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Why Is Safari Running Slow on Mac? 15 Ways to Fix

Hashir Ibrahim

Reviewed by

Last updated: September 25, 2023

Expert verified

Safari may run slowly on Mac due to opening too many tabs, using too many extensions, cache build-up, outdated Safari version, outdated macOS, slow internet connection, hardware limitations, and malware or adware.

Fixing these issues through updating software, managing tabs, clearing cache, and removing unnecessary extensions can improve Safari’s speed and performance on a Mac.

• Managing open tabs and removing unnecessary extensions can free up valuable resources and enhance Safari’s performance.
• Regularly updating Safari and macOS ensures optimal compatibility and access to performance improvements.
• Clearing accumulated cache, cookies, and browsing history can give Safari a fresh start and improve loading times.
• Advanced solutions like switching DNS providers and booting in Safe Mode can address more complex issues affecting Safari’s speed.

Ever found yourself drumming your fingers in frustration as Safari lags on your Mac? A slow browser can turn even the most basic online tasks into a tedious affair.

If Safari is running slow on your Mac, I’ve got your back. Dive into this guide to uncover the mysteries behind Safari running slow on Mac and explore practical solutions to get you back in the fast lane. Ready to turbocharge your browsing experience? Let’s get started!

Before We Begin

If you want to make Safari run faster on your Mac, download MacKeeper. This tool clears up RAM, removes unnecessary Safari extensions, deletes unneeded files, and more. All these features help speed up a slow-running Safari.

Why Is Safari Running Slow on Mac?

Safari running slow on Mac can be due to various reasons. Below, I’ve shared the most common reasons for Safari’s sluggishness on your Mac:

• 🖥️ Too Many Tabs or Windows Open : Having numerous tabs or windows open can consume a lot of memory and slow down Safari.
• 🧩 Heavy Use of Extensions : Some Safari extensions can use a lot of resources, causing the browser to slow down.
• 🍪 Cache and Browsing Data : Accumulated cache, cookies, and browsing history can impact Safari’s performance.
• ⌛ Outdated Safari Version : Running an outdated version of Safari can lead to performance issues.
• 🍎 Outdated macOS : An outdated operating system can cause compatibility issues and slow down Safari.
• 🌐 Internet Connection Issues : An unstable or slow internet connection on Mac can affect browsing speed.
• 💻 Hardware Limitations : Older Mac models with limited RAM and processing power may struggle to run Safari efficiently.
• 🦠 Malware or Adware : Malicious software can significantly degrade the performance of Safari.

Addressing these issues through updating software, managing tabs, clearing cache, and removing unnecessary extensions can improve Safari’s speed and performance on a Mac.

How to Fix Safari Running Slow on Mac

A sluggish Safari on your Mac can be quite a bottleneck, especially during important online tasks. The good news is, there’s no need to let a slow browser rain on your parade. In this section, I’ll walk you through various solutions to bring Safari back to its optimal speed.

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of boosting your Safari browser’s performance on your Mac.

1. Check Your Internet Speed

Before diving into more complex solutions, ensuring that your internet connection isn’t the culprit behind Safari’s sluggishness is essential. A slow or unstable internet connection can significantly impact your browsing experience.

To test your internet connection, follow these steps:

• Open Safari on your Mac.

• Navigate to an online speed test tool like Speedtest.net .
• Click the Go button to start the test.

• This will give you an idea of your current internet speed.
• Pay attention to the download and upload speeds. If they are significantly lower than what your Internet plan promises, there might be an issue with your connection.
• If your internet speed is slow, reset your router. Unplug it from the power source, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for it to restart and retest your internet speed.
• If resetting doesn’t help, try moving closer to the router or removing any obstacles interfering with the signal.
• If the above steps don’t improve your internet speed, it might be time to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further assistance.

2. Force Close and Relaunch Safari

At times, Safari or any of its tabs might encounter errors or issues that consume excessive system resources, leading to slowdowns. Force closing and re-launching Safari can terminate these problematic processes and give the browser a fresh start.

Here’s how to force quit Safari and relaunch it on your Mac:

• Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select Force Quit from the drop-down menu.

• In the new window, select Safari and click the Force Quit button.

• Click Force Quit on the pop-up.

• After force-closing Safari, wait for a few moments to let the system properly terminate all processes related to the browser.
• Find the Safari icon in your Dock and click it to re-launch the browser.
• Check if the performance has improved.

3. Close Unwanted Tabs

Each open tab in Safari consumes your Mac’s memory and processing power. Having multiple tabs open, especially those with heavy content or active scripts, can significantly slow down the browser and even the entire system.

Closing unnecessary tabs can free up valuable resources and enhance Safari’s performance. Here’s how to go about it:

• Take a look at all the tabs you have open in Safari. Identify which ones are not currently needed or are consuming significant resources.
• Click the small x icon on the left of each tab you wish to close.

• Alternatively, you can close an active tab using a Mac keyboard shortcut : Command ⌘ + W .

• You can also right-click a tab and select Close Tab from the context menu.
• After closing unwanted tabs, check if Safari’s performance has improved.

4. Clear Safari History

Over time, Safari accumulates a history of the websites you’ve visited, cached files, and cookies. While these elements are designed to speed up page loading times, they can also clutter your browser and consume system resources, leading to slowdowns.

Clearing your browsing history can give Safari a fresh start and potentially improve its performance. Here’s how to delete Safari’s history on Mac :

• If not already open, launch the Safari browser on your Mac.
• Click the Safari menu item at the top left of your screen. From the drop-down menu, select Settings .

• Select the Advanced tab and check the box next to the Show Develop menu in menu bar if it is unchecked.

• Return to the menu bar, click Develop , and select Empty Caches from this drop-down list.

• After clearing the history, navigate through various websites to check if there is an improvement in Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

5. Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

The cache stores temporary files from websites to help pages load faster in future visits, while cookies save small pieces of information like login details. Over time, these stored files can accumulate and cause Safari to slow down.

Clearing the browser cache on your Mac can free up storage and improve browser speed. Here’s how to clear Safari cache on your Mac :

• Launch Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings from the drop-down menu.
• In the Settings window, select the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data .

• A new window will open, showing a list of websites storing data.
• Click Remove All to clear all cookies and cached data. Confirm the action when prompted.

• After completing these steps, browse through different websites and assess whether Safari’s performance has improved.

6. Delete Unwanted Extensions

Extensions are additional features or functionalities added to Safari to enhance user experience. However, some extensions can be resource-intensive, causing the browser to slow down. Removing unnecessary or problematic extensions can help in optimizing Safari’s speed.

Here’s how you can delete unwanted extensions on Mac :

• Open Safari on your Mac, click the Safari menu in the menu bar and select Settings .
• Click the Extensions tab to view all the installed extensions.

• Find the extension you want to remove and click it.

• Click the Uninstall button to confirm that you want to remove the extension.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper to remove unwanted extensions from Safari. Here are the steps to follow:

• Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
• Open MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller option in the left sidebar.

• Click the Start Scan button to scan your computer for installed browser extensions.

• Once the scan is complete, click Browser Extensions in the left sidebar and locate the extension you want to remove from the list.

• Click the checkbox next to the extension you want to remove and tap Remove Selected .

• Confirm the action by clicking the Remove button in the confirmation dialog box.

• Wait for the uninstallation process to complete.
• Restart your browser to ensure the extension has been completely removed.

7. Disable Search Engine Suggestions

Search engine suggestions are generated in real-time as you type into the search bar, which can sometimes slow down Safari, especially on slower internet connections or older Mac models. Disabling this feature can reduce the load on Safari and potentially improve its speed.

Here’s how you can disable search engine suggestions on Safari:

• Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
• In the Settings window, click the Search tab.
• Uncheck the box next to Include search engine suggestions to disable the feature.

• Close the Settings window and test Safari by typing into the search bar to see if there is an improvement in responsiveness.

8. Disable Autofill

Autofill automatically completes forms using stored information, which, while convenient, can sometimes cause Safari to lag, especially if there’s a lot of data stored. Disabling this feature can help Safari run more smoothly.

Here’s how you can disable Autofill on Safari:

• In the Settings window, click the Autofill tab.
• You will see several options for different types of information that Safari can autofill. Uncheck the boxes next to the types of information you don’t want Safari to autofill.

• After making the changes, close the window and restart Safari to apply the adjustments.
• With Autofill disabled, navigate to various websites with forms and assess whether there’s an improvement in Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

9. Update Safari

Running an outdated version of Safari can lead to performance issues, as updates often include optimizations and fixes for known bugs. Ensuring Safari is up-to-date can help resolve slowdowns and enhance browser stability.

Here’s how you can update Safari on Mac:

• Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select App Store from the drop-down menu.

• In the App Store, click the Updates tab to view available app updates.

• Scroll through the list of updates and look for Safari. If an update is available, it will be listed here.
• Click the Update button next to Safari to download and install the latest version.

• Once the update is complete, close and restart Safari to apply the changes.
• After updating Safari, navigate different websites and assess whether the browser’s performance has improved.

10. Disable DNS Prefetching

DNS prefetching is a feature that pre-resolves domain names before you click a link, aiming to improve page load times. However, this feature can cause Safari to slow down or become unresponsive on some networks. Disabling it can help alleviate these issues.

Here’s how you can disable DNS prefetching:

• Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal to open the Terminal application on your Mac.

• In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter :

• Close open Safari windows and relaunch the browser to apply the changes.
• Navigate through various websites and evaluate whether disabling DNS prefetching has improved Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

11. Switch DNS Provider

The Domain Name System (DNS) translates website names to IP addresses. Sometimes, the default DNS servers provided by your ISP may be slow or overloaded, affecting your browsing speed. Switching to a faster, more reliable DNS provider can enhance your internet speed and Safari’s performance.

Here’s how you can switch your DNS provider:

• Click the Apple logo and select System Settings from the drop-down menu.

• In the System Settings window, click Network to access your network settings.

• In the Network settings window, click Wi-Fi and tap the Details button next to your active Internet connection.

• Click the DNS tab in the Advanced Settings window.

• Click the + button below the DNS Servers box.

• IPv4 addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• IPv6 addresses (if your network supports it): 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
• If there are existing DNS servers listed, make sure the Google DNS addresses are at the top of the list. You can click and drag the entries to reorder them.
• Click the OK button in the DNS Servers window to save the changes.

• After switching the DNS provider, open Safari and browse through different websites to check if there’s an improvement in speed and responsiveness.

12. Kill Resource-intensive Processes

Some processes running on your Mac can consume a significant amount of system resources, affecting the overall performance of your computer and, consequently, Safari. Identifying and terminating these resource-intensive processes can free up system resources and improve Safari’s responsiveness.

Here’s how you can kill resource-intensive processes on your Mac :

• Open Activity Monitor by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor .

• In Activity Monitor, you’ll see a list of active processes sorted by their usage of system resources such as CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, Network, or Cache .
• Identify the background process you want to terminate by browsing the list or using the search box at the top-right corner.

• Select the process you want to terminate to highlight it, and click the X button in the top toolbar.

• Click the Quit button in the confirmation window to terminate the selected process.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner to free up RAM on your Mac and kill background processes. Here’s how:

• Open MacKeeper and click Memory Cleaner under the Performance tab.

• Click Open .

• Click Clean Memory .

• It will clean your Mac and free up available memory. You can see how much memory it freed under Last Cleanup .

13. Reset Safari to Factory Defaults

Resetting Safari to factory defaults will remove all your settings, history, bookmarks, and other data. It’s like starting fresh with Safari, which can be helpful if the browser’s performance is severely affected by configurations or corrupted data.

Here’s how you can reset Safari to factory defaults:

• Before resetting, backup your bookmarks, saved passwords, and any other important data from Safari.
• Navigate to the Extensions tab and uninstall all extensions.
• Then, go to the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data to remove all website data.
• Close Safari.
• Open Finder, click Go , and select Go to Folder .

• Type the following path and press Enter :

• Locate the file named com.apple.Safari.plist and move it to the Bin.

• Open Safari again. It should now be reset to its factory defaults.

14. Scan Your Mac for Virus

Malware and viruses can significantly degrade the performance of your Mac and affect Safari’s functionality. Running a thorough virus scan can identify and remove malicious software, potentially resolving any slowdowns in Safari.

Here’s how to run a virus scan on your Mac using MacKeeper:

• Download and install MacKeeper.
• Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tab in the left sidebar.

• Initiate an instant virus scan by clicking the Start Scan button.

• If any viruses are detected during the scan, click the Fix Items button to resolve the issues.
• If your system is threat-free, you’ll see a No threats found message. You can tap the Restart button to run the scan again.

• Enable real-time antivirus protection to safeguard your Mac from future threats by clicking the Enable button.

Once you have configured your security settings, MacKeeper will continue to operate in the background, diligently scanning for threats and actively blocking any malicious activity.

What Else Can MacKeeper Do?  

Besides removing browser extensions from Mac and scanning it for viruses, MacKeeper can remove junk files , uninstall applications , and optimize Mac storage . Check out my in-depth MacKeeper review to learn about all its features.

15. Boot Your Mac Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts your Mac in a basic state with only the essential system software. It checks for issues and deletes certain system caches, potentially resolving Safari’s performance problems.

Here’s how to boot your Mac in Safe Mode :

Apple Silicon Macs

• Click the Apple icon and choose Shut Down from the drop-down menu.

• Wait for your Mac to shut down completely, and press the Power button to turn it on.

• Keep holding the Power button until you see the Loading startup options screen.

• Select a volume from the options.

• Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key and click Continue in Safe Mode .

• Your Mac will restart automatically, and you will see Safe Boot in the menu bar when the login screen appears.

Intel-Based Macs

• Restart or turn on your Mac and press and hold the Shift ⇧ key immediately.
• Keep holding the Shift ⇧ key until you see the login screen.
• Release the Shift ⇧ key and log in to your Mac.
• You may be asked to log in again.
• You’ll see Safe Boot in the menu bar on your first or second login window.

Open Safari and navigate through various websites to assess whether the browser’s performance has improved in Safe Mode. After checking Safari’s performance, restart your Mac normally without holding any keys. This will exit Safe Mode.

Speed Up Safari on Your Mac

Navigating through a sluggish Safari can be a test of patience, but armed with the solutions outlined in this guide, you’re well-equipped to tackle any slowdowns head-on. To improve your Safai experience further, here are some more tips for you:

• If your Safari bookmarks disappeared on Mac , many ways exist to restore them without panicking.
• If you don’t want Safari to keep your browsing history, go incognito on a Mac in Safari browser .
• Some pop-ups can be a nuisance and slow down your browser. So, disable unnecessary pop-ups on Safari and improve its speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will i lose important data by resetting safari to factory defaults.

Yes, you will lose data by resetting Safari to factory defaults. It erases all your settings, history, bookmarks, and saved passwords, so back up important data like bookmarks and passwords before resetting to avoid losing valuable information. After the reset, you can restore the backed-up data as needed.

Is it safe to switch to a different DNS provider?

Yes, it is safe to switch to a different DNS provider like Google DNS or OpenDNS. It can even improve your internet speed and security. However, it’s crucial to ensure the DNS addresses are correct and from a trustworthy source to avoid any connectivity or security issues.

How often should I scan my Mac for viruses to maintain Safari’s performance?

You should regularly scan your Mac for viruses to maintain Safari’s performance. Ideally, once a week or monthly is advisable, but the frequency can vary based on your internet habits, the websites you frequent, and the types of files you download. Regular scans detect and remove malicious software promptly.

I'm Hashir, a tech journalist with a decade of experience. My work has been featured in some of the top tech publications like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. I have a bachelor's degree in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and extensive knowledge of Apple hardware, specifically MacBooks. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write in depth guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac and unbiased reviews that help you make the right buying decisions.

Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

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Safari Slow on Mac

In this article you will find the following:

Safari is the fastest browser on the Mac, but it isn't immune from slowdowns and performance issues. If web pages take longer to load or site navigation doesn't feel responsive, read on to learn how to speed up Safari on Mac.

Before you start:   If you want Safari to run as well as possible, you need to make sure the apps on your Mac are up-to-date. That’s easy with MacKeeper’s Update Tracker: Download and run MacKeeper. Select Update Tracker . Click Scan For Updates . Select what to update, and click Update . Yes, it’s as simple as that. Keep your Mac’s apps up to date with MacKeeper, and you’ll save tons of time.

• Why is Safari so slow on Mac?

Before we consider the solutions, let’s look at some of the possible reasons that Safari is lagging on your Mac. Understanding these issues will help you to identify them, so you can get Safari working as it should.

Common causes for the Safari browser to run slowly include:

• Your internet connection is running slow.
• There’s a problem with your Wi-Fi.
• You have too many Safari tabs open.
• You’re running too many resource-intensive apps in the background.
• Safari or macOS is out of date.
• Faulty or incompatible drivers are interfering with Safari.
• Your Safari preferences have become corrupted.
• You’re running out of disk space on your Mac.

In our article, we’re going to look at fixing these issues and more.  

• How to speed up Safari on Mac

Is Safari running slow on your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini? Connectivity issues, unoptimized extensions, cache corruption, and a host of other reasons often cause that. Try these suggestions to improve Safari performance on your Mac:

• Check if your internet is slow
• Close unnecessary tabs in Safari
• Shut down apps and resource-intensive processes on Mac
• Disable unnecessary Safari extensions
• Switch DNS servers for Wi-Fi and Ethernet
• Clear the Safari cache and cookies
• Manage and configure autofill
• Update your Safari browser
• Reset Safari to factory defaults
• Boot your Mac into Safe Mode
• Fix problems with the Startup Disk
• Free up disk space on your Mac

1. Check if your internet is slow

If Safari isn’t loading pages , or it takes too long, it's important to figure out if it's just a matter of your internet being slow. The best way to do that is to use an online speed checker like Fast.com or SpeedTest.net. You can also just type ‘speed test’ in Google to bring an internet speed tester without leaving the search engine.

Restart your router if you find that your internet isn't uploading or downloading at a decent rate. If that doesn't speed it up, learn what else you can do to fix a slow internet connection on Mac . Also, don't discount server-side issues. If the problem is limited to a specific site, use a website monitoring tool such as Downdetector to see if that site is experiencing issues. Sometimes, websites go down, and there’s really nothing you can do about it except wait for them to be fixed.

2. Close unnecessary tabs in Safari

Although Safari is adept at handling dozens of tabs, having too many open simultaneously will eventually take its toll on your Mac's memory. That creates delays while loading new pages, and the performance hit could also result in erratic browser behavior.

The quickest way to speed up Safari on Mac is to shut down unnecessary tabs as soon as you notice any slowdowns. Getting used to moving between and closing tabs using the Ctrl+Tab and Command+W keyboard shortcuts can make the process even faster.

3. Shut down apps and resource-intensive processes on Mac

Tabs aside, having too many applications open can also make the Safari browser slow on Mac. If you find your Mac overheating , that’s a good sign it’s being overworked. This is less likely to be the case with newer Macs, which have fast Apple Silicon processors like the M1 and M2. Nevertheless, you should check your Mac's Dock and quit anything you aren't actively using. Try force-quitting troublesome programs if you can't close them normally.

