iCloud Tabs on Safari and zombie tabs...

Question

iCloud Tabs on Safari and zombie tabs...

Yes, it's after halloween, so the allusion is a bit worn; but here's the gist of the issue:

Safari's iCloud Tabs are not refreshing with new tabs from my iPhone; I have zombie tabs that are months old and out of date resurrecting themselves every time I wipe them out (after about 1-2 minutes afterward).

I have tried the following to resolve the issue (numerous times and ways):

Paused Safari sync on both my Mac mini and iPhones, both at the same time, for between 5 and 20 minutes at a stretch. Then one or both devices Safari bookmarks, history, caches, etc. Then restart and repopulate the bookmarks from both a copy of Safari's Bookmarks.plist file taken prior to the pausing of the synching. I re-enable iCloud's sync of Safari from the Mac and then on the iPhone. No good.
Paused Safari sync, as per above; but before re-enabling it, wiped out the contents (having exported to html, all bookmarks) of my bookmarks on both the iPhone and Mac instances of Safari. Then left the sync disabled for at least 20 minutes before starting it up again, first on the Mac then on the iPhone. Again, no joy.
Paused Safari sync and then, logged my Mac and iPhone out of my Apple ID, cleared my Safari bookmarks on the Mac (on the iPhone, I deleted them when pausing the sync) and rebooted both devices. Then I waited ~20 minutes before logging back into my Apple ID on the Mac and enabling the Safari sync to what is not an empty bookmark file. Again, the zombie iCloud Tabs come back.

I have even gone as far as using BookMacster (a long time used app and following their suggestions on how to address Safari synching issues) to not avail. At this point, I have scoured the Communities forums, many Apple related blogs sites (ex. MacRumors and others) for similar issues (and I'm not alone with this issue) and no offered solution has worked.

I do have to note, this only started occurring with Safari 15 coming out on Mac and so, I suspect it is a bug; but I have even tried to synch the Safari bookmarks via my Apple ID on another separate account on my Mac and the zombie iCloud tabs do show up. So it isn't a problem local to my regular User ID (a normal ID, not Admin). Also, I have checked and I have no open or old iCloud Tabs on my iPhone and haven't opened many of the zombie ones at all from it. This issue seems to solely be related to iCloud and iCloud tabs, as when iCloud's Safari sync is enabled, the issue comes back. I have checked my Apple ID and my iCloud.com setup and nothing suggests a solution. I am though getting to the point of contacting Apple directly to resolve the issue.

That said, anyone have suggestions before I do so? Your help is greatly appreciated in advance. And if you're wondering, yes I opened a question last month on this; but with much less detail and thought and can't find it now to update it.

Mac mini, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 9, 2021 8:45 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

WESTCOASTHOPKINS Author

Level 2

466 points

Dec 15, 2021 5:47 AM in response to BlueMinorThird

Hi all,

So, the issue seems to have been resolved after chatting with Apple Support and having them escalate the issue up the support ladder. So the steps outlined in my initial email were right and should have addressed the issue; but didn't. It was only while running through a myriad of additional questions from Apple Support, that the culprit was found, my iPhone's TimeZone setting had been changed from Automatically set to manually set on the closest major timezone city. Once set back to Automatic, voila, the issue resolved itself.

For note, I had left my TimeZone settings on Automatic for ever, so the fact it changed was either a bug in IOS 15 or possibly due to a Shortcut I might have been using that maybe interacted with them (that is speculation).

But the issue is resolved. I hope my trials help someone else.

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Answer 2

Jan 17, 2022 6:09 AM in response to ozziepeeps1982

HI ozziepeeps1982,

So, beyond my initial attempts, the other work that was done (after consultation with upper level Apple Support teams) was to check my iPhone's Time settings (under Settings > General > Date & Time); therein, make sure the Set Automatically is "on" and the Time Zone setting is set for your city. This is what finally stopped the issue for me. I had my Set Automatically "on"; but the Time Zone was set to the prior city from where I live now (I had moved a few months prior to my initial post and the issue started shortly after the move; but I'd not taken that into account. Also, both cities are in the same Time Zone; but hours apart drive-wise).

Post back if this does or doesn't work for you and good luck.

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2021 5:01 PM in response to MichelleT18

So, having reached out to Apple Support and chatted with them for over an hour, the solution seems to have been this:

Reboot into Safe mode and check, then clear my iCloud Tabs
Reboot into normal boot mode and login, checked Safari and no iCloud Tabs showing. I also then for curiosity, when to Safari 15.1's Start Page and in the options unchecked iCloud Tabs and Use Start Page on All Devices
Rebooted in normal mode again and so far, no zombie iCloud Tabs. Checking Safari's Start Page again, there now is no iCloud Tabs option available, so I wonder if it was a circular reference issue between my various devices having Use Start Page on All Devices enabled being the cause.

