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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Safari may run slowly on Mac due to opening too many tabs, using too many extensions, cache build-up, outdated Safari version, outdated macOS, slow internet connection, hardware limitations, and malware or adware.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• ⌛ Outdated Safari Version : Running an outdated version of Safari can lead to performance issues.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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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 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.

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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

Tips and guides for MacBook Pro users. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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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)

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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.

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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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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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10 Safari Mac Browser Tips to Boost Speed and Performance

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Safari generally provides the fastest and most efficient browsing experience for Mac users. Apple puts a lot of work into optimizing the browser's performance and energy consumption specifically for Apple hardware.

Unfortunately, this doesn't always hold up over time. Safari can become slow, bloated, and unresponsive like any other browser. Let's take a look at how to speed up Safari on your Mac in case this happens to you.

1. Update and Restart Your Mac

Restarting your computer fixes many of life's problems, including a slow browser. It should always be your first troubleshooting step for such issues. Open the Apple menu and select Restart to do so.

Once your Mac boots up, it's also worth installing any outstanding app updates , which you can find by going to App Store > Updates .

2. Close Unneeded Tabs

How many tabs do you have open right now? And how many of those tabs do you really need? Safari keeps many of your tabs active in the background, even if you're not using them. One of the easiest ways to speed up Safari on your Mac is by simply closing tabs.

If you're particularly protective of your browser session, try an extension like Tab Suspender . This allows you to suspend your open tabs to save processing power.

3. Clear the Cache and Temporary Files

Like almost all browsers, Safari keeps a cache of data from all the websites you visit. This takes up disk space, which can contribute to performance problems. It's always a good idea to blow away Safari's cobwebs once in a while by emptying the cache, particularly if you need to improve the browser's performance.

To clear your Safari cache:

• Launch Safari and click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
• Click on the Advanced tab, then check Show Develop menu in menu bar at the bottom of the window.
• Close the Preferences window and click Develop > Empty Caches in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

4. Disable Thirsty Extensions

Safari has some excellent extensions available to install, but sometimes they do more harm than good by slowing everything down. This is particularly true for extensions that directly affect the browsing experience. A good example is TamperMonkey ($1.99), which changes how websites appear and behave with user scripts.

To isolate extension-related slowdown, try disabling all your extensions under Safari > Preferences > Extensions . To disable an extension, uncheck the box next to its name.

You can then try re-enabling extensions one by one to find the culprit.

Disabling extensions in this manner doesn't remove them. You'll need to click the Uninstall button in each entry on the Extensions tab to completely remove Safari extensions .

5. Restrict Plug-Ins and Website Access

Apple has been working to eliminate plug-ins from Safari, but they might still cause your browser to slow down on rare occasions. This is most likely if you're running an older version of Safari.

It's best to ensure plug-ins ask you before Safari starts running them. The same goes for allowing access to your Mac's camera, microphone, screen sharing, and other security settings.

Go to Safari > Preferences > Websites to see which websites have requested access to your Mac. Work through each item in the sidebar and disable access for any websites that don't need it. We particularly recommend disabling auto-play.

In older versions of Safari, you should also go to Safari > Preferences > Security > Plug-In Settings . Make sure plug-ins are set to Ask before they start running. Disable any you don't need by unchecking them. These settings aren't available in newer versions of Safari.

6. Upgrade macOS

Yearly macOS upgrades include new versions of Safari. If you don't install the latest version of macOS, you won't have the latest version of Safari. New versions of Safari mean better compatibility with the latest web technologies.

Apple's tweaking under the hood often results in faster rendering times and a speedier browser experience overall.

There's also something to be said for upgrading your operating system since many underlying issues with your Mac get patched up along the way.

To update macOS, open the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Software Update .

7. Identify Dodgy Websites and Crashed Tabs

Safari can slow to a crawl as a result of a single problematic website. Websites can crash for all sorts of reasons, including too many scripts, auto-playing advertisements, rogue extensions, and malfunctioning embeds. Occasionally, this can bring your whole Mac to a grinding halt.

