safari browser won't open some websites

Top 8 Ways to Fix Safari Not Loading Websites and Pages on Mac

Thanks to the groundbreaking Apple M1 chip , the popularity of the Mac lineup is rising to new heights. On macOS, most users stick with what comes out of the box and that includes the Safari browser. While it gets the job done with a nice look and a good set of extension lists, sometimes, you run into websites not loading issues on the Safari browser. Mac not loading websites and pages mostly happens on Safari browser, sometimes due to Webkit. Before you go ahead and download Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for macOS, do check out the troubleshooting guide below to fix the issue. 

Fix Safari on Mac Not Loading Websites Issue

There are many factors behind the strange behavior. We will go through some of the basic steps and jump to extreme actions only if it doesn’t solve the issue. 

1. Check Internet Connection

This one is obvious. You should check if the Mac is properly connected to the internet. A sketchy internet connection might interfere with the website loading performance. It’s especially true when you try to load heavy web pages with lots of images and videos in Safari. 

Go to the macOS menu bar and click on the Wi-Fi icon. Make sure that it’s connected to the 5G network and not the 2.4G. I usually face this issue on my MacBook Air. Every now and then, my MacBook Air decides to connect to the 2.4G band and not the 5G band. The practice results in extremely long webpage loading times. 

2. Reset Router

Sometimes, the real culprit can be the router that you are using for the Wi-Fi connection. In such cases, you won’t be able to connect to the internet on any device, let alone loading websites on the Mac. 

In such cases, you need to reset the router or upgrade the firmware to the latest version available. Try connecting to the internet and browse the web comfortably.

3. Disable Extensions

Extensions play a major role in any browser’s ecosystem. The Safari browser is no exception here. Apple tightly controls the whole experience and only allows legitimate extensions from the App Store. 

However, some extensions might go out of date or become incompatible with the new macOS version resulting in Safari not loading websites on Mac. 

It can be hard to determine which extension is causing Safari to not load pages. In such cases, you need to disable all extensions and try your luck with the web browser again. Follow the steps below. 

1. Open the Safari browser. 

2. Click on the Safari option in the Menu bar. 

3. Go to Preferences . 

4. Move to the Extensions menu. 

5. On the right side, you will find all the installed extensions. 

6. Select an extension one by one and use the Uninstall button from the right side to remove them. 

4. Uninstall AdBlocker

No, I’m not talking about the Adblocker extension in a browser . Many users opt for a system-wide adblocker such as AdLock to remove any kind of ads from the OS. 

These programs might affect the webpage performance on the device. If you are using such software then you need to uninstall the program.

Open the Finder menu on Mac. Go to the Applications option. Identify the culprit app and move it to the Trash . 

5. Disable VPN

VPN apps allow you to establish a secure and private network connection . Some websites might not be accessible from the selected VPN location. You need to disable VPN and try the website loading again. 

Most VPN apps for Mac offer a shortcut through the menu bar. Click on the VPN icon in the menu bar and turn off the service. 

6. Clear Cache

A bad cache can ruin the day. It’s always advisable to clear cache and cookies from the browser at a regular interval. We are going to apply the same trick here to fix the website not loading issue on the Mac. Go through the steps below. 

3. Go to the Clear History menu. 

4. The following menu will offer to delete all the browsing history along with cookies and related website data. 

7. Update macOS

Safari not loading pages issue might be due to the recent macOS bug. Thankfully, Apple is quick to fix such annoyances. Go to the System Preferences > Software Update and install the latest macOS build. 

8. Switch to a Chromium Browser

Chromium is a universally accepted rendering engine. Some websites are specifically designed keeping Chromium in mind. The Safari browser uses a Webkit rendering engine to load web pages. You can switch to the Safari rival such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge and try accessing the website again. 

Wrap Up: Safari in Mac Not Loading Websites

Go through the troubleshooting tips above and one of them should easily fix the website not loading on Mac issue. For me, the cache and VPN tricks work all the time to fix the website loading issues on Safari.

Parth previously worked at EOTO.tech covering tech news. He is currently freelancing at TechWiser, Android Police, and GuidingTech writing about apps comparisons, tutorials, software tips and tricks, and diving deep into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms.

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Top 12 Fixes for Safari Not Loading Pages on iPhone and iPad

The Safari browser comes pre-installed on Apple devices such as iPhone and iPad. Many iOS and iPadOS users prefer using it as the default browser . Sadly, the browser doesn’t work at times, for pages do not load in it. If you are from the unlucky ones, then you have landed on the right page. You can easily fix it when Safari does not open web pages on iPhone and iPad, as shown in this post.

iPhone and iPad users face different kinds of issues related to Safari . Some see a blank, white page and others get errors like ‘Safari cannot open the page because iPhone isn’t connected to the internet,’ or the browser freezes and crashes without loading any page.

The following fixes will help you resolve all kinds of problems related to Safari not loading pages on iOS and iPadOS. Let’s start.

1. Restart Phone and Modem

To start the troubleshooting process, restart your iPhone and iPad . Also, reboot your modem if you are using Wi-Fi. In case you are connected via cellular data, please turn it off for a few seconds and turn it on again.

Tip: You should also remove the SIM card from your phone for a while.

2. Check Network Connection

Next, verify whether the issue is with Safari alone or not. For that, check if other apps are working on your iPhone or iPad. If you cannot connect to the internet using other apps, then the problem is with your network connection. Switch to mobile data from Wi-Fi or vice versa.

Tip: Check out 8 fixes for can’t find server error on Safari .

3. Enable Airplane Mode

Another way to troubleshoot issues due to network connections is to put your device in Airplane mode . That will turn off and refresh all network connections. To enable Airplane mode on your iPhone or iPad, open Control Center and tap on the Airplane mode icon. Alternatively, go to Settings and enable Airplane mode. Keep it on for a few seconds, and then turn it off.

