safari keeps freezing mac

What to Do When Safari Freezes or Keeps Crashing on Mac?

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I enjoy browsing with Safari, Apple’s built-in web browser for all their Mac computers. Over the years it has become increasingly powerful, and Apple is always updating and improving it.

However, we’ve all experienced the pinwheel of death at some point. One minute you’re opening a new tab, and the next you’re staring at a bright beach ball while hopelessly clicking the mouse or tapping on the trackpad.

I’ve had to force quit Safari on multiple occasions. To be honest, it’s very frustrating to see Safari keeps freezing even crashing on my Mac, and force quitting often seems the last choice I could make.

Safari Keeps Freezing [Quick Fix]

If Safari keeps freezing, wait for a few minutes to allow it to unfreeze. Once it unfreezes, close a few tabs, especially ones with videos or advertisements. If that doesn’t work, force Safari to quit by right-clicking the Safari icon on the dock and clicking Quit.

So why does Safari freeze or keep crashing? We’ll quickly explore the possible reasons, before getting to the fix solutions.

Safari Keeps Freezing or Crashing on Mac: Possible Reasons

It can be hard to know exactly what is making Safari freeze or crash unless you have an Apple geek analyze the crash reports — which is close to impossible for many of us.

But here are a few common reasons for the delay:

• You tried to do too many things at once, such as use an excessive amount of windows or tabs.
• The site you were browsing overload Safari with its plugin use or processing demands.
• Safari hasn’t been cleaned in a while and is working with a full cache of history, downloads, and cookies.
• An outdated extension or plugin is creating problems.
• It’s actually your Mac is running slow , either due to having too many other applications running or the condition of your Mac machine.
• Your mac is running a very older version of Safari.

How to Fix Safari When It Freezes or Crashes on Mac

Please note that the step-by-step instructions below are for general diagnosis and fixing only. By no means you should follow the exact step number, it’s totally okay to jump to the right step that best fits your situation.

Step 1 : Give it a minute. Sometimes the hanging symbol is actually just that and will go away after a minute or so. You can close background applications to assist in this process, but if you don’t like to wait, then you can skip to the next step.

Step 2 : Close tabs. Pay attention to those web pages that have heavy flash/video ads, they are often the “culprits” of slow Safari issues and tend to tax your Mac performance as well. The typical symptom is that your Mac heats up quickly with the fan running wild .

Step 3 : Force quit Safari by CONTROL + MOUSE clicking the Safari icon in the dock, and then choosing “QUIT” or “FORCE QUIT”.

If your entire Mac is frozen , and not just Safari, you’ll need to hold the power button for three seconds until the screen goes dark. Then press the power button again to restart your computer.

Step 4 : Check if your Safari is up to date by reopening the app. Then go to the top right and choose SAFARI > ABOUT.

This will open a new window with your Safari version listed. If it’s not the most current version (like in the image below), check the Mac App Store for a Safari update , which is frequently bundled with all the macOS updates (but can be executed alone).

Step 5 : On the Safari Menu, go to HISTORY and then choose “Clear History”. The cache is a location on your Mac that Safari stores information in to load certain resources more quickly. However, this information is supposed to be temporary and might be bogging you down.

This will open the following pop-up:

You should clear the most amount of history/cache you are comfortable with, and choose “All History” for best results. This will wipe the cache and help Safari avoid random crashes or freezings in the future. You should clear your cache and history regularly to keep Safari in its best shape.

Step 6 : Clear up lagging extensions by going to SAFARI > PREFERENCES, and then navigating to the “Extensions” tab.

Inside this tab, you will see a list of third-party extensions you have enabled or installed in Safari. You should use the “uninstall” button to remove any extensions you don’t use and uncheck the “enable” box for any plugins that you use only on occasions.

If you suspect one specific extension as the root of the problem, you can try uninstalling just that one and running a comparison. It’s also a good habit to make sure any remaining extensions are up to date and using their latest patches.

Step 7 : Safari might not be the culprit of your freezing problems. If you are using an older Mac machine, especially if the startup disk is running out of space, the Safari issues you face are probably related to the poor performance of your Mac overall.

To fix this, the easiest way is to use CleanMyMac X to run a quick scan of your Mac and clear out those clutters and system junk, you should use the app to disable those login items are could lag your mac on startup.

Then, if it turns out your Mac hardware is kind of dated, for example, the RAM is limited or the hard disk drive is just slow, consider installing extra RAM to increase your Mac’s capability to handle application requests, or replace the HDD with an SSD (solid-state drive) . These solutions will help make Safari (and other apps) run more smoothly on your Mac.

Browsing habits can be an easy fix to prevent future Safari performance issues. It’s good practice that you should avoid leaving tabs you aren’t using open and try to stick to one window when possible.

Also, if you’re on an older Mac with a less advanced hardware configuration, reduce the amount of multitasking you are doing in order to lighten the processor’s load.

Meanwhile, beware that if Safari seems to be crashing when you visit certain websites. Some web pages overload Safari with images, pop-ups, videos, and ads, and using an ad blocker will save you some trouble in the future.

Final Words

That’s all that we wanted to share with you today. We hope these tips have helped you solve any freezes you encounter while using Safari. If you’re still having issues even after trying multiple methods, a different browser might be worth looking into. Browsers such as Google Chrome offers good performance and a set of tools similar to those provided by Apple Safari.

Additionally, you can look for known bugs that many other users have experienced. For example, the early-2015 13″ MacBook Pro was subject to an error that frequently caused the entire machine to freeze, and was described by dozens of users in the MacRumors forum.

Communities such as MacRumors and Apple Communities can be a great resource for finding more obscure solutions to your Safari issues.

Have you experienced any unusual Safari freezing or crashing situation? Tell us what you did to fix it by leaving a comment below.

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John Powell

Safari keeps freezing immediately on opening. After force quitting, when I reopen the 4 tabs I had open are all there and Safari is still frozen with spinning wheel. Just did a software update to Monterey 12.1, upon rebooting safari opened ok without any of the previous tabs.

Throw away your Mac and get a real computer that doesn’t cripple a real browser like Chrome. I just got a 2020 Mac. It overheats and the fan sounds like it’s gonna take off. Switch to Safari, they say. Safari freezes with only 3 tabs open. Fail. Apple has finally convinced me to switch.

Olga Buzova

I have seen yesterday that was made of the spotlight take too much time to make searching. So I fiks spotlight. You fiks two?

~/Library/Preferences/

Sovannita So

My mac’s Safari is still stuck, normally the words are bold the you can click on it at the menu tab, but mine it not even clickable and I keep on hearing that “DiNnNnG!” sound. Is there a way to stop this? Its a new computer.

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Safari is the go-to browser for almost all Mac users. It works well and is faster than other browsers due to its integration with macOS.

But just like any other browser, Safari is prone to error, too. It often tends to freeze or crash, sometimes getting stuck on the dreaded spinning beach ball and displaying the "Safari quit unexpectedly" error.

In some cases, Safari will cause your entire Mac to stop responding, leaving you no choice but to restart your system. Don't fret, though, because Safari crashing is pretty common among Mac users, and there are many fixes for it.

Why Does Safari Keep Crashing on Your Mac?

Safari constantly crashing can ruin your browsing experience. Here are some reasons why it might be happening:

• You have too many tabs open, and they're putting a strain on the CPU. Although Safari indeed uses less memory than Chrome and other browsers, opening too many tabs will still cause it to crash sometimes, especially if you have other resource-intensive applications running simultaneously.
• You're using a browser extension that's causing Safari to crash.
• You're using an older version of macOS and Safari. Safari updates itself when you update macOS. So, if you haven't updated your Mac in a long time, it could be why the browser is acting up.

5 Potential Fixes When Safari Keeps Crashing on Your Mac

Here are five things you can do if Safari keeps crashing on your Mac despite restarting and closing other tasks:

1. Force Quit Safari

Force quitting Safari is the first thing you should do if it stops working. First, try closing Safari by pressing Command+Q or by clicking on Safari in the menu bar and selecting Quit Safari from the drop-down menu.

If you can't click on anything, you'll have to minimize Safari and open the "Force Quit Applications" window. To do that, click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and choose Force Quit in the drop-down menu.

Select Safari in the list of applications and click on Force Quit .

2. Clear Cache Files

Cache files are temporarily stored files meant to speed up web pages, but too many cache files can actually slow down your browser and cause it to crash. That's why it's essential to clear cache files from Safari regularly.

Clearing cache is one of the many ways to reset Safari to default settings on your Mac . To delete cache files, click on Develop in the menu bar, and select Empty Caches .

If you don't see the Develop menu in the menu bar, you'll have to activate it by going to Safari > Preferences and then checking the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" option in the Advanced tab.

3. Delete Website Data

You can select which websites to delete, but since there will be so many, it'll be easier to just delete all of them.

To delete website data, click on Safari in the menu bar and select Preferences . Go to the Privacy tab and click on Manage Website Data . Click on Remove All and now relaunch Safari to see if crashes again.

4. Delete Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are useful tools, but sometimes they can negatively affect your browser's speed because some of them consume an excessive amount of memory. It's best to delete extensions that you don't use frequently.

To delete extensions, go to Safari > Preferences and click on the Extensions tab. Uncheck the boxes next to any extension you don't want to use. Remember that this only disables the extension. To completely remove it, click on Uninstall under the extension's name.

5. Update macOS​

One of the ways you can fix high CPU usage on macOS is by updating your Mac. Apple frequently releases macOS updates that contain fixes for bugs and glitches.

