Why Is Safari Running Slow on Mac? 15 Ways to Fix

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: July 27, 2024

Expert verified

Ever found yourself drumming your fingers in frustration as Safari lags on your Mac? A slow browser can turn even the most basic online tasks into a tedious affair.

If Safari is running slow on your Mac, I’ve got your back. Dive into this guide to uncover the mysteries behind Safari running slow on Mac and explore practical solutions to get you back in the fast lane. Ready to turbocharge your browsing experience? Let’s get started!

Why Is Safari Running Slow on Mac?

Safari running slow on Mac can be due to various reasons. Below, I’ve shared the most common reasons for Safari’s sluggishness on your Mac:

1. 🖥️ Too Many Tabs or Windows Open: Having numerous tabs or windows open can consume a lot of memory and slow down Safari.
2. 🧩 Heavy Use of Extensions: Some Safari extensions can use a lot of resources, causing the browser to slow down.
3. 🍪 Cache and Browsing Data: Accumulated cache, cookies, and browsing history can impact Safari’s performance.
4. ⌛ Outdated Safari Version: Running an outdated version of Safari can lead to performance issues.
5. 🍎 Outdated macOS: An outdated operating system can cause compatibility issues and slow down Safari.
6. 🌐 Internet Connection Issues: An unstable or slow internet connection on Mac can affect browsing speed.
7. 💻 Hardware Limitations: Older Mac models with limited RAM and processing power may struggle to run Safari efficiently.
8. 🦠 Malware or Adware: Malicious software can significantly degrade the performance of Safari.

Addressing these issues through updating software, managing tabs, clearing cache, and removing unnecessary extensions can improve Safari’s speed and performance on a Mac.

How to Fix Safari Running Slow on Mac

A sluggish Safari on your Mac can be quite a bottleneck, especially during important online tasks. The good news is, there’s no need to let a slow browser rain on your parade. In this section, I’ll walk you through various solutions to bring Safari back to its optimal speed.

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of boosting your Safari browser’s performance on your Mac.

1. Check Your Internet Speed

Before diving into more complex solutions, ensuring that your internet connection isn’t the culprit behind Safari’s sluggishness is essential. A slow or unstable internet connection can significantly impact your browsing experience.

To test your internet connection, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari on your Mac.

2. Navigate to an online speed test tool like Speedtest.net.
3. Click the Go button to start the test.

4. This will give you an idea of your current internet speed.
5. Pay attention to the download and upload speeds. If they are significantly lower than what your Internet plan promises, there might be an issue with your connection.
6. If your internet speed is slow, reset your router. Unplug it from the power source, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for it to restart and retest your internet speed.
7. If resetting doesn’t help, try moving closer to the router or removing any obstacles interfering with the signal.
8. If the above steps don’t improve your internet speed, it might be time to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further assistance.

2. Force Close and Relaunch Safari

At times, Safari or any of its tabs might encounter errors or issues that consume excessive system resources, leading to slowdowns. Force closing and re-launching Safari can terminate these problematic processes and give the browser a fresh start.

Here’s how to force quit Safari and relaunch it on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select Force Quit from the drop-down menu.

2. In the new window, select Safari and click the Force Quit button.

3. Click Force Quit on the pop-up.

4. After force-closing Safari, wait for a few moments to let the system properly terminate all processes related to the browser.
5. Find the Safari icon in your Dock and click it to re-launch the browser.

6. Check if the performance has improved.

3. Close Unwanted Tabs

Each open tab in Safari consumes your Mac’s memory and processing power. Having multiple tabs open, especially those with heavy content or active scripts, can significantly slow down the browser and even the entire system.

Closing unnecessary tabs can free up valuable resources and enhance Safari’s performance. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Take a look at all the tabs you have open in Safari. Identify which ones are not currently needed or are consuming significant resources.
2. Click the small x icon on the left of each tab you wish to close.

3. Alternatively, you can close an active tab using a Mac keyboard shortcut: Command ⌘ + W.

4. You can also right-click a tab and select Close Tab from the context menu.
5. After closing unwanted tabs, check if Safari’s performance has improved.

4. Clear Safari History

Over time, Safari accumulates a history of the websites you’ve visited, cached files, and cookies. While these elements are designed to speed up page loading times, they can also clutter your browser and consume system resources, leading to slowdowns.

Clearing your browsing history can give Safari a fresh start and potentially improve its performance. Here’s how to delete Safari’s history on Mac:

1. If not already open, launch the Safari browser on your Mac.
2. Click the Safari menu item at the top left of your screen. From the drop-down menu, select Settings.