4. Turn off VPN

Are you using any VPN on your iPhone or iPad? If yes, disable it for a while and see if you can open web pages through Safari.

Tip: Find out whether you need security apps on your iPhone or iPad .

5. Update Software

Before you try the below-mentioned fixes, we would suggest you update the Safari browser from App Store. Often there is a bug in the app or phone’s software. So you should look for any available software updates and install them. To check for the phone’s software, go to Settings > General > Software update.

6. Check Cellular Data Settings

If you can load web pages on Wi-Fi, but pages do not load on cellular data, you must check mobile data settings. For that, go to Settings > Cellular data/Mobile data. Scroll down and make sure the toggle next to Safari is green. If it’s off, turn it on.

Tip: Check out other ways to fix iPhone apps only work on Wi-Fi and not mobile data .

7. Check Content Restrictions

You must check on your iPhone/iPad if any content restrictions are enabled. To do so, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If the Content & privacy restrictions toggle on the next screen is turned off, skip this fix and jump to the next one.

In case it is on, scroll down and tap on Content Restrictions. Go to Web content and select Unrestricted access.

Tip: Find out how to block and unblock certain websites on iPhone .

8. Enable JavaScript

You should check if the Safari browser has permission to use JavaScript. For that, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Safari > Advanced. Enable the toggle next to JavaScript.

9. Clear Cache and Browsing Data

This is one of the fixes that has solved the web pages not loading issue for many users. To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad. Go to Safari.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Advanced.

Step 3: Tap on Website data. Scroll down and hit Remove all website data.

Step 4 : Restart the phone and see if you can open web pages. If the issue persists, come back to Settings > Safari. Scroll down and tap on Clear History and Website data. Confirm when asked. This will delete all your browsing history and other browsing data from all the Apple devices using the same iCloud account.

Tip: Find out how to fix if the Clear history and website data button is greyed out .

10. Reset Network Settings

Often the problem of web pages not opening on Safari happens due to some problematic network setting. The best way to fix this is to reset network settings. Doing so will not affect your personal data. Only settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc., will be reset to their default values. You will need to set them up again. Find out in detail what happens by resetting network settings .

To reset network settings on iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings.

11. Disable Content Blockers

If you have installed any content blocker on your iPhone or iPad, you should try disabling it for a while. To do so, go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers. Disable all of them and see if you can load pages now. Know what are content blockers and whether you should use them on your iPhone.

You should also try disabling various Safari experimental features one-by-one. For that, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Experimental features.

12. Change Wi-Fi DNS

Sometimes, the issue happens to a wrongly configured DNS server. You should change it to Google DNS and see if websites open in the Safari browser.

To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1 : Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

Step 2 : Tap on the (i) icon next to the problematic Wi-Fi. Tap on Configure DNS.

Step 3: If Automatic is selected, tap on Manual > Add server. Enter 8.8.8.8, remove existing ones, and hit Save. If Manual is selected, tap on Automatic.

Change Default Browser

We are positive that at least one of the above fixes should solve issues with the Safari browser. We would also suggest that if you have a huge number of tabs open in the Safari browser, you should close at least some of them. If the issue continues, you can always use Chrome, and now you can even make it your default browser .

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 28 November, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

DID YOU KNOW

Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets made her develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India for the same. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite verticals include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps. You can also find her posts on MakeTechEasier, TechWiser, and NerdsChalk.

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Safari Can't Open the Page? Here's What to Do

When Safari can't open a page or fails to load it properly on your Mac, you can try these simple fixes to get it working.

Safari on macOS is pretty stable. So it might come as a surprise when Safari can't open a page. Such a struggle could tempt you to download or use Firefox, Chrome, or Edge to open the page instead, but you don't have to go down that road just yet.

We'll show you how to get Safari to open web pages normally with some simple troubleshooting tips.

1. Quit and Relaunch Safari

At times, an unknown glitch might prevent Safari from opening sites. You should quit and restart Safari if it fails to open the page to fix these glitches.

If you have any important work open in any of the tabs, save it first. Then press Cmd + Q to quit Safari.

Relaunch Safari as normal to see if it can open the page you wanted to visit now.

2. Check Your Internet Connection If Safari Can't Open a Page

If Safari can't open a page, then it might not be the browser's problem. Your internet connection might be slow or intermittent. You can check that by testing your internet connection speed to see if it's slowing everything down.

Related: How to Access Websites That Won't Load

Since Mac supports dual-band routers, you can switch your internet connection to a 5GHz band (if your router offers it). This can help if too many devices are using the same band (usually the 2.4GHz), slowing down browsing performance.

You can also bring your Mac closer to the router and change the Wi-Fi router's channel for better speeds and reliable connectivity.

3. Safari Can't Open a Page If It Doesn't Exist

By default, the latest Safari version doesn't show the full URL in the address bar, giving a minimalist look instead. If you're trying to open pages of old websites or outdated URLs from your bookmarks, it's a good idea to verify the URL to make sure you got it right.

Click on Safari's address bar to reveal the entire URL. You can then inspect whether it's the one you want to open or a misspelled mistake.

If the URL is incorrect, or the page no longer exists, you'll get the 404 error, which means Safari can't open the page no matter how much you try.

4. Check the DNS Settings for Your Mac

Most people use the default DNS of their Internet Service Provider (ISP). In such cases, an ISP's DNS servers might be choking up. So Safari can struggle to open a web page if it can't use a fast DNS.

Changing to different DNS addresses is often suggested as an easy way to improve your internet speeds. You can use Google's DNS servers to speed up things for your Mac.

Here's how to change DNS addresses on your Mac:

• Open System Preferences and select Network .
• Click on the Advanced button and go to the DNS tab.
• Click the Plus ( + ) button to add Google's Public DNS addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 .
• Click OK on that window and then select Apply to confirm the changes.