Sometimes these pages consume more than their fair share of resources; other times they crash entirely and leave you with the spinning pinwheel of death. To rectify the situation:

• Launch Activity Monitor under Applications > Utilities .
• On the CPU tab, click on the Process Name column to arrange processes by name and find Safari .
• Now look at the % CPU column and systematically close your Safari tabs to see which ones have the biggest impact on your CPU usage.

8. Make Sure You Have Enough Free Space

A lack of free space on your disk can have devastating consequences for your Mac's overall performance. A Mac with limited free space is more likely to freeze, stutter, and crash. This can cause your whole system to run slowly, but Safari is often one of the first apps to buckle as individual resource-intensive tabs become unresponsive.

For best results, maintain a healthy buffer of 10GB or more of free space. Follow our tips for freeing up space on your Mac if you run out of options.

9. Fix Other macOS Performance Problems

Boosting overall system performance also speeds up Safari on your Mac. This is because there are fewer resources tied up in non-critical tasks, so more of them are available for Safari.

Take a look at these common mistakes that might slow down your Mac . They include having too many apps running in the background or starting up at login, which you can change by going to System Preferences > Users > Login Items .

10. Check for Network Connection Problems

If your internet connection is slow, Safari will also feel slow. To isolate connection problems, find out how to test your internet connection speed to see if that's to blame.

You might need to change your DNS settings to fix it, which you can do by going to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS . Use Google's Namebench to find the fastest DNS settings for your network.

Keep a Backup Browser Installed Just in Case

Although you can follow all the tips above to speed up Safari on your Mac, it's also worth keeping a backup browser installed as well. These are useful to have for stubborn websites that aren't optimized for Safari or in case you need to use a browser extension that's only available on one browser.

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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 .

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

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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?

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

• Optimization

How to Fix Safari Running Slow on Mac? 4 Useful Tips to Try

Safari as the Mac default browser, is developed by Apple based on the WebKit engine. Apple touts Safari as the fastest browser out there, which may be true on iOS, but it doesn't work the same way on Mac because Safari is just too slow. Sometimes a webpage loading seems like taking forever, which is so frustrating. And you won't be able to navigate back and forth between pages. Why is Safari running so slow on Mac?  Here we listed some possible reasons and shared some tips to make your Safari faster.

1: Overworked Cache and History

Like all other browsers, Safari stores information about every website you visit as browsing history automatically. Elements of those websites like images and html files are saved to cache so that pages load faster next time, which puts an additional burden on the browser. Overworked Cache and History may be the biggest 'culprit'of slowing Safari. So, try getting rid of the dead weight and see if Safari is still slow afterwards. Here's how to erase the data in the cache so that Safari can work faster.

Clean Up History in  Safari

1. Open Safari

2. Find History in the menu bar (or click Safari then choose Clear History)

3. Click Clear History at the bottom

4. Select the time span and hit the Clear History button.

Clean Up Cache in Safari

1.    Open Safari

2.    Find Preferences in the menu bar

3.    Go to Advanced tab

4.    Check mark Show Develop menu in menu bar

5.    Click on Develop in the menu bar

6.    Select Empty Cache

You can also manually clear clear the Cache.db files

1. Open Finder

2. Click Go and Go to Folder at the bottom

3. Past “~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db” and click Go

4. Right-click on the Cache.db file and choose Move to Trash

  2: Buggy and Bad Extensions

Extensions enable users to tailor Safari functionality and behavior for individual needs or preferences, and let you do a ton of convenient extras in a browser, like storing passwords or translating words with a click. But being third-party add-ons, they can impact Safari's performance in unexpected ways, especially if they aren't regularly updated.

Tips to fix:

Disable  the Extensions from  Safari

2. Find Preference in the menu bar

3. Go to Advanced tad

4. Check mark Show Develop menu in the menu bar

5. Click on Develop in the menu bar

6. Select Disable Extensions

You also can uninstall extensions this way

3. Go to Extensions

4. Choose Extensions and Uninstall useless extensions

3: Corrupted Preferences files or User Account

Corrupted Preferences files or User Account may make Safari can't load certain websites, causing lags or freezes. To fix it, you can do as follows.