Either way, it appears to be resolved. For anyone in the same boat, give the suggestions I have tired a go, it might help you.

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Answer 4

Dec 14, 2021 8:49 PM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

There's a much easier way to achieve this that doesn't involve rebooting at all, never mind three times.

First, turn iCloud Tabs off. (System Preferences/iCloud/Safari checklist item.) Either close System Preferences, or go back to the All Preferences view (Command L) to ensure that the change is applied. Wait a little while. I've seen a suggestion, from Apple, that this should be for about a minute, but I didn't leave it for anything like as long.

Second, disconnect from the Internet. Depending on how you're connected, you can do this by turning your wifi connection off, or by removing your ethernet cable, or by turning the ethernet connection off (System Preferences/Network/Ethernet/Configure IPv4: Off). If you use the last option, and you've set the IP address manually, make a note of your settings first.

Third, use another device to check that you can no longer see any tabs from the Mac. If you can still see them, wait a while. It might also help to turn iCloud tabs off via a Start Page, in Safari, on the second device (just make sure to turn them back on again later). This third step probably isn't necessary, but can't hurt apart from slowing you down a little.

Fourth, reconnect to the Internet (reverse step two).

Fifth, turn iCloud Tabs back on (reverse step one).

What this does, in effect, is to wipe out the tabs that have been incorrectly stored in iCloud, and then send a new set of tabs to iCloud that recreates what you currently have open in Safari. From previous experience with this issue, my belief is that a new tab set is only sent to iCloud if you disconnect from the Internet, but there's really no need to reboot into safe mode to achieve that.

Unfortunately, as already noted by WestCoastHopkins, none of this will stop the problem arising again at some point, but the streamlined process does make it far easier to clear when it does happen.

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Answer 5

Nov 12, 2021 7:00 PM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

Well, I spoke too soon.

The issue returned after I upgraded to MacOS 12.0.1 Monterey. Its frequency has slowed; but the issue still occurs (now it recurs after a reboot, even after a Safe mode reboot attempt). The steps I outlined have not worked and so, I will call Apple again. That said, to those who may suffer similar issues, try the same steps; but be aware, it maybe transient in solving the issue.

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Answer 6

Jan 16, 2022 6:00 PM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

Similar issue for me namely having stale iCloud tabs from my iPhone showing on other devices. I see iCloud tabs from six months ago show on my iPad. I was able to clear them from my MacBook Air by following the steps that the original poster describe above - namely booting into safe mode etc as the original poster describes. Whilst this has solved the issue on my MacBook Air, the iPad exhibits the problem still.

I’ve tried all the normal tricks of turning off iCloud tab sync, toggling Wi-Fi, rebooting etc., but it persists. I’m not sure where the problem lies - is it the iPhone pushing stale data, is it the iPad caching stale data? Etc. I’m inclined to say the iPhone side is fine given that the stale tabs no longer show on the MacBook Air, but I cannot figure out how to fix th iPad side. Clearing the stale iPhone tabs via the iPad is only temporary… they reappear moments later.

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Answer 7

Jan 17, 2022 6:18 AM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

Hi WESTCOASTHOPKINS

Yes I had read that in your thread and also tried that. For me, all devices in question (iPhone, iPad and MBA) are set to automatic. I tried toggling them to manual and setting my city, then setting back to automatic. When setting to automatic my city is overwritten by Cupertino. It’s a bit of a moot point as my timezone is the same as Cupertinos.

So in short I tried that to no avail but am willing to try again by perhaps forcing a different time zone first.

Whats interesting in my case is the fact that the iPhone tabs shown on the MBA are correct. It’s their display on the iPad that is wrong…

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Answer 8

Nov 10, 2021 3:25 PM in response to MichelleT18

Thanks MichelleT18.

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Answer 9

tygb

Level 9

65,086 points

Dec 14, 2021 9:42 PM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

See the article Customize the start page in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

Customize your Safari settings on iPhone - Apple Support

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Answer 10

Nov 10, 2021 3:13 PM in response to WESTCOASTHOPKINS

Hello WESTCOASTHOPKINS,

It sounds like your iCloud Tabs are not working as expected as you are seeing old tabs. From the steps you have provided, you've completed If your iCloud or Safari bookmarks aren’t syncing and then some, as well as isolating this down to your Apple ID. In this case, you are on the right track to Contact Apple Support for your next steps.

Have a great week,

Cheers.

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