Next, open the Terminal and run the following command to clear the DNS cache:

After that, you should try disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network to see whether Safari can open a page or not now.

5. Purge Safari's Cache and Temporary Files

Safari retains a cache from all the websites you visit, just like other browsers do. But if that website data is outdated on your Mac, Safari might say it cannot open a page. It's a good idea to dump Safari's cache every now and then to avoid this problem and make space for new data.

Here's how to purge Safari's Cache:

• Launch Safari, and click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
• Head to the Advanced tab and select the checkbox for Show Develop menu in menu bar at the bottom.
• Close the Preferences window and click Develop > Empty caches to purge all the old Safari cache.

Once you make the Develop menu appear, you can hit Option + Cmd + E to delete the Safari cache at any time. You can also employ Safari browser tweaks to further boost its speed and performance.

6. Check Safari's Website Restrictions in Screen Time

If your Mac runs macOS Catalina or Big Sur, it's worth checking whether you have Screen Time enabled and applying Website Restrictions.

Go to System Preferences > Screen Time and select the Content & Privacy option from the sidebar. That'll reveal whether you've set any rules for blocking certain kinds of websites.

Click on the Turn Off button at the top, next to where it says Content & Privacy Restrictions to disable the website restrictions, if any.

7. Inspect and Edit the Hosts File on Your Mac

Some extensions or apps tend to edit the hosts file to connect your Mac to the webservers of an app or service directly. And the entries for that contain a domain or sub-domain.

Whether you're using your Mac for local server development or simply blocking the redirects, the hosts file might have some unknown IP address entries.

Cleaning up the unwanted entries from the hosts file can also help Safari and other apps.

To inspect and edit the hosts file, launch Terminal app and type this command:

Once the hosts file opens in Terminal, scroll down using the arrow keys and remove the unwanted entries. Then hit Ctrl + O to add those changes to the hosts file and Ctrl + E to exit the nano editor.

Updating the hosts file might make a few apps and sites run slow momentarily.

8. Install Outstanding Updates for Safari

Running the latest version of Safari on your Mac is a good way to eliminate all the niggles that hinder it from opening pages. An updated browser can often fix many problems, especially when Safari couldn't open a page that demands a specific browser version to work.

Head to App Store > Updates to check for any outstanding updates for Safari and install if there is one. Then go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for macOS updates as well.

You can also reset Safari to default settings to purge all old website data as well as cookies.

The Best Ways for Safari to Open Web Pages

While there's no single reason to point at, these solutions can remove any underlying issue that Safari faces when opening a page or a site. These improvements will make Safari faster after a few seconds once it gathers new cookies and site data.

Whenever Safari hits a roadblock while loading a site, you can use the solutions mentioned above to troubleshoot it. To improve your Safari browsing experience, there are lots of Safari tips and tricks you can use to tweak it to its maximum potential.

How to fix websites not loading in Safari on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Learn what to do if you can’t open all or any specific website in Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. These tips will also help if you can’t visit a site in other browsers like Chrome or Firefox.

1. Turn off Safari’s advanced tracking

Hiding your IP address and preventing tracking in Safari may not play well with all sites. For instance, Twitter’s login page recently kept refusing to load in Safari on my Mac. Similarly, some web pages might refuse to load in Safari on iPhone, and you would see a Reduce Protections button on top.

If you’ve enabled all Safari protections, it may be time to disable them temporarily. To do that, open Safari and click Safari > Settings from the top menu bar. Next, go to the Privacy heading and stop hiding your IP address from websites by unchecking the “ Hide IP address ” box or setting it to “ from Trackers only .”

After that, go to the Advanced tab and set “Use advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection” to “ in Private Browsing ” (instead of “in all browsing”) or uncheck Privacy altogether.

You will also find these options in iPhone/iPad Settings > Safari > Hide IP Address . After that, tap Advanced at the bottom of the Safari settings screen and set Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection to “ Private Browsing ” or “ Off .”

2. Switch off iCloud Private Relay

Private Relay is offered with an iCloud+ or Apple One paid subscription, and it’s there to secure your browsing. However, it can sometimes cause issues. For instance, certain websites or specific pages of a site may not load.

If find yourself in such a situation, head over to Settings / System Settings > your name or Apple ID from the top > iCloud > Private Relay and turn off Private Relay  temporarily.

3. Check the URL

If you are trying to go to a website and you type the URL completely wrong, then your web browser will probably fail to load the site. For example, make sure you use three Ws ( www ) in the URL where relevant, and also make sure you only use https:// where relevant, as some sites only use the basic http:// instead. Also, make sure the meat and potatoes of the URL are correct, as a wrong URL can direct you to an incorrect website or to no website at all.

Tip: Take proper caution if you’re visiting a site that has an address like 192.168.1.7:88 . Usually, these sites have http:// in the beginning. For example: http://192.168.1.7:8888/

4. Refresh the page

Sometimes, a hiccup in the loading process occurs. If the page doesn’t load the first time, try refreshing it one, two, or maybe three more times. Website host servers aren’t always as stable as you’d like them to be, and you can sometimes get through after the second or third try.

5. Revisit the page

I have noticed this several times on my iPhone. When you tap a web link in some app, it will open Safari but won’t load the website. To fix this annoying issue, simply go back to the other application and tap the link again. This time, it will load in Safari.

6. Use Safari instead of the in-app browser

When you tap a link inside apps like Twitter, it doesn’t open Safari but loads the site inside its integrated Safari browser. Sometimes, a website may not load here properly. To fix this, tap the tiny Safari button to open this link in the actual Safari browser.

7. Try loading another website

Check if you can load a different website other than the one you’re having issues with. If the second website loads, it could mean the first is experiencing maintenance, heavy traffic, or some other fluke. This would mean the problem is the website itself, and there’s nothing you can really do to fix the problem besides wait a little longer before trying again.

