Safari won't open a page or load websites

Why it happens

When Safari fails but your internet is fine, something inside Safari or between Safari and the web is getting in the way. A misbehaving extension, damaged saved data for one site, a VPN or a proxy setting are the usual causes. Reopening Safari with Shift held stops it from loading the old windows that might be stuck.

How to fix it

1. Reload the page with View > Reload Page, or press Command-R. Check the address for typos while you're there.

   Safari›View›Reload Page

2. Quit Safari with Command-Q. Hold down Shift while you click Safari in the Dock, and keep holding until the window appears. Safari starts clean, without your old windows.

3. Open Safari > Settings and click Extensions. Untick every extension, then try the page again. If it loads, tick them back one at a time to find the one causing it.

   Safari›Settings…›Extensions

4. If only one site fails, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy and click Manage Website Data. Search for the site, click Remove, then click Done. You'll need to sign in to that site again.

   Safari›Settings…›Privacy

Still not fixed?

1. Test the page in a private window: choose File > New Private Window, or press Shift-Command-N. If it loads there, an extension or the site's saved data is the cause, so go back over the steps above.

2. If you use iCloud Private Relay, turn it off for a few minutes and try again. Click your name at the top of the System Settings sidebar, then iCloud, then Private Relay. Turn it back on once you've tested.

   Apple Account›iCloud›Private Relay

3. Turn off any VPN or content blocker app you use, then try again. In System Settings, check Wi-Fi > Details > Proxies and turn off any proxy you didn't set up on purpose.

   Wi-Fi›Details…›Proxies

4. Switch DNS servers if many sites fail to load. Under Wi-Fi > Details > DNS you can add a different DNS server, such as one your internet provider recommends.

   Wi-Fi›Details…›DNS

5. Install any waiting macOS update in General > Software Update. Safari updates come with macOS.

   General›Software Update

6. If no browser and no device in your home can load pages, the problem is your router or internet provider, so restart the router and call them. If only Safari on this Mac fails after all of this, contact Apple Support.