction
• Retirement Plans

Forms & Instructions

• POPULAR FORMS & INSTRUCTIONS
• Form 1040 Instructions
• Form 4506-T
• POPULAR FOR TAX PROS
• Form 1040-X
• Circular 230

IRS final reminder: Time to claim $1 billion in tax refunds from 2020 expires May 17

More in news.

• Topics in the News
• News Releases for Frequently Asked Questions
• Multimedia Center
• Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
• Inflation Reduction Act
• Taxpayer First Act
• Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
• The Tax Gap
• Fact Sheets
• IRS Tax Tips
• e-News Subscriptions
• IRS Guidance
• Media Contacts
• IRS Statements and Announcements

IR-2024-133, May 6, 2024

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today reminded the 1 million people who didn’t file their tax year 2020 returns they may be eligible for a refund if they file by the May 17 deadline.

The IRS estimates more than $1 billion in refunds remain unclaimed because people haven’t filed their 2020 tax returns yet. The state-by-state table below shows how many people are potentially eligible for these refunds, and the average median refund in each state.

There's no penalty for failure to file if a refund is due. However, a return claiming a refund must be filed within three years of its due date for a refund to be allowed. After the expiration of the three-year period, the refund statute generally prevents the issuance of a refund check and the application of any credits, including overpayments of estimated taxes or withholding amounts, to other tax years that are underpaid.

For 2020 tax returns, people have a little more time than usual to file their claim for refunds. Typically, the filing deadline to claim old refunds falls around the tax deadline of April 15. However, the 2020 filing deadline was pushed to May 17, due to COVID-19, making the three-year window deadline for 2020 unfiled returns May 17, 2024. The IRS issued Notice 2023-21 on Feb. 27, 2023, providing legal guidance on claims required by the postponed deadline.

Many people who didn’t file may be eligible for more

By missing out on filing a tax return, people stand to lose more than just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2020. The estimate does not include credits that non-filers may be eligible to receive. Credits include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) , the Recovery Rebate Credit or other credits that may be applicable.

Many low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2020, the EITC was worth as much as $6,660 for taxpayers with qualifying children. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds.

The IRS has previously reminded those who may be entitled to the COVID-era Recovery Rebate Credit in 2020 that time is running out to file a tax return and claim their money. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments, also known as stimulus payments, distributed in 2020 and 2021.

Plan to file? IRS offers options to get key documents

Gathering all the necessary documents and forms to file a return for 2020 may take some time. People should start as soon as possible to make sure they have enough time to file before the May 17 deadline for 2020 refunds. Here are some options:

• Request copies of key documents. Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2020, 2021 or 2022 can request copies from their employer, bank or other payers.  
• Use Get Transcript Online at IRS.gov. Taxpayers who have lost contact with their employer or other payers can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the Get Transcript Online tool. For many taxpayers, this is by far the quickest and easiest option.  
• Request a transcript. Another option is for people to file Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return , with the IRS to request a “wage and income transcript.” A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to file their tax return. But plan ahead – these written requests can take several weeks; people are strongly urged to try the other options first.  
• Current and prior years’ tax forms. Tax year 2020 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR and instructions are available on the IRS.gov Forms, instructions & publications page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Taxpayers who are unsure if they are required to file a return can visit Do I need to file a tax return? or refer to Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals) .

Free help is available

For individuals who have not filed a federal income a tax return for 2020, the IRS offers tools and resources on IRS.gov. Free support includes the Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) , information on What to do if you haven’t filed your return , and Frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) .

Qualified taxpayers can also access free tax preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs . Use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887 to locate the nearest VITA site.

The IRS also reassures taxpayers there is no penalty for claiming a refund on a late-filed tax return. Direct deposit is recommended as the quickest and simplest way to receive a tax refund.

State-by-state estimates of individuals who may be due 2020 income tax refunds

The IRS estimated the number of individuals in each state and the median potential refund a filer may be entitled to receive. The actual refund amount will vary based on a household’s tax situation.

* Excluding credits.

•  Facebook
•  Twitter
•  Linkedin