8. Try another web browser

It’s also possible that the web browser you’re using is incompatible with the website you’re using. In some cases, some web browsers will render HTML or CSS in different ways than others, and such can actually break websites in some browsers. Try another web browser, such as Chrome or Firefox , and see if the page loads properly this time.

9. Check that you’re connected to Wi-Fi

You should always check to see whether or not your internet connection is working because a website will never load if your computer can’t establish a line of communication. You can go to the Wi-Fi icon in your Mac’s Menu Bar to see if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Obviously, if you aren’t, you’ll have to connect to one before the page loads.

Also, remember that moving too far away from the network you were just on will drop the connection. This is common around school campuses where you’re walking around or moving from room to room quite often.

• Internet not working on your Mac? Here’s how to fix it
• How to fix cellular data not working on iPhone or iPad
• What to do when your iPhone or iPad can’t connect to Wi-Fi

10. Make sure your internet is active

By clicking on the Wi-Fi Settings… or Open Network Preferences… button in Mac’s Wi-Fi menu, you can see whether or not your computer has an IP address on the network you’re on, as well as whether or not it has established a successful connection with the internet.

If you see a yellow or red dot instead of a green dot, you have a problem that needs to be fixed before you can access the internet. This could be with the network itself or your computer. Continue through the steps below if the dot next to Wi-Fi isn’t green.

11. Enable and disable Airplane mode

On Mac, if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network and are still unable to load a page, try turning your Wi-Fi off and on again from the Wi-Fi settings in your menu bar.

On iPhone or iPad, open Control Center and tap the Airplane mode button to enable it. After 10 seconds, tap the same button to turn it off.

Once done, try visiting the website, and it should work.

12. Check the Ethernet cable

On Macs that have a wired connection via Ethernet, make sure the cable is plugged in and that it didn’t get knocked loose. Try another Ethernet cable, if you have one, to see if your current cable has gone bad. If you’re using a USB-C hub, make sure it isn’t too hot. And if it is, stop using it until it cools down.

13. Restart your device

It’s possible that a piece of software on your computer or iPhone is bugging out, so you might want to try rebooting your computer if none of the above steps worked. After it restarts, attempt to connect once again.

14. Restart the wireless router

If possible, reset the wireless router and modem. By doing so, any problem that might have been related to the source of the internet should be fixed.

15. Renew your DHCP lease

Sometimes, your IP address could get messed up and conflict with another device on your network. When this happens, you will be unable to load web pages. We have a detailed tutorial for how to renew your DHCP lease to fix this problem.

16. Remove all website data

If you have corrupted website data stored in your web browser, then Safari might be trying to load information that will lead it into a loop of failures time and time again.

Here’s how you can remove all Safari data:

• Open Safari and then click the word Safari from the top menu bar and choose Settings or Preferences .
• Go to Privacy and click Manage Website Data .
• Finally, click Remove All .

• Open the Settings app and go to Safari .
• Tap Clear History and Website Data .

This will delete all saved website data you have and let you re-load fresh data.

17. Turn off ad blockers or browser extensions

I’ve seen many cases where a website refuses to load until you disable your ad blockers. Try disabling any ad blockers or other browser extensions that might be hindering the web page from loading, then attempt to load the page again.

18. Disable security software

Some security software and firewalls have been known to block access to certain websites because they think they’re malicious. In some cases, this is true, but in others, false positives make the software block access to these websites even when you don’t want them to. If you trust the website you’re trying to visit, you can attempt to disable your security software and load the page again.

19. Disable VPN software

A few VPN s, just like security software, block access to some websites. If you have a VPN running, try disabling the VPN and try again.

20. Sometimes, you’ll have to use a VPN

If a website is blocked in your country by the authorities, you’ll have to use a VPN to access it.

21. Use a different ISP

I have also noticed this situation a few times where a particular website won’t load on my specific cellular network. But if I switch to a different cellular network (I use dual SIM on my iPhone), then it loads.

In most cases, you can also access that website using a VPN (without changing to a different internet provider).

22. Change your DNS server settings

If you haven’t already changed your stock DNS server settings to a better one, we have an excellent tutorial on how to do that .

Google’s DNS server always works quickly and has nearly no downtime, so switching to it could fix your problem or help the website load more quickly on your machine.

23. Still not working? Contact the website admin

If after everything above, and after waiting a little while to rule out that it was a website-based problem, try contacting the website administrator to see if there are any underlying problems that could be fixed.

Check out next:

• How to fix “Cannot Connect to App Store” on iPhone and iPad
• Images not loading on iPhone? Here’s how to fix it
• How to fix a VPN not working on your iPhone or iPad

Safari Won't Load Pages

In this article you will find the following:

You use Safari exclusively, often without any hiccups. It’s fast, efficient, and gives you a smooth browsing experience. However, Safari can’t open the page you’re working on, so you’re stuck. What do you do?

Before we start   You may be concerned because Safari isn’t loading pages on Mac. However, this is a common occurrence on a Mac or any device, especially when it’s full of clutter. Multiple processes running on your computer also cause this to happen. There are several fixes you can try to boost your browser, with the software yielding thorough results.   We recommend MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup as the top solution to prevent Safari and other browsers from malfunctioning. This is because MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool clears the clutter on your device, whether you use a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac. It also removes junk files that may be slowing your computer down, like browser cache and cookies. If you’re thinking, “Sign me up!”, we’ve got you.    Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool. Download MacKeeper on your Mac Click on Safe Cleanup in the left pane and hit the Start Scan button MacKeeper will look for junk files that have no business being on your Mac. When the scan is completed, click Clean Junk Files , and that’s it—you’re all done.