If that doesn’t get Safari up to speed, you may have background processes that are using too much processing power and memory. Use the Activity Monitor to locate and stop them:

• Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities . In the CPU tab, sort your Mac's activity using the % CPU column and shut down any third-party processes that use a significant amount of CPU.
• Switch to the Memory tab and stop third-party items that use lots of RAM.

Important:   If you always end up pushing the hardware on your Mac to its limits, consider using MacKeeper's Memory Cleaner feature to keep things under control.

4. Disable unnecessary Safari extensions

Running Safari with multiple extensions increases the load on the CPU and RAM. That translates to slower browser performance, so review your list of browser add-ons and disable any items you don't regularly use. Here’s how:

• Open Safari and select Safari > Settings on the menu bar.
• Switch to the Extensions tab. Clear the boxes next to any extensions you want to disable.

Note from our team:    We highly recommend you update Safari extensions periodically via the Mac's App Store or MacKeeper’s Update Tracker to ensure they run in top shape. If you notice anything suspicious that might be slowing you down, learn how to remove malicious browser extensions and toolbars from your Mac.

5. Switch DNS servers for Wi-Fi and Ethernet

DNS (short for Domain Name System) is a cataloging system that matches domain names with IP addresses. When you type in the web address of a site, DNS tells your browser which IP address to visit to load the site.

Not all DNS providers are fast, so changing your Wi-Fi or Ethernet's DNS settings to a popular service like Google DNS can make Safari run faster on Mac. For best results, clear the DNS cache on your Mac before you begin.

Change your Mac’s DNS settings like this:

• In System Settings , select Network in the sidebar, then either Ethernet or Wi-Fi , depending on how you’re connected to the internet.
• Click Details .
• In the DNS section, click the plus button under DNS servers, and add 8.8.8.8 . Then do the same with 8.8.4.4 , and click OK .

6. Clear the Safari cache and cookies

Like most web browsers, Safari caches various forms of site data—images, HTML files, and JavaScript code—to improve load times in subsequent visits. However, a bloated or corrupt cache can adversely impact performance and result in Safari working slow on the Mac. You can clear the Safari cache after activating its hidden Develop menu.

Corrupt, outdated, or privacy-invasive browser cookies can slow down Safari. Deleting these cookies may help too. Here’s how to clear Safari’s cache and cookies:

• In Safari’s settings menu , switch to the Advanced tab and check the box next to Show features for web developers .
• Select Develop on the menu bar and pick the Empty Caches option.
• Now for the cookies. Select Safari > Clear History on the menu bar.
• Set Clear to All History , and click Clear History .

Hint from our experts:   You can also clear your Safari cache with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup . In just a few clicks, it will clean up not only Safari but all your other web browsers and apps, log files, unneeded languages, and more. Run Safe Cleanup and get your Mac in order: In MacKeeper , select Safe Cleanup , then click Start Scan . When the scan is finished, choose what you want to delete, then click Clean Junk Files . Now click Skip Trash or Empty Trash , and MacKeeper will clear out the junk data. Step 1. Run Safe Cleanup Step 2. Remove junk files Step 3. Confirm removal

7. Manage and configure autofill

Autofill is a common feature in web browsers, which automatically fills in online forms for you. Information like your name, phone number, email address, and even payment cards are stored, so you don’t have to remember them or type them manually every time. As convenient as this feature is, it can also cause Safari to run slowly.

Changing your Safari browser’s autofill settings can stop it lagging:

• Open Safari’s settings , and go to the Autofill tab. To disable a category of autofilled data, use the checkboxes . Click one of the Edit buttons for more precise configuration.
• If you decide to edit the Credit cards autofill settings, for example, enter your password and click Unlock .
• You can then add or remove credit cards. Now do the same with the other autofill settings.

8. Update your Safari browser and macOS

Like many software companies, Apple regularly releases new updates for its apps, including Safari, and they arrive alongside regular macOS updates . These include bug fixes and performance enhancements, so you should make sure your browser and operating system are always on the latest supported version. Updating may be enough to fix a slow Safari browser. To update your Mac:

• In System Settings , select General from the sidebar, and then click Software Update .
• Wait until the Software Update tool checks for newer macOS updates and select Update Now to install any pending updates.

Even if a new macOS update doesn't include anything Safari-related, installing it will still improve general performance across native apps. Whether your Mac is running slow or not, make it a point to install macOS updates as soon as possible.

9. Reset Safari to factory defaults

Corrupt browser preferences and other underlying issues can also play a factor. There’s no way to repair your Safari preferences, so sometimes, the only way to fix a slow instance of Safari on Mac is to reset it to factory defaults. Here’s how:

• Save your work and exit Safari. Open Finder , select Go > Go to Folder on the menu bar, and visit the ~/Library/Preferences/ directory.
• Find the com.apple.Safari.plist file and delete it.
• Reopen the Go to Folder box and visit ~/Library/Safari/ . Then, delete each item within the folder except the Bookmarks.plist file.
• Visit ~/Library/Containers/ , search for Safari, and delete all files and folders that appear among the search results.

Next time you open Safari, you’ll need to set it up again to your liking. For example, you’ll need to visit its Settings pane to reactivate any extensions you want.

If you’re worried about security, check our guide on how Safari can get a virus .

10. Boot your Mac into safe mode

If none of the fixes above help speed up Safari, try booting your Mac into and out of safe mode. That helps flush out various forms of temporary data that can interfere with Apple's browser. It can also help you work out if third-party apps or drivers are hurting your Mac’s performance. These don’t load when you’re in safe mode, so if you think such programs are causing issues, you can uninstall them.

On an Intel Mac , you can get to safe mode while holding down the Shift key during the reboot phase . However, if you use an Apple Silicon Mac, follow these steps to get your computer into safe mode:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Turn it on but keep holding the Power button until you get to the Startup Options screen.
• Hold the Shift key and select Macintosh HD > Continue in Safe Mode .

Important :    In Safe Mode, repeat the fixes above if you cannot complete them earlier. Then restart your Mac normally. To delete additional forms of temporary data that can slow down Safari, learn how to delete your Mac's application and system caches . Start your Mac in safe mode

11. Fix problems with the Startup Disk

Your startup disk is where macOS is stored, so if there are any issues with it, your Mac may not run as you expect. Apps like Safari may be affected, causing them to run slowly or freeze up. Fortunately, macOS contains tools that can help you diagnose problems with your disk drives:

• Turn your Mac off completely.
• If you’re using an Intel Mac , power it up while holding down Command+R . When you see the Apple logo, you can let go.
• If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip , press and hold the power button . Keep it held down until you see the startup options screen. Click Options > Continue .
• This will put your Mac in recovery mode. Select your account, then click Next. Enter your password.
• Choose Dis k Utility > Continue . Select your Mac’s main system drive, and then click First Aid.
• Now click Run . If Disk Utility finds anything wrong with your hard drive or SSD, it’ll try to fix it.

Pro tip from us:    Diagnosing hardware-related issues can be tricky, and the tools built into macOS can only take you so far. If you need more help, check out our Premium Services . We offer expert help, 24/7, for all your technical issues—not just those related to Macs.  

12. Free up disk space on your Mac

It’s never a good idea to let your Mac’s storage get too full. The less space you have, the more your computer will struggle, and that could be why Safari is lagging. Whether you have an iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, or any other Apple computer, an overflowing hard drive or SSD is a big no-no.

How do you free up space on your Mac ? Just do as follows:

• In System Settings , go to General > Storage . Next to Applications , click the info icon.
• Click Last Accessed to sort the column and put the least used apps at the top. Select an app and click Delete .
• Click Delete to remove the app. Enter your password and click OK .
• Now, work your way through all the Storage settings like this, removing any files you don’t need.

• How to prevent Safari from running slowly on Mac

Keeping Safari in top shape is crucial for a great web browsing experience. There are a few ways to make sure Safari doesn’t start running slow:

• Avoid having too many open tabs.
• Shut down unwanted apps and processes.
• Cut down on the number of active extensions.
• Occasionally clear your Safari cache.
• Don’t let your Mac’s system drive get too full.
• Keep your macOS and Safari up to date.

It’s also important to keep other apps up to date as well, as they can also potentially cause Safari to slow down. If you’re looking for an easy way to update your apps, try MacKeeper’s Update Tracker . It will update all your favorite apps with a single click, saving you time and effort.

• Full steam ahead

It’s no fun having a slow web browser, so hopefully, one of the fixes in our guide has helped you to get Safari back up to speed. If you’re still struggling, then give MacKeeper a try . It’s packed with features that can help you identify and fix issues with your Mac, and its Update Tracker means you never need to worry about out-of-date apps slowing you down.

• FAQ about Safari performance on Mac

1. How do I make Safari work better?

There are many different ways to improve Safari’s performance, including:

• Clearing Safari’s cache
• Removing unnecessary extensions
• Resetting Safari’s preferences
• Closing down unnecessary Safari tabs
• Updating Safari and macOS
• Changing your DNS servers
• Configuring Safari’s autofill settings

2. Why is Safari being extremely slow?

If your Safari browser is slow, it might be caused by a slow internet connection. Check that first with a speed testing site. If that shows your internet connection is fine, then other causes for Safari to run slowly include:

• Too many tabs being open
• Lots of background processes holding back your system
• Out-of-date apps
• Problematic extensions
• Too much cached data in Safari

3. How do I accelerate Safari settings?

To fix a slow Safari browser, you should:

• Clear your Safari cache.
• Close all unnecessary tabs.
• Shut down any apps you’re not using.
• Close background processes with Activity Monitor.
• Update Safari and macOS.
• Change your DNS settings.
• Turn off or manage autofill.
• Reset your Safari to factory settings.
• Free up disk space on your Mac.
• Run First Aid on your system drive.

4. How do I stop my Safari from lagging?

Ideally, you want to prevent Safari from ever getting slow in the first place. Some steps to follow:

• Don’t open loads of tabs at once.
• Shut down apps after you’re finished with them.
• Don’t install loads of extensions.
• Make sure to clear your Safari cache every now and then.
• Try not to let your Mac’s storage get too full.
• Make sure you keep macOS, Safari, and all other apps up to date.

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• Delete unnecessary system files and caches
• Free up GBs of storage space
• Easily find and delete duplicate files

Safari running slow on Mac? Speed it up with MacKeeper.

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Safari Running Slow? – Here are Some Quick Fixes!

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Apple’s Safari is known to be amongst the best browsers due to its fast performance and simple interface. However, it can still run into performance issues that can be frustrating. There could be a multitude of reasons for Safari running slower than usual. So, we tried a few simple methods that might be able to fix the issue and get back on track.

Some possible reasons for this issue are the build-up of cache or cookies, outdated browsers, extensions, or plug-ins that are not being used. Once you are able to identify the issue, you can simply follow the steps to remove cache and extensions or even update the browser.

Well, let us look at everything we need to know in detail and figure out all the methods that might work best for you.

Why Is Safari So Slow?

1. build-up cache and cookies, 2. software update, 3. extensions and plug-ins issue, 4. large number of open tabs, 5. network issues, 6. limited storage space, 7. contact apple support, frequently asked questions.

Your Safari browser is running slow because of the build-up of cache and cookies. Or it could even be because you are using an outdated version of the browser, and it needs an immediate update. Furthermore, this could be simply because too many tabs are open on the system, and thus it is eventually slowing down the entire software.

As we said, this could be because of any underlying cause. You can fix all of it by simply restarting the system or the browser itself. Or you might need to try other methods that can take a few more steps. Here are some fixes you can try that worked for us too.

7 Reasons Why Safari is Running Slow + Fixes

We all know the basic idea behind using cache and cookies. They are used by websites or the system to speed up your browsing experience. However, the more you are active on the internet, the more these files are piled up over time.

Hence, there isn’t enough space for the browser or the system to store any more of these small files. So, we need to eliminate these to fix your Safari issues. Here is how you can do it.

• Open Safari Browser.
• Now, click on History on the top taskbar and choose Clear History in the drop-down menu.

• Select the time duration besides the Clear option, then click on Clear History.

The above steps will clear the history and the cookies from the site. Now close Safari and start again to check if the issue is fixed.

Here is another way you can empty caches on the Safari browser.

• Open the Safari browser and click on Develop on the top taskbar.

• Now, from the drop-down menu option, select Empty Caches or press Option + Command + E.

Another method you can try is updating the Safari browser by updating your macOS . Since Safari is an in-built software developed by the tech giant itself, they often release updates to fix such errors.

Here is how you can check for updates and update your Safari app when needed.

• Go to the Apple menu and then choose System Settings .
• Then click on Software Update.
• Wait a few seconds for the system to check for an available update. Install the update if available.

Once you update your macOS, your Safari app will also be updated. You can then wait for the system to restart and check if the app works fine.

Some extensions or plug-ins might be outdated and cause your Safari to slow down and cause performance issues. Hence, you can update or uninstall these extensions from your system.

You can follow the steps below to check which extensions you are currently using and then uninstall the ones you are not using anymore.

• Open Safari browser.
• Go to the Safari option on the taskbar and choose Settings.

• Now, click on the Extensions option on the menu bar.
• Next, choose the Extension you want to remove and select Uninstall.

You can keep doing this for all the extensions you do not want to keep and uninstall them from your browser. This will eventually speed up the performance of Safari.

Have you been currently using too many tabs on your Safari browser? Well, this could be one of the biggest reasons your Safari browser has slowed down or even glitched overall. The best way to go from here is simply close some tabs and give your browser a breather.

If that does not work, you might have to close the browser and restart the system. For this, simply right-click the Safari icon in the dock below. Press Quit and the browser will close with all its tabs.

Before trying out any other solution, it is best to check your internet connection and ensure it works properly. Your network issues might be causing the website and other downloads to slow down. 

Ensure your router is properly connected or your MacBook receives a proper internet connection. For this, you can check your internet speed through multiple sites on the web. If everything looks fine, you can try the other methods listed below.

You might need to clear some storage space on your Mac . Some apps fail to function because your system does not have enough space to run the in-built apps such as Safari.

For this, you can check the current status of your storage on Mac and determine how you can make space for the system apps to run smoothly.

• Go to the Apple menu and choose System Settings .
• Scroll down to open General and then choose Storage.

Here, you can check all the sections that have taken up the maximum space and then delete some of the files.

The last resort here is to contact Apple support for some guidance. Although you can also check for some hardware issues, it is best to speak to an executive from Apple support.

Simply visit the official Apple website and connect to an online executive where you can present your issues and try their suggested fixes.

Check our article on How to Add More Storage to MacBook’s?

You can start by updating the macOS, which will, in turn, update the Safari app as well. Moreever, you can also clear caches and cookies to help bring the safari to speed.

Safari is known to be faster on Apple devices such as your MacBook. At the same time, Google Chrome performs the best on all devices, including your smartphones. However, it depends largely on the operating system and the device’s hardware.

The fastest browser for Apple is indeed Safari. It is built for macOS and iOS devices, providing an optimized browsing experience.

The fixes to a slow-running Safari are simple. Clearing your cache, updating the app or your macOS, closing unwanted tabs, and clearing storage space are all excellent ways of ensuring your Apple search engine runs perfectly. 

If these do not work, you can check your internet connection and close the tabs you are working on. The more tabs you have opened, the slower it will work. Similarly, there are other methods too that are tried and tested to fix Safari issues, and you can try them as well before contacting Apple Support.

Kanika Modi

Kanika is a Tech Enthusiast who is looking to add meaning to what people read. She has been writing on Apple devices and products for 7 years now and continues to share the solution to your everyday issues with everything technology.

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Why is Safari so Slow? 8 Possible Causes & Fixes

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Experiencing Safari slowdowns on your Mac? Whether it’s loading issues or post-Monterey update sluggishness, these common glitches can be frustrating. In this guide, we’ll explore why Safari is lagging and provide solutions for a smoother browsing experience.

Note: if Safari is not just slow, but keeps freezing and crashing, read this post instead for more troubleshooting tips.

Key Takeaways:

• Clear Cache: Overloaded cache can slow Safari. Clear history and cache through Safari settings for a speed boost.
• Extensions Check: Outdated or excessive extensions can drag Safari down. Remove unnecessary ones via Safari settings.
• Update Safari: An outdated Safari version might cause slowness. Update it through the App Store.
• Network Check: Slow Safari might be due to network issues. Test internet speed to rule this out.
• User Account Check: A corrupted user account or macOS issues can affect Safari. Test on a new user account and run disk utility checks.
• Tab Management: Too many open tabs strain Safari. Close unnecessary tabs for better performance.

Why is Safari so Slow?

Safari could be slow because you’re using an outdated version of Safari. The cache might be overworked, or you might be facing network issues. Additionally, you might have too many tabs open that are causing the app to slow down.

Important Tips

It’s normal for safari to run slow on certain websites.

By certain websites, we mean “heavy” sites that are loaded with flash or video ads on the pages you browse. Worse yet, some even auto-play without you clicking on. They tend to have your MacBook heat up quick.

The best option is to close those pages immediately when you finish reading the content on it, or you could install AdBlock Plus (Safari compatible) to block the ads from displaying.

Stop excessively multitasking

You’d be surprised how much better 90% of programs work when you don’t try and use them at the same time as a dozen other apps. It seems like a simple solution, but it is often the best one.

Take care of Safari

Some methods are a matter of habit, such as regularly clearing your cache or making sure the app is up to date. Imagine your computer as a car that needs regular maintenance to run well.

Don’t neglect the computer

Macs are not immune to viruses, despite the common perception. They also aren’t immune to file corruption or errors. Make sure you haven’t picked up anything unwanted while browsing that could be affecting Safari’s performance.

Slow Safari : 8 Possible Causes & Fixes

1. overworked cache.

The cache is a location on your Mac’s hard drive where Safari temporarily stores data that you use frequently. The cache allows Safari to reference this information quickly and therefore execute actions such as loading a specific page more quickly.

However, if the cache becomes full then Safari cannot add newer, more relevant material and is forced to use slower methods to respond to your demands.

Here’s how to erase the data in the cache so that Safari can work smarter rather than harder:

Start by erasing your history from Safari by navigating the menu bar along the top and choosing History > Clear History and Website Data .

Once you click this, you’ll be shown a small pop-up window. Choose “All History” from the bottom of the drop-down, and then Clear History .

The next thing you can do is clear the cache using a more advanced method. First, go to the Safari menu and open Preferences.

On the preferences panel, choose “Advanced” and then look for the checkbox at the bottom of the page that says “Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar”. Make sure this box is checked, then close Preferences.

You’ll notice a new tab has been added to your menu bar, called “Develop”. Click on this, and then choose “Empty Caches” from the list. You won’t be given any confirmation, but it will clear the cache and you can restart Safari and see if this has solved your problem.

