Top 7 Tips to Fix Safari Not Responding on Mac

ByJim Miller

With recent macOS updates, Apple has made significant improvements to the Safari browser, introducing features like Tab Groups and a redesigned home screen. However, some users have reported issues with Safari not loading webpages or becoming unresponsive on Mac. If you're facing similar problems, don't worry! We've got you covered. Here are seven effective ways to fix Safari not responding on your Mac.

1. Force Quit Safari

If Safari fails to respond, the first step is to force quit the app and relaunch it. You can do this by right-clicking on the Safari icon in the dock and selecting “Force Quit” or by using the Activity Monitor.

  1. Press Command + Space keys and search for “Activity Monitor.”
  2. Find Safari from the list and click on it.
  3. Click on the X mark at the top to completely terminate all Safari activities on your Mac.

Try relaunching Safari and start browsing the web again.

2. Close Other Apps in the Background

Running too many apps and services in the background can consume a significant amount of your Mac's physical memory, leading to Safari becoming unresponsive. To check if this is the issue:

  1. Open the Activity Monitor (as mentioned in the previous section).
  2. Look at the total physical memory and memory used on your Mac.
  3. If you're running low on RAM, close unnecessary apps and services running in the background to free up memory.
  4. Launch Safari again and see if the issue persists.

3. Disable Apps Opening on Startup

Having too many apps and services launching at startup can cause conflicts with installed apps, including Safari. To disable apps from opening at startup:

  1. Click on the Apple icon at the top left corner.
  2. Open the System Preferences menu.
  3. Go to Users & Groups.
  4. Navigate to the Login Items menu.
  5. Select the apps you want to stop launching at startup.
  6. Click on the – icon at the bottom to remove them. You may need to click on the lock icon at the bottom to make changes.

Restart your Mac and check if Safari is now responding properly.

4. Remove Safari Preferences

Sometimes, corrupt preferences can cause Safari to become unresponsive. To fix this issue:

  1. Force quit Safari.
  2. Open the Finder menu and press Command + Shift + G keys.
  3. In the “Go to the Folder” box, paste the following command: ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari/Data/Library/Preferences
  4. Find the “com.apple.Safari.plist” file and move it to the Trash.
  5. Restart your Mac and try using Safari again.

5. Remove Junk Files on Mac

Having too many unnecessary files on your Mac can affect the performance of various apps, including Safari. Instead of manually searching for these files, you can use CleanMyMac X software to remove them with a single click.

CleanMyMac X is a paid software, but its functionalities make it worth considering.

6. Update macOS

Safari is an integral part of macOS, and updates for the browser are distributed through system-wide OS updates. Whenever a major macOS version is released, there might be initial issues with system apps. Apple usually resolves these issues with subsequent updates.

To update macOS:

  1. Open the System Preferences and go to the Software Update menu.
  2. Install the latest macOS update.
  3. Try using Safari again after the update.

7. Try Safari Alternatives

If you frequently use multiple tabs in Safari and experience freezing or unresponsiveness, it might be worth trying alternative browsers like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome on your Mac. These browsers are based on the Chromium engine and are compatible with excellent Chrome extensions.

Now that you have these tips, you can troubleshoot any issues with Safari not responding on your Mac. Remember, there are plenty of great browsers available, and it's perfectly fine to use a combination of two browsers for better results. Happy browsing!