We’ve just covered how to automatically fix browser performance issues on your Mac. Let’s move onto the manual methods to try when Safari won’t open a website:

• Double-check the URL
• Refresh the page
• Restart your device
• Check are other websites loading
• Clear Safari cache
• Update Safari
• Turn off all extensions
• Change DNS settings
• Try a VPN .
• 1. Double-check the URL

If you’re asking yourself, Why is Safari not working? , the answer may be as simple as the URL being incorrect. You may have entered it wrong—it happens to the best of us. Check whether the URL is entered correctly. A simple spelling error can prevent a page from loading.

• 2. Refresh the page

A small thing like an interrupted internet connection can stop a page from loading in Safari. Try refreshing the page you want to access to see if the problem persists before moving on. You can do this by clicking the refresh button—it’s the circular arrow icon to the right of the address bar.

Another option is using the shortcut Command + R . If that doesn’t work, a hard refresh might do the trick. Press the Command + Option + R keys to perform a hard refresh in Safari.

• 3. Restart your device

Sometimes, a quick reboot can solve several problems on a Mac, and a page that can’t load in Safari is no exception. Simply go to the Apple menu and click the Restart option. Once your Mac has restarted, check the relevant web page to see if it loads this time around.

• 4. Check whether other websites are loading

Perhaps the problem you’re facing has nothing to do with your browser. Maybe the website you want to access is experiencing technical issues. Try loading a different website to see if it works. If it loads, you’ll have your answer. If it doesn’t load, move onto the next section. This trick also works on the iPhone (iOS) and iPad.

• 5. Clear Safari cache

Safari stores information on web pages to help load data faster, but storing too much cache can disrupt the browsing experience. Clear cache on Safari to try to solve your browser problems when Safari keeps freezing .

Here’s how to delete Safari cache on a Mac:

• Launch Safari and click Safari > Preferences in the top menu
• Click Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All > Done .

There's another way to remove unwanted cache. The best way to automatically clear browser cache is enlisting the help of software you can trust to get the job done. We recommend MacKeeper ’s Safe Cleanup tool. It’ll remove pesky files that can be missed by the human eye and save you time. Clear Safari cache at the click of a button with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool.

• 6. Update Safari

There’s a reason Apple releases regular updates for its apps—it’s to keep them performing properly, among other things. Older versions might not support browsing requirements, and older macOS versions might not support new Safari versions, so it might be worth updating that, too. Here’s how to update the Safari app on a Mac:

• Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences > Software Update
• Your Mac will search for available updates. If it finds any, it’ll list them on the screen. Click Update Now to install the new updates. Ensure your Mac is connected to a power source.

• 7. Turn off all extensions

Certain browser extensions block web pages and the content on them. Ad blockers are one such example. Disable extensions to restore the functionality of a web page and stop it from misbehaving.

• Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu, followed by Preferences
• Click Extensions and uncheck the box next to each extension.

• 8. Change DNS settings

Faulty DNS settings can cause Safari to be unreliable, so try switching to Google DNS instead.

• Open System Preferences in the Dock and select Network > Advanced > DNS Settings
• Click the plus icon, enter 8.8.8.8 in the text box, and click OK .

Load the problematic page again to see if the DNS trick worked.

• 9. Try a VPN

Some sites don’t load due to regional restrictions, so you need to find a way to bypass them. A VPN can help you access sites that are locked in your region while keeping you anonymous on the Internet.

We recommend MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect , which offers secure connections to servers other than those in your area. It also hides your IP address to prevent cybercriminals and other bad actors from tracking your online movements. In the MacKeeper app, select Private Connect and click the Turn On button.

Access the website again to see if it’s been unlocked.

• Correcting Safari issues on a Mac isn’t a nightmare anymore

It’s not the end of the world when web pages get stuck in Safari—it happens occasionally. When you experience this inconvenience, use the tips in our article to get Safari back up and running again. Ensure you keep macOS and the Safari app updated and keep track of extensions that negatively impact your browsing experience.  

We recommend using MacKeeper’s tools to optimize your Mac. Its trusted Safe Cleanup tool will get rid of unwanted files that can be easily missed. Also, try MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect to unlock pages that may be blocked in your country. It’ll also help you browse anonymously to protect your privacy.

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How to Fix if You Can't Access a Particular Website

Last Updated: July 14, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,519,073 times. Learn more...

This wikiHow teaches you what to do when you can't access one particular website. If you can load the website on other computers, phones, tablets, or networks, there could be an issue with your device, web browser, or Wi-Fi —especially with errors like "This site can't be reached." We'll help you troubleshoot why certain websites aren't loading, provide you with quick fixes to most browsing problems, and get you connected back to your favorite website in no time.

Troubleshooting

• If the website is down, there's not much you can do until it comes back up. Check back after a while to see if anything changes. If you know the site is back up but you still can't access it, clear your browser cache and then try again.
• Sometimes the site may be up-and-running but a network issue between your computer and that site is experiencing issues. If the site isn't down, read on to keep troubleshooting.

• If you can, try to load the website on another device connected to the same network (such as your Wi-Fi network), as well as one that's not connected to your network (such as over mobile data).

• Chrome, Edge, and Safari: Press Command + Shift + N (Mac) or Control + Shift + N (PC). [1] X Research source
• Firefox: Press Command + Shift + P (Mac) or Control + Shift + P (PC). [2] X Research source
• Chrome: tap the three dots next to the address bar and select New Incognito tab .
• Safari: Tap the two overlapping squares at the bottom-right corner, and then tap Private at the bottom-left.
• Samsung Internet: Tap the two overlapping squares at the bottom, and then tap Turn on Secret mode .

• If the site loads when your antivirus software is disabled, there's likely a firewall rule or some other setting in that software blocking the website. Keep in mind that this could be because the site is problematic! If you're sure the site is fine, open your antivirus program, locate the section in which you can allow or block websites and apps, and make any necessary adjustments.
• Make sure to re-enable the antivirus after you're done testing.