2. Bad Extensions

Most people are aware that Apple doesn’t play well with Flash, but this isn’t the only plugin that could be causing Safari to lag. Any extension or plugin that is outdated or not correctly optimized could be the “culprit”, and you should disable or remove as many as possible.

The easiest way to do this is to use CleanMyMac X , go to Extensions > Safari Extensions (the screenshot below), here you just select these unwanted plugins, and click the “Remove” button at the bottom to clean them all at once.

Of course, you can also get this done manually, though the process will be a bit time-consuming if you have a list of extensions to disable or remove.

First, start by opening Safari, and then navigate to Safari > Preferences.

In the preferences menu, choose the Extensions icon. You’ll be shown a list of all your extensions.

If you don’t use an extension, you should uninstall it with the button on the right side. If you use it but infrequently, simply uncheck the “enable” box. This should significantly speed up Safari, especially if you have been running a lot of extensions in the background.

Check out this article by MacBook Pro Slow on how to take scrolling screenshots.

3: Outdated Version of Safari

Because Apple makes Safari, it usually receives updates when macOS has a new version released or when there is a necessary patch. If you’re running an old version of Safari, this could be part (or even all) of your problem.

If you aren’t on macOS Big Sur or higher, your Safari is definitely in need of an update. To check what you’re running, go to the Apple Menu in the top left corner and choose “About this Mac”.

If you’re on an older version, your window will look something like this, displaying the version of macOS you’re running:

If you’re already on macOS BigSur, it will look like this instead:

If you aren’t on the latest macOS yet, open the App Store from Finder, and navigate to updates. There will be at least one software update available, which you can expand. This will show you the update for Safari, which you can update separately or with any other updates you may have available.

4: Your Network

You might argue that the problems inside Safari are simpler to deal with, but sometimes it’s surprising that Safari isn’t necessarily the “culprit”. Your network can have a significant impact on Safari’s performance.

To find out whether your Mac has network issues, check out our other post to learn more.

To test the Internet speed, you can also use Google Fiber .

• First, open the link on your Safari browser, then press the blue “play” button, and watch as your internet speed is tested.
• The site will first test your upload and then your download speed.
• Once you have your results, you can compare them with this link , which contains charts detailing what you should expect based on the connection type.
• If your results are below expected, it might be time to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP), especially if speeds fall far below what you’re paying for.

Note: if speed seems normal and falls in the expected ranges, then this probably isn’t your problem, and you should try some of our other solutions.

5: Your User Account or Mac Drive

Sometimes the issue runs a bit deeper than just a full cache. You could have a corrupted user account or your macOS version isn’t operating correctly. To determine if this is your problem, start by creating a second user account on your MacBook.

On the new user account, open Safari and try using it as you normally would. If Safari suddenly runs faster, it’s time to repair your normal user account.

Use spotlight (top right corner of the screen) to search “Disk Utility” and open it.

Inside Disk Utility, select your account’s disk and make sure you’re on the “First Aid” tab. Then select “Repair Disk” from the bottom right corner (if this is unavailable, choose “Verify Disk” first).

Note: If your MacBook Pro is with macOS 10.10 Yosemite or earlier, you have two buttons to click on like below.

However, if your MacBook Pro is with 10.11 El Capitan or later (you probably are), just click “First Aid” and run it to check and fix any issues it may find.

The Disk Utility will repair any problems with your account. If it isn’t capable of fixing the problem, resetting your MacBook Pro is always an alternative if a bit tedious to do.

6: Close all extra tabs

The more tabs you have open on Safari, the slower your computer can run. If you don’t know what a tab is – it’s an open window. Even if you are only looking at a single tab at a time, the other open ones are using up the CPU, which puts a demand on your computer.

Newer MacBooks are capable of keeping multiple tabs open with relative ease. But if you have 10 or 20 or even more open simultaneously, you can run into performance issues that can slow down Safari significantly.

If you are experiencing slow performance, close any tabs you aren’t currently using, and you can see an increase in operating speed. 

7: Disable search suggestions

This is another quick fix that can often speed up Safari. Not many people know this one, so write it down or take a screenshot for future use.

To turn off search suggestions, complete the following steps: 

• Click on Safari from the top of the window
• Select Preferences
• Select Search
• In the Search settings window that appears, uncheck the box that says Include search engine suggestions

This can increase Safari speeds ever so slightly and help you see improved performance. 

8: Disable DNS prefetching

If you are running Safari version 5.0.1 or later, DNS prefetching might be slowing down your MacBook. This feature allows you to load a link on a page before you click on them, leading to faster browsing. But it can also slow down your computer with multiple pages trying to load and some website-related issues.

To disable DNS prefetching, follow these steps: 

• Open the Terminal 
• Enter this text: defaults write com.apple.safari WebKitDNSPrefetchingEnabled -boolean false
• Quit Safari
• Reopen Safari

DNS prefetching will now be disabled for another small boost to the speed of your MacBook

Curious about testing your MacBook’s Disk Speed in a flash? Dive into this article to find out how.

Final Words

No one enjoys staring at the colorful loading pinwheel when they just want to browse the web or access an important page for work. Hopefully, you won’t be experiencing the Safari slow issue anytime soon with our solution guide.

Still not able to solve your problems even after using the methods we’ve outlined? A good resource is the Apple Community forum, where you can get advice from fellow Mac fans. You may also find bug reports and similar questions from other users.

Alternatively, if you’ve already fixed the Safari problem, write a comment and tell us about it below.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

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‘All of these behaviors are typical symptoms related to Apple’s signature Internet browser. While Safari is a light-weighted browser optimized for use on all Mac machines, issues like above might force you to resort to third-party browsers (perhaps Chrome, stay away from Firefox) that tend to be faster.”

Chrome is developed by Google. When you use Chrome, not just your searches but EVERYTHING YOU TYPE and EVERYWHERE YOU GO is sent to and tracked by Google.

Don’t be a sheep. Don’t use Chrome.

BrendaJordan

Why do I have the message that Safari is updating on my MacBook Pro?

Realize your situation up for grabs, that is noticed by discovering the obtain when the cards are being dealt.

thanks very helpful

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How to Troubleshoot Safari if It’s Running Slow on Mac

This article shows how you can fix the Safari browser if it is slow on your Mac. The purpose is to help speed up Apple’s Safari or determine why it is running slow. If you are experiencing one of the following issues, you can use this article to address your problem:

• Safari is so slow and seems frozen.
• Websites are taking a lot of time to load or videos are lagging.
• A spinning beach ball frequently keeps appearing when attempting to browse the Web.
• Clicking the Safari options (history, bookmarks, etc) temporarily causes Safari to freeze or become sluggish.

There could be many reasons why you experience this issue. Follow the steps below:

1. Is the Mac up to date?

Ensure that your Mac is running the latest versions of the macOS version . Safari is a built-in app and the macOS software includes Safari. This means that updating macOS will also update Safari. You can go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for updates. And if there is an update, click the Update Now button to update your Mac.

2. Is it your Internet connection?

You may feel that Safari is sluggish because you may have a poor or unstable connection to the Internet. Use another browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc) to visit a website. Or try using multiple devices in your home. Do you still experience that your browsing experience is slow? If your answer is yes, then the problem may be your connection. Is the slowness just with one website or with all of the websites you try to visit? If the problem is with just one website, then the problem is that website. However, if all of the websites appear to be slow on all devices and/or using different browsers, the problem may be, again, your connection. If this is the case, try:

• Ensure that your Mac has the latest version of macOS (System Preferences > Software Update).
• Turn off your Mac (Apple menu > Shut Down), do not turn it on yet.
• Restart your modem/router. Simply unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
• Wait for your modem/router to fully function (ensure that all of the indicator lights are on).
• Turn on your Mac by pressing the power button.
• Mac Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet Access
• My Mac Stopped Seeing My Wi-Fi Network, Fix
• How To Forget Wi-Fi Networks On Mac
• How To Fix Slow Wi-Fi Problems On Your Macbook
• How To Reset Network Settings On Mac

3. Too much cache? Clear your cache on Safari on your Mac

As you use Safari to visit websites, cache data will accumulate and this can possibly slow the browser down. Clearing the cache on your Safari browser will ensure that it’s working smoothly and efficiently. The Safari cache is a pile of temporary website data. Here is how you can clear cache in Safari on your Mac:

• Open Safari.
• Click Safari > Preferences.
• Click the Advanced tab.
• Check the box next to the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” option. Now a new menu item called Develop will appear.
• Now exit Preferences.
• Click Develop and Empty Caches.

4. Are your extensions causing this?

An extension or add-on may cause this problem. Do you have these installed? If your answer is yes, try the following:

We can turn off Safari Extensions temporarily to see if they are causing this:

• In Safari, click Safari > Preferences.
• Click Extensions.
• You will see your installed extensions.
• Turn all them off by deselecting the checkboxes.

Now check Safari. Is it faster now? If turning off extensions resolves the issue, now determine the problematic extension that is causing this issue. Turn them back on, one by one, until you find the problematic extension. After each extension, you turn it on, test to see if the problem has recurred before turning on the next extension.

5. Safe Mode

Restart your Mac in Safe Mode . Safe Mode will clear some system caches. This can improve Safari’s performance. The steps will differ depending on the Mac type you have: Apple silicon or Intel. If you do not know, go to the Apple menu > About this Mac.

Apple silicon:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until the startup options window appears.
• Click your startup disk.
• Press and hold the Shift key and click “Continue in Safe Mode.”
• Turn on your Mac and quickly press and hold the Shift key.
• Release the Shift key when you see the login window.

Your Mac is in Safe Mode . Test Safari. Then exit Safari (just restart your Mac). Then test Safari again.

• Passwords on Safari: The Spinning Wheel – How to Fix the Lag
• How to Use Split View in Safari on iPad
• How to Create, View, Edit, and Restore Bookmarks in Safari on Mac
• Safari Can’t Open The Page Because Safari Can’t Establish A Secure Connection To The Server, Fix
• Quit Safari Is Grayed Out On Mac, Fix
• Is Safari Not Working on Mac? How You Can Fix It
• Safari Isn’t Responding, Keeps Crashing or Freezing, Fix
• Safari Won’t Open On Mac, Fix

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

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Why is My Safari So Slow on Mac and How to Fix It

Whether you use the Safari internet browser for your everyday work, school work, online shopping, or simple internet browsing, having it work slowly can be extremely frustrating. This is completely understandable, but don’t worry we are here to help!

As someone who frequently helps people fix up their slow Macs, I can say from experience that Safari can often be the cause of a lot of problems. But the good news is that you don’t have to put up with Safari running slowly—there are a few quick troubleshooting tips you can use to get back in business.

Let’s explore why Safari is running so slow on your Mac and how you can fix it.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Solution #1: verify your internet connection, solution #2: force quit safari, solution #3: update macos, solution #4: close excessive tabs, solution #5: disable extensions, solution #6: turn off icloud private relay – icloud+ only, solution #7: disable search engine suggestions, solution #8: disable autofill, solution #9: update dns server, solution #10: run first aid on ssd , safe mode – intel mac, safe mode – apple silicon mac, solution #12: use a 3rd-party web browser cleaner, final thoughts.

• Safari has many features that attempt to either help you as the user or make the experience faster. Unfortunately, Safari can sometimes get bogged down.
• Your internet connection should be one of the first things you check. Make sure everything is functioning properly here.
• You can get Safari out of a jam by Force Quitting , and reopening.
• If that doesn’t work, you can check your extensions , your iCloud Private Relay , and Autofill to ensure that your Safari is running as fast as possible. 
• The DNS server can sometimes cause issues with Safari running slowly, so make sure that it is updated. 
• If none of that works, you can also check to make sure your boot drive and your startup options are working properly. Run First Aid on your SSD and boot into Safe Mode to finish troubleshooting.

While Safari is preinstalled on your Mac and is updated using macOS, this doesn’t mean that it will always work perfectly. When Safari runs slow on your Mac, it can put a damper on your whole experience. You end up waiting on your computer and getting frustrated. So, what is causing this? And how can you fix it?

Here are some ways that we can hopefully get your Safari speed up.

This may sound obvious, but you may be surprised how easy it is to overlook losing your internet connection or other connection problems. Safari may not be working or may be running extremely slowly because of a faulty internet connection. 

There are multiple items that could affect your internet connection. Be sure to verify all of the following: 

• You have full internet connectivity from your internet provider (if you are able to reach it, speedtest.net is a good way to determine if your internet is working to its fullest capacity).
• Your modem and/or router are in working condition (the lights on the device will help you determine this. Look at or find the owner’s manual for your device if you have questions)
• There are not too many devices on your network (I would recommend taking off some that you may not think of and are not currently using, such as phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and smart home devices).

By force quitting the Safari application , we are forcing any processes that may be stuck to stop. This can help Safari fully restart and stop trying to load something that may not be properly loading. To force quit Safari, take the following steps:

Press the Command-Option-Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard.

Choose Safari from the menu and choose Force Quit .

Click on Force Quit to confirm.

As we have briefly discussed earlier, Safari is an application that is fully managed by Apple and updated along with macOS. So, if there is a problem with the Safari application itself, it is likely that Apple already knows and has released a patch to address it. 

To ensure your Mac is up to date with the latest version, take the following steps:

Using the Apple Menu, choose System Settings from the drop-down.

Navigate to General on the left, then Software Update on the right.

If there is a software update available, choose Update Now and follow the onscreen prompts to update macOS.

If you are someone who never closes your browser tabs and has dozens of pages open at once (like I am guilty of doing most of the time), then I would suggest closing a good amount of them to get Safari working at a better speed. 

Having a large amount of tabs open, even ones that are not currently in use, uses not only a lot of processing power but also a lot of Random Access Memory (RAM) . 

Both of these items have a large impact on how the applications on your Mac run and can cause the Safari application to slow down significantly. So, close all possible tabs.

Extensions, also known on some internet browsers as plug-ins can be very helpful features. The most popular of these are ad blockers, coupon finders, and grammar checkers. If you use any of these or others, it is possible that they could be slowing down your Safari. 

It is also possible that extensions could have been inadvertently downloaded from the internet and enabled themselves. Check to make sure that there are no unrecognized extensions or an excessive amount of extensions enabled. 

With Safari Open, click the Safari menu and Settings from the drop-down.

On the top, choose Extensions .

On the left, the blue check marks indicate that the extension is enabled. Click these to show the gray checkbox and disable the chosen extensions. 

If you find any extensions that you do not recognize, select them on the left (it will be shown in blue) and click uninstall on the right. Follow any onscreen instructions to finish uninstalling. 

While iCloud Private Relay is a convenient and easy safety feature, however, it requires that your internet browsing passes through Apple servers prior to reaching your computer. This means that it could slow down your internet speed. 

Click the Apple Menu and System Settings .

On the left, click your name, and on the right click iCloud .

Scroll down to the iCloud+ features and ensure that Private Relay is turned off. If it is not, click on it and click the slider to turn it off. You may be asked to confirm by clicking “ Turn off iCloud Relay .”

Search engine suggestions are a predictive feature when you are using Safari. They are designed to predict what you may be searching for and help you to find it easier. However, it is possible that they can be slowing down your Safari. Take the following steps to check:

With Safari open, choose the Safari menu and Settings.

In the Search tab at the top, deselect the “Include Search Engine Suggestions” check box. It will show as a gray box when it is deselected.

Another Safari feature, while helpful when it works properly, can also slow down the application is the Autofill feature. Autofill sometimes has a hard time accessing the information and may cause Safari to freeze. 

In Safari Settings (described how to reach above), Choose the Autofill tab at the top. Deselect all the Autofill features below. The items are deselected when they show a gray box instead of a blue checkmark.

A Domain Name System Server (DNS Server) is a program that tells your computer and the internet what IP Address your computer or a website is using. By updating your DNS server you can not only improve your internet speed (and therefore your Safari speed), you can also improve your security. 

Some of the most popular DNS Server IP Addresses are those for Google, 8.8.8.8, and 8.8.4.4. The DNS Server 1.1.1.1 is allegedly considered to be the fastest in the world (though I am not confident in how or when that was recently confirmed). 

To update your DNS server, take the following steps:

Choose the Apple Menu and System Settings .

On the left, select Network , and on the right, select Details under the Wi-Fi section.

On the left, choose DNS . On the right, use the + button to add any of the DNS Servers that we have discussed (or others you may have found in your search). 

Note : it is OK to have more than one DNS Server—if one is down, your computer will use another one in your list.

Your Solid State Drive or SSD is a critical piece for the speed of your Mac. If all the other fixes up to this point did not work, it is possible that there may be an error on your SSD. First Aid will automatically check and fix most errors related to the formatting of your SSD. 

Open Disk Utility in Launchpad.

Choose First Aid and follow the onscreen instructions.

Solution #11: Boot in Safe Mode

Lastly, Safe Mode is a great way to determine if you are having further issues that are causing Safari to be extremely slow. Safe Mode disables your startup settings and features and any third-party items. If your Safari is running slowly for either of these reasons, you will be able to see using Safe Mode. 

Take the following steps to boot into safe mode, depending on which type of Mac you have:

• Restart or turn on your Mac and press and hold the Shift key.
• When the login window appears, you can release the key and login.
• You may be asked to log in again, do so. You will see Safe Mode in the menu bar if this was successful.
• Turn on your Mac and press and hold the power button until you see the Loading Startup Options screen.
• If asked, select a volume.
• Press and hold the shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode. Your Mac will automatically restart.
• If successful, you will see Safe Mode in the menu bar.

Sometimes Safari doesn’t work properly when you have too much junk on your computer. A good 3rd-party application like CCleaner or CleanMyMac X can work wonders to optimize your system by getting rid of junk, including things like browser data and temp files.

CCleaner for Mac , for example, has a Browser clean-up tool that automatically scans and removes browsing data, caches, temporary files, cookies, and other tracking data.

This can go a long way in speeding up Safari, and even helping out the rest of your computer too. While there is a paid version of the software, you can get quite far with the free version. So, it is worth a shot if you want an easy solution to Safari running slowly.

We have covered a lot of ground and talked about a lot of different options that could be causing your Safari Application to be slow. We first explored the more simple options, such as your internet connection being down, your Safari application needing to be updated, having a lot of tabs open, and clearing history. 

Your extensions possibly cause loading problems, your iCloud Private Relay, Search Engine Suggestions, and Autofill are also things you should check. If all else fails, you should look at two pieces of your Mac that could be affecting Safari as well, your SSD and the startup options.

If the rest of your Mac seems to be running fine enough to download another application, you could try a 3rd-party tool like CCleaner to clean up browsing data and other junk that could slow down Safari. 

What did you learn from this article? What worked for you? Let us know in the comments!

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Why Is Safari So Slow? Top Fixes to Speed up Browsing!

Written By Jordan Baldo

Last updated: January 6, 2024

Almighty writing expert who is proficient in analyzing Mac issues and providing efficient solutions.

Just like any other browsers, Safari also has a DNS prefetching which makes your browsing experience faster. Once that it is working well when you click on a website and your browser already knows the IP address then it is ready to load the web page. This actually means a fast response.