So, if none of the solutions above work for you, then you should check if any software updates are available for your Mac. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and go to System Preferences .

Click on Software Updates and if you see any updates there, click on Restart Now to start installing it.

Enjoy a Stable Safari on Your Mac

No one likes a slow browser. Safari is one of the fastest browsers, but it's susceptible to problems, too. It often crashes, which can make anyone's browsing experience unpleasant. You can fix it by performing certain actions, such as clearing the cache and resetting it.

If nothing else works, you should check if you have any pending macOS updates. Safari crashing isn't a major issue, and with a few tweaks here and there, you should be able to improve your browsing experience.

• Safari Browser
• Troubleshooting

How To Unfreeze Safari On Mac

Whenever a new version of macOS makes its way to market. Safari can be one of the applications for experiencing freezing issues. So that’s why we’ve put together a guide to answer  “why is safari frozen on my mac ?“ and how to fix it!

Safari could be frozen for a number of reasons on your Mac. This could include issues ranging from an unstable version of macOS to a glitchy browser extension or even a virus within your computer. 

Restarting Safari

Close tabs and/or other resource intensive applications, updating your software, wiping your history, cache and cookies data, disable/uninstall extensions, why is safari crashing on my mac, related posts, how to unfreeze safari on mac [step by step].

If Safari has crashed then sometimes a pretty simple restart can help fix the issue. However, if it’s frozen to the point where you can’t even close it, then you could force quit Safari.

Step 1: Press the Command-Option-Esc keys together

Step 2: Click on Safari and press the Force Quit Button

Step 3: Click on Force Quit when it prompts you to confirm your decision.

After this launch safari again and try and see if you can mimic the same behaviour that caused it to crash before. It could be that it was just a random crash and nothing to worry about. 

However, if the issue still persists even after a restart you could try restarting your mac to see if that resolves the issue. Also, be sure to check if you have Javascript enabled in Safari.

Step 1: Launch Safari browser

Step 2: Click on Safari in the top menu

Step 3: Click on Preferences 

Step 4: A new window with a layout like this will pop up

Step 5: Click on Security in the upper hand menu

Step 6: Make sure the “Enable Javascript” checkbox is checked

Sometimes too many tabs or another resource-intensive application could be the reason why Safari is crashing on your Mac. Your computer only has a finite amount of resources and it could be that too many tabs or other applications could be hogging it all. 

To view your current resource usage statistics you can use Activity Monitor to get an idea of whether or not this could be the issue at play.

Step 1: Click on the Finder application in the dock

Step 2: A new window will pop up

Step 3: Click on Applications in the left-hand side menu

Step 4: Type Activity Monitor in the search section

Step 5: Click on the Activity Monitor application that shows up

Step 6: A new window with your MacBooks resource utilization information will pop up. This section shows CPU utilization . 

Step 7: Click on Memory in the top menu

Step 8: Over here you can see the list of applications consuming memory in descending order

Step 9: If you find a process consuming an unnatural amount of memory, click on it and press the button with a cross symbol within it located near the top left side edge to quit the process

Step 10: Click Ok or Force Quit when prompted. 

Like this, you can observe unnecessary applications that might be running in the background that you could close in order to free up more resources for Safari. 

In case you find that Safari is consuming an alarming amount of resources even when you have a few lightweight tabs open. It could mean there could be a deeper issue within Safari itself.

Keeping your software updated is a crucial part of having a stable system. Outdated versions of software can have security flaws and bugs that can leave them susceptible to malicious attacks as well as issues in resource management. 

Make sure both macOS and Safari are updated to the latest version. We’ve detailed guides below on how to do that in case yours aren’t up to date.

Step 1: Click on the Apple logo

Step 2: Click on System Preferences

Step 3: A new window will pop up

Step 4: Click on Software Update

Step 5: Wait for macOS to check for any new updates

Step 6: If there is an update you will be prompted to download and install it, if not it’ll notify you that you’re already on the latest version.

Step 7: Click on Advanced

Step 8: Make sure the checkbox “ Check for updates ” is checked. 

Step 2: Click on App Store

Step 3: A new window with the Mac App store will pop up. 

Step 4: Click on Updates on the left hand side menu

Step 5: From here if there is an update available for Safari you can download and install it from here. 

Sometimes clearing your stored data in Safari can help get rid of the stutters and crashes. However be warned this will remove all your saved passwords and saved websites logins as well. So proceed at your own caution.

Step 3: Click on preferences 

Step 5: Click on Privacy in the upper hand menu

Step 6: Click on Manage Website Data

Step 7: Click on the Remove All button

Step 8: Click Remove Now when prompted

Step 9: Click on Advanced in the upper hand menu

Step 10: Make sure the option Show Develop menu in menu bar is checked

Step 11: Click on Develop in the Safari menu bar at the top

Step 12: Click on Empty Caches

Sometimes browser extensions can the reason your browser is facing the issues that it is. To find out which browser extension could be the potential culprit disable them one by one to see and check if your issues are resolved. To disable browser extensions. 

Step 3: Click on Preferences  

Step 4: Click on Extensions in the top menu

Step 5: From here you can disable extensions that you have installed (if any)

Before we move on to our solutions it is important to realize why Safari might be crashing on your Mac, so that if this issue arises in the future you are better equipped to deal with.

When a new version of Safari is released or a new version of macOS. Expect there to be stability issues. It can take a while to work out the kinks and bugs within the software, so freezes and crashes can occur.

Especially if you’re using beta software, as the versions released within beta are still being tested by the development team. So opt out of the beta program if the issues are too frequent in nature.

Browser extensions and old cache data within Safari could also be the reason why it keeps freezing or crashing. 

Sometimes extensions no longer remain compatible with a newer version of safari till their updated and cache data can cause safari to become slow and eventually freeze. 

Fixing Safari Unresponsive & Frozen On Mac

So after reading through our through and conclusive guide you should have all the information you need to figure out why why is safari frozen on my mac and how to fix it!

If you feel we missed out on anything be sure to leave that in the comments down below.

Hassaan has been passionate about technology for as long as he remembers, and aims to provide you with all the information you need to find the right laptop for you.

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Fix: Safari Keeps Crashing on Mac/iPhone/iPad in 21 Ways

Do you find that Safari keeps locking up on your Mac? While annoying, it can be a simple problem to solve. From browser extensions to a built-in ad blocker and superb privacy options, there are a lot of reasons to use Safari. However, there can be times when the browser acts up. Keep reading to find out what to do if Safari keeps crashing on your Mac.

Why Is Safari Locking Up?

While it can be easy for a user to assume that some form of virus or malware is causing the issue, it may be something far more simple. For example, common reasons such as software plugins, extensions, corrupt installation files, or even a website that contains poor coding can all cause Safari to lock up and crash. 

Fortunately, many of these problems are rather easy to fix, so long as you know the right solution. 

How to Stop Safari From Crashing on Mac

1. force quit and restart safari.

One of the first things a user can try is force quitting Safari and restarting it. Usually when there’s an issue with any program, a simple restart can help with specific problems. 

Time needed:  1 minute

Here’s how to Force Quit an app on your Mac:

2. Restart the Mac

Another thing a user should try before diving into the nitty-gritty is simply restarting their device. Much like force quitting and restarting Safari, performing a restart can rid the browser of any small bugs that might be causing technical issues. This quick solution can potentially alleviate Apple Safari of any small issues or bugs. Simply go to Apple > Restart from the menu bar to restart your device. 

3. Update macOS and Safari

Updating macOS and Safari may also be a good idea for users. In addition to potentially solving any issues a user may be experiencing with Safari, it’s generally a good idea to check for a device update on your Mac, as it can greatly increase your chances of avoiding major issues. Updates to an operating system also provide critical security patches, as well as other things that help protect your machine. You can always check for macOS updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update and see if an update is available. 

Even better, updating macOS ensures that Safari is also up to date. 

4. Create a New User Profile

When it comes to simple solutions, a user may need to create a new Safari profile to prevent future crashes. Seeing an introduction in macOS Sonoma, profiles allow users to have a browsing history that’s unique to them. There are rare occurrences when a specific problem is tied to a user’s profile, meaning creating a new one could easily solve a specific issue. 

To create a new profile in Safari on Mac, simply follow these steps:

• Open Safari, and then go to Safari in the menu bar.
• Select Settings .
• Go to the Profiles tab and select New Profile .
• Fill out the relevant information and click Create Profile . 

5. Boot Your Mac into Safe Mode

If you need to get an idea of why Safari might be crashing, booting into Safe Mode may help illuminate your problems. Safe Mode helps stop login items and startup items from loading and opening automatically. It also disables certain fonts and deletes certain cache files. If you’re having issues with Apple Safari crashing, seeing if it operates in Safe Mode can help diagnose your problems. 

You will need to know if you are running an Intel processor or Apple silicon. You can check this from the menu bar by going to Apple > About This Mac and checking your processor information. 

For Apple silicon:

• Shut down your Mac by going to Apple > Shut Down . Wait for the Mac to shut down entirely.
• Press and hold the power button on your Mac. Hold it until you see a Loading startup options message.
• Select your drive volume.
• Then, press and hold the Shift key. Click Continue in Safe Mode . Your computer will then restart automatically and you should see the words Safe Mode in the menu bar. 

For Intel-based Macs:

• Restart your Mac or turn it on. Then, immediately press and hold the Shift key. Hold it until you see a login window.
• Log in to your device.
• You should see Safe Mode in the menu bar, though you may also be asked to log in twice. 

If Safari is operating normally while in Safe Mode, it may be third-party software, extensions or certain startup files causing issues.

