safari not force quitting on mac

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Why Won’t Safari Quit and How to Force Quit It on Mac?

When Safari becomes unresponsive, it can interrupt your whole workflow. While often a frustrating experience, you can easily get out of it with a few quick fixes.

Working as an Apple repair technician has shown me that Safari often hangs and becomes unresponsive for a variety of reasons. But luckily, it’s usually an easy fix. 

Let’s explore why won’t safari quit, and how you can force quit it on your Mac.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Quit via keyboard, quit via finder menu, use the apple menu to force quit, force quit from the dock, force quit using activity monitor, shut down your mac, keep your mac up-to-date, remove malware and system junk, final thoughts.

• You might need to Force Quit Safari if it stops responding or freezes.
• There are a few ways you can force quit Safari, the quickest way is undoubtedly using the keyboard shortcut , Option , Command , and Esc .
• You can also force quit using the Apple menu or the dock , or even by killing the process via Activity Monitor.
• While uncommon, you may have to shut down and restart your computer if Force Quit does not work. 
• To ensure Safari works as you expect it to, keep your Mac up-to-date with the latest software.
• Additionally, keeping your Mac optimized and free from Malware will ensure Safari keeps working properly.

Why Won’t Safari Quit on Mac

Safari is Apple’s web browser that is automatically installed on all of their devices. Just like all web browsers, Safari sometimes freezes, and you are unable to quit the application. This can happen for several different reasons. 

First, Safari may simply have too many tabs open . Are you someone who likes to have videos playing in the background while surfing the web with 100 different tabs open all at the same time? 

Sometimes it isn’t your fault at all, but an issue with the application. You may need to reset the cache or update your software .

Lastly, it is possible that Safari is just frozen . In any of these cases, the following ways to Force Quit on Mac will help you close Safari when it is not responding. 

Before we continue, let’s make sure you’re clear on how to quit Safari normally.

If you are in an application (Safari in this instance) and you press Command-Q on your keyboard , this quits the application.

Now, this is not a forced quit, so it may not work in this instance, but it is worth a try if clicking the red X is not working for you right now. 

You can also quit Safari by right-clicking on the icon in the dock . Then select Quit.

If neither of the usual ways of closing Safari work or the Quit Safari button is grayed out, then you will need to Force Quit the app.

How to Force Quit Safari on Mac?

When Safari refuses to quit, the best course of action is to use the handy Force Quit option. 

The fastest way to Force Quit Safari is by using the keyboard shortcut . This special key combination will bring up the Force Quit menu.

Step 1: Hit the Option , Command , and Esc keys simultaneously. That will open the Force Quit menu. 

Step 2: Once this menu opens up, select Safari and Force Quit.

Step 3: Click Force Quit again to confirm.

Simply hit the Apple icon in the upper left of your screen, then select Force Quit from the options. From here, you can select the app you would like to force quit from the menu.

Finally, you can simply click on the Safari icon on your dock. If Safari is unresponsive, you will get an option to Force Quit when you right click.

If Safari won’t force quit in the typical ways, you can always kill the active process through Activity Monitor.

To get started, just open Launchpad.

Open Activity Monitor .

Navigate to Safari and Click the X at the top.

Click Force Quit to Confirm.

If all else fails, simply shut down the computer. This will force Safari to restart. 

Click the Apple menu, and Shut Down .

If you need to Force Shutdown your Mac, then simply Press and Hold the power button until the computer turns off.

Next, just turn your computer back on and check if Safari is functioning properly. To prevent any future issues with Safari, you should check for updates and make sure your Mac is optimized. Let’s discuss how to do that.

Safari could be malfunctioning due to out-of-date software, so checking for updates is wise if Safari freezes or becomes unresponsive.

To get started checking for updates, just click the Apple icon in the upper left corner and select System Preferences from the drop-down menu . Alternatively, you can hit the System Preferences icon on the dock .

The following window will pop up. Look for Software Update . Open this and install any updates that are available.

Sometimes Safari doesn’t work properly when you have too much junk on your computer. While anything from minor software bugs to malware could cause Safari to malfunction, checking for these problems can be time-consuming.

A third-party app like CleanMyMac X is pretty helpful for taking care of this stuff for you in one shot. Probably the most helpful thing, in this case, is flushing your DNS cache. Resetting your cache can often fix issues related to Safari not working properly.

After downloading and installing the app, just launch it and select Maintenance from the sidebar. Here you can select options like running maintenance scripts and flushing your DNS cache. Just hit run, and the app will handle the rest.

Additionally, if a malware issue is causing Safari to become unresponsive, you can easily check for and remove it using CleanMyMac X.

While not necessarily a free program, you can try it out with a free trial, and an annual subscription will save you more time than it is worth. You can read our full CleanMyMac X review to learn more.

There are several reasons why Safari may not be quitting. These include out-of-date software, cache, too many tabs open, and simply being frozen. We hope these methods of Force Quitting applications helped you to get Safari closed out. 