However, you may encounter the issue that Safari slow to load . There are instances that once that Safari loads a website, the page might appear ready. But then, when you try to move it up and down, you will just see a spinning cursor. It may be caused by your system running out of application memory , or other various reasons.

Also, you will be able to notice that the refresh button is also just spinning as well. If you are experiencing this on your Safari browser, then this only means that the page was rendered successfully but there is something that is preventing it to respond.

People Also Read: Top Solutions to Firefox Keeps Crashing on Mac

Contents: Part 1. Why Is Safari So Slow on Mac and How to Fix It? Part 2. What Can You Do If Safari Slow to Load? Part 3. In Conclusion

Part 1. Why Is Safari So Slow on Mac and How to Fix It?

It is not only MacBook would run slow as time goes by, but Safari would also be slower. As we also know, Safari is actually not the fastest browser and it can get sluggish.

This is because of several reasons as to why is safari so slow or sometimes it is freezing:

• There are too much data and cache on Safari.
• Corrupted preferences.
• Extensions that have bugs.
• Autofill data.
• You have outdated plugins like Java and Flash.
• Safari slow after Catalina update.

For you to know some of the reasons why you are experiencing this, we have listed below some of the main causes and as well as the fix for each of the causes listed below.

Reason 1. There Are Too Much Data and Cache on Safari

Your safari browser actually stores information of all the website that you have visited so if you are an average type of user then there might be a lot of data stored in your Safari browser.

Aside from the stored website that you visited, there are also other aspects like HTML files, and images that are all saved in your cache which is actually another burden for the browser resulting in a slow response whenever you try to use it. Here is the fix for this.

How to Clear Your Browser’s History and Cache：

PowerMyMac's Privacy is one of the best browser cleaners today. This is the perfect tool that you can use for you to improve your online experience when using your Safari browser. It can clean up your junk files, cookies, and your history on your browser . It can also remove any deceleration reasons and can clear up privacy traces for you to help protect your confidential data.

Here is how to use the iMyMac PowerMyMac 's Privacy:

• Download PowerMyMac then have it installed on your Mac.
• Launch the program to choose Privacy and scan your browsing data.
• Once that the scanning process is complete, you will see a list of browsers that you have on your Mac.
• Choose Safari and select the browser cache, histories, browser cookies that you want to clean up .
• Click on the CLEAN button and PowerMyMac will begin to clean up your Safari browser.

If you need the manual methods to fix Safari slow to load, we also provide:

Clear your Safari’s history:

• Launch your Safari browser on your Mac.
• Then click on History in the menu bar.
• Choose the Clear History option
• Choose the time span and then click on the Clear History button again.

Doing the steps above can help you clear out your history in your Safari browser. However, if in case you do not want to lose your browser’s history and you only want to get rid of your cache, then here is what you should do.

• Launch your Safari browser on your Mac
• Click on Safari in the menu bar.
• Then, click on Preferences
• Choose the Advanced tab.
• Then put a checkmark on the Show Development menu in your menu bar.
• Click on Develop from the menu bar.
• After that, choose Empty Cache.

Tip: In case the Safari is quite slow and you want to uninstall it and then reinstall it again, you can also use this app uninstaller to completely remove it .

Reason 2. Corrupted Preferences

Once that you have assigned a homepage or search engine or if you choose where you would want to save all your downloads from your Safari browser, it is all stored in a preference file.

Because of this, once that this file becomes corrupted, then this will start an issue on your browser. If you are experiencing any issues in using your Safari browsers such as lags or freezing, then there is a tendency that the problem is with preference. Here is how you can fix this.

How to Remove Your Preference File?

Here, once that you have deleted those corrupted preference file, then your browser can easily generate a new one. Here is how you can do this.

• Close your Safari browser.
• Launch Finder on your Mac and use these keys: Command + Shift + G .
• Then enter the following in the pop-up and press Enter: ~/Library/Preference/
• Then, go ahead and look for the file name “ com.apple.Safari.SafeBrowsing.plist ” and then click Delete.

Reason 3. Extensions That HaveBugs

Your extension has a lot of extras in your Safari browser such as it stored passwords or it can translate words with just a single click. However, since it is a third-party add-on, then this could have an effect on the performance of your Safari browser.

How to Delete your extensions?

For you to be able to determine which is causing a problem to your Safari browser, go ahead and run a test. Here is how.

• Choose Safari in your menu bar.
• Choose Preferences.
• And then, choose the Extension tab.
• Uncheck all the extensions one by one and find out if the problem will be gone.
• Once that you have determined the problem, just go ahead and click on the Uninstall button beside the extension in the Preference tab.

Reason 4. Autofill Data

Autofill is one of the handiest features especially when it comes to your passwords and phone number. But, if you have tons of data in your autofill, then there is a chance that your Safari might freeze up. For this, you can just simply turn it off or you can disable those that you do not need.

How to Remove Autofill History？

Here is how you can manage your autofill.

• Launch the Safari browser on your Mac.
• Then click on Preferences in the menu bar.
• Then choose the Autofill tab.

From the autofill tab, you will be able to disable any user for your Autofill. Just go ahead and click on the Edit button and you will be able to see all the data that is stored in your autofill. From there, just go ahead and delete the autofill that you no longer want and need.

Reason 5. You have Outdated Plugins like Java and Flash

As what we all know, several websites actually require you to have a Flash or Java on your Safari browser for you to be able to play videos or any animated content on the website that you are visiting.

However, once you have an outdated plugin on our Safari, then this could affect the performance of your browser.

How to Update Your Java and Flash Player？

Now, this is a very simple solution. Since you have an outdated Flash or Java, then all you need to do is to have it updated. For you update your Flash player to the most recent version, then the best way to do this is by going to the Adobe’s website.

This is because once you visited their site, it will immediately identify if you have an updated or an outdated version of your Flash player.

For you to be able to update your Java, just go ahead and go to the Oracle’s website. From there, you will be able to see if you have the updated version. If you do not have the updated version, then the website will give you instructions on what you should do.

Part 2. What Can You Do If Safari Slow to Load?

You may be so confused about the slow loading problem of Safari. Don't worry, you can check how to quickly and securely solve Safari slow to load below:

• Change your search setting.
• Change your network service order.
• Turn off your dashboard.

Change Your Search Setting

This is one of the things that you can try once that you are experiencing that Safari Slow to load. Here is how you can change your search settings.

• Launch Safari on your Mac and then go to the Preference tab.
• After that, click on the Search tab.
• Then, change your search engine into Bing.
• After changing your search engine, close Safari and launch it again.
• Check if there is any difference between its performance.
• After that, do the same steps and change your search engine into Google.
• Then, try to check it again.

Here, you can also uncheck all the options such as your search engine suggestions, Safari suggestions, quick website search and more. This is for you to be able to see any difference that will happen.

Change Your Network Service Order

If in case that you have a machine that is connected to your Wi-Fi and your Ethernet, then there is a possibility that the cause if you are connected to two different ways.

All you have to do here for you to check is go to your System Preference and then choose Networks. From there, go ahead and try to disconnect one of your network sources and try to run your Safari browser for you to see any difference.

Turn off Your Dashboard

If you are still using a 2010 Mac or earlier, then this could mean that you have a graphics card issue. Because of this, you can go ahead and try to use other things and see if it will help improve the performance of your Safari browser.

This is by disabling your Dashboard feature in your Mission Control Settings. For you to do this, just go ahead and launch your System Preferences. After that, go ahead and click on Mission Control. From the drop-down box located beside Dashboard, go ahead and toggle it off.

Part 3. In Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons as to why your safari running slow. Keep in mind that the Safari browser is just like those other browsers that you have installed in your Mac. It can also get stuffed. Besides that, you may also encounter Safari loading slow on your iPhone.

Once that a browser is full of all the activities that you made using your browser, then they are actually stored there and those will greatly affect the performance of your browser. Because of this, it is advisable for any Mac users to have a browser cleaner installed on their Mac to maintain the speed and high performance of the Safari browser so that you won't suffer Safari Slow to load.

PowerMyMac is clearly the most recommended software that you must have to maintain everything on your browser. This software does not just work on your Safari browser but it can also work with any browsers that you have or help remove Apps on Mac.

In other words, once that you have removed everything that is not needed in your browser, then this could be a great help with its performance.

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (based on 88 ratings)

Clean up and speed up your Mac with ease

People Also Read:

Comment( 10 )

Clemilton 2023-02-15 04:06:29

Excelentes dicas. Melhorou o desempenho. Obrigado

JohnIL 2022-06-03 00:23:47

Safari in my experience has intermittent issues affecting loading of web sites. Is it a compatibility issue or something on the web sites that doesn’t play nice with Safari? That is possible since many say other browsers are not affected. This would rule out the OS or hardware or network. But would place the focus on Safari as the issue. Since Safari is purely a Apple OS boy browser. It could be a case that Apple is not following certain standards or adopting them as other browsers have.

Ro Gal 2020-11-05 22:04:40

Tried all the 5 steps and more to no avail. This is a new Macbook Air w/plenty of juice and the latest updates. Safari is just too slow on many sites, so back to Chrome and Brave.

Carl 2019-11-21 10:12:58

There are lots of data stored in my Safari browser, luckily, I have tried Mac Cleaner to clean up cookies and history on my browser, and it runs fast now. Thanks!

iMyMac 2019-11-21 10:55:08

Thanks for your support!

Larissa 2019-11-21 10:06:12

I suffered Safari running slow on my Mac for a long time, thanks for the tips, will try.

iMyMac 2019-11-21 11:02:06

Hope these tips do really help you.

Copyright © 2024 iMyMac. All rights reserved.

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Is Safari running too slow on Mac? Tips to speed it up

Apple Safari has emerged as one of the most advanced web browsers designed to be used on iOS and OS X platforms. Apart from being more secure and fast, it has plenty of features like, Private mode to immensely enhance user-experience. No wonder Apple device owners really enjoy using it; even though there are some equally competent web browsers are available.

There are times when Safari begins to run rather slowly on Mac. Even when there is a good network on the device, Apple’s web browser becomes very lethargic. And, in case you are not much aware of how it fix this annoying issue, you are bound to feel disappointed with it.

Having already posted an article as to how you can accelerate Safari on your iPhone and iPad, we are going to walk you through the handy tips through which you can speed-up Safari on your Mac as well. Let’s dive ahead!

Why is Safari slow on Mac?

There’s a host of reasons why Safari might be lagging or running slower than usual on your Mac. It could be anything from overloading your system with multitasking to simply not maintaining your computer or the Safari app.

Regular upkeep and a few tweaks can make a world of difference in performance. But it’s also important to note that it’s also normal for Safari to run slow during certain situations, such as browsing sites loaded with ads and videos—especially those on auto-play.

How to fix Safari running slow on Mac

Let’s explore how to make Safari run faster on Mac with some strategies.

1. Check internet speed on your Mac

It’s essential to first rule out connectivity issues when Safari is running very slow on your Mac. Since internet speed is vital in how quickly pages load, why not check your connection before you start troubleshooting?

Head to online speed test sites like SpeedTest.net to gauge your internet speed.

2. Close unwanted tabs and windows

While Safari can handle dozens of tabs opened at a time, each open tab and window does tap into your Mac’s power and memory.

Excessive tabs can gradually impede your Mac’s performance, leading to longer page load times and unpredictable browser behavior.

3. Force Quit Safari on Mac

Occasionally, a page or app may overtax your system’s resources, leading Safari to freeze or run slow. A quick fix is to quit Safari and start it up again. This terminates any demanding processes and gives the browser a clean slate to work from.

• To do this, go to the Dock and control-click Safari .
• Press the  Option key  → Select  Force Quit .

4. Quit other apps

If a dozen apps run simultaneously in the background along with Safari, it’s not unusual for it to become sluggish.

• Head to your Dock and quit apps you’re no longer using.
• Just look at every app with a dot below it.
• Control-click it and select  Quit .

5. Kill resource-intensive apps and processes

Aside from apps, having too many apps running can also affect Safari’s performance. Some of these apps tend to hog more resources than others. If Safari is acting up and you’re using several apps at a time, head to the Activity Monitor to see which ones consume too much power and memory. 

• To do this,  open Launchpad  → click the  Other folder → Activity Monitor. 

• Additionally, if an app is too resource-intensive, consider  creating a web app for it  instead, which generally requires less power and memory.

6. Remove unwanted Safari extensions from your Mac

Extensions allow Safari to do more, but it does come with a cost—some tend to be resource-intensive and overload your CPU and RAM.

7. Update Safari

Updating Safari on your Mac  helps ensure the app has the necessary improvements and features to run faster and smoother. For newer Macs, Safari updates are bundled with macOS updates. However, you can apply just the updates related to Safari.

• Go to System Settings , if there’s a software update available, you’ll see a Software Update Available under your Apple ID.
• Otherwise, you can head to General  →  Software Update.

8. Restart your Mac

This may sound cliché already, but sometimes, all your Mac needs is a quick reboot to fix any performance issues affecting it or any of your apps.

9. Clear Safari’s cache and cookies on Mac

Web browsers such as Safari enhance browsing by storing data like cookies and cache, which can speed up load times. Additionally, Safari keeps a record of your recently visited web pages.

Though helpful, these can accumulate over time, causing your Safari to run slower than usual. A quick tip to determine if the accumulated history, cookies, and caches are to blame is to try browsing in a private window. Since Private Browsing mode doesn’t retain browsing data, it can serve as a good benchmark for comparison.

Regularly  deleting Safari’s browsing history, cache, and cookies  is an important habit to keep Safari in tip-top shape.

• If the method above doesn’t work, you can manually delete the cache by going to  Finder .
• Go to the menu bar and click Go  →  Go to Folder .
• Enter the command below, open the folder, and drag the . db file  to the Trash.

10. Use Safari from a new user account on Mac

It’s possible that the issue runs deeper and has seeped into your user account. To check, you can create another user account on your Mac and try using Safari on that account as you would typically do. If Safari runs faster on that account, you’ll need to repair your original account using Disk Utility.

• Search for Disk Utility on Spotlight → Select your account’s disk .

• If you can’t see this option, choose Verify Disk first.

This process will repair any problems within your account.

11. Disable Search Suggestions in Safari on Mac

Safari’s Smart Search Field simplifies browsing by allowing you to enter URLs or search terms directly into the address bar. The Safari Search Suggestions feature further enhances it.

It works like Google’s recommended search results, offering recommendations such as apps to refine and intuitively guide your search experience. To turn off Search Suggestions in Safari:

• Open  Safari  → Click Safari in the menu bar → Pick Settings .

12. Switch DNS provider

The Domain Name System (DSN) is a cataloging system that translates website names into IP addresses. By default, your DSN settings are provided by an ISP. Sometimes, this may be overloaded or slow, so changing to a faster DNS provider may boost your internet speed and, consequently, Safari’s performance.

• To do this, go to  System Settings  →  Network .
• Click  Details  beside the WiFi/Ethernet you’re currently connected to.
• Select the  DNS tab.

13. Disable Autofill on Mac

To provide a more intuitive experience, Safari has an Autofill function, which completes forms detected online using stored information on your Mac. The downside is that this may sometimes cause Safari to tag.

Deselect all the types of information you don’t want Safari to autofill. Deselect all to turn off the function entirely.

14. Scan your Mac for malware

While rare, your Mac can get infected with a virus, which can inadvertently affect your Mac’s performance. Check our guide on the  most common viruses affecting Mac and what you can do to remove them .

15. Update your Mac with latest macOS

If your Mac isn’t running on the latest macOS, it’s best to update it to the latest version available. This is because Apple sends bug fixes and other enhancements in every update so your Mac runs smoothly. To update your Mac:

• Head to the  Apple menu  →  System Settings .
• Go to General  →  Software Update .
• If there’s an update available, click  Update Now .

16. Disable DNS Prefetching

Safari enhances your browsing experience by using DNS Prefetching to speed up webpage loading times. This process reduces the delay between when you click and when the webpage display appears because your browser already knows the address it needs to retrieve the page.

Ironically, this can slow down Safari or become unresponsive.

• To turn this off, go to  Finder  →  Applications  →  Utilities →  Terminal .

• Hit Enter and relaunch Safari .

17. Reset Safari to its factory default on Mac

If nothing seems else to work, underlying issues or corrupt browser preferences may be the culprit behind your Safari running very slow on your Mac. Resetting your Safari to its default state may fix the problem, as this reverts its browser settings to default and deactivates all the extensions. To do this:

• Open  Finder .
• Select  Go  →  Go to Folder . Then do the following, one after the other:
• Type  ~/Library/Preferences/directory  in the text field → Search for the  com.apple.Safari.plist  file → Delete .
• Type  ~/Library/Safari/  → Delete all the files in the folder except for the  Bookmarks/plist
• Type  ~/Library/Containers/ , look for Safari → Delete all the files and folders.
• Once done, open Safari. On the menu bar, click  Preferences  →  Privacy . Select  Remove All Website Data  and Reset Safari.
• Head to the Extensions tab and reactivate only the essential extensions you need. Move between the other tabs and modify other browser settings to your preference.

18. Boot your Mac into Safe Mode

Another way to troubleshoot for errors is to  boot your Mac into Safe Mode . Safe Mode starts up your Mac without launching certain software and extensions, which can conflict with Safari. It also runs a check of your startup disk, so it can help resolve underlying issues that may be affecting Safari’s speed.

While booting your Mac in Safe Mode doesn’t really make Safari run faster during regular use, it’s a helpful tool that can help you find out why your Mac is so slow and give you an idea of how to make Safari run faster on Mac.

Wrapping up…

Experiencing a sluggish Safari can be frustrating, but many potential culprits can cause this. The suggestions listed above are designed to help you understand how to speed up Safari on Mac. Did you find these solutions effective? If so, feel free to share your experience in the comments below!

• Safari vs. Chrome: Which browser is better for iPhone and Mac?
• Safari not working on Mac after update? 10 Ways to fix it!
• 14 Ways to fix YouTube videos not playing on Mac’s Safari

Rachel, an experienced Apple technology writer since 2021 and a long-time user since 2003, began her journey with a silver iPod Classic. Currently, she owns an array of modern Apple gadgets. At iGeeksBlog, her expertise shines through in the crafting of comprehensive how-to articles, informative guides, and well-curated roundups.

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These features make the chatgpt desktop app better than the website, manage work or personal workflows with this excellent project organizer app.

Safari is the native browser on Apple devices. While it's usually fast, sometimes Safari can be slow or laggy. When this happens, it can be bothersome, and some might even download another third-party browser.

If you're noticing that Safari is running slow on your iPhone, there are several things you can do to speed it up again. Give these tips a try, and hopefully, Safari will be at full speed in no time.

Check Your Internet Speed

Before passing the blame on Safari, it might be a good idea to check your internet speed. That way, you can make sure Safari is the issue and rule out anything else before continuing.

If you're connected to Wi-Fi, open another computer or device on the same Wi-Fi network, then head to Speedtest's site and check your internet speed. You won't want to do this on your iPhone, as Safari issues can slow your connection time, giving you a false negative.

