safari bouncing but not opening

6 Ways to Fix Safari Not Loading Pages on iPhone and iPad

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

Ankita enjoys exploring and writing about technology. Starting as a script and copywriter, her keen interest in the digital world pulled her towards technology. With GT, she has found her calling in writing about and simplifying the world of tech for others. On any given day, you can catch her chained to her laptop, meeting deadlines, writing scripts, and watching shows (any language!).

• Open Settings and tap on Safari > turn off Prevent Cross-Site Tracking toggle.
• Go to Settings > Safari > Hide IP Address and select Off.
• Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > turn the toggle off.

Basic Fixes:

• Restart phone and modem: Long-press the power button and use the slider to turn your device off. Then, turn off your modem. Wait a while and turn the modem back on. Once powered on, turn your Apple device back on and wait for it to connect to the Wi-Fi. Then, open Safari and check.
• Turn off VPN: Certain websites block VPN servers and can break if you open them when connected to a VPN. So, disable the VPN on your iPhone or iPad and load the page again on Safari.
• Clear Safari cache and browsing data: Safari uses cache and browsing data from your previous visits to enhance your browsing experience. However, corrupted data can cause issues when loading pages. So, use the settings menu to clear all Safari cache and browsing data.
• Disable Safari extensions: Certain Safari extensions, like ad-blockers, can block page elements. This can prevent the page from loading. When this happens, turn off ad-block and other Safari extensions. Then, try loading the page again.
• Update software: As Safari is part of Apple’s ecosystem, the only way to update the browser is by installing the latest software updates. So, ensure the recent iOS or iPadOS updates have been installed on your Apple device. Then, reopen Safari and load the page again.

Fix 1: Disable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking

Safari lets users prevent cross-site tracking to ensure their browsing habits are not recorded by the relevant website. However, this can cause webpages not to load properly on Safari. When this happens, disable this feature and check again. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Safari . Turn off the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking toggle.

Fix 2: Turn off ‘Hide IP Address’ in Safari

You can hide your IP address using Safari’s built-in tools. However, this can sometimes prevent Safari from loading pages that require IP access. So, disable this option and reload the page in Safari. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open Settings → Safari . Tap on Hide IP Address and select Off .

Fix 3: Check Content Restrictions

If enabled, content restrictions can restrict certain site content in Safari, preventing the page from loading. So, open the relevant setting and disable all content restrictions on your Apple device. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Screen Time . Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions .

Step 2: Turn off the Content & Privacy Restrictions toggle.

Also Read: What are Safari content blockers and should you use them

Fix 4: Enable JavaScript

Certain webpages require JavaScript to load properly. So, if JavaScript is disabled for Safari, it can also cause page loading issues. Open Safari settings and enable JavaScript. Follow the below steps to do it.

Step 1: Go to Settings → Safari . Scroll down and tap on Advanced .

Step 2: Turn on the toggle for  JavaScript .

Also Read: How to fix Safari not loading images on iPhone

Fix 5: Switch to Google DNS

Your current DNS server can also be the culprit behind Safari not loading pages. To fix this, change your DNS server to Google DNS and try again. Here’s how.

Step 1:  Open  Settings  and tap on  Wi-Fi . Tap the  i icon next to your Wi-Fi network.

Step 2:  Tap on  Configure DNS . From the options, select  Manual .

Step 3:  Here, remove the currently added  DNS servers . Then, tap on  Add Server .

Add  8.8.8.8  and  8.8.4.4  for Google DNS and tap on  Save . Then, reopen Safari and reload the page.

Fix 6: Reset Network Settings

If pages still don’t load properly in Safari, reset all network settings on your iPhone or iPad. This will delete any custom Wi-Fi settings causing the Safari page-loading issues. Follow the below steps to do it.

Step 1:  Open  Settings  and tap on  General →  Transfer or Reset iPhone .

Step 2:  Tap on  Reset →  Reset Network Settings .

Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process. Then, reopen Safari and try loading the page again to see if the issue has been fixed on your iPhone or iPad.

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Last updated on 28 June, 2024

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Thanks. I had been having this problem for a year and now it is finally resolved!

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

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

Fix Safari on Mac Not Loading Websites Issue

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

1. Check Internet Connection

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

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

2. Reset Router

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

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

3. Disable Extensions

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

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

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

1. Open the Safari browser. 

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

3. Go to Preferences . 

4. Move to the Extensions menu. 

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

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

4. Uninstall AdBlocker

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

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

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

5. Disable VPN

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

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

6. Clear Cache

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

3. Go to the Clear History menu. 

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

7. Update macOS

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

8. Switch to a Chromium Browser

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

Wrap Up: Safari in Mac Not Loading Websites

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

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

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Help: First time Mac User.. Safari Will Not Open.. Bounces

• Thread starter appledude411
• Start date Oct 14, 2014
• Sort by reaction score
• MacBook Pro

appledude411

Macrumors regular.

