Safari is the most popular browser on Mac. But being widely used doesn’t mean Safari is a perfect browser. For example, one of the most frustrating issues is when Safari won’t open on Mac. For whatever reason, the browser will get stuck in loading and fail to open.
Hi, I’m Andreas, and I have encountered this issue before. I’m here to share with you about the possible reasons and fixes when Safari won’t open on Mac.
If this happens to you regularly or for the first time, this guide will solve the problem and explain why it happens. So without wasting too much of your time, let’s start.
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3 Possible Reasons Why Safari Won’t Open on Mac
Reason 1: Outdated Safari Version
Apple addresses issues and bugs, and implements fixes for the Safari browser in the form of software updates. Apple issues updates in the form of macOS updates and specific updates for each application. So, if you need to update the browser, you don’t need to launch Safari.
Reason 2: Safari Is Stuck
Sometimes even Safari gets stuck, preventing it from launching. The problem with Safari getting stuck is that your Mac “thinks” Safari is open when, in fact, it isn’t.
Reason 3: Problematic Extensions
Sometimes a faulty extension can also be the cause, when this happens, you need to delete the extension.
4 Solutions to Safari Won’t Open on Mac
Regardless of why Safari won’t open, the fixes I will discuss will help troubleshoot the problem and help you find a solution. Let’s start.
Solution 1: Quit And Force Quit Safari
If Safari isn’t opening on your Mac, the easiest thing is to quit and then force quit the browser. To quit Safari do the following:
Step 1: Click on “Safari” from the Dock and select “Quit.”
Step 2: Launch Safari and see if that solves the problem.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, try force quitting. To force quit Safari, do the following:
Step 1: Click “Option” + “Command” + “Escape.”
Step 2: The “Force Quit Applications” menu will appear. Find Safari and click “Force Quit.”
Step 3: Launch Safari.
Solution 2: Restart Mac
Sometimes the issue isn’t Safari-related, but Mac-related. In that case, the easiest solution is to restart your Mac. So, restart your Mac, launch Safari, and see if that solves the issue.
I should mention that restarting the browser will get Safari unstuck. More so, it might help you if an extension is a reason why Safari isn’t opening. As soon as you restart your Mac, use the following solution.
Solution 3: Disable Extensions
If an extension is causing an issue and preventing Safari from opening, you want to disable that particular extension or all extensions. This effective troubleshooting method helps you figure out which extension prevents the browser from working as intended.
Although time-consuming, you can remove the last few extensions, hopefully solving the problem. Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Click “Safari” on the Dock and click once again on “Safari” in the top navigation. Select “Preferences”.
Step 2: Go to “Extensions“.
Step 3: You will see a list of all Safari extensions. Disable or Uninstall the potentially buggy or harmful extensions and any other extensions you might not be familiar with, let alone use.
Step 4: Relaunch and monitor the browser. If the issue persists, try some of the other solutions or repeat the steps and deselect more extensions.
Solution 4: Update your macOS
If you have a pending software update, download and install it. A pending update could resolve the issue altogether. If Apple notices something wrong with the browser, they will quickly troubleshoot and issue a fix.
To update your Mac and Safari, do the following:
Step 1: Click on the “Apple” Menu and go to “System Preferences“
Step 2: Click on “Software Updates”.
Step 2: If there’s a software update, go ahead and update your MacOS by clicking on “Upgrade Now” and following the step-by-step process.
I hope this short guide helps fix the issue you are facing. Leave a comment below if you have any questions.
