Alert - Make Safari the default web browser

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Level 1

8 points

Alert - Make Safari the default web browser

Hello,

I have seen related posts regarding the alert below:

“Alert - Safari imported these when you started using it on 16 September 2015, so you could try out Safari with your data. Make Safari the default web browser“

however a few solutions provided by the community (dominic23, Eric Root, etc) ask the user to go to Safari but in my case Safari window pops up with this alert and then impossible to do anything. I can't close the windows, nothing. I have to 'Force Quit' the Safari application.

Then I tried to delete the file “com.apple.Safari.plist“ in the library but the file doesn't exist. I have 3 other files:

com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncAgent.plist

com.apple.Safari.SafeBrowsing.plist

com.apple.Safari.SandboxBroker.plist

Any other solution to solve this issue?

thank you.

Degoult.

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 29, 2019 4:58 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Apr 29, 2019 7:21 AM in response to Degoult

Try reopening Safari with the shift key held down.

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.

Isolating an issue by using another user account

Safe Mode - About

If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply Pastebin

Etrecheck – System Information

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Answer 2

Degoult Author

Level 1

8 points

May 9, 2019 1:18 AM in response to Eric Root

I don't think I have issues with my softwares or have any viruses, the computer works perfectly. This is (I guess) only a bug from Safari. I didn't use Safari because of this bug since 2015, and was using Firefox and Chrome instead. I could continue this way, however now Mail ask me to complete the authentication of my gmail email address in Safari:

so that's why I wrote to the Apple Community to find out how to fix this bug with Safari. When I open Safari to complete the authentication of my Gmail email address in Mail, everything is blocked. And cannot get access my gmail email in Mail anymore... If I could delete Safari from my computer it would be also fine for me, but I guess Apple doesn't allow the user to do that...

I have run the Anti-malware and got the message “Congratulations, you're clean!“

I have also removed all login items. Restarted the computer and did not open any applications except Safari. Same issue. The alert block Safari. Nothing can be done and I have to “Force Quit“.

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Answer 3

Degoult Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2019 12:27 AM in response to Eric Root

Regarding the first suggestion:

I tried to reopening Safari with the shift key held down and the Alert window disappears the first time. However, I could not do anything. I tried to click somewhere in the safari window or close the window but I heard all the time the same sound that means “errors“ or “cannot do this action“, like another window was active waiting for my reply. Nothing could be done so I have to “force quit“ again.

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Apr 30, 2019 7:37 AM in response to Degoult

You are welcome. Did Safari work in the Safe Mode? It may not help, but try running/posting the Etrecheck report.

You can also check for adware/malware. Try downloading this program which was written by Thomas R, a long time poster. The program will search for malware/adware The program will do the work for you which makes it easy. It may be necessary to run more than one scan. After running the scans, restart the computer.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac 10.10 and later

Malwarebytes uninstall

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Answer 5

Degoult Author

Level 1

8 points

May 8, 2019 7:20 AM in response to Eric Root

Sorry for the late reply. I tried to restart the computer in “Safe Boot“ but the error persists. The alert pops-up the same way and blocks the use of Safari.

I have downloaded the EtreCheck app and run the program. You will find the report via the link below –in a TextEdit version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/orecrveu3djm0cc/Etrecheck_Report.rtf?dl=0

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

May 8, 2019 8:42 AM in response to Degoult

I don't see any software that normally causes problems. Try going to System Preferences/Users & Groups and remove all your login items. Restart the computer and do not open any applications except Safari. Test.

Something else to try. Download this program which was written by Thomas R, a long time poster. The program will search for malware/adware The program will do the work for you which makes it easy. It may be necessary to run more than one scan. After running the scans, restart the computer.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac 10.10 and later

Malwarebytes uninstall

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Answer 7

Degoult Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2019 4:04 AM in response to Eric Root

yes I actually tried the first time you asked me to create another admin user account and it didn't work. I set up my Gmail email in Mail and then received the same message asking me to complete the authentication in Safari. I did it and it worked with this new admin user account . As soon as I used again my first user account, the same window appears with the same issue.

I will try to follow the instructions from Google as you have suggested - thank you.

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Answer 8

May 14, 2019 9:21 AM in response to Degoult

Hey Degoult, I just wanted to say that I have the exact same problem as you are describing... I spent an hour with apple services and they were no help unfortunately, I guess I will just have to wait and not use the mail app anymore, which is really a shame. Or perhaps I need to make a whole new account and eventually move all my documents to that new account. Hopefully someone can find a solution to this.

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