How to fix Safari not loading pages on Mac: 12 tips to try

Trying to browse the web, but Safari can't open pages? There's nothing more frustrating. It's only when something goes wrong with your go-to browser that you realize just how much you rely on it.

Although annoying, issues and glitches with Safari can be quickly fixed with some simple and straightforward troubleshooting steps, and that's where we step in.

Join us as we explore common causes and provide solutions to get Safari back up and running smoothly. Let's start by understanding why Safari struggles to open webpages.

Why can't Safari can't open the page?

When Safari won't load, there's no point diving into troubleshooting before understanding the underlying causes. Here's a quick review of some of the common reasons:

• Internet connection issues

• Outdated system software

• Safari cache and cookies

• Corrupt extensions

• Malware infection

• VPN causing page load failures

• iCloud Private Relay and built-in Hide IP address preventing some websites from loading

• DNS issues

• Wrong date and time

It can be challenging to pinpoint what's causing your specific problem, so work your way through our troubleshooting tips below one by one, and let's get this issue fixed.

Fixes: Safari won't load pages

Before you begin troubleshooting, test whether it is Safari or your internet connection. Try opening the webpage in another browser. If it opens, the problem is Safari-specific; if it does not, jump straight to tip 1 below to check your connection.

If the problem is Safari-specific, there are a few quick basic checks:

• First, press Command + R to reload the page. 

• Next up, disable VPN in System Settings > VPN.

• If it still does not load, force quit Safari (press Option + Command + Escape > select Safari > Force Quit) and check if it fixes the issue. 

• If it did not help, restart your MacBook. Many "frozen" or stuck loading issues resolve immediately.

Still no luck? Follow the steps below one by one. 

1. Check your connection

Let's start by ruling out internet issues; here are a few things to try:

• Toggle your Wi-Fi on and off

• Forget your network and connect to it once again

• Restart your router

• Contact your internet provider and check for issues

2. Reload the webpage without content blockers

It may be that an extension is blocking the website you’re trying to open. So, try reloading it without content blockers. Here’s what to do: 

1. Right-click the reload icon and choose Settings for [website].

2. Deselect the checkbox next to Enable content blockers.

3. Reload your page.

If the page loads successfully, a content blocker extension is the cause — go to Safari > Settings > Extensions to identify and disable it. Test again.

3. Update your macOS

If you're running outdated system software, you may encounter all kinds of glitches, just like Safari can't open pages on your Mac. Luckily, updating your software is super easy; here's how:

1. Open the main Apple menu and go to System Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If you're due an update, follow the steps on your screen to install it.

Updating macOS also updates Safari since it is preinstalled with the operating system. So, keeping it up-to-date may fix any loading issues.

4. Remove built-up data

A buildup of cache, cookies, and browsing history will slow Safari down. One way to check if the glitch is caused by cookies is by browsing in private mode; here's how:

• Right-click Safari and select New Private Window.

• Try browsing or accessing the webpage you previously couldn't load.

If the site works in private mode, follow these steps to clear its stored data. We suggest removing not only cookies, but all data buildup. Here's how to clean it.

How to remove your browsing history

1. Open Safari.

2. Select the main Safari menu > Clear History.

3. Select all history from the dropdown and click Clear History.

How to remove cookies and cache

1. Select the main Safari menu > Settings > Privacy.

2. Click Manage Website Data > Remove All.

If you want to remove cookies for your specific website that won’t load, simply type its name in the search bar, select it, and click Remove. 

How to remove cache files

1. Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced. 

2. Select the checkbox next to Show features for web developers. 

3. Now, click Develop in the menu bar and choose Empty Caches. 

Restart Safari and try browsing again.

If it all sounds like a lot of work, jump to the next step — resetting Safari with a dedicated Mac maintenance app. 

5. Reset Safari

If updating your macOS didn't help and you do not want to clean it up manually, then it's time to reset Safari. This refreshes the app, putting it back to its original state and removing any corrupt cache and cookies that may be causing your initial problem.

Do this quickly by using a dedicated tool like CleanMyMac. This app comes with the Applications feature that handles app resets in a few easy clicks, even for preinstalled apps like Safari. 

