Safari address bar is slow to accept typing

Question

Safari address bar is slow to accept typing

This issue is with Safari Version 26.1 (20622.2.11.119.1)

Safari takes forever to accept typing in the address bar. I can insert my cursor into the address bar field and then it will start the spinning beachball why I wait for it to decide to accept the cursor. Then when I start to type I must wait while it decides to accept the characters, often seeing the beachball again while it decides to accept the typing.

I used to rely heavily of auto-fill as I frequent sites regularly but this is near impossible now as I wait for Safari to catch up with my typing.

I also have Chrome and Firefox installed. While Safari has been my primary browser for many, many years I need all three browsers as I am a web designer. Neither Chrome nor Firefox displays this behaviour. I can insert my cursor in the address bar, start typing right away and everything works as expected: it accepts my typing and/or auto-fill is fast when I use it.

Any way to fix this lag with Safari and return it to its former self? I feel I'm being forced to use Chrome when, frankly, I don't want to. I just can't wait for Safari to work as expected.

Running an older MacBook Pro - here are the settings:

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro15,1

Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Core i9

Processor Speed: 2.9 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 6

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 12 MB

Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled

Memory: 32 GB

System software: Sequoia 15.7.2 (cannot update to newer system software due to age of system).

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Nov 28, 2025 5:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

77,750 points

Dec 3, 2025 8:07 AM in response to Josef Stevens

1 — Have you installed any Safari extensions? If it only happens with Safari, Safari extensions would not affect other browsers. That is one possibility. If so, delete all and test. Add them back on at a time until something goes BOINK. The last added before trouble returns is a suspect extension.

2 — Have you emptied the caches? If not, use Safari Settings > Advanced tab to enable the Develop menu. Then you can quickly access the "Empty caches..." function:

3 — The presence of unneeded aftermarket utilities like anti-virus, so-called "cleaning" apps, or even client-side VPNs ( the ones overhyped in TV adverts) may affect Safari other1 browsers.

An EtreCheck report that John recommends can answer a lot of questions, saving you time here. Etrecheck is the work product on one of our most respected contributors here, developed expressly for showing system issues WITHOUT compromising any secure or personal data on the computer. It is our single best tool for effective assistance in this setting where we can neither see not remotely access your computer.

Please post the entire report. What seems insignificant to a new Etrecheck user can speak volumes to those of us who have reviewed thousands of those reports.

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Answer 2

Dec 3, 2025 8:06 AM in response to Josef Stevens

Same issue on MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro and MacBook Air M1 using Safari 26.1 and macOS 15.7.2.

Solution is to downgrade to Safari 18.6 as apparently the Safari 26.0 and 26.1 have this bug only. And this bug has been in the Safari 26 since the release.

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

155,060 points

Nov 28, 2025 10:59 AM in response to Josef Stevens

Several suggestions, in no particular order.

Please determine if the same problems occur in "Safe Mode": Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Try changing Safari's Search Engine to whatever it is to something else: Change Search settings in Safari on Mac - Apple Support
EtreCheck: How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community

Reply with your observations and the EtreCheck report please.

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Answer 4

JMKozi

Level 1

12 points

Dec 3, 2025 7:26 AM in response to Josef Stevens

I see this same issue (same OS and Safari version) on MacBook Air M2 (16GB). It is specifically in the address bar as Josef described. Clearing cache doesn't help. Other browsers and apps are fine. Only way to "fix" it is to quit or force quit Safari. It will work fine for a little while before it starts doing this again.

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