Delete the Preference files

1. Close Safari

2. Open Finder and use the Command+Shift+G shortcut

3. Enter “~/Library/Preferences/ “ into the popup and hit Enter

4. Find the file named "com.apple.Safari.plist" and delete it

Login a new User Account

1. Open Apple menu

2. Find System Preferences

3. Go to User and Groups

4. Create a New Account and put it in use

 4: Outdated Version of Safari or Low-speed Network

Safari is constantly updated. Outdated version of Safari may act slower than the latest version. So please keep your Safari up to the latest version. A low-speed network surely will drag down your browsing speed. And there are many causes to a low-speed network such as the internet itself, too much running programs at one time or Mac overloaded, etc. All you can do is update Safari to the latest version and clean up your Mac to make a lighter browsing.

Update Safari to the Latest Version

2. Go to Apple Store

3. Navigate to updates

4. Update Safari to the latest version

5. Reopen Safari

Speed Up Network

1. Check for Network issue

2. Close useless running programs

3. Clean up Mac

There are many ways to clean up Mac and make Safari faster, but the most convenient and efficient way is to use a professional Mac cleaner. Published by  IObit , world's top system utility and security software provider since 2004,  MacBooster provides a one-click solution and seven tools to boost your Mac to its top performance, cleaning up 20 types of junk files to regain valuable storage space and removing a variety of malware to ensure your Mac's security. You don't need to do all manually things above. Macbooster 7 will clean all Caches and History of your browsing, detect bad Extensions and remove them all, delete all old and corrupted files, clean up your Mac and boost it to peak performance. Let you enjoy a safer and faster browsing with Safari.  Here is how you can do it with MacBooster easily:

                 1:  Download MacBooster 7  and open it

                 2: Start a scan of your Mac system

                 3: Check out the details and fix the issues

Those are about all the possible reasons and solutions  we could find to fix a slow Safari problem. Just be sure to do regular cleanups and maintenance with Macbooster 7 , so that Safari keeps running like the wind.

Check out more useful tips:

How to Clean Up Junk Files on Mac

How to Free Up Mac Memory

How to Uninstall Apps from Mac Completely

Download MacBooster 8 to Keep Your Mac Clean, Fast, and Secure

Requires OS X 10.9 or later

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Is your Mac slow? Do you see the spinning pinwheel of death every day? Don't put up with it! Here's how to diagnose the issue so you can fix the problem.

How to Diagnose a Sluggish Mac

There are many reasons why your Mac might have performance issues. If you can figure out what's wrong, you can take steps to rectify it. You can fix most common causes of a slow Mac yourself, and relatively easily. Here are some of the easier  tips you can try to speed up your Mac .

Hardware issues, though, are the exception. If your Mac has a problem with a particular component, the fix becomes more complicated. Even desktop computers like the iMac are notoriously difficult to repair yourself---Apple uses heavy amounts of glue and solder in its manufacturing process.

In a worst-case scenario, you can always ask Apple to take a look. If you book a free Genius appointment at an Apple Store, they run a full set of diagnostics on your machine. From there, they should be able to recommend a fix for the problem. If you want Apple to repair your machine, you have to pay out of pocket if the warranty's expired, unless  you have AppleCare+ .

Save Money on Repairs with AKKO

When your device needs repairs, you can save money by investing in AKKO's low cost insurance coverage for all of your electronic devices at a fraction of the cost that you'd pay for AppleCare+.

Remember, it's free to book an appointment at an Apple Store, find out what's wrong with your machine, and how much it will cost to fix. The company only charges you for repairs after it has your consent to make them.

Related: 10 Quick Ways to Speed Up a Slow Mac

App Crashes: How Software Can Slow Down Your Mac

When software isn't working correctly, it can make your machine seem unresponsive. Sometimes, just the app that's crashed exhibits this behavior; other times, misbehaving software might attempt to take your whole machine down with it.

If you suspect an app crashed, right-click its icon in the Dock, hold the Option key on your keyboard, and then click Force Quit. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+Esc to force quit the current app.

If you're not sure which app has crashed, or you think one crashed in the background, launch Activity Monitor. Click the "CPU" tab and view the "% CPU" column in descending order. This way, the apps using the most processing power appear at the top. If you spot anything using more than its fair share, click it, and then click the "X" to kill the process.