If your internet speed is fast, then Safari is the issue, and it's time to fix it.

1. Close All Your Safari Tabs

Safari can usually handle a lot of bandwidth and keep many pages open. However, some websites drain Safari data. By closing all the currently open tabs, you can confirm if one of the open websites was using too much data.

To close all the tabs on Safari, open Safari and hold the Tab button in the bottom right-hand corner. A prompt will appear for you to close all the tabs. Once this appears, hit Close All Tabs . Then, give Safari a try again.

2. Clear Your Browsing History and Data

If clearing the tabs didn't fix the issue, you can reset Safari and clear up the cache, speeding it up in the process. To clear Safari, head to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Data .

Once you do this, relaunch Safari and see if it's loading up pages quickly enough. If it's faster for a little while but begins to slow down again, proceed to the next tip.

3. Check Your iPhone's Storage

If your iPhone storage is almost full, that means it can't handle much else. Safari, like most apps, uses device storage to store data from the app. And low storage means Safari won't have enough memory to work.

This is why some users find Safari temporarily faster once they clear their browsing history and data. However, some users might have used so much storage that Safari might not even speed up when you clear the cache.

Luckily, it's easy to check if this is an issue. All you need to do is head to Settings > General > Storage and see how much space your iPhone has used. And if it's almost full, you might have to delete some large files.

However, if you don't want to lose precious data, consider signing up for a paid iCloud plan .

4. Reset Network Settings

When all else fails, you can reset your iPhone's Network Settings. Doing this will reset all network-related connections on your iPhone, hopefully speeding up Safari in the process. Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings to do this.

Once you do this, you'll need to set up your network connections again. This means re-entering your Wi-Fi passwords. However, it can clear up a lot of bugs, so it is worth a try if all else fails. You can also reset your iPhone to factory settings as a last resort.

Browse Seamlessly in Safari

Safari comes pre-installed on all Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. And since it's the native browser, it works seamlessly across all your apps and Apple devices.

While switching to a third-party browser like Chrome might seem tempting when Safari is slow or lagging, you'll miss out on a seamless experience. So, it's worth taking the time to fix whatever issue you're facing.

• Safari Browser
• iPhone Troubleshooting

Why Is Safari So Slow? (5 Reason & What To Do)

Safari is one of the best Internet browsers that is currently available, and it’s known for its reliability. However, that doesn’t mean that it always runs smoothly. So, why is Safari so slow?

If Safari is so slow that it barely runs, close as many tabs and background apps as you can. Disable Safari extensions and clear the history and cache to remove corrupted data so it runs faster. Make sure that at least 15% of your Mac or iPhone’s storage space is open because full storage can slow down Safari’s performance.

Switch users on your Mac to see if Safari still runs slowly. It may simply be a problem with your user account having too much data. Follow along as we explore why Safari is so slow and see how you can fix it.

Table of Contents

Why Is Safari So Slow on Mac?

Poor wi-fi connection.

Your Wi-Fi connection is the first thing you should check if Safari is so slow on Mac that you can’t search anything. Safari will be slow even if you have Wi-Fi but the connection is weak. If your Wi-Fi keeps going in and out, simply unplug the router and modem for 30 seconds and plug them back in to reset them . 

Contact your Internet service provider or switch to cellular data if the problem continues.

Corrupted Cache

Safari will run slow on your Mac if the cache is bloated and corrupted. Safari takes on plenty of data each day you use it, and some of it may be corrupted. Whether you have corrupted data or have simply gone years without clearing the cache, Safari will continue to run so slowly if you don’t clear it.

Once the Safari cache is full, the browser won’t be able to add and process new website information properly. Luckily, you can quickly clear the cache data on Safari under the History tab. Click the history tab to pull up the drop-down menu, then select Clear History and Clear Data.

Ideally, you should clear the cache on Safari once per month to ensure a smooth performance .

Safari is Outdated

If Safari is so slow that it’s a chore to browse, then it may be because the browser is outdated and needs an update. Apple typically releases updates for Safari up to 6 times per year . Safari updates are lumped in with the standard macOS updates that introduce and refine features on your Mac.

To install the latest macOS update, click the Apple icon on your Mac’s menu bar. Scroll down, select “System Settings”, and choose “System Update”. Make sure there is enough space on your Mac to install the update. This should improve your Mac’s performance and Safari’s performance speed.

User Account Error

Do you have multiple user accounts on your Mac? If so, you may want to check to see if Safari is so slow on the other users’ accounts. Much like how Safari’s cache can become corrupted, a specific user’s account on a Mac can become corrupted as well.

This happens over time when you browse Safari extensively and install extensions and apps that aren’t approved by Apple . Use another account to see if Safari runs smoothly. If so, return to the original user page with the slow Safari speed and open the Spotlight app.

Click the Disk Utility tab at the top of the page, scroll down, and select “First Aid”. Next, click “Repair Disk” and wait for your Mac to perform the repair. This should get rid of corrupted data and patch the user account so Safari won’t run as slowly.  

Extension Problems

Do you run Safari extensions on your Mac? If so, that could explain why Safari is slow, especially if the extensions aren’t optimized for a Mac . It’s hard to tell which extensions cause the problem unless you use an external app like CleanMyMac X and OS Mac Cleaner .

You can use these apps to cycle through apps and extensions to find out which ones are problematic. Refer to the information on the program to see which extension is causing the problem and delete it right away to boost Safari’s performance.

Too Many Open Tabs

Sure, Safari lets you open up to 500 tabs, but that doesn’t mean you should . The more tabs you leave open, the slower Safari will run on your Mac. Ideally, you should only leave a few tabs open at once if Safari is so slow that it’s hard to browse.

The advertisements and background activity from the tabs you leave open will slow down Safari’s performance. Close any tabs you are done with and continue to browse.

Excessive Background Activity

Just like how too many open tabs will slow down Safari, excessive background app activity can cause problems as well. Macs and iPhones must work extra hard to keep up with the processing demands when there is too much background activity. Close apps that you aren’t currently using so the processor can focus on Safari tabs and apps that you must use .

Search Suggestions Lag

The search suggestions Safari feature is useful when browsing the web, but it can also cause lags in some cases. If Safari runs slowly when search suggestions appear, you must disable the feature. Open Safari, click Settings, select Search , and tap the box beside “Include search engine suggestions” to disable the feature .

Low Storage

Whether it’s an iPhone, Mac, or MacBook, Apple devices cannot perform at their full capacity when the storage is too low. You should leave up to 15% of your Mac or iPhone’s storage open at all times to ensure quick operating performance and Safari speed . Remove apps that you don’t use often and delete old messages and pictures to free up as much space as possible.

So, Why Is Safari Running Slow?

Close as many tabs as possible and clear the cache and browser history if Safari is too slow. Disable extensions that aren’t approved by Apple and install the most recent macOS update to increase Safari’s speed. It also helps to close background apps and disable search suggestions if Safari is so slow that you can’t browse the web.

David Miller is a seasoned tech aficionado with a profound expertise in NGINX and Ubuntu. With a career spanning over a decade, David has honed his skills in optimizing web servers and enhancing server performance to perfection. His deep-rooted passion for open-source technologies has led him to become a go-to resource in the field. Whether it’s crafting intricate NGINX configurations or troubleshooting complex Ubuntu server issues, David’s problem-solving prowess shines through.

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19 Fixes Safari Running Slow on Mac (Ventura, Sequoia/Sonoma)

In the article, Get Fixes on  Why Does Safari Take So Long to Open on Mac  after macOS Update? Apple user has one of the best web browsers, Safari. However, more users of Google Chrome are available in the market compared to Apple’s Safari. So, without losing privacy, let’s fix your Browser problem using the unique solutions below and Quickly load all types of web pages (Such as Facebook, Udemy, Linkedin, Twitter, ESPN, and Outlook..) on Safari Browser.

Instead, they should fix Safari complications like Safari running super slow compared to Chrome . Safari  won’t open, so Safari won’t load a page , browsers not working after updating safari not loading on MacBook,  and more. There is a way to get solutions to all these problems. So let’s start with them to Speed up a slow internet connection on Mac after resetting Safari to Default .

IN THIS ARTICLE

Hopefully, these all feasible solutions will help you to make Safari faster on Mac.

How Do I Fix Slow Safari on My Mac? The Complete Solutions

Get more: Fix Safari Error “Your Connection is Not Private”

is Safari Slow on MacOS? Follow this

several macOS Ventura users reported the issue with the Internet slow on Mac after the latest macOS update. The app adds because of too many privacy features. The main reason is that might be. Follow them one by one and check internet speed on speed test tools like fast.com

Turn off iCloud Private Relay from a network; You will get a huge change in speed based on my experience because Apple’s Proxy server might be slow or down sometimes.

Step 1: Click on Apple Logo on your Mac > Select System Settings.

Step 2: Select Networks > Click on Wi-Fi.

Step 3: Tap on Details next to Connect Wi-Fi.

Step 4: Disable Limit IP Address Tracking.

Turn off Hiding IP Address from Trackers and Website in Safari Privacy Preferences.

Step 1: Launch Safari on your Mac.

Step 2: Click on Safari from the Top of the Mac Menu > Select Settings.

Step 3: Select Privacy Tab > Uncheck Hide IP Address. And That’s it. Get more details on Enable/Disable Hide IP Address on Mac, iPhone, and iPad .

Solution #1. Make Sure the Automatic Proxy Detection is Unchecked

This setting is handy for privacy reasons, but the Proxy server and some configurations might create slow internet problems. Unchecking the Automatic Poxy dictation can help bypass the proxy server, or Mac users can get straight internet connectivity if the Proxy server is unavailable.

On macOS, Ventura, Sonoma,

Step 1: Open the Apple Logo from the top menu > Select System Settings .

Step 2: Select WiFi from the left sidebar > Click on Details next to Connect WiFi.

Step 3: Choose Proxies > Disable the toggle Auto Proxy Discovery > Tap OK to Apply the changes.

On MacOS Monterey and earlier,

Step 1: Go to Apple Logo (appears on top Menubar) > Choose System Preferences > Select Network > Click on Wi-Fi > Tap Advanced.

Step 2: Select Proxies Tab > Now uncheck automatic proxy detection [Auto Proxy Discovery] > In the last Click on OK .

That’s it. Hopefully, now, your Mac Safari in macOS runs at rocket speed.

Solution #2. Disable Search Suggestions Safari Mac

Search Suggestions improve the user’s experience as you connect with your Apple device. Search Suggestions Use Siri search running across all your Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, Homepod, or Apple Watch . According to your Favorite search, you can also quickly get the exact find on your Mac.

Sometimes this feature is useless; by turning off “Search Suggestions Safari,” as a result, you can get more benefits on a slow Safari or Mac system.

Step 1 : Launch Safari on your Mac > From the Top Mac Menu, Click on Safari > Select Settings/Preferences .

Step 2: Click on Search Tab > Uncheck “Include safari suggestions “.

Step 3: Here’s the below screen , that you miss after disabling this option.

If you like this feature and don’t want to turn it off, then you should check the other Safari settings and get the exact solution Why is Safari on my Mac so slow?

Solution #3. Disable DNS Prefetching in Safari Mac

Is your Mac sending DNS Queries to the network via Router , and Your Router can’t handle such requests on time? As a result, you will get a slow response from the internet. If the DNS Prefetching is enabled, then your Safari browser on Mac sends a DNS Request to load the website the very first time. So, turning off DNS Prefetching on your Mac Safari is a Great solution if this happens with your System. Below I recommend trying Alternate methods for disabling DNS Prefetching on Mac or Macbook running on any macOS.

Change DNS Service Provider for Slow Safari

By default, our DNS settings are provided by the ISP. Instead, this time we will try to use public DNS, which might boost up Safari. The best DNS server is Google DNS; probably everyone, including me, is using Google DNS. This action does not only help Safari but also gets the solution for “How do I fix slow Internet on Mac?

Step 1: Go to the Apple Logo from the top Menu > Select System Settings .

Step 2: Select Wi-Fi from the left side > Click on Details next to the connected WiFi Name.

Step 3: Select DNS > Click on ‘ + ‘ to add a new Public DNS Address on Mac . For Example, Google Public DNS, 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 > Click on OK to Apply the changes .

On MacOS Monterey & Earlier

• Step #1: Click to open the “ Apple Logo ” from the Top Mac menu and then open “ System Preferences ”.
• Step #2: Open “ Network ”.
• Step #3: Select the network on which your MacBook is connected.
• Step #4: Click on “ Advanced ”.
• Step #5: Now tap (+) and add a DNS server.

To Use Google DNS , Enter the Below Public DNS Address, Enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 are the Google DNS servers for you.

Or You Should Use OpenDNS

Enter 208.67. 222.222 and 208.67. 220.220 in the list. Click on OK to apply changes and test internet speed on Safari.

Alternate Method to Disable Prefetching in Safari Using Terminal

This method is also helpful to disable DNS Prefatcinhg on Mac Using Terminal, Open Terminal under the utility folder.

Step 1: Launch Finder on your Mac > Click on Go From the top Menu > Choose Applications.

Step 2: Choose Utility Under the Applications folder.

Step 3: Select Terminal under the Utilities.

Type the below command, and Hit the Return to run command,

defaults write com.apple.safari WebKitDNSPrefetchingEnabl

Force Quit Safari and Re-open Safari browser to test it. If sometimes time is not working fine after disabling DNS Prefetcinhg, then turn it on again; using this command,

defaults write com.apple.safari WebKitDNSP

Also, you check internet speed using an online free Speed testing tool. www.fast.com by Netflix. Also,

Don’t miss out on other essential settings; these will improve your Safari Browsing speed without losing Privacy and switching to a third-party browser.

Solution #4. Open Empty Page on Safari: No More Load every time

Had issues with slow new tabs as well. We fixed it by opening an empty page instead of the starting screen. Safari Browser has too many hidden customizations that most Safari users don’t know.

Open Emply blank space is a great tip to start quick browsing and open on your Mac. Follow the below steps,

Step 1 : Launch Safari on your Mac.

Step 2: Click on Safari From the top Mac Menu > Select Settings/Preferences .

Step 3: Tap on General Tab > Select New Window opens with Empty Page and New Tab Open With Empty Page . Select these options from the dropdown.

That’s it. Now, your Safari page will not load any data on the New Tab or Window, but you should check What’s loading with the webpage when you open it. Along with page files, Installed Third-Party Plugins and Add-ons also check and gather details from the page. Sometimes that’s unnecessary, So disable or remove Unused Plugins or Add-Ons. Also, Keep all up-to-date.

Solution #5. Force Close and Re-Launch With the “Shift” Key

Your Safari Browser is slow because the affected website is opened in the background; some laggy websites consume more Memory than your Mac, and that’s the cause of slow down Safari performance. TO quickly get it out, Mac users must Force close Safari and Relauchc with Refresh Safari memory.

• To Force close the Safari browser, Press Command + Q to force close the safari browser.
• Press the Shift key from the keyboard. Click on Safari from the launchpad to relaunch it. So your Safari browser loads just like opening it the first time.
• That’s it.

If Safari is not loading the image, Data [ Why are images not showing up in Safari on my Mac? ] for a specific website, then you should check with the Safari Private window.

Solution #6. Test With Private Window

Safari Saved lots of data from the internet in cache and cookies to load faster on the following visit to the same website. Private Browing mode, Doesn’t interest old data saved on Mac or Naver keep new data. So that’s a great way to test the Actual Speed of your Safari browser.

Step 1: Launch Safari on your Mac > From the Top Mac Menu, Click on File > Tap to New Private Window .

Step 2: In the Next Screen, Open the Private Browsing Window on Safari.

Start Doing a Safe search without loading extra Plugins or Safari Extensions installed on your Mac.

Solution #7. Test Other Safari Plugins and Add-ons

An outdated or unsupported Safari extension installed on your Mac gives a slow browsing experience. So, I recommend disabling Safari Extension or Update Pending update from the Mac App Store. Based on experience, some extensions cannot load websites like youtube on a standard browser, but Private browsing allows to open websites. Because the installed Extension will not load on Private browsing, that’s proven you have a problem with Extensions.

Step 2: Now, From the top Menu, Click on Safari > Choose Settings/Preference .

Step 3: Go to the Extensions tab and Select the Extension in front of the name from the first left panel, So the Extension will be disabled. Next, we can uninstall from there as well.

Update Safari Extension on Mac : Open App Store on Mac > Search Extension, then Click on the Update button to download and install New updates with the latest macOS.

is YouTube slow on Safari Mac?

It could have happened due to an unhealthy add-on run on your Mac for Safari. Some extension makes Safari YouTube fullscreen lag and Safari Weird behavior. Scroll through comments on YouTube on Safari, and it does animation is slow. for that, you will have to disable an extension that harmful to Safari,

let’s what to do about that,

• On the Safari menu bar, click Safari > choose Preferences, then select the Extensions tab. Turn that OFF ,
• Next, quit and relaunch Safari to test.

hopefully, this worked; after this,

• Turn one extension on, then quit and re-open Safari to test until you navigate the incompatible extension for your Mac then click uninstall.

Your work is done.

Read more: Tips to Speed up Slow Mac after macOS update

Solution # 8. Clear Cache, Extension, History

Problems with Safari after an update ? Let’s see a solution- If your day begins and ends with Mac and Safari, you should probably clear cache, extensions, and history periodically. They eat your Mac’s storage and slow down the Safari. It is worth deleting all this and making some space.

Step 2: From the top of the Mac Menu, Click on Safari > Select Settings .

Step 3: Open Advanced Tab > At the bottom, Enable the Show Features For Web Developers.

Step 4: Head over and click on Develop > Select Empty Caches .

Step 5: Again, Select Extensions > Disable Extension from the Left Sidebar > Click on Safari From the Top Menubar > Tap on Clear History.

Solution #9. NVRAM Restart (cmd+opt+P+R) – And it Solved

NVRAM Store Mac startup data for a quick jump into work. We can clear up those corrupted or Outdated Mac system Data by Resetting it. Here are a few Keyboard shortcuts that we have to try on Restart your Mac. This process doesn’t wipe any files or Data from the Mac drive; this Process only Refreshes the startup date by Cleaning and Rebuilding the process.

• From the Apple logo, click on Shut Down .
• Immediately Press the [cmd+opt+P+R] Keys from a keyboard after pressing the power key,
• Your Mac will only play startup sound but won’t turn on. Which means you have to perform NVRAM Restart. Leave all the keys and allow it to turn on your Mac itself.

M1 Macbook Mac Safari Slow:

To Boost Laggy Safari browsing, There are no more changes in settings. To perform each of the steps in the same way. But Resetting RAM is quite Different on your M1 MBA[Air] or M1 Macbook Pro & M1 MacMini.

• M1 Silicon Mac stores data on RAM, and users don’t need to reset it. Because Mac reset it automatically while restarting your Mac. If you have to reset that, then simply restart the Mac .