3. Select the Advanced tab and check the box next to the Show Develop menu in menu bar if it is unchecked.

4. Return to the menu bar, click Develop, and select Empty Caches from this drop-down list.

5. After clearing the history, navigate through various websites to check if there is an improvement in Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

5. Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

The cache stores temporary files from websites to help pages load faster in future visits, while cookies save small pieces of information like login details. Over time, these stored files can accumulate and cause Safari to slow down.

Clearing the browser cache on your Mac can free up storage and improve browser speed. Here’s how to clear Safari cache on your Mac:

1. Launch Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. In the Settings window, select the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data.

3. A new window will open, showing a list of websites storing data.
4. Click Remove All to clear all cookies and cached data. Confirm the action when prompted.

5. After completing these steps, browse through different websites and assess whether Safari’s performance has improved.

6. Delete Unwanted Extensions

Extensions are additional features or functionalities added to Safari to enhance user experience. However, some extensions can be resource-intensive, causing the browser to slow down. Removing unnecessary or problematic extensions can help in optimizing Safari’s speed.

Here’s how you can delete unwanted extensions on Mac:

1. Open Safari on your Mac, click the Safari menu in the menu bar and select Settings.

2. Click the Extensions tab to view all the installed extensions.

3. Find the extension you want to remove and click it.

4. Click the Uninstall button to confirm that you want to remove the extension.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper to remove unwanted extensions from Safari. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller option in the left sidebar.

3. Click the Start Scan button to scan your computer for installed browser extensions.

4. Once the scan is complete, click Browser Extensions in the left sidebar and locate the extension you want to remove from the list.

5. Click the checkbox next to the extension you want to remove and tap Remove Selected.

6. Confirm the action by clicking the Remove button in the confirmation dialog box.

7. Wait for the uninstallation process to complete.
8. Restart your browser to ensure the extension has been completely removed.

7. Disable Search Engine Suggestions

Search engine suggestions are generated in real-time as you type into the search bar, which can sometimes slow down Safari, especially on slower internet connections or older Mac models. Disabling this feature can reduce the load on Safari and potentially improve its speed.

Here’s how you can disable search engine suggestions on Safari:

1. Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. In the Settings window, click the Search tab.
3. Uncheck the box next to Include search engine suggestions to disable the feature.

4. Close the Settings window and test Safari by typing into the search bar to see if there is an improvement in responsiveness.

8. Disable Autofill

Autofill automatically completes forms using stored information, which, while convenient, can sometimes cause Safari to lag, especially if there’s a lot of data stored. Disabling this feature can help Safari run more smoothly.

Here’s how you can disable Autofill on Safari:

1. Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. In the Settings window, click the Autofill tab.
3. You will see several options for different types of information that Safari can autofill. Uncheck the boxes next to the types of information you don’t want Safari to autofill.

4. After making the changes, close the window and restart Safari to apply the adjustments.
5. With Autofill disabled, navigate to various websites with forms and assess whether there’s an improvement in Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

9. Update Safari

Running an outdated version of Safari can lead to performance issues, as updates often include optimizations and fixes for known bugs. Ensuring Safari is up-to-date can help resolve slowdowns and enhance browser stability.

Here’s how you can update Safari on Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select App Store from the drop-down menu.

2. In the App Store, click the Updates tab to view available app updates.

3. Scroll through the list of updates and look for Safari. If an update is available, it will be listed here.
4. Click the Update button next to Safari to download and install the latest version.

5. Once the update is complete, close and restart Safari to apply the changes.
6. After updating Safari, navigate different websites and assess whether the browser’s performance has improved.

10. Disable DNS Prefetching

DNS prefetching is a feature that pre-resolves domain names before you click a link, aiming to improve page load times. However, this feature can cause Safari to slow down or become unresponsive on some networks. Disabling it can help alleviate these issues.

Here’s how you can disable DNS prefetching:

1. Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal to open the Terminal application on your Mac.

2. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

defaults write com.apple.safari WebKitDNSPrefetchingEnabled -boolean false

3. Close open Safari windows and relaunch the browser to apply the changes.
4. Navigate through various websites and evaluate whether disabling DNS prefetching has improved Safari’s speed and responsiveness.

11. Switch DNS Provider

The Domain Name System (DNS) translates website names to IP addresses. Sometimes, the default DNS servers provided by your ISP may be slow or overloaded, affecting your browsing speed. Switching to a faster, more reliable DNS provider can enhance your internet speed and Safari’s performance.

Here’s how you can switch your DNS provider:

1. Click the Apple logo and select System Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. In the System Settings window, click Network to access your network settings.