6. Delete Safari Cache Files

It’s also a good idea to delete Safari cache files. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, your browser downloads the data from the website, making the site load faster the next time you visit it. While this can be extremely helpful for casual internet browsing, users can amass a large cache over time. In essence, it’s possible that your cache is causing issues with Safari, or it’s even possible you may have collected something dubious from your cache. 

To delete your cache in Safari, we recommend two methods. Firstly, you can simply open the browser and go to  History > Clear History from the menu bar. Click the pop-up menu, and then choose how far back you would like to go. In this instance, I would suggest deleting everything, though be warned this may make webpages load slower until you download certain cache files again. 

The second method, which is also the easiest, is a powerful cleaning tool like Intego Washing Machine that will erase all cache and other clogging files from your device while optimizing its performance in real time.

➡️ Get Intego Washing Machine

7. Delete All Website Data

If none of the above solutions are providing an answer to your Safari woes, it may be time to consider deleting all of your website data from Safari. Items such as cookies and other data may potentially be causing problems with Safari, causing it to crash. Fortunately, deleting all website data from Safari isn’t too much of a hassle, though users may need to log back into certain websites. 

• Open Safari on your Mac. Then go to  Safari > Settings .
• Tap  Privacy.

8. Disable Safari Extensions

Users may also want to consider disabling any extensions they are running with Safari. This includes third party extensions. As you can turn off one or multiple extensions, it may be wise to disable all extensions, and then bring them back to your browser one by one to see if there is one causing particular issues. Users may want to delete any extensions they do not recognize. Outdated extensions or problematic extensions may be causing issues as well. 

To disable third-party extensions or any extensions, follow these steps: 

• From the Safari app, go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences ).
• Click  Extensions from the list of options.

• To uninstall an extension, click on it and then click the  Uninstall button. 

9. Reset PRAM or NVRAM 

Users who are experiencing problems with Safari may also want to reset their NVRAM or PRAM. These sections of memory help store certain settings, and these settings may have an impact on your browser and its performance. Fortunately, we have a rather extensive guide on how to reset your NVRAM/PRAM as well as your SMC . If you are having issues with Safari and none of the above options work, check out our article to see if this provides a solution. 

10. Run Disk Utility 

Another option users have is running Disk Utility. An incredibly useful app that comes baked directly into macOS, users can run this program to check for any errors on their drive. It can be especially useful in situations such as these when an app is misbehaving or crashing. Even better, using Disk Utility is rather straightforward, and can help repair your startup disk. In this instance, users will be taking advantage of the First Aid option for their disks. Remember that Disk Utility can be found in Finder by going to Applications > Utilities. 

• Open the Disk Utility app.
• Select your primary drive. It will likely be named Macintosh HD . 

• A pop-up will notify you that the app is about to check the disk for errors and repair them if necessary. Select Run . 
• Wait for Disk Utility to finish. 

11. Use Apple Diagnostics to Check for Hardware Issues

While this is more of a last resort, it may be hardware problems causing Safari to crash. Though this hopefully isn’t the case for users, it may be a possibility that a hardware problem may be causing issues with Safari. Fortunately, there is a way to inspect and test your hardware, thanks to Apple Diagnostics. I’ve personally written a guide about how to test your Mac using Apple Diagnostics , and I would suggest giving it a read if this is a route you are considering taking. 

How to Stop Safari From Crashing on iPhone or iPad

1. force-quit and restart safari.

Safari might start working again after you relaunch it. Who knows? The issue might just be coming from a few unresponsive tabs.

• Swipe until you find Safari . Then, drag the app upwards until it closes.

2. Restart Your Device

If relaunching Safari doesn’t work, restart your device. It’s a quick, simple way to clear minor bugs and glitches.

• Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.
• To switch your iPhone or iPad back on, press the button on the right side of your device until the Apple logo appears.

3. Update Your OS and Safari

Meanwhile, you can check for OS updates on your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > General > Software Update .

4. Delete Safari Cache Files

Deleting Safari cache files can resolve various browsing issues, e.g., slow performance or lagging problems, by clearing stored website data and loading fresh content.

5. Enable Javascript

Javascript renders webpages correctly on your device, ensuring they load and display properly. If your Safari app is crashing, you might need to enable Javascript on your iPhone or iPad.

• On the Settings app, tap Safari .

6. Turn Off Content and Privacy Restrictions

The Content and Privacy Restrictions function allows you to manage the apps, content, and other features that your kids can and cannot access on their iOS devices. Turning this off may also solve your Safari crashing woes.

7. Switch Off Safari Suggestions

Disabling Safari Suggestions can help resolve certain performance issues by reducing the browser’s processing load and preventing potential conflicts with other Safari features.

• From Settings , tap Safari.

8. Disable Safari Extensions.

Here’s how to disable browser extensions on your iPhone or iPad:

• On the Settings app, select Safari .

9. Reset Network Settings On Your Devices

Your network might be affecting your browser. This can account for Safari repeatedly crashing on your iPhone or iPad. To reset network settings on your iPad or iPhone, follow these steps:

• Key in your passcode.

10. Update To The Latest OS

You can check for iOS updates on your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

If there are issues with your hardware, or if you have tried all of these methods and none seem to work, it may be time to talk to Apple Support . 

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• Nick deCourville

What To Do When Safari Freezes On Mac

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Check for Updates

One of the most common reasons for Safari freezing on your Mac could be outdated software. Ensuring that both Safari and your operating system are up to date is crucial for optimal performance. Here's how you can check for updates and ensure that your browser and system are running the latest versions:

Update Safari : Launch the App Store on your Mac and click on the "Updates" tab. If there's a Safari update available, it will be listed here. Click on the "Update" button next to Safari to download and install the latest version. Keeping Safari updated not only provides you with the latest features and security enhancements but also addresses any known performance issues that may be causing the browser to freeze.

Update macOS : It's equally important to keep your macOS up to date. Apple regularly releases updates that include bug fixes and performance improvements, which can directly impact the stability of Safari. To check for macOS updates, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select "System Preferences," and then click on "Software Update." If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.

By regularly checking for and installing updates for both Safari and macOS, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering freezing issues. This simple maintenance task can go a long way in ensuring a smooth and trouble-free browsing experience on your Mac.

Force Quit Safari

When Safari becomes unresponsive or freezes on your Mac, force quitting the browser is often the quickest way to regain control and resume normal browsing activities. Force quitting essentially involves stopping the application abruptly, bypassing the standard shutdown process. Here's how you can effectively force quit Safari on your Mac:

Using the Apple Menu

Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen to access the Apple Menu.

Select "Force Quit" from the dropdown menu. This will open the Force Quit Applications window.

Locate Safari in the list of applications. You can identify it by its icon and name.

Select Safari to highlight it, and then click the "Force Quit" button in the bottom right corner of the window.

Confirm the action by clicking "Force Quit" in the dialog box that appears. This will immediately terminate the Safari process.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Press Command + Option + Escape on your keyboard . This will bring up the Force Quit Applications window.

Locate Safari in the list of applications and select it.

Click "Force Quit" to terminate the Safari process.

Force quitting Safari should only be done when the browser is unresponsive and traditional methods of closing it, such as clicking the red "close" button, are not effective. It's important to note that force quitting an application may result in any unsaved data being lost, so it's advisable to use this method as a last resort.

By force quitting Safari, you can swiftly address instances of freezing or unresponsiveness, allowing you to continue browsing without the need to restart your Mac. This approach can be particularly useful when you have multiple tabs or windows open in Safari and need to quickly resolve a freezing issue without disrupting other applications or processes running on your Mac.

Clear Safari Cache

Clearing the cache in Safari can often resolve performance issues and freezing problems. The cache is a temporary storage location where the browser saves website data such as images, scripts, and other elements to speed up the loading of web pages during subsequent visits. However, over time, this cache can become bloated or corrupted, leading to browser slowdowns and freezes. Clearing the cache can help alleviate these issues and improve the overall browsing experience. Here's how you can clear the cache in Safari on your Mac:

Open Safari Preferences : Launch Safari and click on "Safari" in the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu, select "Preferences."

Navigate to the Privacy Tab : In the Preferences window, click on the "Privacy" tab. This is where you can manage various privacy and website data settings.

Manage Website Data : Within the Privacy tab, you'll find the "Manage Website Data" button. Click on this to access the stored website data in Safari.

Remove All Website Data : To clear the cache, click on the "Remove All" button. This action will delete all stored website data, including cookies and cached files.

Confirm the Deletion : A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to remove all website data. Click "Remove Now" to proceed with clearing the cache.

By following these steps, you can effectively clear the cache in Safari, potentially resolving freezing issues and improving the browser's performance. It's important to note that clearing the cache will log you out of websites and remove any stored preferences, so you may need to re-enter login credentials and customize settings on websites you visit frequently. However, the trade-off is a cleaner, more efficient browsing experience.

Regularly clearing the cache in Safari is a good practice to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary data that can impact browser performance. It's recommended to perform this maintenance task periodically, especially if you notice Safari freezing or exhibiting sluggish behavior. By keeping the cache clear, you can help ensure that Safari operates smoothly and efficiently, allowing you to enjoy a seamless browsing experience on your Mac.

Disable Safari Extensions

Safari extensions are add-on tools that enhance the functionality of the browser by offering features such as ad-blocking, password management, and productivity tools. While these extensions can be incredibly useful, they can also be a source of performance issues, including browser freezing. Disabling Safari extensions can help troubleshoot and resolve freezing problems, especially if a particular extension is causing conflicts or consuming excessive system resources. Here's how you can disable Safari extensions on your Mac:

Access Safari Preferences : Launch Safari and click on "Safari" in the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu, select "Preferences."

