Safari keeps crashing

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Safari keeps crashing

Safari is repeatedly crashing - not immediately after opening it, but after a few hours. I use my computer constantly at work, and it crashes at least 2 or 3 times per day. I've tried all of the standard steps - deleting the plist files, wiping the cache, disabling extensions (all I have installed is the newest version of AdBlock). I also know it's not a hardware issue or RAM issue, as I just got the newest Pro with more RAM and the problem has occurred on both my old Air and my Pro. Activity Monitor doesn't show Safari using excessive CPU power or RAM before the crashes occur and Safari doesn't freeze - it just crashes at completely random times for seemingly no reason. Any idea how to fix this? I'm happy to provide additional info.

MacBook Pro 13”, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jul 10, 2019 12:12 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Jul 10, 2019 1:34 PM in response to Yoshimax

Try setting up another admin user account in System Preferences/Users & Groups 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

Yoshimax Author

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9 points

Jul 13, 2019 8:13 AM in response to Eric Root

I'll test it at work on Monday but are you sure it could be the RAM? I literally just upgraded to a new Mac so my RAM would be doubled and I'm not running that many programs sometimes when it crashes (Just Spotify, Finder, and Safari plus whatever processes are running in the background). I've been checking Activity Monitor after each crash and the chart is green every time so I interpreted that to mean that the RAM isn't being overworked. My old laptop continually had a yellow/red Activity Monitor chart. If it's the RAM that's really disappointing because more RAM was the reason I upgraded.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Jul 16, 2019 10:55 AM in response to Yoshimax

It may not help, but try running/posting the Etrecheck report in your normal account.

You can also try reinstalling the OS to get a fresh copy of Safari.

Do a backup, preferable 2 separate ones on 2 drives. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart). Run Disk Utility and select First Aid. Then re-install the OS.

Reinstall from macOS Recovery

OS X Recovery

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Answer 4

Yoshimax Author

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9 points

Jul 12, 2019 8:34 PM in response to Eric Root

Hey! Testing this issue takes a while since the crashes happen so randomly so I only had a chance to test the alternate admin account. That worked though (no crashes during 8 hours of continuous use) so it must be some sort of problem with my local account data/software. I ran EtreCheck. Here's the log: https://pastebin.com/MZQPuats (It was too long to directly paste into the chat.)

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Jul 13, 2019 7:59 AM in response to Yoshimax

I don't see any 3rd party software that normally causes problem; however, you have so much 3rd party software running it appears to be almost maxing out your RAM. Try restarting the computer and do not open any programs but Safari. Test that way for a while and see if it still crashes.

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Jul 13, 2019 8:38 AM in response to Yoshimax

I am not certain it is the amount of RAM. What I suggested is an attempt to see if minimizing the open programs and background processes made any difference. If it does, then one of the programs or the background processes may be the problem.

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Answer 7

Yoshimax Author

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9 points

Jul 15, 2019 8:43 PM in response to Eric Root

That makes sense. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the crashing though. It just crashed again when all I had open was Safari, Finder, and Messages. I tried disabling AdBlock earlier too and it crashed when AdBlock was disabled so it's definitely not an extension issue. I don't know what else to try other than quitting background processes.

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Answer 8

Yoshimax Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2019 11:15 AM in response to Eric Root

I actually ran it in my normal account last time. I could try it in a secondary account to see if there's any difference between the reports. Would that help at all? I'll contact Support to see if they have any solutions but I agree that reinstalling the OS might be the only thing that'll fix this.

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Answer 9

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

Jul 16, 2019 11:34 AM in response to Yoshimax

The secondary account might not be running what is cause the crashes. If you want to make a comparison between the 2, it might show something. Earlier, you posted it worked in the 2nd account, so it seems to be an account based problem.

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Answer 10

Yoshimax Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2019 10:46 AM in response to Eric Root

It's working fine in Safe Mode. 6 hours of continuous usage with no crashes. So something's triggering the crashes.

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