Here's how to reset misbehaving apps with CleanMyMac:

1. Open CleanMyMac — get your free trial here.

2. Click Applications > Scan > Manage My Applications.

3. In the Uninstaller tab, locate Safari in the list of all apps and click the arrow next to its name.

4. Select everything except Binaries and click Remove.

6. Remove corrupt extensions

When was the last time you reviewed the extensions you installed in Safari? If it's been a while, it's worth taking a few minutes to review them and delete any you no longer need or use. They can become outdated and even corrupt over time, causing page load issues; here's how:

1. Open Safari.

2. Select the main Safari menu (click Safari at the top left of the menu bar) and go to Settings > Extensions.

3. Review items and click Uninstall under any extension you no longer want.

4. Restart Safari to see if your pages are now loading.

7. Check time and date

If your Mac’s time and date are incorrect, Safari cannot verify SSL/TLS security certificates and will refuse to load any HTTPS website. It may then result in errors like "This Connection Is Not Private" or "Safari can't open the page." 

Here’s how to check time and date on MacBook: 

1. Go to System Settings > General > Date & Time. 

2. Enable Set time and date automatically and choose Apple as source. 

3. Restart Safari and check again.

8. Check for malware

Next, it's time to consider malware. Malware is becoming increasingly intelligent, and it can disrupt normal browser functions by:

• Blocking site access

• Injecting ads or pop-ups

• Stealing login or sensitive data

• Corrupting browser files

If you've tried all the other troubleshooting tips and nothing has worked, malware may be affecting Safari.

Run a full system scan with your antivirus or antimalware tool. If you don't have one, take this as a friendly hint to invest in one. XProtect from Apple is a start, but it's not enough.

How to check for new macOS threats

The tool we discussed above, CleanMyMac, has the Protection feature that can help you identify new macOS vulnerabilities and protect you from the latest threats.

Here's how to use it:

1. Open up the app and click Protection.

2. Click Scan to check for threats, including browser infections.

3. If any threats are found, click Remove.

9. Disable iCloud Private Relay and Hide IP address

These features are important for enhancing your privacy, but they may interrupt page loading. Here’s how to test. 

1. In Safari, go to Settings > Privacy. 

2. Deselect the checkbox next to Hide IP address from trackers. 
   
   

3. Now, go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud. 

4. Scroll to Private Relay and turn it off. 

Test Safari. Do not forget to enable these features back after you no longer need to access the webpage.

10. Change DNS settings

If your ISP's DNS is slow, misconfigured, or blocking certain sites, switching to a reliable public DNS can fix loading issues. You can do it in network settings: 

1. Go to System Settings > Network.

2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.

3. Go to the DNS tab, click the + button, and add: 8.8.8.8 > OK.

4. Add a second one: 8.8.4.4 > OK.

While there, also click TCP/IP > Renew DHCP Lease. This refreshes your IP address assignment and can fix connectivity glitches.

11. Check Screen Time restrictions 

If only certain categories of websites do not load, it may be that someone has set Screen Time restrictions. Even if you have an admin account, you won’t be able to access websites that have been blocked. Here’s how to check:

1. Go to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy under Restrictions.

2. Under App Store, Media, Web, & Games, find Access to Web Content and check the setting: "Unrestricted Access" means no blocking; "Limit Adult Websites" or "Allowed Websites Only" may be blocking your site.

3. To disable: toggle Content & Privacy off or switch Web Content to "Unrestricted Access."

12. Advanced fixes

If none of the above has worked, make your way through these extra fixes: 

• Boot your Mac into safe mode. If Safari is working in safe mode, disable login items in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

• Delete Safari preferences files (it may have become corrupted): quit Safari, open a new Finder window, press Command + Shift + G, and paste this path followed by Return:
  ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist. Send the file to the Trash. Once you open Safari, it will re-create this file.

Quick recap: How to fix specific error messages

Encountering issues with Safari not loading web pages can be frustrating, but with the right approach, most problems can be resolved quickly. Be sure to work through all of the suggestions in this article and get your favorite browser back up and browsing. Be sure to bookmark this page for future reference.