Navigate to the Extensions Tab : In the Preferences window, click on the "Extensions" tab. This is where you can manage and configure Safari extensions.

Disable Extensions : You'll see a list of installed extensions along with checkboxes next to each one. To disable an extension, simply uncheck the box next to its name. This action effectively deactivates the extension without uninstalling it.

Restart Safari : After disabling the extensions, it's recommended to restart Safari to apply the changes. Close the browser and relaunch it to see the impact of the disabled extensions on its performance.

By disabling Safari extensions, you can isolate any problematic extensions that may be contributing to browser freezing. If you notice that Safari operates more smoothly after disabling certain extensions, you can gradually re-enable them one by one to identify the specific extension causing the issue. This systematic approach allows you to pinpoint the culprit and take appropriate action, whether it involves updating the extension, seeking an alternative, or removing it entirely.

Regularly reviewing and managing Safari extensions is essential for maintaining a stable and efficient browsing experience. As new extensions are added and existing ones receive updates, it's important to assess their impact on browser performance. By selectively enabling and disabling extensions based on their utility and impact on Safari's stability, you can tailor the browsing environment to suit your needs while minimizing the risk of freezing or slowdowns.

In addition to troubleshooting freezing issues, disabling unnecessary or resource-intensive extensions can also contribute to improved overall system performance. By reducing the strain on system resources, such as memory and CPU usage, you can create a more responsive and reliable browsing environment. This proactive approach to managing Safari extensions not only addresses immediate freezing concerns but also promotes a streamlined and optimized browsing experience on your Mac.

Restart Your Mac

When all else fails and Safari continues to exhibit freezing behavior on your Mac, performing a system restart can often serve as the ultimate solution. Restarting your Mac can effectively clear temporary system files, reset various processes, and address underlying issues that may be contributing to Safari's unresponsiveness. Here's how you can safely restart your Mac to resolve freezing problems with Safari:

Graceful Restart

• Close Applications : Before initiating the restart, it's advisable to close all open applications, including Safari, to ensure that any unsaved data is properly handled.
• Click on the Apple Menu : Located in the top-left corner of your screen, click on the Apple logo to access the dropdown menu.
• Select "Restart" : From the menu options, choose "Restart" to initiate the graceful shutdown and reboot process.

Forced Restart

In some instances, when the system is unresponsive or Safari's freezing severely impacts the overall functionality of your Mac, a forced restart may be necessary. Here's how you can perform a forced restart:

• Press and Hold the Power Button : Locate the power button on your Mac and press and hold it for a few seconds until the screen goes dark and the system powers off.
• Wait for a Few Seconds : After the Mac has powered off, wait for a few seconds before pressing the power button again to turn it back on.

The Benefits of Restarting

Restarting your Mac not only resolves immediate freezing issues with Safari but also provides several additional benefits. It allows the operating system to clear out temporary files, refresh system processes, and reset various components, which can contribute to improved overall performance. Additionally, a restart can help address underlying software conflicts or resource allocation issues that may be impacting Safari's stability.

Regular Maintenance

Incorporating regular system restarts into your routine maintenance practices can help prevent and alleviate freezing problems with Safari and other applications. By periodically restarting your Mac, you can ensure that system resources are efficiently managed, temporary glitches are resolved, and the overall stability of the operating system is maintained.

By following these steps and understanding the importance of restarting your Mac, you can effectively address freezing issues with Safari and maintain a smooth and reliable browsing experience on your Mac. Whether it's a graceful restart to address minor performance issues or a forced restart to tackle more severe freezing problems, restarting your Mac serves as a fundamental troubleshooting step that can significantly contribute to the overall health and stability of your system.

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Safari Isn’t Responding, Keeps Crashing or Freezing, Fix

Safari is not working as expected? This article explains what you can do if Safari doesn’t respond, and keeps freezing or crashing on your Mac. You may also see the rotating color wheel or “spinning beach ball”. A lot of users are also reporting that Safari crashes when they open the Preferences pane.

Safari is a great and stable browser. However, performance-related problems (freezing or crashing) may still occur rarely.

You may also see “Safari quit unexpectedly” messages.

An unresponsive Safari may cause your Mac to freeze also.

If you are experiencing this issue, please try the steps below. After each step, try to open Safari to see if your problem is fixed.

See also: Safari won’t open

Make sure that your Mac has the latest versions of the macOS software . Safari is included with macOS. Updating your Mac also includes updates to Safari. Here is how:

• If you are using macOS Mojave or later: Go to System Preferences and Software Update. Alternatively, you can click the Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview and then Software Update. And if there is an update available, click the Update Now button then follow the onscreen instructions.
• If you are using macOS High Sierra or earlier: Open the App Store on your Mac and click Updates.

2. Empty Cache in Safari

Emptying all Safari caches may fix your problem. It is a good idea to do this in Safe Mode because Safe Mode clears your Mac’s system cache and may repair issues. This is also a good idea because if your experience Safari crashes when you want to open Safari Preferences. Please follow the steps below:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
• Keep holding the key until you see the login screen. Then release the Shift key and log in.
• Your computer is now in Safe Mode. Your computer may be slower in Safe Mode, this is normal.
• Now go to the Finder.
• From the menu bar, click Go and Go to Folder (or press Command, Shift, G keys together).
• Enter the following and click Go:

• Delete files by dragging them to the Trash.
• Now exit Safe Mode by restarting your Mac normally. Do not press the Shift key.
• When your Mac turns on, and then try to open Safari to see if it now crashes or freezes.

3. Safari Extensions

You may be having this problem because of third party extensions you may have. There are two steps you should take:

• First, make sure that if your issue caused by an extension.
• If an extension is the problem, then we will need to determine which extensions are causing the problem. Here is how:

Please follow the steps below to turn off extensions to figure out whether they are causing the problems:

• Open Safari and in Safari, click Safari and Preferences.
• Click the Extensions tab. Then deselect all of the extension’s checkboxes to disable them.
• Now exit Preferences and test Safari. If your problem is not fixed, you can now turn on the extensions as they are not the issue. If your problem is fixed, it means that your problem caused by one of your extensions. What you can do is to re-enable the extensions one by one until you find the problematic extension. When you find it, you can remove (by clicking the Uninstall button), update, or contact its developer for further help.

If your issue continues to persist, you may want to fully reset Safari .

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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Safari crashing on Mac? 11 Ways to fix it!

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Safari has a series of commendable features, but once in a while, its loyal users may encounter crashes and glitches. If you are one of them, don’t worry. You can swiftly get your favorite browser back up and running by employing a few simple solutions. Follow this guide to explore the most common fixes to solve Safari crashes on Mac.

1. Force Quit and restart Safari

9. run disk utility, 2. clear safari cache on mac, 10. update safari and update macos, 3. remove safari history and website data, 11. reset your mac, 4. delete safari extensions, contact apple support, 5. delete safari preferences, 6. clear ram, 7. reset pram or nvram, 8. boot your mac in safe mode, what to do if safari crashing on your mac.

It can be frustrating to experience Safari crashes on Mac whilst you’re in the middle of a task. But fear not; follow the following steps to troubleshoot this problem completely.

• Once Safari successfully shuts down, wait for a few seconds.
• Now restart the web browser like you normally do.

While this process is plain and simple, it tends to do the job. As you access your browser again upon successful termination, any lingering problems or conflicts should be resolved.

It is worth noting that if this problem persists despite forced quitting, then you must consider a more comprehensive solution. Safari, like any other browser, stores temporary files and data to provide a faster response to its users for future visits.

However, over time, this cache can become clogged with excess data or corrupted files, resulting in crashes. Let’s explore how you can clear the same.

• Click the Safari option from the menu tab.

• If you want, you can close the preference menu now.

• Now let the process run its course and quit Safari .
• Wait for a moment before you restart the Safari browser.

Hopefully, the problem is now rectified. Moreover, this process is not solely dedicated to bringing your browser back from the dead but also enhances browser performance and improves security. By following these steps, Mac users can ensure a seamless browsing experience on Safari and minimize disruptions caused by crashes.

If Safari continues to crash, you should consider removing its history and website data. There’s a high chance that any conflicts or errors might resolve occurring within your browser.

• Click History from the menu bar.

Clearing history and website data not only helps fix potential crashes but also improves browser performance by freeing up disk space. However, it’s important to consider that following this method may result in removing the preferences and settings you saved earlier.

Removing all active extensions from Safari can turn out to be very effective.

Extensions are basically a helping hand leading users to upscaled accessibility. However, these can often get in the way, becoming the source of conflicts and instability. As a result, it becomes prominent to get rid of extensions to enrich Safari with uninterrupted performance.

• Navigate to the Extensions menu.

• Further, Disable the respective extension.

However, before you adhere to this process, it’s important to consider all drawbacks regarding the process. Ultimately, upon complying with the steps discussed above, you may lose a saved password and setting preferences.

For those who have just had it with Safari crashes, let’s try something extreme – completely removing Safari preferences. This process will get rid of every misconfigured setting that might be hindering the browser.

• Force Quit Safari following the steps discussed above.
• Launch Finder .

• In this instance, you must locate all files starting with “ com.apple.Safari” .
• Select them all and perform the Move to Bin action.
• Ensure to clear these files from Bin as well.
• Now simply restart your Mac.

Upon completing these steps, the application will create a new set of preferences removing all aspects saved earlier. However, stay cautious, as this process will remove all customizations or saved data associated with Safari.

