8 Suggestions to Improve Safari Browser Performance

Quite a few Macbook users prefer to use Safari as the default browser. Some would argue that there are better alternatives. However, Safari is a solid browser overall, and it does its job perfectly fine. Most of the time, that is.

There are some instances when the browser starts to stutter and even crash. Is the problem related directly to Safari? Not necessarily. It might be that something is wrong with the computer rather than the browser. Here are some suggestions to help you with safari lagging and making it impossible to surf the net.

Suggestion #1 – Make Sure There Are No Network Issues

A network connection is usually the first thing you want to check. If the browser is starting without any issues, but the stuttering starts when entering the URL, it might be that there are some problems with your ISP.

Try another device, such as a smartphone, and see if you are able to connect to Wi-Fi. If you can, the problem is not with the ISP. On the other hand, if the internet is not working on any devices, there is something wrong with the provider.

Restarting your mode usually helps. If the problem persists, get in touch with your ISP and ask them to fix the problem on their end.

Suggestion #2 – Have Enough Free Disk Space

Not having enough drive space is a common problem for Macbook users. The drives are not that spacious in the first place. Moreover, you have a trend of SSDs replacing HDDs. And solid-state drives have even less storage.

Having only a few gigabytes free will not do. You need a lot more. Freeing up drive space is possible by:

Removing temporary junk like backups and caches.
Deleting useless applications, old email attachments, and downloads.
Moving data to clouds and external storage devices.
Subscribing to streaming platforms and not having to keep large media files on the computer.

Suggestion #3 – Install Updates

Updates should be installed at your earliest convenience. And it is not just about the operating system. Safari also has new versions out on a regular basis, and not being up-to-date means that you are missing out on new features as well as stability and performance improvements.

Suggestion #4 – Remove Resource-Hungry Extensions and Plugins

Modern internet browsers have a lot of neat extensions and plugins. However, having such an overabundance of available choices leads to going overboard.

Some people install too many plugins and extensions without thinking about what it does to the performance of their browser. While having some neat additions like ad blockers is great, do not take things too far. Look at the list of what you have added over the years. And removing multiple redundant extensions ought to boost the performance of Safari.

Suggestion #5 – Check for Potential Viruses

It is possible that viruses and malware are causing your system the most problems. Not everyone has a reliable antivirus installed on their Mac. And they do not pay attention to links they click, even if these links are suspicious.

Scan the system with antivirus and make sure that there are no cybersecurity threats. If there is, you will need to take the necessary measures. Be more careful with what you click on when using the internet. Also, enable the firewall in case it is still disabled. Not dealing with viruses and malware will cause more serious problems than just having a poorly performing browser.

Suggestion #6 – Minimize the Number of Open Browser Tabs

Similar to having multiple active background applications consuming system resources, any extra browser tab puts a toll on Safari’s performance. You need to stick to a single tab when possible. Also, if you think that an idle tab is not causing any harm, you are wrong. Even inactive browser tabs are consuming resources.

Suggestion #7 – Delete Cache and Cookies

Do not neglect taking care of the browser cache and cookies. In some cases, websites will ask you to accept cookies, and as there is no other way but to do so, if you want to continue browsing, you will have to accept.

Cache database collects information. The information that is stored in the cache is there to make websites you have visited previously to load faster. However, the available storage for browser cache is not infinite. If you store too much information, it will start to become a hindrance. Do not wait for too long. Clear caches on a regular basis, at least once every month.

Suggestion #8 – Restart the Macbook Regularly

Regular computer restarts will stop memory leaks. Apps that have been active for too long start to distribute memory wrongly. And the more you wait, the worse it gets. Aim to restart the Mac at least once every few hours. You should notice the positive impact it makes immediately.

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