Sometimes, performance issues are caused by memory leaks, where a particular task or process eats up all the available memory. To see the memory, click the "Memory" tab, and reorder the "Memory" column in descending to see similar results. You can kill processes the same way you would an app that's crashed.

Processes that have completely crashed appear in red with the words "Not responding" next to them under Activity Monitor. You can kill these and restart them. If you encounter repeated issues with the same apps, you might want to consider using something else (or drop the developer an email).

Disk Space: Your Mac Needs Room to Breathe

Low disk space is another common cause of macOS slowdown. Without enough free space on your startup disk, macOS is unable to run maintenance scripts and background processes that keep your computer ticking along. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't specify exactly how much free space is required to keep your Mac happy.

A general rule of thumb is to keep 15 percent of your startup disk free at all times. This figure applies mostly to laptops with small drives. An iMac with a 3 TB drive requires a much smaller percentage to satisfy macOS requirements. But it's also much harder to fill up a 3 TB iMac than a 128 GB MacBook Air.

If you work with large files or create lots of temporary files (like for video or photo editing), you should keep as much free space on your drive as the total size of those temporary files.

To see how much free space you have on your Mac, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner, and then click About This Mac. Click the "Storage" tab to see a breakdown of your current disk usage. You can then  free up space on your Mac .

System Resources: Are You Pushing Your Mac Too Far?

Your Mac has a finite number of resources available, limited by factors like processor cores, available RAM, and the presence of a dedicated graphics card. If you know how far you can push your Mac, it will help you avoid performance issues in the future.

Some common tasks that might push your Mac over the edge are:

• Too many open tabs in your web browser.
• Hungry software, like Photoshop, open in the background.
• Playing graphically-intensive 3D games.
• Working with huge video and photo files or rendering video.
• Doing two or more of the above (or similarly intensive processes) simultaneously.

If you have hundreds of tabs open in a browser like Chrome, don't be surprised if you encounter memory issues. If you switch to a Mac-optimized browser like Safari, it will help, but you still might need to curb your tab addiction.

Browsers, in general, can be a source of poor performance. Too many extensions and plugins negatively affect your browser's responsiveness. And some web apps can tax your machine just as much as native ones. One example of this would be if you use a web-based spreadsheet tool, like Google Sheets, to crunch a lot of data.

To find out how your system is faring at any point, open Activity Monitor and check the "CPU Load" and "Memory Pressure" graphs on the CPU and Memory tabs, respectively.

Hardware Issues: Problems Under the Hood

Few computers hold resale value like a Mac. They're built to last, and I can say that because I'm typing this on 2012 MacBook Pro. But problems can arise---particularly if your machine is showing its age. But there are some things you can check yourself.

Apple Diagnostics

Your Mac includes a basic diagnostic tool you can run yourself. Follow these steps to do so:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press the power button to turn on your Mac, and then immediately press and hold D on the keyboard.
• When you see the screen that asks you to select a language, release the D key.
• Select a language, and then wait for the diagnostic tool to run.

Note:  If Apple Diagnostics doesn't start, try holding Option+D instead. You need an internet connection to do this because your Mac downloads Apple Diagnostics before it runs it.

Apple Diagnostics can only tell you so much in the form of a reference code. You can then check the reference code in Apple's database , but don't expect to learn too much. For example, you might discover there's a problem with the computer's memory, but you won't know which stick of RAM is faulty or what's wrong with it.

This tool is useful to rule out hardware issues, but it's pretty useless for troubleshooting purposes. For a more detailed report, you're better off booking a free appointment at the Genius bar. Of course, you won't get detailed feedback about how to fix your Mac there, either.

You can check some components manually with the right tools. For example,  MemTest86  is a free tool you can use to check your computer's memory. Install it on a USB stick, start your Mac, and then run it. When you use a USB stick as the storage medium, you can test the RAM properly without the macOS overhead.