A potential solution to Safari crashing on your Mac is clearing the RAM. Over a significant period of time, our devices get burdened with a series of activities. So, if Safari crashes frequently on your Mac, it might be due to insufficient memory required for smoother browser performance.

There are many apps that can clear your RAM in a jiffy. So, take a deep understanding of these  Mac cleaner apps  and find what suits your preference.

Moreover, it’s highly recommended to perform this action on a regular basis so that you’re not bothered by such issues anywhere in the future.

However, if you do not want to try something as harsh as resetting your entire system, there is a way out. You could always opt to reset the  PRAM or NVRAM of your Mac . Remember, the M series Macs perform this action on their own.

However, on the older Macs, it is solely dedicated to resetting certain settings such as screen resolution, sound volume, startup disk selection, and even Safari-related preferences. Overall, by resetting these memory components, you can resolve possible corruption files disrupting the smooth performance of Safari.

But this process somewhat depends on luck. This solution cannot guarantee the complete retrieval of Safari in comparison to other discussed solutions. It is also advisable to back up important data prior to attempting any changes to system settings.

If you’re experiencing browser errors while using Safari, you can investigate and troubleshoot the issue by delving into the system settings via Safe Mode. It will allow you to determine whether the problem lies with an incompatible or malfunctioning software or extension.

For those who are unaware of this process, don’t worry; we have got a dedicated guide to accessing  Safe Mode on Mac .

Upon successfully navigating to Safe Mode on Mac, launch Safari again. If Safari responds according to your commands, then it’s safe to assume that a third-party app is interfering with your system performance.

You must now exit Safe Mode and proceed to remove recently installed extensions or applications that could cause this problem.

Disk Utility can also help fix Safari crashes on Mac. This tool is integrated into your macOS by default exactly to encounter such errors. Let’s see how you can execute this tool:

• Launch Finder on your Mac.

• Choose your primary drive . It is most likely to be named Macintosh HD .

• Now, let the process run its course.

Note that you will not be able to interact with your computer until this process is complete.

Upon successful completion of the process, simply restart your Mac and test Safari again to see if it continues crashing. This method not only resolves the issues tampering with Safari but ensures the overall performance of your macOS.

Apple regularly rolls out updates with the consciousness of removing common bugs and an overall improvement to the entire system. So, there is a high chance that Apple will provide an application update to resolve this issue seamlessly.

The same verifies macOS system updates as well. If there is no dedicated update available for Safari, you can opt to update your macOS for an overall upgrade. This should contribute positively towards eliminating Safari crashes on Mac.

If Safari is experiencing an issue that cannot be fixed, it is likely that Apple will investigate and promptly provide an update to resolve all problems for the users.

For those who heavily rely on Safari for their work, this problem can be pretty annoying and frustrating. They should consider performing a factory reset on your Mac . 

This process will completely wipe away the entire cache, extensions, and plugins saved onto your device and mitigate crashes caused by conflicting software. Although, before you get started with this alternative, it’s wise to take a backup and store your important files away.

Finally, if none of these steps prove successful, it may be worth contacting Apple Support or seeking assistance from a professional technician to further troubleshoot the problem.

They will guide you through more advanced troubleshooting steps or recommend potential software or hardware fixes tailored to your specific situation. You can further take part in Apple discussions to verify your concerns among fellow macOS users.

Explore and control!

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge to combat Safari crashes on your Mac, you can confidently navigate the web without the fear of abrupt interruptions.

Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to boult your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

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Safari Keeps Crashing on Mac

In this article you will find the following:

Every Mac comes with Safari installed by default, and as a standard part of macOS, it’s about as reliable as you could wish. But it’s not infallible. As with any software, one day, you may find that Safari keeps crashing on Mac—either closing itself down, freezing up, or acting erratically.

Before we start   Clearing your Safari caches is one of the quickest ways to fix frequent crashes, and there’s no easier way to do that than with MacKeeper Safe Cleanup . As well as removing corrupted browser files, Safe Cleanup clears all kinds of hidden junk that can make your Mac slow and unstable, including unnecessary log files, unwanted apps and extensions, and lots more.   Here’s how to use it: Download and install MacKeeper. When MacKeeper opens, select the Safe Cleanup utility. Select Start Scan to find Safari cache files and other junk. Choose the files you want to remove, be sure to select Caches , then click Clean Junk Files .

• Why does Safari keep crashing on your Mac?

No matter what kind of Mac you use, or how powerful it may be, there are many reasons why you might see Safari quitting unexpectedly on Mac. It could be due to corrupted browser files, bad plugins or extensions, odd preferences problems, or incompatible third-party software.

Whatever the case may be, there are lots of simple solutions to fix a Safari crash on Mac. So, as long as your Mac isn’t past its best—which may be the case if your MacBook keeps freezing —it shouldn’t be difficult to eliminate the problem and get Safari working again.

• How to fix Safari crash on Mac

When you find Safari not working on Mac , here are the fixes you need. Some are much easier than others, so we recommend starting with those first, and then moving on to the slightly trickier solutions if you find that Safari is still freezing or closing randomly.

• Force quit Safari
• Restart your Mac
• Update your macOS and Safari
• Boot macOS in Safe Mode
• Create a new user profile
• Clear Safari caches
• Delete Safari history and website data
• Uninstall Safari extensions
• Remove Safari preference files
• Reset PRAM or NVRAM
• Run Apple diagnostics
• Use Disk Utility

1. Force quit Safari

If Safari has locked up or frozen, you should first try to quit in the normal way, using Cmd + Q . If that doesn’t work, then force quit it instead, like so:

• Press Command + Option + Escape on your keyboard.
• In the Force Quit menu, select Safari, then click Force Quit .

2. Restart your Mac

Sometimes, your Safari crashing problems may be related to macOS rather than Safari itself. That problem may also be temporary, and for that reason, fixing it can be as simple as restarting your Mac.  

• In your menu bar, click the Apple icon and select Restart .
• Click Restart again to confirm.

3. Update your macOS and Safari

Apple regularly releases new macOS updates and security patches. So, if your Safari issues are caused by a bug in the operating system, installing these updates may well eliminate it. Here’s how to update your Mac:

• Open the System Settings app on your Mac.
• Select General in the sidebar, then click Software Update .
• If an update is available for your machine, you’ll see it here. Click Update Now or Restart Now to install it.

Your Mac will restart once the update is complete, and any Safari updates will have been installed as well. You can now try using Safari again to see if the issue has been resolved.

4. Boot macOS in Safe Mode

In some cases, third-party software can interfere with Safari and other built-in apps, causing them to become unstable. Booting your Mac in Safe Mode stops third-party software from running, which will help you confirm whether this is the problem. See how to do it below.

On a Mac with Apple silicon:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and hold your Mac’s power button until you see the Loading startup options on the screen.
• Select your Mac’s startup disk .
• Press and hold the Shift key , then click Continue in Safe Mode .

On a Mac with an Intel chip:

• Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately hold down the Shift key.
• Log into your Mac when prompted.
• You may be asked to log in again to continue.

Note from our team:    When your Mac reboots into macOS, you should see Safe Boot in the menu bar. Try running Safari now to see if the issue is still present. If it’s not and Safari runs normally, you’ll know that another piece of software is preventing the browser from functioning properly when you boot into regular macOS.   At this point, you’ll need to figure out which applications or browser extensions you installed before Safari started crashing. Uninstall them one by one, testing Safari each time, until it works without crashing.

5. Create a new user profile

Safari supports multiple user profiles on Mac. If the browser is crashing because of issues with your primary profile, you may find that creating a new one gets things working properly again. Simply follow these steps:

• Open Safari , then click Safari > Create Profile in the menu bar.
• Click the Start Using Profiles button if it appears.
• In the Profiles menu, click the + button in the bottom-left corner to create a new profile.
• Give it a Name and set the preferences to your liking, then close the Profiles menu.
• You’ll now see a new button on the left of the Safari toolbar that allows you to switch between your different profiles. Click it, then select the new profile you just created to use it.

6. Clear Safari caches

A lot of apps use temporary storage areas called caches, which can help improve performance by making certain information easier to fetch. However, these caches can sometimes become corrupted, which may cause Safari to crash. Clearing them and starting fresh should solve the problem. Try this:

• With Safari open, select Safari > Preferences in the menu bar.
• Go to the Advanced tab, then check the box next to the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
• Now click Develop in the menu bar, then select Empty Caches .
• After emptying your caches, restart Safari . Hopefully, it’ll have stopped crashing or freezing.

Hint from our experts:    An easier way to delete Safari cache files, as well as redundant system logs, temporary data, and other junk, is to use MacKeeper Safe Cleanup . It can not only help solve performance and instability issues but also free up a surprising amount of storage space on your Mac. Here’s how: Open MacKeeper , then select Safe Cleanup . Click the Start Scan button. Select the files you want to delete, ensuring that you choose Logs and Caches , in particular. Click Clean Junk Files to remove this data from your Mac. Step 1. Select Safe Cleanup > Start Scan Step 2. Choose the files to remove > Clean Junk Files

7. Delete Safari history and website data

Although it’s handy to keep a list of sites you’ve visited, clearing your Safari history can help with crashing and freezing issues. Not only does it clear your history, but it also deletes cookies, which store website data that can cause issues from time to time. Here’s how to wipe it all:

• Open Safari , then select History > Clear History in the menu bar.
• In the drop-down menu, select all history , then click the Clear History button.
• Restart Safari to see if your issues have been fixed.