3. In the Network settings window, click Wi-Fi and tap the Details button next to your active Internet connection.

4. Click the DNS tab in the Advanced Settings window.

5. Click the + button below the DNS Servers box.

6. Add Google Public DNS addresses one by one:
   • IPv4 addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
   • IPv6 addresses (if your network supports it): 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
7. If there are existing DNS servers listed, make sure the Google DNS addresses are at the top of the list. You can click and drag the entries to reorder them.
8. Click the OK button in the DNS Servers window to save the changes.

9. After switching the DNS provider, open Safari and browse through different websites to check if there’s an improvement in speed and responsiveness.

12. Kill Resource-intensive Processes

Some processes running on your Mac can consume a significant amount of system resources, affecting the overall performance of your computer and, consequently, Safari. Identifying and terminating these resource-intensive processes can free up system resources and improve Safari’s responsiveness.

Here’s how you can kill resource-intensive processes on your Mac:

1. Open Activity Monitor by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.

2. In Activity Monitor, you’ll see a list of active processes sorted by their usage of system resources such as CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, Network, or Cache.
3. Identify the background process you want to terminate by browsing the list or using the search box at the top-right corner.

4. Select the process you want to terminate to highlight it, and click the X button in the top toolbar.

5. Click the Quit button in the confirmation window to terminate the selected process.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner to free up RAM on your Mac and kill background processes. Here’s how:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open MacKeeper and click Memory Cleaner under the Performance tab.

3. Click Open.

4. Click Clean Memory.

5. It will clean your Mac and free up available memory. You can see how much memory it freed under Last Cleanup.

13. Reset Safari to Factory Defaults

Resetting Safari to factory defaults will remove all your settings, history, bookmarks, and other data. It’s like starting fresh with Safari, which can be helpful if the browser’s performance is severely affected by configurations or corrupted data.

Here’s how you can reset Safari to factory defaults:

1. Before resetting, backup your bookmarks, saved passwords, and any other important data from Safari.
2. Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

3. Navigate to the Extensions tab and uninstall all extensions.

4. Then, go to the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data to remove all website data.

5. Close Safari.
6. Open Finder, click Go, and select Go to Folder.

7. Type the following path and press Enter:

~/Library/Preferences/

8. Locate the file named com.apple.Safari.plist and move it to the Bin.

9. Open Safari again. It should now be reset to its factory defaults.

14. Scan Your Mac for Virus

Malware and viruses can significantly degrade the performance of your Mac and affect Safari’s functionality. Running a thorough virus scan can identify and remove malicious software, potentially resolving any slowdowns in Safari.

Here’s how to run a virus scan on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tab in the left sidebar.

3. Initiate an instant virus scan by clicking the Start Scan button.

4. If any viruses are detected during the scan, click the Fix Items button to resolve the issues.
5. If your system is threat-free, you’ll see a No threats found message. You can tap the Restart button to run the scan again.

6. Enable real-time antivirus protection to safeguard your Mac from future threats by clicking the Enable button.

Once you have configured your security settings, MacKeeper will continue to operate in the background, diligently scanning for threats and actively blocking any malicious activity.

15. Boot Your Mac Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts your Mac in a basic state with only the essential system software. It checks for issues and deletes certain system caches, potentially resolving Safari’s performance problems.

Here’s how to boot your Mac in Safe Mode:

Apple Silicon Macs

1. Click the Apple icon and choose Shut Down from the drop-down menu.

2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely, and press the Power button to turn it on.

3. Keep holding the Power button until you see the Loading startup options screen.

4. Select a volume from the options.

5. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key and click Continue in Safe Mode.

6. Your Mac will restart automatically, and you will see Safe Boot in the menu bar when the login screen appears.

Intel-Based Macs

1. Restart or turn on your Mac and press and hold the Shift ⇧ key immediately.

2. Keep holding the Shift ⇧ key until you see the login screen.
3. Release the Shift ⇧ key and log in to your Mac.
4. You may be asked to log in again.
5. You’ll see Safe Boot in the menu bar on your first or second login window.

Open Safari and navigate through various websites to assess whether the browser’s performance has improved in Safe Mode. After checking Safari’s performance, restart your Mac normally without holding any keys. This will exit Safe Mode.

Speed Up Safari on Your Mac

Navigating through a sluggish Safari can be a test of patience, but armed with the solutions outlined in this guide, you’re well-equipped to tackle any slowdowns head-on. To improve your Safai experience further, here are some more tips for you:

• If your Safari bookmarks disappeared on Mac, many ways exist to restore them without panicking.
• If you don’t want Safari to keep your browsing history, go incognito on a Mac in Safari browser.
• Some pop-ups can be a nuisance and slow down your browser. So, disable unnecessary pop-ups on Safari and improve its speed.

Frequently Asked Questions