Hyped as one of the most efficient browsers, Safari on Mac may still give you sleepless nights. Users often complain that Safari just won’t load pages on MAC. Some images or videos won’t display properly. Or, the site may redirect you repeatedly. Or, you may be asked to remove cookies and try again. It does tend to gets worrisome, especially when you can no longer access a secure website. And while all these may be a daily nuisance, there are several fixes you can try.
Let’s take a look at a few of them:
1. Test your internet connection
Most basic – your Safari might not be loading pages for the simplest of reasons – that it’s not connected to the internet. Sometimes, it might happen that you are able to load certain pages on your other devices, like smartphones or tabs but when it comes to Mac, it draws a blank.
Of the simplest reasons, Safari fails to load pages is it’s not connected to the internet. If your Mac is not connected to the web, your browser will always fail to load pages. This may be due to a weak Wi-Fi or a poor reception. The fix is to ensure you are actively connected to the internet during your browsing sessions.
2. Shutdown and restart Mac
Another basic solution to anything related to the computer is to shut down and switch on the computer again. Before you launch it, however, be sure to save the work you were doing. Shutting down the machine helps remove browsing elements that do not function well in any session. Next, remove the power cord. Then, restart Mac to hopefully solve the problem.
3. Confirm using the correct URL
Although users make sure that the URL is correct, sometimes, a small typo might be the reason behind the page not loading issue. If you fail to access web pages or sites repeatedly, an improper address might just be the culprit. It’s time to ensure you are typing in the exact address. In most cases, it is the incorrect URL that causes an error, not the browser.
4. Remove site-specific data
Sometimes Safari won’t load pages from a particular website or from a list of sites. In this case, you need to remove the stored data on those websites. Here’s how you can do it:
- Visit Preferences in Safari
- Go to Privacy
- Open the Details section
- Search for the website name that’s not loading
- Select the website and click on Remove
- Select other websites if you want to remove other site data as well
- Click on Done
You can also clear the entire history to clear data on all websites you have ever visited. Here’s how you can do it.
- Open History.
- Go to Clear History and Website Data
- Set the timeframe of history you want to delete.
- Click on Clear History
If this doesn’t work, maybe you should try the next step.
5. Change to Google DNS
Another reason for poorly loading pages is a malfunctioning DNS setting. The trick around it is to configure to Google DNS by making a few small changes, like so:
- Visit Dock
- Open System Preferences and go to Network
- Click on Advanced and select DNS Settings
- Click on the plus icon and enter 8.8.8.8
- Now click on Ok
To instantly check if pages are loading, launch the browser once again.
6. Check Parental controls on sites
Certain pages may refuse to load under the restricted setting. Pages may get filtered out when you are trying to access them from your account. To resolve this issue, it is best to check with the site administrator. If they disable the controls, you’ll be able to visit the page.
7. Delete Safari caches and cookies
Image, videos, passwords, forms – all can disrupt a smooth browsing experience. To delete all such cookies and caches from Safari, just follow the steps given below:
- Go to Safari and click on Preferences
- Go to Privacy and select Remove all Website Data
- Click on Confirm
Since these files may cause your system to slow down, it is best to get rid of them as soon as possible. Once they have been cleared, you will need to enter your login and other details on those sites once more.
8. Update Safari
Apple releases software updates for Safari regularly. It might happen that older versions of the browser can no longer support browsing requirements. It would be useful to check for updates on your current version and get the latest one for Safari.
Alternatively, your system software might also need upgrading to display web pages properly.
9. Turn-off extensions
Certain extension files may prevent web pages from loading by blocking them. You might not see ads or Pop-ups. Turn them off and relaunch Safari to load the pages.
- Visit Preferences in Safari
- Go to Extensions
- Find the box that says Enable Extensions and uncheck it
If Safari is able to load the page, you have fixed it. Check each Extension individually if possible until you have zeroed in on the problematic one.
10. Use a Virtual Private Network
Sometimes sites won’t load because they have been blocked due to parental control. A few sites may be blocked due to regional curbs. In order to bypass any such restriction, users suggest setting up a VPN account. It allows to you enjoy a smooth browsing session without giving away your location or user data, making it a secure channel.
11. Move to a different browser
Although Safari is the built-in browser for Mac, users may consider moving to another browser to solve faulty browser performance. Some web browsers like Kingpin offer secure browsing with incognito modes and high levels of online privacy. Additionally, Kingpin doesn’t remember search history, cookies, or data entered by users. So if you’re planning to shift to another browser, why not get a more secure one?
Final thoughts
Safari is a reliable browser most of the time. But just like any other software, it comes with its own set of limitations. It does give issues from time to time. In case it starts acting up and stops loading web pages or your favorite sites, try one or more fixes listed above for trouble-free browsing. And if nothing works, try switching to a more reliable browser. Maybe something like Kingpin.
Get an additional browser like Kingpin for more browsing freedom.
