Safari on macbook pro keeps logging out of all websites every 20 mins

FWIW, this started happening to me today, but I found a suggestion on a Mac forum to quit Safari, then delete the ~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.binarycookies file. That seems to have fixed the issue for me. Apparently that file can be corrupted.

This is a known issue, it's often related to having the "Develop" menu enabled. I've noticed if I disable the "Develop" menu, it stops happening immediately. In previous versions it would be fixed by using the reset option: Develop -> Experimental Features -> Reset all to defaults. But in the current version of Safari, the Experimental Features have been moved to the "Feature Flags" tab in the Safari settings, so I'm not sure if that works anymore.

Good afternoon Dank13,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

It sounds like you are being logged out of websites using Safari, and we'd like to help.

How long has this been going on? Are you using the Private browsing feature in Safari? Is it possible that some of the websites that you are updating have a time-out feature for security purposes? This could happen in other secure sites like banking, etc.

You mentioned deleting history and clearing caches, but have you also changed the cookie settings for the affected websites? Try closing all of the windows, restarting your computer in Safe mode, and opening Safari with private windows. Let us know if this makes a difference.

Start up your Mac in safe mode

If Safari doesn't open a page or work as expected on your Mac

Take care.

For me the problem went away when I removed the Developer Tools.

(Settings-Advanced at the bottom "Show features for web developers" - untick/de-select)

Hi Dank13,

The available update information for your Safari version is shown at About the security content of Safari 16.5.1 which mentions "Description: A type confusion issue was addressed with improved checks."

However, narrowing down possible causes for this behavior should be completed to rule out other possible causes. To begin, install another browser and see if the issue continues in that software.

You may also test using safe mode per How to use safe mode on your Mac. Note that this article includes follow-up steps based on the results to further address possible causes.

Regards.

I found something else that worked for me. I set up a separate profile in Safari and it hasn't happened yet on that profile. You can set up a profile in Settings under the Profiles tab.

"Disabling "hide IP address from trackers" seem to have resolved the issue." Where can that setting be changed? Also, I wonder what other consequences there might be by changing it. This issue seems to be related to an automatic update to Ventura 13.4.1 and Safari 16.5.1. It's an issue as a time waster on any private computer.

Disabling the "Developer" menu has not solved this issue for me, but it has slowed down the occurrence rate. Previously (on a bad day) I would be asked to login to websites every 10 minutes or so (between those times Safari is not idle in activity either - I'm watching a YT video for instance). Disabling the menu has slowed the occurrence down to maybe 20-30 minutes...

I've also noticed that clearing all browser caches removes the problem for maybe around a day (max) then the issue returns.

I'm having the same issue - I have to log in to every website every time. I also have to connect to wifi every time I change locations or shut down and open again. I gather from what you two have said, and from the nonresponse from Apple, that it's time to switch to Chrome.