A failing drive can also cause issues. Most Macs have solid-state drives. These aren't prone to failing abruptly the way standard hard disk drives are. Solid-state drives generally only fail after some advance warning. And when they do eventually die, data recovery is impossible. Follow the steps below to check the health of your SSD:

• Click the Apple logo in the top-right corner, and then choose About This Mac.
• Click System Report, and then choose Storage.
• Select your main drive (likely labeled "Macintosh HD").
• Scroll down to "S.M.A.R.T. Status" and see what is written alongside it. If it says "Verified," your drive is performing normally, with no issues. If it says "Failing," this could be the source of your problems. Eventually, the drive will become "Fatal," and you'll have to replace it or your Mac.

For a more detailed look at your drives, download DriveDx (it's free to try). This utility should give you more information than Apple claims it will.

For ultimate peace of mind, be sure to  back up your Mac regularly with  Time Machine .

CPU & GPU

The CPU is the brain of your computer. There's not a lot you can do to test it, though. If it's not functioning correctly, you might encounter slowdowns, freezes, and sudden shutdowns. One way to glean more information is to benchmark it with an app like Geekbench . You can then use the Mac benchmark charts  to see how it stacks up.

If your Mac has a dedicated GPU, you can test it with tools like Heaven or Cinebench . If your GPU has issues, you might notice unsatisfactory performance in 3D applications, onscreen artifacts and glitches, system freezes, or sudden shutdowns.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do to fix issues with the CPU or GPU. Any problems that arise there will likely require that you replace your Mac's logic board. It usually makes more financial sense to just buy a new Mac rather than pay the premium to fix your old one.

Decline with Age: Is Your Mac Just Old?

Sometimes, performance issues have a very simple cause: age. As your Mac ages, expect its performance to decline. New software requires better hardware, while the hardware inside your Mac stays the same.

Most Mac owners shouldn't encounter too many performance issues over the first three years or so of use. After that, things start to go downhill. Once you pass the five- or six-year mark, you're going to have to consistently think about whether the software you run gets the most out of your machine.

If you have an old Mac and you'd like to squeeze as much life out of it as possible, here are a few things you can try:

• Switch to a lightweight browser. Safari is optimized for Mac, and it tends to offer better performance and lower energy usage than its rivals.
• Favor Apple's first-party apps.  Like Safari, many Apple apps are optimized for macOS and Apple hardware. One striking example of this is Final Cut Pro, which drastically outperforms Adobe Premiere on older machines. You could also ditch Pages for Word, Lightroom for Aperture, or Evernote for Notes.
• Be mindful of multitasking. Avoid overstressing the CPU or GPU unnecessarily. If you're rendering a video, go make a cup of coffee until it's done. If you have 100 tabs open, close 50.
• Beware of outdated or sluggish software.  Outdated apps might perform worse on modern macOS systems because they lack optimization. Avoid using Java-based apps that require the Java Runtime Environment, as it can tax the performance of your machine.
• Keep macOS updated. Whenever possible, make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS. Apple focused on improving macOS performance over the last few iterations of its desktop and mobile operating systems. If your system isn't up-to-date, you might be missing tweaks that could improve your experience.

When Should You Buy a New Mac?

The right time to buy a new computer is when you need one. If you're encountering performance bottlenecks that prevent you from doing your job or doing the things you need a computer for, it's time to upgrade.

If your machine constantly crashes or is sluggish due to a failing hardware component, it's time to consider purchasing a new one. If you're sick of juggling files and apps because your startup disk is too small, you might want to stop by the Apple Store.

Remember, your old Mac might still hold good resale value. Even ancient machines with problems fetch more money than you would expect. If you're thinking about selling your old Mac, here are some tips to help you out .

Is Your Mac Running Slow? Here Are 10 Simple Tips to Speed It Up

Quick links.

• Update macOS
• Free Up Storage Space
• Remove Startup Items
• Delete Unnecessary Widgets
• Rebuild the Spotlight Index
• Turn Off Visual Effects
• Don't Sync Too Much Cloud Data at Once
• Set a Default Finder Folder
• Remove Browser Add-Ons
• Keep Your Apps Up to Date

Your Mac may run slower than usual when it has insufficient space, excessive background processes, and outdated software. Quick fixes like closing demanding apps and clearing caches can help, but more comprehensive solutions may often be necessary.