8. Uninstall Safari extensions

Extensions are a great way to add new features to Safari, but they can cause problems too. Uninstalling extensions that may not be functioning correctly can be a good way to stop Safari from crashing or freezing. Follow these steps:

• From the menu bar, select Safari > Preferences .
• Open the Extensions tab.
• Pick an extension, and click the Uninstall button.
• If prompted, click the Show in Finder button.
• Delete the extension as you would any other file by deleting it, then emptying the Trash can.

9. Remove Safari preference files

When you change settings in Mac apps, macOS stores your preferences in .plist files. Deleting your Safari preference files will reset your settings, which will often eliminate issues that have been inadvertently created over time. Here’s how to remove them:

• Quit Safari if it’s running, then open Finder and select Go in the menu bar.
• Hold down the Option key on your keyboard to reveal the Library option, then select it.
• In the Library folder, open the Preferences folder.
• Find any .plist files that begin with com.apple.Safari , and delete them, making sure to empty your trash afterwards.
• Once you’re done, open Safari again and try it out to see if it’s more stable. Safari will automatically create fresh .plist files as you use it.

10. Reset PRAM or NVRAM

If you have an Intel Mac, it uses PRAM or NVRAM to store certain settings and preferences in a dedicated place. Resetting these using the steps below can clear any issues that have developed, which may solve any problems you’re having with macOS and its built-in applications.

• Turn your machine back on, then immediately press and hold the Command, Option, P and R keys on your keyboard.
• Release the keys after 20 seconds. Your Mac may restart during this time, and you may hear the startup chime or see the Apple logo more than once.
• Eventually, your Mac will boot up as normal, at which point you’ll need to adjust any system settings that have been reset, such as display resolution and time zone.

11. Run Apple Diagnostics

If you’ve tried all of the above and Safari still isn’t fixed, you may have a more serious issue with your Mac. You can run Apple diagnostics to identify potential issues with your hardware.

On a Mac with Apple Silicon:

• Press and hold the power button on your machine until you see startup options.
• Press and hold Command + D on your keyboard to start Apple Diagnostics.

• Turn on your computer, then immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard.
• Release the D key when you see a progress bar, or you’re asked to choose a language.
• Wait for Apple Diagnostics to finish.

Important: If holding down the D key on your Intel Mac doesn’t work, you can try holding Option + D instead.

Once Apple Diagnostics has finished checking your Mac, it’ll show you a reference code. “ADP000” indicates that no issues were found. If you see another code, you can find out what it means on Apple’s website.

12. Use Disk Utility

If you have issues with other stuck software as well as Safari, and Apple Diagnostics tells you that your hardware is fine, you may choose to reinstall a fresh copy of macOS. You can use Disk Utility to do this:

• Back up your Mac using iCloud, Time Machine, or whatever method you prefer. You’re going to be wiping your Mac’s startup disk, so any data you haven’t backed up will be lost.
• On an Apple silicon Mac, shut down your machine, then press and hold the power button until you see an Options button. Click Options , then select Continue .
• On an Intel Mac, shut down your computer, then turn it back on while pressing and holding the Command + R keys.
• In macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility , then click Continue .
• In Disk Utility, select your Mac’s startup disk in the sidebar, then click the Erase button.
• Type a name for your drive, select the APFS format , then click Erase .
• When the process is complete, select Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility in the menu bar to return to the macOS Recovery menu.
• Select Reinstall macOS , then click Continue .
• Follow the steps on the screen to install a fresh copy of macOS.

Wiping your startup disk will remove Safari from Mac , as well as all other applications, files, and other data that may have become corrupted. Reinstalling macOS gives you a fresh copy of all built-in apps, which should eliminate any issues you had before. You can then restore your backed up data to your machine.

• How to prevent Safari Mac from unexpectedly quitting

If you find that Safari sometimes quits unexpectedly, this is usually the result of a bug, a bad extension, or a lack of resources on your Mac. To prevent this from happening, try clearing your RAM with MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner.

• In MacKeeper , select Memory Cleaner in the sidebar.
• Click the Open button.
• MacKeeper will show you how much RAM is being used. Click Clean Memory to clear any data that’s not necessary.
• You can also use the Smart Uninstaller to remove any unwanted software from your machine, which will prevent it from running in the background and eating up your system resources.

When Safari starts acting up and keeps crashing on your Mac, there’s usually a simple way to fix it. Try the troubleshooting steps we’ve outlined above to get it working normally again. If the easier fixes aren’t successful, you may want to look at reinstalling a fresh copy of macOS or checking for hardware issues.

The most effective way to clear temporary Safari caches and other data that can cause your Mac to become slow and unstable is by using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup . It takes just a couple of clicks, and it safely removes all hidden junk, freeing up plenty of storage space.

1. What to do if Safari won’t open

First, go force quitting Safari or restarting your Mac . If this doesn’t work, try some of the other Safari fixes we’ve outlined in the article above.

2. Can a slow internet connection cause Safari to crash?

A slow or unstable internet connection shouldn’t cause Safari to crash completely. It may be slow or won’t load webpages, but if it keeps crashing, that’s a sign of a bigger problem.

3. Will clearing Safari cache and cookies delete saved passwords?

Clearing your Safari cache won’t delete any saved passwords, but clearing cookies might, depending on how your passwords are saved. If you use iCloud Passwords or another password manager, there’s no need to worry because all your login details will be saved there.

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Why Does Safari Keep Crashing on Mac & How to Fix It

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to browse the web, whether you’re working or playing, and being stopped in your tracks when Safari crashes. But what causes Safari to have these problems? And is there any way to fix it?

As someone who works on Apple computers for a living, I can say that problems with Safari are extremely common. So, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are often a few simple tips to get the app working again so you can get back on your feet.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Fix 1. restart your mac, fix 2. force quit safari, fix 3. update macos, fix 4. clear cache, history, and website data, fix 5. disable extensions, fix 6. run first aid on solid state drive (ssd), fix 7. boot in safe mode, final thoughts.

• Safari could be crashing for several reasons, though the most common is problems with using too many resources and freezing.
• You can try a simple fix, like restarting your Mac , updating your system , or force-quitting the application .
• If that doesn’t work, you can try clearing your browsing data and disabling troublesome extensions.
• There may also be a problem with SSD or other startup items. Running First Aid will give you clues if your storage media is failing. 
• You can try booting into Safe Mode as a last resort to see if Safari is working. If not, you may have more serious macOS issues that warrant reinstalling the operating system.

7 Tips to Fix Safari Crashing on Mac

Safari is the default internet browser that is installed on your Mac when you receive it. It is updated and managed through Apple’s macOS. So, Safari is typically a reliable web browser that is safe and easy to use.

There are several reasons that could cause Safari to crash, and this is likely to stop your work day or school work completely! This article will help you to determine what may be wrong with your Safari and how to fix it to quickly get back to work. 

Let’s start with the easiest tips first, and determine how to stop Safari from crashing.

Restarting your computer can solve plenty of minor software problems. And it is often the easiest fixes such as these that we can easily forget about. Still, it is worth trying a simple restart before you dive into more complex troubleshooting.

In the Apple Menu, click Restart .

Just wait for your Mac to restart and see if Safari is functioning properly on the next bootup. If not, proceed to the next step.

The first reason that Safari could be crashing is that it is simply overwhelmed with the processes that it is trying to run. This could be due to utilizing too much Random Access Memory (RAM), using too much CPU, or even simply being unable to access certain features of the application. 

Regardless of which of these reasons, force quitting should solve this problem . Note that even if your Safari Application has crashed, you should still be able to Force Quit the application to fully close it. To do so, take the following steps:

Step 1: Press the Command-Option-Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard.

Step 2: Choose Safari and click Force Quit .

Step 3: Click Force Quit to confirm.

Another simple reason that Safari may be crashing is that the application is simply out of date or there is a bug in the software. If you have a macOS software update, it is likely that Apple has already fixed this problem, and the update will help significantly. 

To update your system, take the following steps:

Step 1: Click the Apple Menu at the top of your screen and hit System Settings from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: On the Left, Navigate to General and click Software Update on the right.

Step 3: If there is an available software update, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.  

Note : We recommend keeping on Automatic updates so that your Mac stays as fast as possible, but be sure to periodically still check this menu for updates since they may not always be able to be completed on their own (i.e., if there is not enough battery life, if you need to enter a password, etc.). 

When accumulated over long periods of time, the cache, history , and website data related to your internet browsing on Safari can really add up. When this happens, the available resources can run out, or become too overwhelmed to quickly access your data. 

This can overwhelm Safari and cause it to run slowly or even crash. Now, there are other methods that clear your website history, cache, or website data separately, but this method deletes them all simultaneously . 

Just take the following steps:

Step 1: While Safari is open, click the Safari menu and Settings .

Step 2: In the menu, navigate to Privacy at the top. Click Manage Website Data.

Step 3: Click Remove All (If needed, you can individually clear data for each website, but clearing all is much more useful when Safari is crashing to ensure that you removed any potential malicious tracking and cleared enough RAM). 

Step 4: Click Remove Now to confirm.

Extensions are features available to customize how you use Safari. Some of the most popular examples are Ad Blocking, Grammar Checkers, and Coupon finders. 

If you use any of these in relation to Safari, then these extensions could be causing Safari to crash if it is trying to use too many or if these extensions are causing Safari to run too slowly. So, let’s disable a few of them. 

With Safari Open, click the Safari menu at the top of your screen and Settings from the drop-down.

Next, navigate to Extensions at the top of the window. On the left side of the screen, the blue check marks indicate that the extensions are enabled.  

