Why Can't Safari Open So Many Websites?

Every day it seems I can't get to where I want to go. I either bump into the security warning about a site, making me jump through four windows, including entering my password, just to get to sites I've used often in the past. And other times, I run into it "not being able to establish a secure connection"!


Again, this happens with some very common, well-used sites, like major news networks, online information sites, and sometimes will even block me from navigating to other pages on the same site I'm already on! What the **** is going on with this? Why is navigation so challenging, so many roadblocks, as well as sometimes it will simply stall out, not able to open or display any type of error window? I don't have any of these kinds of issue with any other browser, and Safari is Apple's own, and you'd think, have the least issues, and run the smoothest, but not.


And when it can't make a connection, it doesn't give any advice as to what to do about it. I know the site is there, is safe, and many others have gone to the specific page, but I hit a brick wall, with no options...

iMac 27" 5K, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 16, 2020 12:19 PM

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3 replies

Apr 17, 2020 1:13 PM in response to Saxman

Hello Saxman,



Thanks for that info and for choosing the Apple Support Communities. If I understand correctly, you are unable to access certain websites in the Safari app on your Mac. To help with this, please update your Mac and then follow the steps in this Apple resource on Safari issues:



If Safari doesn't load a page or webpage items are missing

How to update the software on your Mac

Use the App Store to update apps on Mac



Cheers!

Apr 28, 2020 9:50 AM in response to Saxman

Thanks for replying, Saxman, and that additional info, it really helps! You can figure out if unexpected behavior is related to a user file or setting by trying to reproduce the issue from another user account. This process includes creating a new user account, logging in to it, and testing for the issue.



How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac



Next, use safe mode to start up your Mac as it does the following things:



  • Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
  • Loads only required kernel extensions
  • Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
  • Disables user-installed fonts
  • Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files



Log in to your user account and test the issue while in safe mode and then restart normally and test the issue again.



How to use safe mode on your Mac

Graphics performance limited in macOS Recovery, safe mode, or Guest User mode



Have a great day and thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!

Apr 26, 2020 6:46 PM in response to Leanne_68

By updating my Mac, do you mean my OS? I don't want to move to Catalina right now, and I sincerely doubt that has anything to do with Safari either not opening sites, or giving me the warning window that it might be an harmful site (when it's often major media or other sites that I've been to many times, or are not unsafe in the least). I don't have a fraction of the issue in opening sites, on any other browser but Safari, ironic, as that should be the most user-friendly, but it's anything but that.

And when it suggests removing cookies, cache & other things stored, while viewing the list of sites in my Privacy Preferences, I notice that it tells me nothing but generic, non-specific info. It doesn't say how much space, how many cookies, etc, like other browsers do. I guess I naively thought that using the native Apple browser would mean less issues, and easier navigation, but I can this is not the case...

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Why Can't Safari Open So Many Websites?

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