• If the time or date is incorrect on Windows, click the time in the taskbar, select Date and time settings , and then toggle "Set time automatically" to On. Then, click Sync now to resync your clock.
• If the time or date is wrong on a Mac, open the Apple menu, select System Preferences , click Date & Time , and then click the padlock so you can make changes. [4] X Research source Check the box next to "Set date and time automatically." As long as your Mac is connected to the internet, it will always show the correct date and time.

Fixing Web Browser Problems

• If the site loads in another browser, try disabling your ad blocker in your regular browser, as well as clearing your cookies. Sometimes ad blockers and outdated cookies can prevent websites from loading properly.

• Chrome: Click the three-dot menu, select Settings , and then click Advanced in the left panel. Click Site settings under "Privacy and security." If JavaScript is disabled, click it and select Allowed .
• Edge: Click the three-dot menu and select Settings . Click Cookies and site permissions in the left panel, and then look for "JavaScript" under "All Permissions." If it says "Allowed," you're good. If not, click it and toggle the switch to On.
• Firefox : Enter about:config into the address bar and confirm that you want to proceed. Type "javascript.enabled" into the search field and make sure the value is set to "True." If it isn't, double-click the word false to make it so.
• Safari: Click the Safari menu, select Preferences , and then click the Security tab. If "Enable JavaScript" is not checked, check the box now.
• Chrome for Android: If you're using Chrome on iPhone/iPad, JavaScript is on and there's no way to turn it off. [6] X Research source On Android, tap the three dots next to the address bar, select Settings , tap Site settings , and then select JavaScript . If it's off, turn it on now.
• Safari: Open your iPhone or iPad Settings and select Safari . Scroll down and tap Advanced , and toggle on "JavaScript" if it's turned off.
• Samsung Internet: Tap the three-line menu, select Settings , choose Advanced , and then turn on JavaScript if it's disabled.

• Chrome: Click the three-dot menu, select Settings , and click Advanced in the left panel. Under "Advanced," click Reset and clean up , and then click Restore settings to their original defaults .
• Firefox: In Firefox, click this link or paste it into the address bar: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings# . When prompted, click Refresh Firefox to continue.

Fixing Local Network Issues

• Unplug the power cables for the modem and the router (if you have a separate one), and wait about a minute. Modems and routers can look all different ways, but generally have one or more blinking lights. The modem will usually be connected to a coaxial jack or phone jack in the wall.
• Plug your modem back in and wait for it to completely light up.
• Plug your router back in and wait for it to completely light up.
• Try visiting the website again.

• Windows: Press Windows key + R , type cmd , and then press Enter . At the prompt, ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter .
• Mac: Open the Terminal from the Utilities folder, type dscacheutil -flushcache and press Return . Then type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Return to restart the DNS service. You'll be prompted for your admin password.

• Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
• OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
• Verisign: 64.6.64.6 and 64.6.65.6 .
• Change the DNS servers on Windows: Press Windows key + R and type ncpa.cpl to open Network Connections. Right-click your network adapter, select Properties , highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4" in the list and click the Properties button. To specify servers, select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the addresses of the ones you want to use. If addresses are already specified, you can replace them, or you can try obtaining them automatically to see if that helps.
• Change the DNS servers on Mac: Open the Apple menu, click System Preferences , select Network , and click the padlock to make changes. Click your connection, click Advanced , and then the DNS tab. Enter the servers that you want to connect to. If addresses are already specified, you can move the new ones to the top of the list, or remove the old ones.

• Windows: Click the Windows Start menu, select Settings , and click Network & Internet . Click Proxy at the bottom of the left column. If a proxy server is set and you don't want to use it, turn off "Use a proxy server" at the bottom.
• Mac: Click the Apple menu, select System Preferences , click Network , and then select your connection. Click the Advanced button, select the Proxies tab, and uncheck any of the proxies you don't want to use. [10] X Research source

Community Q&A

• If you can't connect to any websites at all, there could be a problem with your internet connection. Contact your internet provider's technical support or your local administrator to help you get back online. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If a website is blocked by your antivirus software, DNS service, or proxy server, it's probably for a good reason. That site could infect computers with malware or be otherwise malicious. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Although rare, sometimes larger backbone networks experience problems that affect a huge number of websites at once. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.computerworld.com/article/3356840/how-to-go-incognito-in-chrome-firefox-safari-and-edge.html
• ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history
• ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-time-errors-secure-websites
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203413
• ↑ https://www.larimer.gov/it/enable-javascript
• ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7675428?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=0
• ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214?hl=en
• ↑ https://support.ucsd.edu/services?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0033298
• ↑ https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/articles/227988027-How-to-prevent-users-from-circumventing-OpenDNS-using-firewall-rules
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-ph/guide/mac-help/mchlp25912/13.0/mac/13.0

About This Article

1. Try a different browser. 2. Disable ad-blockers. 3. Temporarily disable anti-virus apps. 4. Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser. 5. Disable browser extensions. 6. Verify your proxy server settings. 7. Scan for malware. 8. Reset your DNS settings. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Safari User Guide

• Change your home page
• Import bookmarks, history and passwords
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Go to websites
• Find what you’re looking for
• Bookmark web pages that you want to revisit
• See your favourite websites
• Use tabs for web pages
• Pin frequently visited websites
• Play web videos
• Mute audio in tabs
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• Autofill contact info
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading articles
• Translate a web page
• Download items from the web
• Share or post web pages
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a web page
• Print or create a PDF of a web page
• Customise a start page
• Customise the Safari window
• Customise settings per website
• Zoom in on web pages
• Get extensions
• Manage cookies and website data
• Block pop-ups
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Autofill username and password info
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• View a Privacy Report
• Change Safari preferences
• Keyboard and other shortcuts
• Troubleshooting

If you can’t open a website in Safari on Mac

If you can’t open a website, try these suggestions.

