Safari is no doubt an easy-to-use web browser for Mac users. It’s loaded with valuable features that make surfing the internet a breeze. Although this is the second most widely-used browser in the world right now, as with any technology, hiccups like slow page loading or issues with extensions may occur from time to time.
This article dwells on some common issues with Safari on Mac and gives you easy ways to fix them so you can get back to exploring the digital world.
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Why Address Common Issues on Mac?
Seamless and efficient online performance is paramount. When issues with Safari on Mac aren’t fixed, it can hinder users’ ability to access data quickly, keep in touch with others, and work efficiently.
Being proactive in finding solutions to issues not only helps you avoid more serious problems but also protects you from security breaches, which can be a severe threat to the stability of your system and the privacy of your data.
With the right instructions and tools at your disposal, you can efficiently resolve issues without external assistance.
Common Safari Issues and Solutions
Understanding potential issues can help you maintain control over your browsing experience. Outdated versions of Safari and macOS can lead to less-than-ideal performance, so it’s best to check for available Safari updates.
Apart from that, other issues may arise. So, let’s uncover the most pressing Safari problems on Macs and how to solve them.
Issue #1 – Slow Page Loading Speed
Pages can load slowly for an array of reasons. The first issue to look into is a slow internet connection. Here are the main steps to speed up your Safari page loading:
- Check your internet connection speed with regular tests and, if necessary, upgrade your plan or boost your Wi-Fi signal strength. Restarting the modem/router can also help here.
- Limit the number of open tabs to those essential and disable any extensions that you do not use.
- Optimize your web browsing experience by employing ad blockers to reduce the number of elements that need loading on a webpage. Activate Safari’s reader mode for an improved page layout.
Issue #2 – Safari Browser Unresponsiveness
While browsing the web in Safari on a Mac can be a pleasurable experience, many users have complained of the browser becoming unresponsive at inopportune times. This can manifest as a delay in the response time of inputs like scrolling and clicking or as an inability to respond at all to user commands.
Overloaded browser resources, website issues, corrupted cache or history data, out-of-date software, and so on could all be to blame for this unfortunate occurrence. Before giving up hope, double-check that you’ve done the following:
- Force quit the application by pressing Command + Option+Esc on your keyboard and selecting Safari from a list of applications to Force Quit
- Restart your Mac
- Delete cached data and cookies located in Preferences > Privacy
- Disable extensions
- Scan your Mac for malware.
Issue #3 – Problems with File Downloading
A range of factors can cause file download problems on Safari for Mac. From settings that set your download destination folder to security settings in the browser, it’s important to investigate each potential issue and address it promptly. Here is how you can do it:
- Verify that your internet connection is functioning properly
- Check the download location settings by going to Safari > Preferences > General and selecting a different folder or choosing Ask for each download”
- Check the Safari security settings by going to Safari > Preferences > Security and making sure the “Allow downloads” option is set to “Anywhere” or “From a trusted source”
- Disable any browser extensions/plugins which may interfere with the downloading process.
Issue #4 – Video Playback Issues
From time to time, videos may not load correctly or may constantly buffer, hindering the smooth viewing experience. What’s more, out-of-sync audio and video can also lead to an unsatisfactory experience.
Here are some useful tips to guarantee a seamless experience on your Safari browser:
- Ensure a strong internet connection
- Be sure to keep Safari and macOS up-to-date
- Clear your browser’s cache and browsing history to remove corrupted files. To do this, go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy, then select Manage Website Data,” and click Remove All
- Consider disabling any extensions that could potentially interfere
- Enable or disable hardware acceleration to see if it resolves the problem.
Eleggible’s Final Words
Fixing common issues with Safari on a Mac is not as difficult as you might think. Check for Safari updates first, then move on to other solutions until the problem disappears.
Taking a few simple steps can eliminate many of the more common problems you may have with your Mac’s web browser. If you follow these steps, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting Safari working again.
And, most importantly, keep calm. With some easy tweaks, you should be able to get Safari up and running again in no time.