Important : Mostly M1 Mac Users affected by Browser Extension installed on Mac, So I highly recommend Disable one by one and test the experiments. 

Solution # 10: Manually Clear Cache.DB file

The above solution must work properly, but if anything goes wrong or the cache isn’t deleted, try this one.

Step 1: Launch the Finder on your Mac > From the top Menu, Click Go and then Choose Go to Folder .

Step 2: Enter the below command and click on the Go button ,

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db

/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db

• Now, as soon as the folder opens, click on the .db file and move to trash.

Note: Before performing this action, close the Safari app.

Solution # 11: Remove Safari Preferences File

Auto-generated list files in the Mac file system save massive browsing data; some of the data is useful and needed in the future. So I recommend deleting those files after backup in a separate folder. Follow the below steps to find the safari plist file under the Mac preferences folder.

We can take our chances to fix Safari running slow on macOS Ventura with this solution.

Step 1: Launch the Finder and Tap on Go From the top Menubar > Next, Click on Go to Folder .

Step 3: Enter the Below Command.

~/Library/Preferences

Step 4: Now Locate and Select the com. apple. Safari……plist > Right -Click to Tap Move to Trash . Then restart your Mac so that after powering on, the file comes back automatically, and the browser will load fast.

Solution #12. Change Network Service also works to Speed up the internet on Mac

If you have connected your Mac to Wi-Fi and Ethernet, then it can be a reason behind the slow performance of Safari . Remove one network connection and observe if it has any effect on it.

By default, Mac will give priority to only one network. But if you want, then you can change the order of the priority and switch connections.

Here’s how you can change the priority of the network service

Step 1: Open the Apple logo and click on System Settings.

Step 2: Next, Choose Network and then open the Action pop-up menu > Tap to Set Service Order.

Step 3: Drag Service to Change Order > Click on OK.

• Step 3: Select “ Set Service Order ” and arrange the network service by dragging them.
• Step 4: Click “ OK ” and “ Apply ” changes by clicking on it too.

Solution #13. Solution Use Safari Alternatives For Mac (Chrome or Firefox)

There are plenty of free Browsers for MacOS. Those are even faster than the Safari browser. Sometimes, the user has to switch to another browser because Safari is not working correctly with the Extension, Crashing, and other Serious problems; according to my Experience, Google Chrome for Mac works superfast even when the Extension is enabled.

Mac users can go with Trusted Desktop Browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Tor Browser, Vivaldi , and many more. In addition, you can get more ideas from shortlisted top Best Browsers for Mac .

• Are you looking for how to set Google as the default browser on Mac? Get here How to change the default web browser on Mac?

Solution #14. Reverting back to Big Sur or Mojave as a Reliable solution

Are you interested only in Safari Browser on your Mac? Recent macOS updates or After macOS updates, you feel uncomfortable and not using it preciously, so I recommend switching back to earlier macOS. Here’s my video tutorial on how to move back to Earlier MacOS for Big Sur installed Mac.

Solution # 15: Reinstall macOS Big Sur/Catalina

Unfortunately, if none of the above works for you, you have to follow this extreme path. Other than Safari, if you face any problems with Mac or MacBook, it will be fixed with this troubleshooting. Get here how to Reinstall macOS 12 .

Solution # 16: Change the Login Account on Mac and repair the Disk

Another weird solution for this issue is to change the user account. Create a new account and try to use Safari to see if anything changes.

Besides, we will use Disk Utility to fix this issue.

Step 1: Search Disk Utility from the Spotlight.

Step 2: Once Disk Utility is on-screen, Tap on the Hard Drive of Mac > Click on the First Aid Tab .

Step 3: Tap to Run for First Aid on Hard Drive.

Solution # 17: Update macOS to Speed up the internet on Mac

If you haven’t updated macOS, then you might face several issues. First, the new update probably contains all the bug fixes and will also include Safari. So update the MacBook to the latest version, if available.

Step 1: Go to Apple Logo on the top menu bar > Select System Settings.

Step 2: Choose General > Tap on Software update .

Step 3: Tap on Update Now. If any update is available – please download and install macOS.

After doing it, Check for a Safari web browser . I hope now safari will give you an accelerated experience than ever before. Or go with the following solution.

Solution # 18: Optimize Search Settings in Safari on Mac

We always accuse Safari of being slow, but it isn’t possible every time. So there is a possibility that the search browser you are using is facing situations, so Safari is running slow on macOS . If this is the problem, then we can fix it by changing the search settings.

Step 1: Launch the Safari app on your Mac > Select Safari From the Top Menu > click on Settings .

Step 2: Click on the Search Tab > Try to change the search engine to Bing.

Solution #19. Upgrade Your Mac: RAM, SSD Hard Drive

Any action is not helpful from the above solutions to fix burning questions: How can I speed up Safari on Mac? I recommend upgrading the internal hard drive. Have you any technicality and experience with upgrading computers? You can do it yourself. Get strict with the Apple store or Third-Party Service center or concern with your Friends. If none of the options helped you, then, share your comment for upgrade tips. Here are the top best SSD drives to upgrade your Mac machine

Bottom Line:

None of the above workarounds is helpful, so you should submit a feedback request to Apple . So, Apple catches your Problem correctly and Gets a chance to fix it with the new macOS update.

Is there any other trick to fix Safari running very slow on Mac after an update? Let me know in the comments!

5 thoughts on “19 Fixes Safari Running Slow on Mac (Ventura, Sequoia/Sonoma)”

“However, the reason behind this is, the person who have Mac or iPhone they face any problem in Safari, they move to Google Chrome.

Instead, they should try to fix Safari complications”

looool. No, they should use whatever works. Safari has no excuse, I’m sorry.

PS: Yes I miss the handover and shared ios macos tabs too… but, a non-functional browser is a non-functional browser…

PS2: I am still wasting time with relogins from your fist solution… So you say I should reinstall Mojave… when there are other browsers that work just fine… again: looool

With Windows 7, Google was fast downloading. I have recently switched to an iMac and have been driven mad by the slowness downloading web pages – sometimes it sticks part way through and I get nothing. I switched to Bing – that was as slow. In desperation I tried DuckDuckGo. Pages are downloaded instantly. I have no idea why, but it work, so I’ll stick with it.

Solution 10: how do you reinstall Mojave? Thanks

For your information, I have restored Safari normal speed on Catalina by deactivating my Intego Netbarrier suite

I upgraded my MacBook Pro to Catalina a couple of weeks ago and all was good. Today I upgraded my MacAir and I basically can’t connect to the internet using the wifi that I used before to download Catalina and the same wifi that I am using on the Pro to find your website and to send this message. I tried deleting the cache and reopening Safari and restarting but still nada.

What’s up with that?

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Safari has become very slow, lagging and not loading pages

In the past couple of months I've found Safari incredibly slow, either not loading or hanging on pages etc, and its getting worse. Mostly its a question of the blue line at the top just stopping a quarter or halfway in; occasionally the grey screen comes up to say it couldn't connect to the server. It seems to happen most on facebook but now it's happening almost every time I use my machine. If I reload the page a few times this often works so it appears to be a constant but temporary problem. I've tried other browsers but they seem to have the same issue. My internet speed tests show excellent speeds are available and the problem is the same whether I'm connected via ethernet or WiFi (same issue happens with my desktop Mac as well as my laptop). I've deleted cookies, emptied caches, even changed the DNS server and renewed the DCHP lease. etc. You can probably tell I have a limited understanding of such things so I'm at a loss what to do. Is it something to do with me not having enough memory on my Mac?

IMAC (RETINA 5K, 27-INCH, LATE 2015), macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Jan 27, 2018 8:17 AM

Posted on Jan 27, 2018 8:23 AM

It has nothing to do with memory.

Force Quit Safari ( command + option + esc keys). Then restart Safari holding the Shift key.

Turn off Safari extensions in Safari > Preferences > Extensions > un-checkmark all extensions.

Empty Caches. You can either choose Safari menu > Clear History Or, if you do not want to remove History go to Safari menu > Preferences > Advanced and check the “Show Develop Menu” in Menubar. Then, on that menu > “Empty Caches”.

See these Apple Support Topics for detailed advice:

If Safari is slow, stops responding, quits unexpectedly, or has other issues - Apple Support

If Safari doesn't load a page or webpage items are missing - Apple Support

Safari for Mac: If Safari can’t open a website

Similar questions

• Safari sporadically stops accepting page requests for a minute at a time Hi, Every-so-often my Internet equipment hiccups or the server I'm contacting is simply not responding. Maybe a packet got lost on the Internet highways. Whatever the cause is, the page request is not answered immediately. If I then wait 60(?) seconds, a timeout kicks in and displays a helpful message that the server is unresponsive. Impatient as I am, I have learned to recognise this after a few seconds, and the instinctive response is to hit refresh or click the link again etc, and the page loads immediately. I think anyone on the Internet know exactly what I'm talking about. Except lately that hasn't worked with Safari. I think it started on OSX High Sierra, and I hoped it would be fixed by updating to macOS Mojave, but unfortunately the issue remains: I *have to* wait the full minute. I have no choice. Before the timeout refresh doesn't work. I actually can't open any page at all. I click other links on the page. I hit the refresh button. I try typing a search string in the address field. I try switching to another tab or opening a new one. Nothing works. Safari is apparently not sending any requests during the timeout. As if it has decided that the network is down, so there's no point in trying…? And then suddenly the timeout triggers and the “server is not responding” text appears. When I refresh after that the page loads immediately. Everything works just fine. Until the next hiccup that makes Safari unusable for another minute. Does anyone else have this problem? Grateful for any help Best regards Johan 347 1
• Safari 12.1.1 stops downloading pages after 4-5 web sites I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) with 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 and 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3. Just recently Safari began acting strangely. After 4-5 different web pages, the next page will not load. The load bar starts, goes about 15% across and hangs. Nothing seems to function then. I restart and try again, same thing. 4-5 pages work normally. Then, it hangs again. Restart, repeat. Very frustrating. I have no extensions loaded, no virus protection software loaded. I have an iPhoneXS and an iPadAir sharing accounts across devices. But still happens. I had to restart twice to get to this post. Any ideas? 621 13
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Jan 27, 2018 8:23 AM in response to cb_croydon

Jan 27, 2018 8:38 AM in response to macjack

Hi, thanks for the response - I have done all these things and although re-starting always improves it for a time, it always begins to slow down again shortly afterwards. I've looked at those other links and beyond (which is where I got the advice re: DNS etc) and no luck either. I've just seen a site where they've advised deleting everything to do with Chrome so I've just tried that and restarted - so far, so good. If it solves anything I'll let you know.

Mar 3, 2018 1:08 AM in response to Eric Root

The instructions to do so look a little scary to someone as technically challenged as me - but I'm guessing they're worth

doing? Any advice before I start??

Jan 27, 2018 8:41 AM in response to cb_croydon

Some other suggestions If the above doesn't work.

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db and move it to the trash.

Go to Safari Preferences/Extensions and turn all extensions off. Test. If okay, turn the extensions on one by one until you figure out what extension is causing the problem.

Safari Corruption See post by Linc Davis

If that doesn't work, try running this program in your normal user account , then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. On the screen with Options, please open Options and check the bottom 2 boxes before running. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy Report” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

Jan 28, 2018 10:30 AM in response to Eric Root

EtreCheck version: 3.4.6 (460)

Report generated 2018-01-28 18:23:20

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 2:54

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Lookup] links for more information from Apple Support Communities.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Click the [Clean up] link to delete unused files.

Problem: Other problem

Description:

Browsers very slow and not loading pages

Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac17,1

1 4 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-6700K) CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1867 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

BANK 1/DIMM0

BANK 1/DIMM1

Handoff/Airdrop2: supported

Wireless: en1: Unknown

Video Information: ⓘ

AMD Radeon R9 M395 - VRAM: 2 GB

iMac 5120 x 2880

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE SSD SM0512G disk0: (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1 - MS-DOS FAT32) <not mounted> [EFI]: 210 MB

(disk0s2) <not mounted> [APFS Container]: 500.07 GB

USB Information: ⓘ

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

Broadcom Corp. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

G-TECH G-DRIVE

Disk disk2: (2 TB)

EFI (disk2s1 - MS-DOS FAT32) <not mounted> [EFI]: 210 MB

G-DRIVE (disk2s2 - Journaled HFS+) /Volumes/G-DRIVE : 2.00 TB (59.72 GB free)

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub

SanDisk Cruzer Blade

Cruzer Blade disk3: (31.33 GB)

NO NAME (disk3s1 - MS-DOS FAT32) /Volumes/NO NAME : 31.33 GB (3.15 GB free)

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Virtual disks: ⓘ

Macintosh HD (disk1s1 - APFS) / [Startup]: 500.07 GB (169.03 GB free)

Physical disk: disk0s2 500.07 GB (169.03 GB free)

(disk1s2) <not mounted> [Preboot]: 500.07 GB

Physical disk: disk0s2 500.07 GB

(disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 500.07 GB

(disk1s4) /private/var/vm [VM]: 500.07 GB

System Software: ⓘ

macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 (17C205) - Time since boot: about one day

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/hosts - Count: 46

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Clean up: ⓘ

/Library/LaunchDaemons/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller

Executable not found!

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist

/Applications/Skype.app/Contents/Library/LaunchServices/com.skype.skype.shareag ent.bundle/Contents/MacOS/com.skype.skype.shareagent

2 orphan files found. [Clean up]

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.FTDI.driver.D2XXHelper (1.0 - SDK 10.11) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.sophos.kext.oas (9.7.0 - SDK 10.12) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.sophos.nke.swi (9.7.0 - SDK 10.12) [Lookup]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.15-3 - SDK 10.11) [Lookup]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 167 Apple tasks

[running] 115 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 38 Apple tasks

[loaded] 175 Apple tasks

[running] 118 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-12) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-09-28) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.microsoft.update.agent.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2018-01-24) [Lookup]

[running] com.sophos.agent.plist (Sophos - installed 2018-01-27) [Lookup]

[running] com.sophos.home.ui.plist (Sophos - installed 2018-01-27) [Lookup]

[running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2015-12-16) [Lookup]

[loaded] org.chromium.chromoting.plist (Shell Script 81572da9 - installed 2017-10-24) [Lookup]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[running] com.PEC.PowerOn.HelperTool.plist (? ? ? - installed 2016-06-14) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-12) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-12) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.acc.installer.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-29) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-12-14) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-10-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2018-01-22) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2018-01-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2016-04-11) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.nordvpn.NordVPN.Helper.plist (TEFINKOM & CO S.A - installed 2016-11-19) [Lookup]

[running] com.sophos.common.servicemanager.plist (Sophos - installed 2018-01-27) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-12-01)

[loaded] jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist (? d0637166 0 - installed 2017-01-11) [Lookup] - /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller: Executable not found!

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-10-30) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-10) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2018-01-22) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist (? 9e64636f 0 - installed 2017-11-19) [Lookup] - /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/Library/LaunchServices/com.skype.skype.shareag ent.bundle/Contents/MacOS/com.skype.skype.shareagent: Executable not found!

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (Spotify - installed 2018-01-28) [Lookup]

User Login Items: ⓘ

Dropbox Application

(/Applications/Dropbox.app)

CIJSUAgent SMLoginItem - Hidden (Canon Inc. - installed 2017-01-11)

(/Applications/Canon Utilities/IJ Scan Utility/Canon IJ Scan Utility2.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CIJSUAgent.app)

MemoryCleanHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (Apple, Inc. - installed 2018-01-05)

(/Applications/Memory Clean.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/MemoryCleanHelper.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

FlashPlayer-10.6: 28.0.0.137 (installed 2018-01-09) [Lookup]

Flash Player: 28.0.0.137 (installed 2018-01-09) [Lookup]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-12-16)

WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 (installed 2015-12-16) [Lookup]

AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 (installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

[enabled] AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (installed 2017-11-16)

[enabled] Pin It Button - Pinterest, Inc. - http://www.pinterest.com/ (installed 2017-06-12)

[enabled] Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (installed 2016-04-11)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Flash Player (installed 2017-12-14) [Lookup]

WacomTablet (installed 2015-12-16) [Lookup]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 500.07 GB Disk used: 331.04 GB

Destinations:

G-DRIVE [Local]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 118

Oldest backup: 21/04/2016, 17:44

Last backup: 28/01/2018, 17:49

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 500.07 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

289% JavaApplicationStub

17% mdworker

12% mdworker

5% AppleSpell

3% WindowServer

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.17 GB kernel_task

482 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

410 MB Safari

366 MB JavaApplicationStub

263 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

Top Processes by Network Use: ⓘ

Input Output Process name

2.53 GB 1.87 GB JavaApplicationStub

4 MB 93 KB SophosWebIntelligence

1 MB 2 MB Dropbox

908 KB 65 KB mDNSResponder

218 KB 424 KB jp.co.canon.ij.scanutility2.CIJSUAgent

Top Processes by Energy Use: ⓘ

271.62 JavaApplicationStub

3.52 WindowServer

1.80 Adobe CEF Helper

0.82 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

1.77 GB Available RAM

87 MB Free RAM

6.23 GB Used RAM

1.68 GB Cached files

845 MB Swap Used

Software installs (last 30 days): ⓘ

Microsoft AutoUpdate: (installed 2018-01-04)

Memory Clean: 6.3 (installed 2018-01-05)

Adobe Flash Player: (installed 2018-01-09)

Microsoft OneNote for Mac: (installed 2018-01-19)

Microsoft Word for Mac: (installed 2018-01-19)

Microsoft Excel for Mac: (installed 2018-01-19)

Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac: (installed 2018-01-19)

Microsoft Outlook for Mac: (installed 2018-01-19)

Microsoft AutoUpdate: (installed 2018-01-24)

Microsoft Word for Mac: (installed 2018-01-27)

Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac: (installed 2018-01-27)

Install information may not be complete.

Diagnostics Events (last 3 days for minor events): ⓘ

2018-01-27 19:09:05 Vuze.app High CPU use [Open] [Details]

2018-01-27 16:25:04 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent High CPU use [Open] [Details]

Jan 28, 2018 1:48 PM in response to cb_croydon

Clean up: ⓘ /Library/LaunchDaemons/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller Executable not found! ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/Library/LaunchServices/com.skype.skype.shareag ent.bundle/Contents/MacOS/com.skype.skype.shareagent Executable not found! 2 orphan files found. [Clean up]

Run the report again and click [Clean up].

I would uninstall Memory Clean. It tends to interfere with the computer's operation while providing minimal to no benefit.

Memory Clean Uninstall

I would uninstall Sophos. It tends to interfere with the computer's operation while providing minimal to no benefit unless you work with Windows files.

Sophos Un-install

Most posters recommend not using cleaning programs. They can destroy normal computer operations.

CleanMyMac Uninstall

CleanMyMac 2 uninstall

CleanMyMac3 Uninstall

Check for associated parts and pieces using these programs.

EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement

Find Any File

Feb 1, 2018 1:30 PM in response to Eric Root

Hi, I'm afraid I'm still having problems 😟 in fact, I had to reboot Safari just to get this page open... I have uninstalled everything you suggested (I think?) and used Easy Find to mop up, but please tell me if I missed anything.

Once again, thanks for your help!

Report generated 2018-02-01 21:30:17

Runtime: 2:19

G-DRIVE (disk2s2 - Journaled HFS+) /Volumes/G-DRIVE : 2.00 TB (81.00 GB free)

Macintosh HD (disk1s1 - APFS) / [Startup]: 500.07 GB (164.78 GB free)

Physical disk: disk0s2 500.07 GB (164.78 GB free)

macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 (17C205) - Time since boot: about 5 days

[loaded] 162 Apple tasks

[running] 120 Apple tasks

[loaded] 173 Apple tasks

[not loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-01-30) [Lookup]

[running] com.MacRemover.Remover.DaemonServer.plist (AngularTech Inc. - installed 2018-01-29) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-01-30) [Lookup]

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 500.07 GB Disk used: 335.28 GB

Last backup: 28/01/2018, 18:49

560% JavaApplicationStub

15% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

7% WindowServer

5% kernel_task

3% Adobe CEF Helper

1.22 GB kernel_task

826 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

555 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

438 MB Safari

300 MB JavaApplicationStub

6.71 GB 4.57 GB JavaApplicationStub

5 MB 10 MB Dropbox

7 MB 303 KB mDNSResponder

5 MB 392 KB com.apple.WebKit.Networking

908 KB 2 MB jp.co.canon.ij.scanutility2.CIJSUAgent

461.18 JavaApplicationStub

6.96 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

6.72 WindowServer

2.74 Adobe CEF Helper

1.51 GB Available RAM

146 MB Free RAM

6.49 GB Used RAM

1.36 GB Cached files

1.66 GB Swap Used

EasyFind: 4.9.3 (installed 2018-02-01)

Files deleted by EtreCheck: ⓘ

2018-01-29 09:45:59 - ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist - Unknown

2018-01-29 09:46:10 - /Library/LaunchDaemons/jp.co.canon.MasterInstaller.plist - Unknown

2018-01-29 19:06:01 - ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist - Unknown

Feb 1, 2018 2:20 PM in response to cb_croydon

Not that is probably the problem, but there is a CleanMyMac .plist in the hard drive level Library/Launch Daemons folder.

/etc/hosts file - Fixing a hacked

/etc/hosts File - How to Restore the Original Default

Mar 2, 2018 12:47 PM in response to Eric Root

Hi, its been a while but the issue persists! After removing all the 'cleaning' apps etc its been fine for a while but tonight Safari was barely usable - pages were not loading at all and I kept getting the grey screen saying it couldn't connect to the server. I'm at my wits end - I'm pasting one last EtreCheck, if you or anyone could tell me if there is anything else I could do I'd be really grateful!

Report generated 2018-03-02 20:36:26

Runtime: 1:57

Problem: Computer is too slow

G-DRIVE (disk2s2 - Journaled HFS+) /Volumes/G-DRIVE : 2.00 TB (796 MB free)

Tablet PTZ-630

Macintosh HD (disk1s1 - APFS) / [Startup]: 500.07 GB (125.78 GB free)

Physical disk: disk0s2 500.07 GB (125.78 GB free)

macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 (17D102) - Time since boot: about 12 hours

[loaded] 159 Apple tasks

[running] 123 Apple tasks

[not loaded] 39 Apple tasks

[loaded] 177 Apple tasks

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-25) [Lookup]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-13) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-01-30) [Lookup]

[loaded] org.chromium.chromoting.plist (Shell Script 81572da9 - installed 2018-02-01) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.acc.installer.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-01) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (Apple, Inc. - installed 2018-01-19)

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-25) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.GC.Invoker-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2018-02-03) [Lookup]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 28.0.0.161 (installed 2018-02-07) [Lookup]

Flash Player: 28.0.0.161 (installed 2018-02-07) [Lookup]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2018-02-04)

AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 (installed 2018-02-24) [Lookup]

Flash Player (installed 2018-02-01) [Lookup]

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 500.07 GB Disk used: 374.29 GB

Total number of backups: 123

Oldest backup: 18/05/2016, 00:25

Last backup: 02/03/2018, 20:16

84% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

23% kernel_task

18% JavaApplicationStub

11% com.apple.WebKit.Networking

1.20 GB kernel_task

1.08 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

376 MB JavaApplicationStub

345 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

318 MB Safari

3.25 GB 193 MB JavaApplicationStub

21 MB 337 KB com.apple.WebKit.Networking

965 KB 679 KB Dropbox

326 KB 634 KB jp.co.canon.ij.scanutility2.CIJSUAgent

562 KB 34 KB mDNSResponder

34.70 JavaApplicationStub

9.48 WindowServer

6.06 Adobe Animate CC 2018

4.66 Safari

1.91 GB Available RAM

19 MB Free RAM

6.09 GB Used RAM

1.89 GB Cached files

1.80 GB Swap Used

Adobe Flash Player: (installed 2018-02-07)

ARMDC Agent Installer: (installed 2018-02-13)

Adobe Acrobat DC (18.011.20035): (installed 2018-02-13)

Microsoft Outlook for Mac: (installed 2018-02-14)

Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac: (installed 2018-02-14)

Microsoft OneNote for Mac: (installed 2018-02-14)

Microsoft Excel for Mac: (installed 2018-02-14)

Microsoft Word for Mac: (installed 2018-02-14)

Chrome Remote Desktop Host: (installed 2018-02-20)

Adobe Acrobat DC (18.011.20038): (installed 2018-02-25)

2018-02-28 09:49:27 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent High CPU use [Open] [Details]

Mar 2, 2018 5:40 PM in response to cb_croydon

If you are still using 10.13.2, try updating to 10.13.3, which will give you Safari 11.03.

Try running the combo update. It installs all previous updates plus the new one, which can replace any files that may have become corrupted.

Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Combo Update - Apple Support

Jan 29, 2018 1:43 AM in response to Eric Root

Many thanks for the advice. I only installed memory clean, Sophos etc after experiencing these problems but it's good to know they might not be necessary. I'll do the clean up - is there any indication from the report why I might be having these issues? The issues with pages not loading/ lagging/ not connecting is just getting worse and the only thing that solves it temporarily is rebooting my machine....

Jan 28, 2018 5:30 AM in response to cb_croydon

See this article Safari troubleshooting on Mac - Apple Support

Jan 28, 2018 5:52 AM in response to cb_croydon

For another option: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7841659

Jan 27, 2018 9:06 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks - I've already tried the first two. Not seen the safari corruption post so will give that a go if all else fails! Thanks.

Jan 27, 2018 9:16 AM in response to cb_croydon

You are welcome.

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

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

Connect to a different network

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

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

Restart your device

Turn off your device and turn it on again.

Restart your iPhone

Restart your iPad

Restart your iPod touch

Clear website data

You can clear website data occasionally to improve Safari performance.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Tap Clear History to confirm.

Turn on JavaScript

Turn on JavaScript if it's not already on.

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on JavaScript.

Get more help

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

Explore Apple Support Community

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

Contact Apple Support

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

Why Are My Gigabit Speeds So Slow? Here's How I Fixed It at Home

J oining the CNET broadband team early this year opened my eyes to the value of a good internet connection . Truth be told, I didn't realize I had a problem until I saw the signs: the buffering, the slow downloads and the interrupted Zoom calls. I wouldn't normally flag these signs as important since I never had a problem with my internet before. But a solid internet connection has become vital since I started working from home.

My family and I also noticed that streaming our favorite shows has become an unenjoyable feat in the past few months due to our fluctuating speeds. After a few weeks, I gave in and contacted my internet provider, Verizon Fios . It shocked the Verizon Fios agent that I was having internet trouble when I was on its second fastest internet tier: the gigabit plan (1,000 megabits per second).

"You shouldn't even be experiencing fluctuating speeds with your plan," the Verizon Fios agent said over the phone. I was stumped.

I didn't want to make a hasty decision like switching out my current provider or buying a new router, so I turned to CNET's advice for help.

4 ways to boost your internet

As an associate writer, I still have much to learn about this topic. Like a kid riding their first bike, it felt daunting because I didn't know where to start. Thankfully, one of our pages details how to boost your Wi-Fi connection in four simple steps . Ah, now I had a roadmap. Here's how it went.

1. Take a speed test

Before you do anything else on this page, you want to conduct an internet speed test . I chose Ookla's speed test because this is the format I am most familiar with. CNET recommends Ookla for its consistency, and it also shows you your speed test history once you create an account.

This step was fairly easy to do. I conducted a few speed tests online. The image above is a test I took near my workspace. While speeds of 248 to 275Mbps aren't bad, being on a gigabit plan supported by a fiber connection makes them surprising (and disappointing). But I took it a step further and went to an area of my home where we experienced the most internet trouble.

I avoid working in the basement most days because the internet is inconsistent. After conducting a speed test, I found our speed dipped to 76Mbps in downloads and 19Mbps in uploads. This area is the farthest from my router, so it only makes sense that the signal is weaker. According to the Federal Communications Commission, the minimum mark for broadband speeds is 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload . My speeds were missing that measure.

It should be noted that Ookla is not the only speed test you can try. If your household uses mostly streaming services, Fast.com is a solid option, as it measures your internet's capacity to stream Netflix. M-Lab is also at the top of my list, as it has an easy-to-use program. My provider (and many other ISPs) also offers its own Verizon Fios speed test .

2. Move your router or your workspace

This next step requires you to experiment a bit with your router's location or your workspace. It wasn't easy to uproot my entire workspace, so I moved my router closer to my existing workspace area instead. This step wasn't a significant change because the router was already placed across the room from my workspace. You should ideally move your router to a central location . Using an Ethernet cable might be helpful, especially if the new location of your router is far from the modem.

In any case, moving your router too far from the modem might prove troublesome. But you can try to raise your router instead and mount it to the wall, if possible. That way, you don't need to jump through all these hoops to install an Ethernet cable.

3. Seek out a Wi-Fi extender

If moving your router is not an option, try contacting your internet provider for additional equipment. After contacting my ISP, I discovered that a Fios Wi-Fi extender came with my plan at no extra cost to my monthly service bill. The extender came with a small guide, and at first glance, it seemed pretty simple.

Pairing the extender to the router

The extender came with a coax cable, a coax splitter and a small set-up guide that outlined four steps: confirm the internet connection, plug it in, pair it and finally move the extender to a designated spot in your home. Seems simple enough, right? I went through the first three steps without running into any issues. I paired my extender to my router using the coax cable.

Placing your extender

Things took a turn with the final step. After pairing, I unplugged my extender and moved it to the basement, where the signal was weaker. However, the light from the extender wasn't the solid white it should have been. Instead, it was a yellow color, meaning the extender was disconnected from the router. Solving this problem took some time as I went back through the set-up guide and covered my bases again.

During this process, I also discovered Verizon Fios' complete Wi-Fi extender set-up guide online. Some ISPs offer customers the option of self-installation.

Here are some of the top internet providers nationwide that have how-to pages and guides dedicated to installing devices that boost your internet:

• AT&T Extender install guide
• Cox mesh extender setup
• Google Fiber mesh extender guide
• Spectrum extender pod placement
• Verizon Fios extender support
• Xfinity Xfi pod setup

The complete set-up guide mentioned an Ethernet cable, but I was not provided one, so I wondered if that prevented my extender from connecting to the router. I contacted Verizon Fios to make sure I was not missing any parts. Per our conversation, Verizon Fios confirmed that an Ethernet cable is recommended but not necessary. The coax cable works just as well.

Ethernet offers a wired connection through cables, which you can plug directly into the router, and should provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi. CNET's own Hallie Seltzer tested this at her home.

I decided to pivot my approach and placed the extender a bit closer to the router, near my workspace. After a few minutes, I saw a solid white color. Success!

Prioritize your traffic

After installing the extender, my internet speeds surged, making this step optional for me. However, if you cannot obtain a Wi-Fi extender, you can try managing how much bandwidth your household consumes through your router settings. For instance, Verizon Fios allows customers to set up parental controls , which can eliminate access to certain websites. Other routers can even schedule access to the network for certain devices. This process will look different depending on your internet provider and your equipment.

So, how much speed do you actually need?

According to the latest OpenVault report, over a third of Americans use the internet at gigabit speeds, a 20% increase from 2023. However, the average American household uses 520Mbps in downstream speeds and 28Mbps in upstream. In other words, if you can access gigabit speeds, it should be plenty enough for your household.

It should also be noted that even if you are on your provider's fastest plan, it's not a guarantee you will see the exact speeds promised. Many conditions can impact your internet speeds. According to AT&T's website , certain materials, dense walls and even furniture can obstruct your Wi-Fi signal. Other common factors contributing to a weaker signal include outdated equipment, poor router settings, bad weather and extreme cases like hacking or malware.

Once I successfully installed my extender, I conducted another speed test in my basement and I saw a surge in my internet connection, coming in at 598Mbps in download and 187Mbps in upload.

Here are some things I discovered when optimizing my speeds at home:

• Router and Wi-Fi extender placement are key. The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Make sure you don't place the extender too far or too close to the router.
• Conduct a series of speed tests after every step, monitoring any changes in your internet connection.
• Many ISPs, including AT&T , Cox , Spectrum and Xfinity , offer comprehensive self-installation guides online for devices that boost your signal. Don't hesitate to seek them out.
• While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. Check out our top picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders .
• While an Ethernet cable is recommended for pairing your extender to the router, a coax cable also works.
• When in doubt, contact your ISP for support and discuss your options.

What's the bottom line?

Since completing this experiment, I've seen a drastic change in my internet connection. My family and I can stream our shows without problems and my Zoom calls are running more smoothly than ever. While I outlined four steps on this page, you might need to do a few extra steps to ensure you cover all your bases. Fixing your internet doesn't have to be complex. This is my first time experimenting with this, and I've discovered a new comfort with my internet connection and how it works.

Even as inflation cools, Americans report sticker shock at grocery store register

Latasha Warner does everything she can to keep food costs down. 

She avoids restaurants. Buys off-brand products. Avoids meat that's not on sale. Travels out of town to shop at bigger, more affordable chains. And still, she says the $200 she spent on groceries Tuesday isn’t enough food to last the week for her, her husband and two children.

Her $17.54-an-hour job in Kentucky leaves her in financial limbo, making too much for financial assistance but not enough for the basics. Groceries take up about half of her paycheck, she said, which makes other expenses ‒ from car repairs to vacations ‒ unaffordable.

“At $2.50 for a head of lettuce, how is anybody supposed to be able to afford this?” she said. “Trying to feed your family is getting too hard.”

Grocery inflation has cooled substantially since its 2022 peak , according to a recent report from the White House . That, combined with higher wages and falling prices in select categories, means groceries are taking less of a hit on Americans’ budgets. 

Protect your assets: Best high-yield savings accounts of 2023

Despite the cooldown, surveys show consumers are still struggling to come to terms with how much food costs today.  

“Consumers continue to be very concerned with high prices, and they continue to tell us at pretty high rates that high prices are eroding their living standards,” said Joanne Hsu , director of the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers . “It's continuing to impact the lives of a lot of people.”

What is the inflation rate of groceries?

Grocery prices were up 1% between May 2023 and May 2024 – down from the 5.8% spike the previous 12-month period, according to Labor Department data.  

May data also shows wage growth outpacing inflation, growing 4.1% over the past year. The White House report says it takes about 3.6 working hours for an average, non-managerial employee to buy a week’s worth of groceries – the same amount of hours required in 2019. 

More good news for consumers: Federal data shows certain food prices are dropping. Apples , for instance, are down more than 13% from a year ago, while ham is down 6%. The White House also points out some retailers – including Aldi , Target and Walmart – are slashing prices on products, which may not be reflected in the latest data. 

“With more experts warning of persistent inflation, the time was right to deliver even greater discounts on our already low prices for the second year in a row," Aldi U.S. President Dave Rinaldo said in a statement last month.

Bridget Keener, 36, keeps a close eye on food prices as a grocery-focused influencer and has noticed some relief in recent months.

Her goal since 2017 has been to feed her family of four for roughly $300 or less each month, allowing any savings to roll over to help next month’s purchases. Nearly 90,000 people follow Keener's grocery hauls, meal plans and more on her Facebook group, “Frantic Frugal Mom.”

Keener said she's maintained her budget by being flexible with substitutions, shopping for sales across multiple stores, timing her visits for markdowns, and throwing items in her freezer so she can curb any potential food waste. She also practices "reverse meal planning," where she shops for deals and then makes meal plans based on her purchases.

“I personally do feel like I've I've been seeing the prices get a little more fair,” said Keener, who lives outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. “So I'm excited about that. I feel like even in the last few months, my grocery bill has dropped.”

That’s not to say Americans aren’t still hurting at the grocery store. 

Grocery prices are up about 25% when compared to 2019, and high bouts of inflation in recent years are still fresh on many consumers’ minds. 

“The ones who are looking a little further back (to prepandemic grocery prices) are the ones who are most frustrated,” Hsu said. “The ones who are using a year ago, two years ago as a reference point – they will often tell us, ‘It's not as bad as it used to be, as painful as it is right now.’” 

Wages haven't kept up with inflation for everyone, and lower-income Americans tend to be more exposed to rising grocery prices. Labor Department data from 2022 shows groceries made up 11% of spending for those on the bottom fifth of the income distribution, compared to 8% of the typical American’s spending.

'Things are painful'

Rising prices have hit consumers across all sorts of categories since the pandemic. Housing costs more. Cars cost more. Insurance costs more.  

But when asked which expense grew the most over the past year, 56% of consumers surveyed by Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability pointed to food – even if that’s not what official data says.

While other expenses like insurance, housing and child care are growing at a faster clip, shoppers tend to notice food price hikes more because they pay for groceries more often, according to Joseph Balagtas , a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue in Indiana.

$15 Big Macs: As inflation drives up fast food prices, map shows how they differ nationwide

“Those higher prices are in some ways more salient,” he said. “What we purchased probably looks pretty similar to what we purchased two or three years ago, and we know that the total when we check out, the credit card bill, is more.”

The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers' findings indicate consumers noticed inflation has softened since 2022, but remain frustrated by high prices. A preliminary June report flagged 47% of consumers mentioned high prices as a reason for poor personal finances, up from a high of 38% between January and April, according to the research center.

“A lot of consumers, they'll tell us that things are painful specifically because of continued high prices,” Hsu said. “I think that is understandable. There are a lot of things that remain quite expensive for consumers and are a higher proportion of their monthly budgets than they were before.”

Warner said she's glad grocery inflation is slowing, but it feels like too little, too late.

"Unless prices start going back down, it's still not going to help anything," she said. "The cost of living's gotten too hard for anybody to be able to make it. It's just hard."

