There’s no doubt that Apple puts in considerable effort to optimize and improve Safari’s performance on Mac computers. This is a graphical web browser that consumes less battery compared to Firefox and Google Chrome, quickly loads websites, and sync data with Apple devices. Despite all the good things, Apple Safari is not completely faultless. It does run into issues sometimes. Some of the problems are assessed below, along with their probable solutions.
Safari can’t Establish a Secure Connection
Since all online activities are primarily done through Safari, the browser is the center of Apple’s ecosystem. But sometimes, you might be stopped from accessing the websites of your choice. Instead of loading the website, the browser might show you the error message “Safari could not establish a secure connection.”
It is essential to note here that this warning or error message is neither a warning nor an error. It is Safari’s way of preventing you from visiting fraudulent websites or stopping cross-site tracking. Sometimes, the message might be because the URL is misspelled, DNS server records are mixed up, the SSL certificate is not installed properly, and the date and time are incorrectly set.
If the error message is trying to stop you from accessing fraudulent websites, it is best you do nothing. Don’t visit the website and look for an alternative. Or you can check whether the date and time are correct and the URL is spelled correctly. You can also change to a different DNS server and install antivirus software to ensure the website you are trying to visit is safe.
Safari is Not Responding
Several Mac users are known to complain that Safari is unresponsive or frozen. It is a common scenario but a perplexing one. It can cause immense frustration if the issue isn’t resolved as soon as possible.
If Safari is not working on your Mac, you can try the following fixes:
- Reboot your Mac
- Force quit Safari and relaunch the browser
- Check for Safari updates and install them
- Clear outdated browser cache and launch the browser again
- Disable outdated and unoptimized extensions that might be the culprit
- Boot up in Safe mode to determine whether a software or app is interfering with the normal functioning of the browser
If nothing works, you may have to reinstall Safari to start browsing seamlessly again.
Safari Is Slow
A slow-running Safari is another common problem, and if this happens, it might be because of different factors.
First, you might be running multiple tabs on the browser. With a gazillion tabs running simultaneously, it is possible the browser ends up performing slower than expected. You can consider shutting down some of them to boost Safari’s speed and performance.
Second, there might be a significant amount of outdated cookies, cache, and website data history stored in the browser. Most of these are redundant and can impact the way the browser functions. You can clear your browsing history to improve your Internet browsing experience.
Safari is Frequently Crashing
Is your browser frequently crashing? Is it abruptly quitting? This can be vexing, especially when trying to finish an urgent project or stream your favorite TV show.
Typically, the browser crashes when it is attempting to engage with websites that rely on JavaScript. Luckily, there’s a workaround for this issue, and that is by updating your system to the latest macOS version.
If the browser crashes immediately after launch, it might be because there are multiple tabs running simultaneously. Hence, the browser doesn’t have enough resources to run. You can consider opening fewer tabs.
You can also check whether there are other apps and processes running in the background with high memory and CPU usage. Sometimes, the browser crashes because there’s a lack of memory and other system resources. You can head to the Activity Monitor and close all the redundant processes to free up memory so the browser can perform optimally.
Safari is Using Too Much Memory
Safari is not known for consuming too much memory on Mac computers because this browser is optimized for the Apple ecosystem. The primary reason why Mac users prefer this web browser is because it is lightweight, secure, and fast.
Hence, if it starts consuming too much memory, it is a cause for concern. But you can quickly solve the issue by implementing these fixes:
- If you have opened multiple tabs on the browser and forget to close the ones you no longer need, the browser might end up consuming a lot of memory. To fix high memory usage, simply close the tabs you don’t need.
- Cleaning up the browser’s start page is another step toward fixing the high memory usage issue. If you have too many add-ons, remove the ones you don’t need.
- Disabling unused extensions is another excellent solution.
The Bottom Line
These are the common Safari problems complained about by Mac users and their solutions. Hopefully, you will not face any major disruptions in your workflow after implementing these fixes.