Open Safari for me

It may suggest ways to solve the problem or include information you need to solve it.

Make sure you’re using the correct address for the web page.

If you copied and pasted the address, make sure it doesn’t have extra characters or missing characters at the beginning or end.

If the website requires a VPN connection, make sure it’s functioning properly.

See Connect your Mac to a VPN .

Try entering /index.html or /index.htm at the end of the address.

Choose View > Reload Page.

If the page still won’t open, quit Safari, reopen it, then try again.

Try again at a different time.

The website server may be busy, or the website may be unavailable temporarily.

Contact your network administrator for help.

If you connect to the internet using a corporate or enterprise network, the network may have a firewall that prevents you from opening the web page.

If your computer or network is protected by a firewall, you may need to specify proxy servers to access some internet sites.

See Set up a proxy server using Safari .

Contact the website’s owner to find out if the web server has a problem or if the website is incompatible with Safari.

For example, Safari can’t open a website that uses a protocol other than http or https.

Use the latest version of Safari. See Keep your Mac up to date .

The page might be blocked by a Content Blocker you have installed.

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How to Fix It When Safari Is Not Working on an iPad

Restarts, updates, and checking your network are common fixes

• Swansea University, Staffordshire University

• Wichita Technical Institute

Fixing Safari issues on iPad can take seconds to fix due to an unknown minor issue, or it can take a lot longer. Here's how to fix it when Safari won't work on an iPad.

Causes of Safari Not Working On iPad 

There are many reasons why Safari may not be working on iPad. Try these troubleshooting tips to figure out what's happened.

• Your iPad is out of date. If your iPad is not up to date, you may find yourself running into trouble loading standard apps including Safari.
• You're offline. If your iPad doesn't have a data connection, Safari won't be able to load any websites, making it look as if Safari is the issue.
• Your iPad has a major problem. If your iPad won't load any apps including Safari, the problem may be deeper than just the one app.

How to Fix Safari Not Working On iPad 

If your iPad won't open Safari or it won't load correctly, it severely limits your ability to browse the internet. Here's how to fix Safari not working on iPad. 

Restart your iPad . Many common issues are solved by restarting or rebooting the device in question. Restart your iPad to hopefully fix Safari.

Check your data connection . If your iPad is a Wi-Fi model, check you're connected to a Wi-Fi network with internet access. If your iPad has a cellular connection, check it has a signal and is working correctly. Tap Settings > Cellular and check the toggle next to Safari is On.

Check Airplane mode . Check if Airplane mode is enabled on your iPad. If it is, you won't be able to browse online.

Check content restrictions . If you have parental controls set up on your iPad, these may stop you from browsing using Safari. Check the settings to confirm this isn't the issue.

Clear your browsing history . If Safari opens but is unresponsive, clear your browsing history to see if that makes it work more effectively. 

Disable Safari suggestions. Safari suggestions can sometimes cause Safari to crash. Try disabling them by tapping Settings > Safari > then toggle off the Safari Suggestions switch.

Update your iPad . If you haven't updated your iPad in a while, you may need the latest version of iPadOS to correct any issues. It's simple to do but set aside a while for the update process to complete.

Reset your iPad . Resetting your iPad to factory settings removes all your personal information but can sometimes solve an underlying issue previous steps haven't solved.

Contact Apple . If none of the above fixes work, you may have a hardware issue with your iPad. If you have remaining warranty or AppleCare+ , the appointment and fix may be free.

The first thing you should check is that you're entering the correct URL. If you're typing it manually, try finding a link. If you're following a link, try typing it by hand. The website may also be down, and you should try again later.

The best way is to delete your Safari data. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data .

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Safari browser not opening website on my iPhone

i am using safari browser and when i opening it shows error, "This site can not reached ", while in other android phone, it works well, but i want to used on my iphone

anyone else facing this problem, kindly help me to solve it

[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Jun 21, 2023 10:29 AM

Posted on Jun 22, 2023 6:19 PM

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities wekdaw,

The following page offers guidance specifically to address issues you might encounter loading a specific website in Safari on your iPhone:

If you can't load a website or webpage, or Safari quits unexpectedly, follow these steps.

Connect to a different network

Try to load a website, like  www.apple.com , using cellular data. If you don't have cellular data,  connect to a different Wi-Fi network  and then load the website.

If you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network),  check your VPN settings . If you have a VPN turned on, some apps or websites might block content from loading.

Restart your device

Turn off your device and turn it on again.

* Restart your iPhone  

* Restart your iPad  

* Restart your iPod touch

Clear website data

You can clear website data occasionally to improve Safari performance.

1. Go to Settings > Safari.

2. Tap Clear History and Website Data.

3. Tap Clear History and Data to confirm.

Turn on JavaScript

Turn on JavaScript if it's not already on.

1. Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

2. Find the JavaScript feature.

3. Tap the button to turn on JavaScript.

Get more help

If the issue continues and only affects a certain website or webpage, check if you have Private Relay turned on. You can  temporarily turn off Private Relay in iCloud Settings . If Safari still doesn't load websites and you tried all of these steps, contact the website developer for more help.

If Safari isn't loading websites or quits on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

We hope this helps!

Similar questions

• Having issue while accessing my website on Safari Browser Actually I have a website, and I'm facing some issues opening it on safari browser on my latest iPhone 13 Pro Max . It is an issue with my phone or with the browser . 438 1
• Browser is not working on My iPhone Hy There Safari is not working on my iPhone, it's not opening any Website [Link Edited by Moderator] 473 1
• Site is not opening in iPhone XR Hi, I'm using iPad iPhone XR since last 2 months and I have problem in opening my website in Safari browser. It's pretty strange, how do I fix it? 336 1

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Jun 22, 2023 6:19 PM in response to wekdaw

Jun 23, 2023 6:25 AM in response to wekdaw

Thanks for reply

solved zanini

Jun 23, 2023 10:53 AM in response to wekdaw

If you run into any other issues, you're invited to create a new thread so the community can assist once again. 

