Safari is Mac’s native browser and it is also the preferred choice over other browsers because it’s lightweight, less RAM-consuming, and Apple puts effort into making the browser better with each update.
But once in a while, you may see Safari show you this: Safari Can’t Find the Server!
And you’re automatically frustrated because 15 minutes ago you could open that page without any problem. You try a few times but no luck.
So what does it mean when the browser cannot find the server?
Hi, I’m Andreas, and I’ve encountered this issue more times than I would prefer. Stick around and I’ll tell you why this issue occurs and how to fix it.
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2 Possible Reasons Why Safari Can’t Find Server on Mac
Apple markets Safari as one of the most secure web browsers. This is due to the built-in security features that significantly improve your safety while browsing the internet. Here are the potential reasons Safari can’t find a server on Mac.
Reason 1: Apple Security Features
Apple takes security very seriously. And that’s precisely why Safari prevents access to some web pages. You will get the Safari server error when you visit these web pages. The error will read: “Safari Can’t Open the Page.” One of the reasons why this happens is down to a thing called SSL.
SSL or Secure Sockets Layer is a certificate that tells the browser that the website has encryption features.
Encryption protects data and makes it difficult for someone else to get ahold of it. Another type of certificate is SSH (Secure Shell Access). If the website doesn’t have SSL or SSH, Safari might block access to the webpage.
Reason 2: Safari Is Buggy
This has to do with Safari itself. Although I can’t be 100% certain, sometimes Safari blocks access to popular webpages like YouTube, Spotify, or Twitter.
Reason 1 and Reason 2 go interchangeably, as Apple also implements security features to Safari to protect you while browsing online. Sometimes, Safari mistakes a popular website as a security concern.
These two reasons aren’t the only culprits. For example, if your internet connection is poor, Safari will have difficulty connecting to the server. So, with plenty of more reasons why the error occurs, let’s look at the available fixes.
Solutions to Fix Safari Can’t Connect to Server Error on Mac
Now that you understand some of the reasons why this error occurs let’s look at the possible solutions.
Solution 1: Reload Page
A simple solution is to reload the webpage. No doubt you’ve probably done this before, but sometimes your Mac will encounter connection issues and suspend webpage access.
In that case, refresh the webpage and see if your Mac has established an internet connection. Press the “Command” + “R” keys for a quick reload.
Solution 2: Disable Extensions
Another simple but highly effective solution is disabling extensions. Apple makes enormous strides when it comes to utilizing third-party applications for Safari. But some extensions might be why Safari can’t establish a connection to the website’s server. Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Click on the “Safari” menu and go to “Preferences.”
Step 2: Then go to the “Extensions” tab.
Step 2: You will see a list of every extension you’ve downloaded. Click on a potential extension that might be a security concern, and uncheck the green checkmark. You can also delete the extension by selecting the extension and clicking on the “Uninstall” button.
Step 3: Reload the webpage and see if that solves the problem.
You can repeat the steps to figure out which extension is the problem.
Solution 3: Check Your DNS Settings
Sometimes, the problem is with your Mac’s DNS (Domain Name Server) settings. Every application uses your DNS settings when connecting to the web. So if there’s an issue with the DNS settings, you can change the addresses to solve the problem.
Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Go to System Preferences and “Network.”
Step 2: Click on “Advanced.”
Step 3: Click on “DNS” from the top tab.
Step 4: You can see the DNS servers on the left side. On the same side, click on the “+” icon. You will see several options, but you can change the DNS server to 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4. Click OK to finish.
Refresh the website and see if that solves the issue.
Conclusion
Safari implements many security features that might prevent the browser from accessing a website’s server. There are several reasons for this issue, from SSL and SSH checks to poor internet connection.
I’ve given you three solutions how to solve the problem and I’m confident these will solve the Safari server error. Let me know how you fixed these issues, leave a comment below.
