Today, We will discuss the best tips for optimizing safari performance on a Mac. Safari is the fastest web browser. But unfortunately, it is not immune to performance issues and slowdowns. For example, you may find Safari constantly crashing. This might be because there are several CPU-intensive tabs open simultaneously, one or two of the Safari extensions are misbehaving, there’s no free RAM, or you haven’t updated to the latest macOS version.
You can solve this issue by force quitting Safari (Command + Option + Escape). There are other workarounds, and you can read about them by clicking https://setapp.com/how-to/safari-keeps-crashing.
Let’s look at some general ways to optimize Safari performance on your Mac, so you get blazing fast speed.
Close the tabs
You may have multiple CPU-intensive tabs open simultaneously. It may be that you have forgotten about those tabs, and they’re simply using your Mac’s resources. Also, some browser tabs might be using more memory than others.
So, if you have many tabs open at once, it may slow down your browser. However, you can speed things up by closing the unimportant tabs.
Clear the temporary and cache files
Safari and all other browsers keep a cache of data from all the visited websites. This takes up storage space and may contribute to performance issues. Therefore, it is a good idea to remove and clear all the temporary and cache files once in a while to improve the web browser’s performance.
You can clear the cache by launching Safari > clicking Preferences > clicking on the Advanced tab > checking the box next to Show Develop Menu in the menu bar > closing the Preferences window, and clicking Develop > Empty Caches.
Remove or disable extensions
Browser extensions consume resources. So, disabling or removing unused extensions is a surefire way to enhance Safari’s performance.
You can do this by launching Safari > clicking Preferences > choosing Extensions > scrolling through the list of extensions, choosing the ones you no longer need > clicking Uninstall, and following the on-screen instructions.
Disable autofill
There’s no doubt that autofill is a valuable tool. Autofill stores logins and passwords. As more data is stored in autofill, the more resources your browser needs to function. To make your browser run faster, you must disable autofill.
Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Autofill > choose Edit next to the items to view and remove the autofill data. Then, you can uncheck the autofill web forms you don’t need anymore.
Update macOS
If you are a Mac user, you already know that Apple drops yearly updates to the operating system. Unfortunately, these macOS upgrades also include new Safari versions.
So, if you fail to install the macOS updates, you fail to use the latest Safari version. Moreover, these updates come with bug fixes and security improvements.
Simply updating macOS may solve several problems you are facing. The browser will perform faster, and you can leverage new features added to the browser. For example, macOS Ventura has added Passkeys and Shared Tab Groups to Safari to make browsing safer and collaboration easier.
You can update your Mac by clicking on the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
Reinstall Safari
If you have tried everything and your browser is still not functioning correctly, you can reset the browser. You can uninstall the browser and then reinstall it.
Finally, check if Safari is down or your Internet is slow
Sometimes, the reasons for your browsing running slow are not in your hands. For example, the issue might be with your Internet connection, or the Safari server might be down.
To check if Safari is down, head to Apple’s system status page. Here, you can find out whether the browser is experiencing any system or server problems. This will be indicated with a red dot next to Safari. In this case, all you can do is wait and hope the servers get fixed quickly.
Next, check whether your Internet connection is slow, and that’s why web pages are taking too long to load. You can use an online speed checker like SpeedTest.Net. If your Internet is not uploading or downloading at the desired rate, you can restart your router.
Also, check whether the Internet-related problem is due to server issues. If so, you must wait. Then, talk to your ISP to rule this out before trying other hacks to fix your Internet connection.
Conclusion
These tips should come to your aid when trying to speed up Safari. First, you must ensure there’s regular maintenance and optimization. You must not install too many extensions that may interfere with your browsing experience or keep too many tabs open that require more memory and CPU.
Also, clearing cache and temporary files is a good practice as it clears storage space and speeds up the browser.
Once you have tried these hacks, Safari is expected to perform speedily. Happy browsing!
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