Safari can slow down from overloaded website data, old cache files, extensions, too many tabs, low Mac storage, or a network issue. You can work through those causes without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords.
This guide applies to Safari on recent macOS versions.
Does This Affect You?
Use these steps if pages load slowly, scrolling stutters, new tabs pause, or Safari repeatedly shows the spinning wait cursor.
Clear Cache and Website Data
- Open Safari and choose Safari > Settings.
- Open Advanced and enable developer features if needed to show the Develop menu.
- Open Develop > Empty Caches.
- Open Safari Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.
- Remove website data and confirm.
- Quit Safari with Command + Q and reopen it.
Turn Off Extensions
- Open Safari > Settings > Extensions.
- Disable extensions you do not use daily.
- Reload a slow page and test.
- Turn extensions back on one at a time to find the slow one.
- Uninstall extensions you no longer need.
Close Tabs and Check Storage
- Review open tabs and close ones you are using as reminders.
- Use bookmarks or Reading List instead of keeping many tabs loaded.
- Check Mac storage and free space if the drive is nearly full.
- Restart the Mac after a large cleanup.
More Safari Fixes
Reset Safari More Fully
If Safari has been slow or crash-prone for a long time, use a deeper Safari reset workflow after backing up anything important.
One Slow Website
Test the site in a Private Browsing window. If it works there, cookies, cache, or an extension for that site may be the cause.
Autoplaying Media
Use the speaker icon in the address bar to find or mute tabs playing audio or video in the background.
Check the Network
If Safari stays slow with no extensions after a restart, compare the same page on another device using the same Wi-Fi.
Sources
- Apple Support: Clear cache in Safari on Mac
- Apple Support: Manage extensions in Safari on Mac
- Apple Support: If Safari is slow to load webpages