• Oct 14, 2014

So, I am a PC user switching to a Mac. I bought a new macbook pro retina display, 16GB ram, 2.2 quad coremodel.. HAD THIS ONE DAMN DAY. Beautiful screen, but the problem is i dont know what im doing. I go to click the safari icon, nothing. Just bounces. Everything is up to date in the store, nothing needs updating. Does not work under guest account either. I've been a PC user 15 years and never had problems like this before especially with a $2000 machine. I'm debating returning it. This is unreal. Getting really frustrated not being able to access the internet. (Typing this from my old PC laptop)  

reinstaling OSX now, hope this works  

macrumors newbie

and.....?  

nobodyjustwalks

Give it some time. Youʻll figure things out. I hope your browser not launching doesnʻt completely deter you from learning how to use a Mac.  

macrumors 68040

• Oct 15, 2014

This is a massive bug, this absolutely shouldn't happen. Reinstalling OS X may help and if that doesn't work definitely go to Apple since I'm typing this post from Safari with no issues.  

Contributor

TechGod said: This is a massive bug, this absolutely shouldn't happen. Reinstalling OS X may help and if that doesn't work definitely go to Apple since I'm typing this post from Safari with no issues. Click to expand...

The reinstall fixed it. Wondering if i should have waited for Yosemite instead of picking up Maverick. No idea why this happened.  

macrumors 65816

you didn't have to do a OS reinstall for something so minor. in the future click the Apple icon on the upper left and select Force Quit then select Safari. Then do a restart. It code of been an update that hung if this was the first time opening Safari. This has happened to me with my iTunes before, when it hung. FYI, a bouncing icon usually means the app needs some type of user action (pop up windows to click).  

simonsi said: Eh??? almost certain this is just a mis-configuration that a reinstall will sort out, it doesn't remotely look like a bug (bad code), let alone a "massive bug", the internet is hardly burning down with bouncing Safari installs.... Click to expand...

macrumors member

I wouldn't return it for a minor issue like this, hell you could of just downloaded another version of safari from a3rd party until the original decides to work.  

Safari User Guide

• Get started
• Go to a website
• Get highlights
• Bookmark webpages to revisit
• See your favorite websites
• Use tabs for webpages
• Hide distractions when browsing
• Apple Pay in Safari
• Apple Pay in third-party browsers
• Autofill credit card info
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide distractions when reading
• Translate a webpage
• Hide distractions when watching videos
• Download items from the web
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
• Interact with text in a picture
• Change your homepage
• Customize a start page
• Create a profile
• Block pop-ups
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Hide your email address
• Manage cookies
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• See who tried to track you
• Change Safari settings
• Keyboard and other shortcuts

If you can’t open a Safari window on Mac

If you can’t open Safari or a new Safari window, try these suggestions.

Check your startup disk for errors using Disk Utility.

If the other suggestions don’t help, try reinstalling macOS .

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How to Fix a Mac Application That's Not Opening

Fixing file permissions or deleting preferences may help

Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm.

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• Fix an Application Not Opening

Causes of a Mac Application Not Starting

• Frequently Asked Questions

When you launch a Mac application that you use regularly, and it won't start up, or it never finishes launching, you're bound to be frustrated. If you're lucky, this is a one-time event. You can force quit the app and try again, hopefully with success.

If the app still doesn't start, there are several fixes you can use to solve why your Mac suddenly can't open the application.

The information in this article applies macOS Catalina (10.15) through OS X Lion (10.10), except as indicated.

How to Fix Applications Not Opening on Mac

Whatever the reason, there are several possible fixes for this problem, ranging from simple to more complex.

Restart the Mac . It's always smart to start with the simplest fix possible.

Update the app . Check that you have the most current version of the app, and if not, update it by using the Mac App Store . This step is essential following an update to the Mac operating system. In many cases, updating the affected app cures the problem.

Delete the app preference file (plist file) . You can delete this file manually or with a Mac app uninstaller like AppDelete . Plist files can become corrupt when a Mac shuts down or restarts unexpectedly or when an app freezes or crashes. As a result, the app may not open.

When you delete a bad preference file, your Mac creates a new plist file that contains all the app's defaults automatically. You have to reconfigure the app's preferences afterward.

To locate and remove preference files:

• Go to Finder >  Library  >  Preferences .
• Look for the plist in this format: com.developer_name.app_name.plist .
• Delete the plist file that matches the app.