1. Update macOS

Software updates bring bug fixes, patches, and improvements that often increase the speed of your Mac. Apple releases a new macOS version every year, so make sure your system runs the latest version to stay on top of any performance improvements.

To update macOS, click the Apple logo in the menu bar and go to System Settings > General > Software Update . Remember to back up your Mac first in case anything goes wrong.

If a newer macOS version is available, you'll see an Upgrade Now or Update Now button. Click that, and the download will start. After a while, your Mac will restart itself and proceed with the installation process.

2. Free Up Storage Space

As your storage drive reaches its capacity, performance drops rapidly. Large files can negatively impact your Mac's speed more than small files. If possible, keep at least 10 to 20 percent of your disk space free .

To check how much free space you have on your hard drive, click the Apple menu and go to About This Mac > More Info . Then, scroll down to Storage .

If you're running low on space, it's worth going through our guide on freeing up space on your Mac .

In addition, we recommend moving your photos and music libraries to an external hard drive or backing up with a cloud provider, as they can take up a considerable amount of space.

3. Remove Startup Items

Startup items can immensely slow down your Mac and delay a proper startup. It's worth reviewing your startup items list and removing apps that may slow your Mac down. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to System Settings > General .
• Select Login Items & Extensions .
• Toggle off the items you no longer wish to load on startup.

4. Delete Unnecessary Widgets

Having a bunch of widgets running in the background can also cause your Mac to run slow. To remove some of these:

• Open the Notification Center by clicking the date or time in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Look for the widget you no longer want and Control -click it to open the context menu.
• Choose Remove Widget .

5. Rebuild the Spotlight Index

If Spotlight doesn't return the results you expect or is particularly slow, rebuilding the Spotlight index should help. Follow these steps to do so:

• Go to System Settings > Spotlight > Search Privacy .
• Click the plus (+) button and select the drive or folders you want to re-index.
• Confirm that you want to (temporarily) exclude these from Spotlight.
• Select the same drive or folder, and click the minus () button to remove these again.

This will force Spotlight to re-index that drive or folder, which should make Spotlight searches run more smoothly. This can take some time, so be patient if Spotlight seems finicky at first.

6. Turn Off Visual Effects

The barely noticeable visual effects of macOS can impact its performance more than you think. To disable these:

• Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock .
• Disable Animate opening applications .
• Set the Minimize windows using option to Scale Effect .

Then, change your display settings by following these steps:

• Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display .
• Enable Reduce Transparency .

7. Don't Sync Too Much Cloud Data at Once

Syncing large folders to the cloud using services such as iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox can sometimes slow your system down. So, be sure to routinely review which files and folders are uploading to the cloud to ensure you're not sending too much at once.

You can review and adjust which data backs up to iCloud by going to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud .

To manage which folders sync with other cloud storage providers, you'll generally need to go to the Settings panel of the app you use (like Dropbox or Google Drive). Try to avoid syncing folders that change frequently.

8. Set a Default Finder Folder

Every time you open Finder, it loads the folder set as its default. If this is a large folder, that can take more time than you might like (such as if you have tons of items on your desktop). Instead, you should change this to a smaller, less demanding folder so that Finder can load it faster:

• Open Finder .
• Go to the menu bar and click Finder > Settings .
• In the General tab, go to the New Finder windows show dropdown and select a new default folder.

9. Remove Browser Add-Ons

Since most people's computer work these days happens within a browser, it can be easy to mistake a slow browser for a slow Mac. The easiest fix here is to remove unneeded and bulky add-ons or extensions from whichever browser you use.

Follow our detailed guide to remove your browser add-ons from different browsers to speed up your browser and Mac.

10. Keep Your Apps Up to Date

Outdated software that hasn't been optimized for the latest macOS version can cause your Mac to feel slower than it really is. Therefore, it's always worthwhile to keep the apps on your computer up to date.

To do this, go to App Store > Updates . If any app updates are available, you'll see them listed here. Either click to update each app individually or choose Update All in the top-right corner to install all available updates at once.