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Release Date:

OS Builds 22621.3810 and 22631.3810

For information about Windows update terminology, see the article about the  types of Windows updates  and the  monthly quality update types . For an overview of Windows 11, version 23H2, see its update history page .  

Note  Follow  @WindowsUpdate  to find out when new content is published to the Windows release health dashboard.      

Gradual rollout 

These might not be available to all users because they will roll out gradually. 

New! This update adds a new Game Pass recommendation card on the Settings home page. This home page shows on Home and Pro editions when you sign in to Windows using your Microsoft account. The card appears if you actively play games on your PC.

New! The show desktop button is on the taskbar again by default. To change this, right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings . At the lower part of the page, you will find Taskbar behaviors . 

New! This update affects File Explorer. You can now create 7-Zip and Tape Archive (TAR) files using the context menu. When you right-click a file, a Compress to item gives you ways to compress a file using tools like gzip, bzip2, and more. There is also a new compression wizard in Additional options . It will help you choose more formats and add details. You can use different types of compression to add many files to archives in other TAR formats. You can also change the compression level and choose the types of data to store in each archive.

New! This update adds support for Emoji 15.1 . Windows supports Unicode symbol-like shapes for family groupings. But Windows will keep using people for them. Also, you can choose the right or left facing direction for some people emoji. The new emoji are:

Horizontal and vertical head shake

Brown mushroom

Broken chain

New! You can now copy files from the Windows Share window. Just click the new Copy button.

New! This update starts the rollout of the new account manager on the Start menu. When you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you will get a glance at your account benefits. This feature also makes it easy to manage your account settings.

New! This update makes it easier to see when you have selected files or folders in File Explorer. Because of this change, a thin, black border now appears around the item you have selected.

New!  We are advancing the Copilot experience on Windows. The Copilot app is now pinned to the taskbar and behaves like an app. This gives you the benefits of a typical app experience. For example, you can resize, move, and snap the window. For existing Windows 11 PCs, the timing of availability and delivery method will vary. This might not be available to all users because it will roll out gradually. 

Important This feature only applies to new Windows 11 PCs and new Copilot+ PCs that ship to the European Economic Area (EEA) and other markets where Copilot is available.

Normal rollout

This update addresses an issue that affects Snipping Tool. When you use it to record videos on some PCs, the audio has distortions.

This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. You cannot use it to enter special characters. This occurs when you use the Japanese 106 keyboard.

This update addresses an issue that affects USB devices. Ejecting them using the Safely Remove Hardware option fails. This occurs when Task Manager is open.

Improvements

Note:  To view the list of addressed issues, click or tap the OS name to expand the collapsible section.

Important:  Use EKB  KB5027397  to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

This non-security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:

This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.

No additional issues are documented for this release.

This non-security update includes quality improvements. 

Gradual rollout

New!  You can now use OneDrive as a RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop.

This update changes the units for DDR speed from MHz to MT/s.

This update affects process handles. Task Manager releases them more quickly when it stops a process.

This update makes Task Manager more reliable.

This update affects the sort order of processes in Task Manager. Performance is better when you change the order.

This update makes Task Manager more accessible by improving:

Keyboard focus

Tab key navigation

Text scaling

The readout of item names by screen readers

High contrast heatmaps and more.

This update makes resizing the Task Manager window easier when you grab the top of its window.

New! This update improves the Virtual Filtering Platform (VFP) within Windows nodes. Now, VFP has more support for packet drop collection. This will make it easier to troubleshoot issues.

This update addresses an issue that affects Group Policy. It fails to detect when a network’s speed is slow. Instead, it assumes that a fast link is present.

This update addresses an issue that affects Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) and Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA). When you use them with SMBdirect in your networks, the networks fail. You also lose the ability to manage clusters.

This update addresses an issue that affects GPUs. They do not enter the idle state that stops them from consuming power.

This update adds the registry key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM ForceDisableModeChangeAnimation (REG_DWORD) . When you set its value to 1 (or a non-zero number), it turns off the display mode change animation. If the value is 0 or the key does not exist, the animation is set to on.

This update brings Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.

This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop sessions. A deadlock stops you from signing in to them.

A firewall profile drops from domain to public. This occurs when multiple interfaces exist, and you add or remove an interface. This update addresses this issue.

An issue occurs in the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) driver. This issue leads to high system CPU usage. It also reduces throughput under a heavy load. This update boosts network packet processing in WFP. This helps to stop performance from degrading. This update also adds batch processing to reduce CPU load.

The Input Method Editor (IME) candidate list fails to show or shows in the wrong position. This update addresses this issue.

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5039338) - 22621.3801 and 22631.3801

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates. 

Known issues in this update

How to get this update.

Before you install this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates  and  Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions .

Install this update

To install this update, use one of the following Windows and Microsoft release channels.

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages .

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer ( wusa.exe ) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File information

For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the  file information for cumulative update 5039302 .   

For a list of the files that are provided in the servicing stack update, download the  file information for the SSU (KB5039338) - versions 22621.3801 and 22631.3801 . 

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Your Boss Will Freeze Your Eggs Now

Mine is the first generation that has corporate benefits for a technology with the potential to slow the biological clock. Is it feminist dream or Silicon Valley fantasy?

Credit... Sara Andreasson

Supported by

By Emma Goldberg

• June 29, 2024

Spring Fertility, a clinic in Midtown Manhattan, looks like the place where the main characters on “ Broad City ” would have wound up if the millennial sitcom had done an episode about egg freezing. The waiting room has books by America’s youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman and its Instagram poet laureate Rupi Kaur . The kitchen is stocked with Spindrift. A conference room also serves as a venue for “shots nights,” less raucous than they sound, where patients inject themselves with fertility drugs communally, with encouragement from staff.

Spring’s medical director in New York, Catha Fischer, dressed in a loose blouse and a low ponytail, beamed as she showed me the phlebotomy stations and operating room, where patients are anesthetized so that a doctor can puncture their ovaries with a needle and suck out eggs for freezing. The room, Dr. Fischer noted, “looks like a Grey’s Anatomy O.R.”

There is always a market for products, from skin care to weight loss, promising to ease the angst of womanhood. Efforts to slow down the reproductive clock are no different. The business of egg extraction is thriving, among the privileged group of people who can access it.

Across Spring’s clinics nationwide, the number of egg freezing cycles undertaken last year jumped 37 percent from the year before. That surge is visible at fertility clinics around the country, according to data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. The prototypical patient also seems to be getting younger, doctors say, a change coinciding with a steady uptick in corporate benefit packages that cover fertility preservation. In 2015 just 5 percent of large employers covered egg freezing; in 2023, nearly one in five did.

Some medical technologies spread slowly, but the embrace of fertility preservation has grown at a remarkable rate. In 2015 there were about 7,600 egg freezing cycles recorded nationwide, and by 2022, that number hit 29,803 , a nearly 300 percent increase.

An egg freezing cycle starts when a woman injects herself once or twice a day with hormones (see: “shots nights”) that stimulate the production of multiple eggs and ends about two weeks later when a physician extracts those eggs with a needle. Some patients go through multiple cycles in the hopes of getting more eggs, which are then preserved in liquid nitrogen tanks, a mad science experiment enabling deferred motherhood.

Egg freezing has been around since the 1980s, but for decades it was primarily used by cancer patients before undergoing treatment that might damage their fertility. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine lifted the treatment’s experimental label in 2012. In the decade that followed, the vast majority of people who froze their eggs fell into one defined demographic, painted vividly in anthropologist Marcia Inhorn’s book “ Motherhood on Ice ”: women in their late 30s who hadn’t settled down with romantic partners and wanted to preserve the option of becoming a mother. Ms. Inhorn called egg freezing a solution to the “mating gap,” the lack of eligible male partners for educated women.

But in recent years the motivations offered for freezing eggs have gotten more varied. There are those who see it as a way to spend their early 30s focused on career, untethering professional timelines from reproductive ones. There are those who have seen friends freeze their eggs and figure they may as well do the same.

Others see egg freezing as something ineffably empowering, all the more so following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision , which has led to states around the country curbing access to reproductive health care; in vitro fertilization has recently become a legal and religious target too. And some view elective fertility treatments simply as a way to exert control over the uncontrollable: their aging bodies. All of these rationales are made more possible with corporate benefits.

“I just had a consult, before I met you, where the patient is young, she’s 30,” Dr. Fischer told me as we toured the Spring clinic. “I said, ‘What has you considering this?’ and she said ‘Frankly because I have the benefit and it would be silly not to.’”

When my employer, The New York Times, expanded its coverage to a lifetime cap of $50,000 for fertility treatments on company-sponsored plans earlier this year, I decided, at age 29, to freeze my eggs. My roommate had frozen her eggs because she was on a short-term professional fellowship that covered it. Another close friend described the process of giving herself hormone injections as an arduous but exhilarating experience in which every day she marveled at her body’s capacity to nurture future life.

After years of absorbing the reasons my generation dreads motherhood — the costs, the bodily toll, the disappearance of friendships , the looming climate and social disasters — freezing my eggs felt like a gift of ridiculously unmitigated optimism. It was a way to invest in the possibility, however far-off, of becoming a mom, not as a negation of all the cultural doom and gloom surrounding it, but as an antidote. After I froze my eggs, two other good friends decided to do the same; I made one a playlist for injections, “Eggselent Beats.”

Mine is the first generation with access to a technology that promises to slow, a little bit, the biological clock, and, for those lucky enough, bosses who will foot the bill. That brings with it a magical thinking that we’re already accustomed to: for every difficulty we saw our parents grapple with, there’s an app for that.

But as I spoke with more friends and experts, I wondered whether the hype over egg freezing, in a backhand way, affirmed the seeming impossibility of balancing parenthood and work .

Marisa Rodriguez-McGill spent her 20s in graduate school programs, then landed her dream job at Lyft. She sensed that she needed to make up for lost professional time. At 33, she used Lyft’s benefits to freeze her eggs. She says she felt a “psychological safety” that allowed her to work late nights and weekends, relieved of that one anxiety.

Less than two years after freezing her eggs, Ms. Rodriguez-McGill got married and almost immediately got pregnant naturally. Now, as a Lyft senior manager, she is juggling major policy initiatives, on safety and artificial intelligence, while parenting a 10-month-old baby.

“It’s not as simple as I had originally made it out to be with that egg freezing journey,” she said.

Like other women who froze their eggs in recent years, she invested time and pushed her body for something that lies between a feminist dream and a Silicon Valley fantasy. Of course egg freezing didn’t make everything snap into place. But it did bring, at least temporarily, a sense of relief and power.

And she is comforted knowing that her eggs from her early 30s are preserved, offering the possibility of waiting a few extra years to have more children. She added, chuckling: “That’s probably the only type of time travel that exists.”

The Fertility Perk Wars

During the tight labor market of 2022, the media company Forbes found itself, like most media and tech companies, in a war for top talent.

Brooke Dunmore, vice president of corporate benefits at the company, was working remotely from her home in Charlotte, N.C., trying to figure out how to keep employees and entice new ones. Just before the pandemic, Forbes had begun promising up to $25,000 for infertility treatment (freezing embryos and then implanting them in the uterus) and fertility preservation (freezing eggs).

But fertility treatments are expensive. A single cycle of I.V.F. , medications included, can cost upward of $20,000, and doctors often recommend multiple cycles to increase the chance of success. Egg freezing can cost between $4,500 to $8,000 for medical appointments and another roughly $5,000 for medication, on top of $500 annually for storage. As she fielded emails and Slack messages from employees, Ms. Dunmore found that a top demand was more money for those services.

“We’re always trying to offer competitive benefits across our industry,” Ms. Dunmore said. “This benefit certainly is attractive to potential candidates.”

Ms. Dunmore researched the benefits that competitors offered and worked out a rough annual cost of expanding Forbes’s coverage to a $50,000 lifetime cap for infertility and fertility benefits (a figure she declined to share).

Forbes revealed the expanded policy in 2024, joining a host of other companies chasing female workers by promising to help secure their fertility. Starbucks announced in 2019 that it would increase its lifetime cap for fertility treatments to $25,000, with another $10,000 for fertility medications. Match Group, which owns dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, increased its benefit in the United States to $10,000 from $5,000 in 2022. Amazon last summer expanded to more than 1 million employees its fertility benefits, which are administered through the benefits platform Progyny and include covering what roughly amounts to two cycles of treatment.

In many workplaces, these new benefits came after years of advocacy from women who paid out of pocket to freeze their own eggs. These “egg freezing activists,” as Ms. Inhorn calls them, felt that colleagues coming up behind them shouldn’t have to shoulder the costs alone. (Although workers who move on to new jobs then have to cover the cost of keeping their eggs stored, often more than $500 a year.)

Fertility benefits can be relatively affordable for companies, compared with other corporate perks, because there is a limited number of employees who are of reproductive age and will use them, according to Segal, a benefits consultancy. Large companies tend to be self insured and pay for the cost of each employee’s treatment through the health plan, according to Mercer, another benefits consultancy, while smaller ones are fully insured and pay a fixed fee to cover the cost of treatment for all employees to the insurer. Companies justify the cost as something that improves diversity and female workers’ productivity.

“It’s usually considered reasonable and a value add because it’s supporting retaining women in the work force,” said Julie Campbell, a partner and senior health benefits consultant for Mercer.

When companies don’t cover it, egg freezing is so expensive that the breadth and demographics of people it reaches is extremely limited. And even when companies pay, it entails taking time for frequent doctor’s appointments. One study , which analyzed nearly 30,000 egg extractions between 2012 and 2016, found that just 7 percent of the women who had undergone the process were Black and 4.5 percent were Hispanic.

In certain white collar industries — law, tech — fertility benefits are increasingly viewed as a new standard for corporate health care. “One company in a group of competitors does it, so then they all have to decide if they’re going to follow suit,” Ms. Campbell explained.

As soon as Sarah Edelstein, a 28-year-old senior communications manager at Forbes, read the email from her bosses detailing the new benefits, she decided to freeze her eggs. During a weekly one-on-one meeting with her boss, she explained that her work schedule might be affected for two weeks as she juggled doctors’ appointments.

Ms. Edelstein knows that she wants to become a mother, but she hasn’t met a long-term partner and wants to save money first. She also hopes one day to run a company. When a former boss in the fashion industry stopped working at 31 after giving birth, Ms. Edelstein saw it as something of a cautionary tale about the tensions between work and motherhood. And she saw egg freezing as a way to invest time in her professional ambitions before her personal ones.

“I certainly have had this idea about getting my career to a certain place before I have a family,” Ms. Edelstein said.

Dr. James Grifo, program director of the NYU Langone Fertility Center, has seen more younger women like Ms. Edelstein coming for the procedure. The average age of his patients, he said, has dropped from 38 around five years ago, to the lower 30s now, a change he applauds. (The age when American women have their first child is on the rise, reaching an average of 27 in 2021, up from 21 in 1972 .)

“Women are given the wrong message — oh don’t worry, you’ll have your baby when you’re ready,” Dr. Grifo said. “Nonsense! That’s not true.”

Preserving eggs at a younger age could increase the chance of later successfully putting them to use. A 2022 study on live births from frozen eggs, which Dr. Grifo coauthored, found that the overall success rate of having a baby from a frozen egg was only 39 percent, but it rose to 70 percent for women who were not yet 38 when their eggs were extracted and who were able to thaw 20 or more eggs.

As the benefit spreads, some women see no downside to using it, according to Ms. Edelstein: “Younger women are like, ‘OK yeah, I’m going to do it, check the box.’”

‘Time to Build My Empire’

For some women who now view egg freezing as a to-do list item, it also seems natural to tell others about the experience. Daily injections are emotionally taxing, and bringing along Instagram followers can be a comfort. The stream of social media posts, in turn, has demystified the experience, making it all the more popular.

On TikTok , cameras zoom in on women driving 27-gauge needles into the skin just below their belly buttons. On Instagram, women post photos after their egg retrievals, lying in gurneys wearing hospital gowns and flashing a thumbs up. On Reddit’s r/egg freezing, people discuss what to eat during the 10 to 14 days they are injecting hormones (salmon? berries?), and how daylight savings might affect the timing for the trigger shot, the one administered just before retrieval.

The influencer Serena Kerrigan, who describes herself as “the queen of confidence,” shared videos with her hundreds of thousands of TikTok and Instagram followers showing her injection routine — at least once with a liquor shot chaser in Miami : “When you have fertility shots at 8 and the club at 9.” (She got discounts from Spring Fertility in exchange for doing events with and posting about the clinic.)

Ms. Kerrigan, 30, said freezing her eggs was a choice entwined with professional ambition — she wants to make a movie before she has her first child — summed up in her TikTok caption : “Freezing my eggs because it’s time to build my empire.”

Others in the younger egg-freezing demographic echo that sentiment. “It was about having power,” said Ali Bonar, 31, an entrepreneur who froze her eggs so she could stay obsessively focused on the granola butter start-up she runs with her fiancé. “I get to choose — within reason, I know I can’t be an 80-year-old mom — but I get to choose my timeline a little bit more.”

More than a decade since the technology was first put into use, though, some of its early beneficiaries are vocal about the limitations of its effects on their careers.

In 2011, when she was 39, Brigitte Adams froze 11 eggs. She was single and working late nights as a marketing executive. Five years later, she was feeling fed up with dating and being ghosted, and was past ready to have her own children. She decided to thaw the eggs. She found that only one was viable — a not uncommon experience, research shows, particularly for women who are older when they freeze their eggs — and when she implanted it, she lost the pregnancy within four days.

Ms. Adams, who is now 51 and a marketing consultant in Carmel, Calif., had a daughter in 2018 with a donor egg and donor sperm. (“Yes!” her daughter giggled, confirming this, during a fact-checking call.) She has become an outspoken voice on the ways in which egg freezing can be a psychological balm but not always a practical one. “It’s too bad that a technological revolution in assisted reproductive technology is putting off the discussion of how it’s still impossible for women to have it all,” she said.

Joan Williams, a professor at the University of California Law San Francisco who studies women in the workplace, gave a sigh when I asked her to describe the limitations of egg freezing as a feminist technology, as though pulling out the script for a production she’s done way too many times.

“It doesn’t solve the problem, which is that you still define the ideal worker as someone who is always available for work,” she said.

Egg freezing, Ms. Williams added, only works if it’s part of a bigger package of solutions to ease the burden on working parents: ample parental leave, flexible work, company norms ensuring people can log off when tending their children.

The women I talked to tend to describe their egg freezing experiences with layers of emotional and practical ambiguity — because of course the process, while costly, is insufficient as an answer to all the challenges that complicate life for working parents.

“I’m a fan of anything that forces us to look at hard truths and not put off important questions,” said Natalie Lampert, who has written about egg freezing for a decade and whose book, “ The Big Freeze ,” is coming out in July. “What does my life look like? Where do kids fit in?”

“No technology is a panacea for confronting bigger questions about what we want,” she added. “But not having it is not a solution.”

Emma Goldberg is a business reporter covering workplace culture and the ways work is evolving in a time of social and technological change. More about Emma Goldberg

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