Click the blue check marks to make a gray box to indicate that the extensions are disabled. With an extension selected, on the right side of the screen, there is an option to uninstall. 

Clicking Uninstall and following the instructions onscreen will completely remove the extension, and you will not be able to use it again unless you reinstall it. Be sure to look for any extensions that you do not recognize or that could otherwise be malicious to completely uninstall these. 

SSD is the long-term storage drive living inside your Mac. So, although it is not a replacement for the RAM that we have previously discussed, it can also have an impact on the ability of your Safari to run correctly. 

If, for some reason, your SSD is having problems, then it could impact your applications, including Safari. 

First Aid is a feature offered on your Mac to evaluate and repair any problems with your drives. Take the following steps to run First Aid:

Step 1: In Launchpad, search for Disk Utility.

Step 2: Choose your SSD on the left and click First Aid on the right. Follow any onscreen instructions to repair. 

Lastly, if all else fails, you can use Safe Mode to determine if there is a startup or directory problem with Safari. Safe mode is an option provided by Apple for those who are having problems with their Mac to disable all third-party features, only load necessary items, and determine if there are startup or directory problems. 

The process will look a little different, depending on if you have a Silicon or an Intel-based Mac.

Safe Mode for Apple Silicon Macs:

• Begin with your Mac completely shut down.
• Press and hold the power button until you see the “Loading Startup Options” screen.
• If required, choose a volume.
• Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard.
• When prompted, choose Continue in Safe Mode. Your Mac will restart.
• You know you have successfully booted in Safe Mode when you see “Safe Mode” displayed on the menu bar. 

Safe Mode for Intel Macs:

• Turn on or Restart your Mac.
• When booting happens, press and hold the Shift key until the login window appears.
• Login to your Mac.
• If you are asked to log in again, do so. 
• You have successfully used Safe Mode when “Safe Mode” is displayed on the menu bar. 

Safari is an application that is preinstalled on your Mac and it is one of many applications that are managed through macOS. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean it will always work perfectly. If your Safari is continuously crashing, we have discussed several reasons as to why this may be and we have provided you with ways to fix this. 

You can try force quitting the application, updating macOS, or clearing website history and data. If you suspect problems with your SSD, you can run first aid. Additionally, you can boot into Safe Mode for more advanced troubleshooting.

How did these items work for you? Which item stopped your Safari from crashing? Let us know in the comments!

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How to fix a frozen MacBook or Mac

A frozen Mac is a rare occurrence, but Macs (like all computers) run in cycles, and sometimes the software gets stuck in a loop. When this happens you may find an app like Word, or the whole of macOS, becomes unresponsive.

In this feature we look at what to do when your Mac freezes, the spinning beach-ball/rainbow wheel starts up, or you can’t move your mouse or cursor, can’t use the keyboard, can’t force quit, can’t shut down , can’t turn off, and can’t log in. In the worse case scenario you may be worrying about losing work, such as a document you are working on, in which case you may be wishing to find a way to unfreeze your Mac that won’t involve shutting it down. 

Follow the steps in this feature to fix your frozen Mac. We’ll help you get your Mac unfrozen and working again. You may also be interested in How to fix a Mac that won’t switch on and boot up , plus our Mac DIY repair guide and complete guide to fixing some of the most common Mac issues .

We also run through How to shut down a MacBook or Mac .

Here are the five steps to take to unfreeze your Mac. We look at each in more detail below.

• If your Mac froze while you were using an app, see if you can force quit the app you are using. The problem might be specific to a single app rather than your Mac in general. Sometimes closing that app can solve the problem. We look at how to force quit an app below.
• If you can’t move your cursor, or use your keyboard, you can’t force quit. In that case, you may need to reboot your Mac. We look at how to reboot your Mac in more detail below .
• If after rebooting the problem continues you may benefit from unplugging any peripherals that are attached to your Mac and rebooting again.
• Failing that, you can Safe Boot your Mac. We look at how to Safe Boot below .
• Even if you manage to unfreeze your Mac, you will want to investigate the cause of the problem. We’ll look at the steps to take to determine if you have insufficient storage space, a memory problem, an issue with the version of the Mac operating system you are running, or a problem with certain apps. 

How to Force Quit a frozen app

The first job is to determine whether the whole of macOS is affected, or just one app.

Chances are, if you can still use your mouse and keyboard, the problem is being caused by one app in particular. Often you’ll spot this because the app’s menus and icons are unresponsive, and you may see the rainbow wheel, also known as the spinning beach ball, the ‘spinning pizza of death’ or just SPOD.

There are a few ways to determine whether the problem is being caused by an app. Quitting and restarting the problem app is usually the best way to unfreeze your Mac.

Use one of the below options to close the app (even if you don’t know which one is causing the problem):  

• Click on another app’s window, or the desktop – basically, move to another area of macOS. Alternatively, press Command-Tab and switch to another app. This should enable you to gain control of your Mac if everything was previously unresponsive.
• Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and choose Force Quit.

There is another way to check and close an app: 

• Right/control-click on the app’s icon in the Dock. You will either see the option to Quit (in which case the app is probably ok) or you will see an option to Force Quit (which suggests that it isn’t).
• If you want to Force Quit an app that only has a Quit option, press the Option/Alt key when you right/control-click on the app and Quit will change to Force Quit.

Where’s Ctrl + Alt + Delete on a Mac?

Those with a PC background may be familiar with the key combination: Ctrl + Alt + Delete, used to quit apps on a PC, and be wondering what’s the equivalent on a Mac?

• On a Mac click Cmd + Alt/Option + Esc to get the same effect as Ctrl + Alt + Delete on a PC.

This will bring up the same Force Quit Applications menu mentioned above – it won’t just close an app.

We have an in-depth guide to Force Quitting on a Mac here , plus we look at how to Force Quit and restart the Finder here .  

For the most part, if a single application is the problem (typically because it’s stuck in a loop and taking up too much memory) you’ll be able to tell easily because you’ll get an alert (something like the one pictured below) informing you that the app quit unexpectedly.

How to reboot your Mac if an app won’t force quit

If you cannot force-quit an app, or if macOS is completely unresponsive, follow these steps in order to reboot your Mac

• Click on the Apple menu at the top left of the screen, then select Restart and click Restart.
• If you cannot interact with the Apple menu (perhaps your mouse is unresponsive) try pressing Command-Control-Eject on a very old Mac or Control-Option-Command-Power button on a newer Mac. This will quit apps after an offer to save, and then shut down the Mac. (If you have a Touch ID sensor this may not work).
• If that doesn’t work (if your keyboard is also unresponsive), press and hold the Power button on your Mac until your Mac switches off. Wait a few seconds, then press and release the power button to turn it back on again.

When you restart you may find the file you were working on opens, however you may find it is damaged or corrupted. If that is the case, you should try to recover what you can from it, and transfer any contents to a new file (then delete the file).

Read: How to recover a lost Word document .

How to find out why your Mac crashed or froze

You should investigate the cause of the crash so you can avoid the same thing happening again. If you encounter frequent freezes, check the following:

• Check you’ve got enough storage space – ideally make sure that about 20% of the size of your hard drive is free to avoid slowdowns. (See also How to make more space on Mac .)
• Make sure macOS is up to date . Either go to System Preferences > Software Update, or with older versions of macOS open the Mac App Store and check for updates there. If you have problems updating check, how to fix a Mac that won’t finish a macOS update . 
• Check for updates to your apps in the Mac App Store.
• Update apps installed outside of the App Store manually. Most apps have a ‘Check for updates’ feature.
• After updating your software, disconnect all your peripherals and re-attach them one at a time to see if one of them is causing the problem.
• Disable plug-ins. If you use apps with plug-ins, you should disable (or remove) them to discover if they are causing problems.
• Use Safe Mode, which launches macOS without any additional processes and runs clean-up scripts. You either access this by holding down the Shift key while starting up your Mac (Intel) or, if you have an M1 Mac, press and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options appear > choose your startup disk > press and hold Shift > click Continue in Safe Mode.  Read How to start a Mac in Safe Mode . 
• Use Disk Utility ‘s Repair Disk function to clean up any problems with your hard drive.
• Run Apple Diagnostics. This is a special utility from the Apple Support Site that detects problems on your Mac. As with Safe Mode the method depends on the Mac you own. If it’s an M1 you need to shut down > press and hold the power button while the Mac starts up > when the start up options appear press Command + D. If you are on an Intel Mac shut down and then press the D key while your Mac starts up. Apple explains how to run through Diagnostics here .

How to report the issue

If you believe the cause of the problem was a problematic app we’d advise that you run a few checks to make sure that this isn’t an issue that will reoccur.

• Start the app up again.
• If you see the option to send a report to Apple or the developer, do so. macOS sends a crash report to Apple whenever an application crashes. Apple uses this data to manage development of macOS and provide a more stable operating system (and more stable apps) in the future.
• Open Activity Monitor to keep an eye on what processes are taking place when you are using the app. For example, you may experience issues when a Safari window is open, or you may notice that your Mac is using almost all the memory (RAM) it has access to, in which case that may be what is causing the issue.

Could the crash be caused by a virus or malware attack?

It’s unlikely that the problem was caused by a virus as these are rare on a Mac. However, scam websites, such as ones using the attack known as ‘safari-get’ , have been known to load malware on to visiting Macs that causes them to open huge numbers of draft emails or iTunes windows, overloading the system memory and causing a lock-up.

If that sounds familiar check our Mac security tips and Best Mac antivirus articles for more guidance.

Wondering how many years your Mac should last for? Read: How long do Macs last?

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How to fix a frozen mac.