With these simple tips, you should see a noticeable improvement in your Mac's speed. However, if your machine still isn't working at an acceptable speed, you may want to re-install macOS to see if that solves the issue. Otherwise, it's probably time to upgrade to a new Mac.

Change Websites settings in Safari on Mac

To change these settings, choose Safari > Settings, then click Websites.

The settings you can customize (such as Reader and Content Blockers) are listed on the left.

To apply a setting to a website on the right, first select the setting, then choose the option you want from the pop-menu next to the website.

Open Safari for me

Anyone else have VERY slow Safari loading with new 16.5 update? So annoying!

Anyone else have VERY slow Safari loading on iPhone 11pro with new 16.5 update? So annoying!

Posted on May 20, 2023 5:31 AM

Posted on Sep 14, 2023 10:46 PM

I’m having the same problem after clearing tabs, history and cache. It moves from site to site quickly but takes 6 seconds to load initially.

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• iOS safari all sudden slow loading pages iOS safari on iPhone 13 pro max and iPad mini 6 slow loading pages. Both devices have Firefox and brave and pages loading blazing fast. Something wrong with safari 1061 6

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Sep 14, 2023 10:46 PM in response to lkrupp

Jan 14, 2024 4:01 AM in response to Omarheba1962

Yup, Even after clearing history and all still running as if it was molasses in January. Slow to sometimes unresponsive.

Jun 18, 2023 9:41 PM in response to lkrupp

I am having the same issue with Safari, lkrupp does not speak for everybody. Safari got so bad slow that I had to download a different browser on my all platforms

Jan 3, 2024 10:49 AM in response to barbarafromnj

I had the same problem for a while, I hesitated to do full safari history clearing, I did restart, clear 1 hour or last day of history use … but didn’t work. Now, I cleared the whole safari history then restarted my iPhone, tried CNN.com and it worked instantly

Jun 3, 2023 1:21 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright wrote:

barbarafromnj wrote:

Nope. Not seeing any change.

I am. Safari is loading some webpages more slowly in recent versions, including here in ASC.

I’ve also hit some webpages that fail loading (usually when opening in the background), but loading another (lighter) webpage (e.g. the DDG homepage) and then immediately backing up to the webpage that failed clears that.

Other webpages will open very quickly.

I do have lots of tabs open, with multiple tab groups, and haven’t been inclined to close everything to test whether that is involved.

This with an iPad Pro M2, so not old and not slow.

Should anybody meet this, log your symptoms and your feedback with Apple: Product Feedback - Apple

Jun 3, 2023 1:05 PM in response to barbarafromnj

I am having the same issue since I got the safari update, its so bad that I had to find a different web browser. I hope apple fix it right away.

May 22, 2023 10:30 AM in response to barbarafromnj

Hi barbarafromnj,

We have an article to share with suggestions for troubleshooting Safari issues on your iPhone. Please try the suggestions here, and let us know if you need further help:

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

Mar 1, 2024 2:15 AM in response to lkrupp

I've done both and still have the problem, so yes, Apple does need to do something.

Jun 3, 2023 1:17 PM in response to acevedotom

Apple doesn’t need to fix anything as the rest us are not seeing slowdowns. Try restart gin your iPhone first. Then try deleting cookies, cache, history on Safari.

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

Nov 22, 2023 6:42 PM in response to barbarafromnj

Hello yes I had the same problem, is very annoying, is worse than Windows

Dec 27, 2023 3:20 AM in response to lkrupp

Nope - I’m having same issues

Jun 19, 2023 8:28 AM in response to acevedotom

acevedotom wrote:

Closing (and then reopening) (lots of) tabs, and clearing some cookies, seems to have speeded things, locally.

Jan 28, 2024 12:37 PM in response to roxane105

Mine is terribly slow even after doing the above. Chrome is much faster but i hate using it.. wondering why when all browsers are supposed to be skinned safari. I have turned off private relay too and that helped a bit

Feb 29, 2024 5:54 AM in response to Omarheba1962

When clearing Safari history and cache, make sure that you have “all history” selected and not “last hour”!

Once I selected “all history”, Safari instantly loaded.

Clear History and Website Data

Check “All History”

click the red Clear History

May 22, 2023 10:50 AM in response to barbarafromnj