Have a great day. 

Jan 31, 2024 9:51 AM in response to wekdaw

Go to settings to Safari and see if you have lots of tabs. Clear them. Then see if it works. This way you save your history and websites from clearing. Worked for me.

Home > How to Tips

How to Fix Safari Won't Open Issue?

Updated on Monday, April 8, 2024

Approved by

Summary:  This post will explain why Safari won't open on your Mac, and how to fix the Safari won't open issue with 8 proven methods. After reading, you can use these methods in this guide to make your Safari work again.

"I am having trouble with Safari, when I click on it in the dock nothing happens, it doesn't bounce or open. I tried opening it in different ways but nothing works. It worked perfectly normal yesterday." - from reddit.com.

Have you been troubled with the same issue that the Safari fails to open , cannot launch, and doesn't respond after clicking? If so, you can keep reading this post to get out of the malfunctioned Safari to make it work again.

Table of Contents:

• 1. Part 1. Why Safari won't open?
• 2. Part 2. 8 proven methods to fix Safari won't open

Part 1. Why Safari won't open?

Safari is a web browser developed by Apple. It was first introduced to the Mac and then incorporated with iPad and iPhone as well. As the default browser, it brings you a blaze-fast experience on Mac when surfing the internet.

When Safari won't open after you click the icon, as usual, you will be confused. There must be something wrong that prevents the browser from taking the command and making a response. The reasons might be:

• Too much cache, downloads, and history logs
• Problematic extension or plugin
• An outdated version of Safari
• Older version of macOS
• Safari can't establish a secure connection  to the server

Part 2. 8 proven methods to fix Safari won't open

It is hard to say what the exact culprit is to make the Safari not work, But there are some effective troubleshooting tips to fix the Safari. You can utilize the methods one by one to make the Safari open again.

Method 1. Quit the Safari

The Safari may be already open, but you cannot recognize it if the Safari is stuck or frozen. And you cannot open the Safari when it is already open. In this case, you need to quit the program in the first place.

• Press and hold the control key.
• Click the Safari icon on the Dock and choose Quit from the menu.
• Then click the Safari icon again to see whether it works.

Method 2. Force quit the Safari

If you fail to quit the Safari from the dock, here comes to use force quit. It is designed to terminate a running program when it fails to quit in a normal way.

• Use key combinations Option, Command, Escape (the equivalent of  Ctrl-Alt-Delete on Mac ) or click Apple menu > Force Quit to open the window.
• Then, find Safari from the list, and click Force Quit from the right bottom.
• Now, you can open the Safari to check if force quit helps.

Method 3. Clear browser data

Browser stores the data of the websites you have visited to load quickly for the next time. So does Safari. But too many caches will slow down, or even crash the browser. That may make the Safari won't open. When Safari can't launch, but the Safari menu appears, you can remove the browser data without hassle.

• Click Safari on the dock, and click Safari in the top navigation, then choose Preferences > Privacy.
• Click Manage Website Data, and choose Remove All on the new window, then click Remove Now when asked.
• Back to the Safari menu, click Safari > Clear History.
• Click the collapse button to show all period options, and choose Clear All History, then click Clear History to erase the data.
• Now, quit Safari and open it again.

Method 4. Turn off extensions

Extensions add certain functions or features to your browser. But extensions may cause the Safari won't open problem. Turn off all extensions to see whether the Safari gets back to normal. The prerequisite is you can see the Safari menu in the top navigation.

• Click Safari on the dock, and click Safari in the top navigation, then choose Preferences > Extensions.
• Deselect the checkboxes next to the extension's name.
• Then, quit Safari and open it again

Method 5. Check for updates

You'd better update your Safari and macOS to the latest version. The outdated applications and old macOS may lead to incompatibility, then an application may work abnormally.

• To update Safari: Click Apple menu > Apple Store, then choose Updates.
• To update macOS: Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Software update, then it will automatically check for updates.

Method 6. Restart Mac

Most Mac users regard restarting the device as a remedy when something goes wrong with the Mac such as  Mac is frozen  or  MacBook Pro is overheating , acting sluggish, etc. By restarting, it will close all programs and start fresh. To  restart Mac  may bring the Safari to life.

Method 7. Try Safe Mode

The Safe Mode is a startup option on Mac. It can fix some OS-related problems, such as the Mac computer running very slowly,  Mac won't turn on , the applications crash, etc.  Boot Mac into Safe Mode  may solve the issue that Safari won't open. And the ways to start Intel Mac and M1 Mac to Safe Mode are different.

Method 8. Try another browser

If neither of the methods above works to fix Safari, you can try other browsers like Chrome and Firefox. If it goes well with other browsers, then it may indicate a special problem with Safari.

For further steps, you can  restore Mac from Time Machine , or  reinstall macOS  if you think such major interventions are worthy to repair a Safari. In addition, try to connect with Apple Support, they would be willing to help you.

'The application is not open anymore' error on Mac [Fixed]

[Proved] 9 Ways to Speed Up Safari on Mac

This article will tell you how to speed up Safari on Mac with nine proven ways and help you get Safari running smoothly on Mac again.  Read more >>

Amanda is one of the main columnists at iBoysoft. She loves exploring new technologies, focusing on macOS, Windows OS, data recovery, data security, disk management, and other tech-related issues. She takes delight in providing technical and informative articles to help people out of problems and get the utmost out of their devices.

Jessica Shee is a senior tech editor at iBoysoft. Throughout her 4 years of experience, Jessica has written many informative and instructional articles in data recovery, data security, and disk management to help a lot of readers secure their important documents and take the best advantage of their devices.

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