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Wait for a minute or two, force-quit any problem apps, force your mac to shut down, is your mac freezing during or shortly after boot, diagnosing hardware issues, how to prevent freezes in future, more things you can try.

Suddenly, your Mac becomes unresponsive. You've got the spinning pinwheel of death, or worse, no cursor at all. Nothing you do brings your computer back to life. Here are a few things you can try.

Wait a bit before you rush to power off your Mac or wrestle back control by hammering on the keyboard. Many freezes are caused by a particularly demanding task or problem application. Give your Mac some time to crunch away at the problem before taking any action.

How long you wait depends on how patient you are, but we'd recommend a minute or two. Get up and stretch or make yourself a cup of coffee, and see if your Mac is back when you return. If you know for a fact that a demanding process is causing the slowdown, like a video render, this will give it time to complete.

It might not be as quick as hard-resetting your machine, but it comes with less risk. Once you've finally got control of your Mac again, save your work, close any apps you don't need, and restart your computer.

The other possibility is that you'll get just enough control back to kill whatever rogue app or process is causing the issue. Let's take a look at how you can do that.

If your Mac is crawling, but you still have mouse-pointer control, you can try force-quitting (or "killing") any problem apps that might be causing the slowdown. This could be a web browser with hundreds of open tabs, a demanding image editor, like Photoshop, a game or other software that uses 3D graphics, or a large spreadsheet or word document.

To kill apps quickly, press Command+Option+Esc to bring up the macOS "Force Quit Applications" dialog. In this window, you'll see any running applications. You can highlight them with a click, and then kill them by clicking "Force Quit."

Any unresponsive apps will be listed as such, and these should be killed, as they're likely to require a restart to function normally. Kill as many apps as you need to until your system feels stable again. Be aware that you might lose any unsaved data.

You can also launch Activity Monitor to view a list of all running processes. Many apps, like Safari or Chrome, use multiple processes that separate each tab into a separate process. You can launch Activity Monitor via Spotlight (or access it under Applications > Utilities) and look for any processes using more than their fair share of your available CPU.

If you have cursor control, you can also right-click (or Control+Click) an app icon in the dock, press and hold Option, and then click "Force Quit" to kill an app.

Related: How to Troubleshoot Your Mac With Activity Monitor

If you've been patient and forced any problem apps to quit with no success, it might be time to admit defeat and shut down your Mac by force. You can do this by pressing and holding your Mac's power button until it switches off.

The power button is fairly obvious on most models. If your MacBook has a Touch ID sensor instead of a power button, press and hold the Touch ID button at the top right of the keyboard (see the image below).

On desktop models, like the iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro, press and hold the power button on the computer.

You'll lose any unsaved data in open apps when you do this. While it's unlikely this will cause any damage, there's a reason Apple recommends you shut down via the Apple menu. To minimize the chances of anything going wrong, only do this when you have no other choice.

Even if things do go wrong, you can rest easy knowing you've backed up your Mac with Time Machine .

If your freezing issue is a regular occurrence, it could be caused by a hardware fault. To rule this out, make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS, and that you've installed any required firmware updates under System Preferences > Software Updates.

Unplug all external peripherals, including mice, keyboards, USB audio interfaces, storage devices, and webcams, and then test for the issue again. If you appear to have resolved the problem, consider also updating any software related to that peripheral.

If the problem is easily replicable, you can try booting your Mac in Safe mode to see if the issue persists. Safe mode starts your Mac with the bare minimum number of drivers required to run the system. It also scans your hard drive for issues at boot, which might help fix the problem.

To boot into Safe mode, turn off (or restart) your Mac, and then press Shift as it boots. Release the key when you see the login window and log in. "Safe Boot" should appear at the top right. With your Mac booted in Safe mode, test again for the freezing issue.

If you no longer encounter the issue, try restarting and testing again. It's possible that by checking your disk for errors, the problem was fixed.

If you still have the problem, make sure any external peripheral devices are unplugged, and then try again. Prune your login items to remove any software that launches at startup and might be causing the issue.

If you still have a freezing issue, it might be time to reinstall macOS from scratch . However, the issue could also be hardware-related.

Related: How to Wipe Your Mac and Reinstall macOS from Scratch

If the problem is persistent enough that you suspect it's hardware-related, you can try diagnosing the issue using "Apple Diagnostics" (or "Apple Hardware Test" on machines older than June 2013).

To do this, shut down (or restart) your machine, and then press and hold D while it boots. A gray screen and progress bar should appear that indicates your Mac is being scanned for problems. If Apple Diagnostics won't run, try restarting and pressing and holding Option+D on startup. This will download the test from the internet, instead.

Unfortunately, Apple Diagnostics can only tell you if there's a problem. It won't provide too much information about what the problem is. You should get a vague idea regarding where the fault was detected. However, you won't get anything more than an error code for an Apple technician to use.

If you want to delve a little deeper, you can download Memtest86+  to a USB stick. Then, press and hold Option when booting your Mac, and then boot from the USB stick instead. This tests your RAM for errors without launching the operating system. This way, the RAM isn't partially in use when the test occurs.

If it detects that faulty RAM is the cause, it might be possible to replace it. Unfortunately, the RAM in most modern MacBooks has been soldered to the logic board, which makes repairs difficult, if not impossible.

While Mac freezes can be a sign that something isn't right, they're more often a sign of a temporary issue that will go away when you restart. There are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of freezes happening again in the future.

The first is to make sure you're running the latest version of macOS. Apple also issues firmware updates for specific components, which can make a huge difference in terms of system stability. For best results, set your Mac to automatically install updates as they become available.

Not maintaining a decent buffer of free drive space can also cause performance issues and freezes. Apple doesn't specify how much space macOS needs to "breathe," but we recommend 10 percent of total drive space. This should also give you a decent buffer to offload files before storing them elsewhere, if necessary.

Sometimes, performance is tied directly to the age of your Mac. Some modern web pages can make old hardware crawl, so it pays to know your machine's limitations. Avoid heavyweight browsers, like Chrome. Use Safari instead, and think twice about editing videos or playing demanding games.

If your Mac isn't entirely frozen, you stand a better chance of recovering any unsaved work. Here are some other things you can try to bring an unresponsive Mac back from the brink.

We have some tips for dealing with a frozen PC , as well.

Related: How to Fix a Slow or Unresponsive Mac

Apple security releases

This document lists security updates and Rapid Security Responses for Apple software.

About Apple security releases

For the protection of our customers, Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are generally available. This document lists recent releases, including security updates and Rapid Security Responses .

If you need technical support for a security issue—for example, to reset your Apple ID password or to review a recent App Store charge—view the  Get help with security issues  article.

If you believe that you've discovered a security or privacy vulnerability in an Apple product, learn how to submit your research .

Get the latest software updates from Apple

Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security.

The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 17.6.1. Learn how to update the software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch .

The latest version of macOS is 14.6.1. Learn how to  update the software on your Mac  and how to allow important  background updates .

The latest version of tvOS is 17.6.1. Learn how to  update the software on your Apple TV .

The latest version of watchOS is 10.6.1. Learn how to  update the software on your Apple Watch .

The latest version of visionOS is 1.3. Learn how to update the software on your Apple Vision Pro .

Note that after a software update is installed for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS, it cannot be downgraded to the previous version.

Apple security updates and Rapid Security Responses

For information about earlier security updates, see these documents:.

Apple security updates (2022 to 2023)

Apple security updates (2020 to 2021)

Apple security updates (2018 to 2019)

Apple security updates (2016 to 2017)

Apple security updates (2015)

Apple security updates (2014)

Apple security updates (2013)

Apple security updates (2011 to 2012)

Apple security updates (2010)

Apple security updates (15 Jan 2008 to 03 Dec 2009)

Apple security updates (25 Jan 2005 to 21 Dec 2007)

Apple security updates (03 Oct 2003 to 11 Jan 2005)

Apple security updates (August 2003 and earlier)

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

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ProMotion and Safari causing iPad Pro to freeze?

When using Safari my iPad will freeze from time to time and will not respond to any inputs. So no access to the home bar and no reaction to any buttons. This will last for about 5-10s and after that I can keep using safari as if nothing happened. Safari doesn’t crash, it just freezes. This happens with no other browser or apps in general.

I cleared the cache and cookies and even reset the iPad and set it up without backup again.

What seemed to have fixed the issue for me is to limit the refresh rate to 60FPS in the accessibility settings. But this is not really an acceptable solution IMO…

This issue seems to be someone common on iPad Pro models with different generations of M chips and there are many posts you can find about it here and on Reddit or other platforms.

Is this something Apple plans on fixing? Because right now Safari is not really usable for many users and no recent updates seem to have fixed the issue.

iPad Pro (6th generation)

Posted on Sep 8, 2024 6:25 AM

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Sep 8, 2024 6:28 AM in response to _Nic0

First, perhaps understand the Apple Support Community is a user-to-user technical forum. Contributors here are all end-users, just like you. Other than the site Moderators, Apple neither monitor nor participate here. As such, nobody here has any insight into what Apple may or may not be intending to "fix".

Should you have a repeatable issue, you might be well advised to submit a Bug Report via Apple's Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

When submitting your Bug Report, please ensure that you include details of your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS within the body-text of your report along with details of the problem. Do not rely upon the pick-list - as this rarely includes the current version of iPadOS.

Every Bug Report counts. Unless reports are submitted (with adequate detail), Apple may not assign resources to investigate and correct the issue.

In addition [i.e., not as a substitute] to submitting a Bug Report, you might also consider seeking assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page; you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044