Is your Safari browser on your MacBook Air or other macOS devices slow? You’re not the only one who’s noticed. Safari can lag with things like slow page loads, searches taking forever, and typing delays after updating macOS Sonoma. Even after trying to fix it by quitting Safari or cleaning caches, many people don’t see a big change.
Many things can make your MacBook Air’s Safari slow. Outdated software, too many tabs open, and programs running in the background can drag it down. To make Safari faster, update your Mac, turn off extensions you don’t need, and clear your browsing data.
Common Causes for a Slow Safari Experience
It’s really annoying when Safari is slow, especially if you need it every day. Many things can make Safari slow. Knowing these can help you fix the issue fast.
Internet Connection Issues
A big cause might be a slow internet connection. Slow network speeds can make Safari slow to load pages. You can restart your router or talk to your ISP to fix this.
Too Many Open Tabs
Opening too many Safari tabs can also make it slow. Every open tab uses memory and power, which can slow things down. Close tabs you don’t need to make things better.
Background Applications
Resource-heavy applications running in the background can also cause slow Safari. These apps use up resources Safari needs. Use Activity Monitor to find and close these apps for a smoother experience.
Outdated Software and Drivers
An old version of Safari or outdated drivers can also be a problem. Apple updates can make Safari faster and fix bugs. It’s key to keep everything updated for the best performance.
To make Safari faster, deal with a slow internet connection, less Safari tabs, and close resource-heavy apps. Also, update your software. Activities Monitor and tools like CleanMyMac X can help find and fix issues.
Checking Your Internet Connection
If you’re having trouble with Safari, it might be your internet connection. Figuring out how to check and fix these issues is key to better surfing.
Performing a Speed Test
Start with an internet speed test. Use Fast.com or SpeedTest.net to see if your speed is too slow. Slow speeds can make Safari run poorly.
Restarting Your Router
Restarting your router is another crucial step. It can fix short-term issues caused by network problems or small errors. Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This simple step refreshes your network and can solve many issues.
Server-side Problems
Sometimes, the issue isn’t yours but the website’s. Websites slow down if their servers are busy, under maintenance, or having problems. Downdetector can show if a site is down. Changing settings like disabling ‘Auto proxy discovery’ or renewing DHCP leases might help Safari issues.
Disabling Unnecessary Safari Extensions
Safari extensions can make browsing better, but they can also slow down your browser. It’s found that removing unnecessary Safari extensions can improve browser performance by up to 25%. You can disable unneeded extensions to make your Safari run smoother and faster by following simple steps.
How Extensions Affect Performance
Every Safari extension you add uses more of your browser’s CPU and RAM. For example, using Safari on an iMac (Retina 5K, Late 2015) with 8 GB RAM, can get slower with too many extensions. With 6.23 GB of RAM already in use, any extra load makes the system less responsive. The Safari extensions impact is seen when many extensions are used, using up more system resources. This results in slow webpage loading and more memory use.
Steps to Disable Extensions
Turning off Safari add-ons is easy and can quickly boost performance:
- Open Safari and click on Safari in the menu bar, then choose Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab.
- Look at the list of installed extensions. Uncheck the boxes for extensions you don’t need.
- It’s smart to turn off all extensions you don’t use. Keep only the ones important to you. This lowers the load on your system and can improve browser performance.
- Restart Safari to see the changes. Your browser should be faster and more responsive.
Also, make sure the extensions you keep are updated. This avoids problems that can slow down your browser.
Why Safari Is So Slow on macOS Sonoma
Users have noticed that Safari gets slow after upgrading to macOS Sonoma. They face from slow web browsing to their entire system lagging. First, make sure your internet is fast and stable.
Another big reason for Safari’s slowness is it using too much of the computer’s power. By checking with Activity Monitor, you can find what’s using too much energy. And then stop those extensions or processes.
- Check and reset your internet connection.
- Restart your Mac to clear temporary files and close active applications for a clean start.
- Perform a Safari reset by clearing history and confirming the removal of browsing data.
System updates are also key. Updating macOS brings improvements and fixes from Apple. Installing these updates might fix Safari’s slow issues.
Network problems can cause Safari to run slow too. Improve this by forgetting bad Wi-Fi networks and deleting problematic ones. This might help with Safari’s issues.
Too many extensions and open tabs can slow down your Safari. Turning off extensions you don’t need and closing unused tabs helps.
Malware and viruses can also make Safari slow. Regular scans with antivirus software, like MacKeeper, can remove these threats. This improves browsing speed and your Mac’s overall performance.
In conclusion, you can tackle macOS Sonoma Safari’s slow performance through these steps. With Apple focusing on these issues and helpful troubleshooting, you can achieve a better browsing experience.
Cleaning Up Safari’s Cache and Cookies
Your Safari browser can collect lots of cache and cookies over time. This can slow it down. Cleaning up this data makes Safari more efficient. By clearing your cache and cookies, Safari works faster. You also get the newest, safest web pages.
Enabling Developer Features
First, turn on developer features to clean Safari. Go to Safari’s Preferences, then the Advanced tab. Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”. This lets you do more, like emptying caches. It helps Safari run better.
Steps to Clear Cache
With developer mode on, clearing the cache is easy. Click on the Develop menu and pick Empty Caches. This frees up space and stops cache from building up. It makes browsing faster and ensures you see the latest website versions. Clear your cache often to keep Safari quick and efficient.
Deleting Browsing History
Clearing your cache isn’t enough. You should also delete your browsing history. Go to Safari > Clear History and select All History. This clears cookies and data, making Safari more responsive. It means logging in again on websites. But, using iCloud for passwords can make this easier. Regularly deleting your history keeps Safari fast and more secure, especially on shared computers.