Apple hides the Library folder by default so that you can't accidentally make changes to it. You need to know how to show hidden files and folders on a Mac if you don't see the Library folder on your Mac.

Start your Mac in Safe Mode . This troubleshooting startup environment restricts most startup items. It also limits the operating system to use only the basic OS core. If you can start the Mac in Safe Mode and then use the app in question, the likely cause is not permissions or preference files. The conflict may come from another app or a startup item.

Use Disk Utility to repair app permissions . In OS X Yosemite and earlier, one of the first things to do when encountering an app that won't launch is to repair permissions. This step ensures the application and any associated files it needs have the correct permissions required to run.

You don't need to know what the permissions should be. Your Mac keeps a database of the default permissions for most applications you install.

With the release of OS X El Capitan, Apple added a new feature that made manually repairing file permissions no longer necessary. File permissions are automatically repaired with software updates in OS X 10.11 and later.

Reinstall the app . After checking the App Store to verify the app is still available, delete the problem app from your Mac. Then reinstall it from the App Store.

Contact the app developer . Visit the app developer's website and look for notes about compatibility with your version of macOS or OS X or other apps and services you use.

If you've been running an app that won't start for a while successfully, and now it won't start, something changed.

• There's a chance a file became corrupt because of a system crash.
• The app may need to be updated.
• It may be conflicting with another app.
• The app's permissions or preferences file may be damaged.

Open the Finder on the Mac and select the application. Press the spacebar to open a Quicklook window, which includes the version number of the app. Open the Mac App Store and search for the app. If a newer version is available, download it.

A bouncing icon usually means the app is trying to get your attention. Look for a small dialog box somewhere on your screen. The app may need you to enter a password or some other information before it can launch.

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How-To Geek

Make your mac feel faster by turning off bouncing dock icons.

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By default, every time you open a Mac application by clicking it on your Dock, the app icon will briefly "hop" in an animated sequence as the app loads. If you find this annoying, Apple makes it easy to turn off. Here's how.

First, click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences."

In System Preferences, click "Dock."

In Dock preferences, uncheck the box beside "Animate Opening Applications."

After that, close System Preferences, and click an application icon in your dock to open it. You'll notice that it opens instantly and no longer jumps away from the Dock. Despite not actually speeding anything up, this one small change actually makes your Mac feel a tad bit faster .

Related: 10 Quick Steps to Increase Mac Performance

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Icons bounce but program does not open...

Hello, I seem to have an odd issue. Not sure anyone is having the exact same problem. I do happen to have adobe CC products installed by the way.

Anyway, it is showing that the finder is always active. You can see as it has that black dot under it in the dock. I can open new finder windows and also open google chrome, but the odd thing is, I can't open certain programs. Chrome and finder and system preferences will open, but I can't open the terminal, mail, safari, app store, Preview and other apple programs. I can't even open "about this mac" when I click on the apple icon. When I click on a program in the dock, it shows the icon bounce and there is a blink on the screen, but the program never opens.

This is pretty much rendering my computer useless.

I already fixed disk permissions. I tried to remove the com.apple.finder.plist file, but I can't find it. The library folder is under my HD and not under my user name. I'm not sure that is normal. I also created a new user account, but it is behaving the same way.

Does anyone have this same issue? I have spent hours googling and nobody seems to have this same exact issue. I appreciate any help. Thanks!

Posted on Nov 30, 2014 4:35 PM

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Nov 30, 2014 5:14 PM in response to kelhak1

Hello kelhak1,

I appreciate your help and I wish it was as simple as this.

The app only does one bounce and never opens. Same with certain apps I open from the finder window.

It seems to be affecting OS apps: App store, Terminal, Preview, Safari, etc...

Very frustrating!

Nov 30, 2014 5:32 PM in response to mega789

What sort of messages appear in Console window when you try and run an app? Suggest selecting "All messages" in Console (on left of window) and perhaps a clue as to why things are not running correctly will be displayed. Console is in the /Applications/Utilities folder.

Nov 30, 2014 5:35 PM in response to dot.com

Funny you say console as I was just viewing that. I figured out my problem. I feel dumb as I rarely use cleaner programs and cleanmymac has actually worked for me before, BUT looks like it removed some important stuff on Yosemite. So lesson learned! DO NOT USE MAC CLEANER PROGRAMS!

An example of one error message was: 11/30/14 8:25:45.202 PM System Information[7128]: Unable to load nib file: SPApp, exiting.

This error was when I tried to open Safari.

Time for a reinstall 😟

Nov 30, 2014 4:53 PM in response to mega789

Sometimes the app is not frontmost, so you need to bring the app to the front. Go to the dock and click on the app to bring it to the front and it should stop bouncing.