In order to prevent future issues with Safari, and other applications as well, you should ensure you run software updates frequently. 

Additionally, third-party apps like CleanMyMac X can help prevent problems with Safari by automatically running maintenance scripts, and clearing malware and system cache, among a host of other handy tasks.

Did these methods work for you? Were you able to quit Safari? Let us know in the comments below!

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Safari will not 'force quit' on my Mac desktop, preventing me from, shutting down

Safari will not 'force quit' on my Mac desktop, preventing me from shutting down

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Feb 1, 2022 7:09 AM

Posted on Feb 1, 2022 4:39 PM

Hi shldsbj_mecom,

Welcome to the Apple Community.

Re: Safari will not 'force quit' on my Mac desktop

You might want to try this method :

Quit an app or process in Activity Monitor on Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/activity-monitor/actmntr1002/10.14/mac/10.14

Discussion thread on the same issue ... including suggestions

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253573712

All the best :-)

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Feb 1, 2022 4:39 PM in response to shldsbj_mecom

Fix: Safari Keeps Crashing on Mac in 11 Ways

Do you find that Safari keeps locking up on your Mac? While annoying, it can be a simple problem to solve. From browser extensions to a built-in ad blocker and superb privacy options, there are a lot of reasons to use Safari. However, there can be times when the browser acts up. Keep reading to find out what to do if Safari keeps crashing on your Mac.

Why Is Safari Locking Up?

While it can be easy for a user to assume that some form of virus or malware is causing the issue, it may be something far more simple. For example, common reasons such as software plugins, extensions, corrupt installation files, or even a website that contains poor coding can all cause Safari to lock up and crash. 

Fortunately, many of these problems are rather easy to fix, so long as you know the right solution. 

How to Stop Safari From Crashing

1. force quit and restart safari.

One of the first things a user can try is force quitting Safari and restarting it. Usually when there’s an issue with any program, a simple restart can help with specific problems. 

Time needed:  1 minute

Here’s how to Force Quit an app on your Mac:

2. Restart the Mac

Another thing a user should try before diving into the nitty-gritty is simply restarting their device. Much like force quitting and restarting Safari, performing a restart can rid the browser of any small bugs that might be causing technical issues. This quick solution can potentially alleviate Apple Safari of any small issues or bugs. Simply go to Apple > Restart from the menu bar to restart your device. 

3. Update macOS and Safari

Updating macOS and Safari may also be a good idea for users. In addition to potentially solving any issues a user may be experiencing with Safari, it’s generally a good idea to check for a device update on your Mac, as it can greatly increase your chances of avoiding major issues. Updates to an operating system also provide critical security patches, as well as other things that help protect your machine. You can always check for macOS updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update and see if an update is available. 

Even better, updating macOS ensures that Safari is also up to date. 

4. Create a New User Profile

When it comes to simple solutions, a user may need to create a new Safari profile to prevent future crashes. Seeing an introduction in macOS Sonoma, profiles allow users to have a browsing history that’s unique to them. There are rare occurrences when a specific problem is tied to a user’s profile, meaning creating a new one could easily solve a specific issue. 

To create a new profile in Safari on Mac, simply follow these steps:

• Open Safari, and then go to Safari in the menu bar.
• Select Settings .
• Go to the Profiles tab and select New Profile .
• Fill out the relevant information and click Create Profile . 

5. Boot Your Mac into Safe Mode

If you need to get an idea of why Safari might be crashing, booting into Safe Mode may help illuminate your problems. Safe Mode helps stop login items and startup items from loading and opening automatically. It also disables certain fonts and deletes certain cache files. If you’re having issues with Apple Safari crashing, seeing if it operates in Safe Mode can help diagnose your problems. 

You will need to know if you are running an Intel processor or Apple silicon. You can check this from the menu bar by going to Apple > About This Mac and checking your processor information. 

For Apple silicon:

• Shut down your Mac by going to Apple > Shut Down . Wait for the Mac to shut down entirely.
• Press and hold the power button on your Mac. Hold it until you see a Loading startup options message.
• Select your drive volume.
• Then, press and hold the Shift key. Click Continue in Safe Mode . Your computer will then restart automatically and you should see the words Safe Mode in the menu bar. 

For Intel-based Macs:

• Restart your Mac or turn it on. Then, immediately press and hold the Shift key. Hold it until you see a login window.
• Log in to your device.
• You should see Safe Mode in the menu bar, though you may also be asked to log in twice. 

If Safari is operating normally while in Safe Mode, it may be third-party software, extensions or certain startup files causing issues.

6. Delete Safari Cache Files

It’s also a good idea to delete Safari cache files. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, your browser downloads the data from the website, making the site load faster the next time you visit it. While this can be extremely helpful for casual internet browsing, users can amass a large cache over time. In essence, it’s possible that your cache is causing issues with Safari, or it’s even possible you may have collected something dubious from your cache. 

To delete your cache in Safari, we recommend two methods. Firstly, you can simply open the browser and go to  History > Clear History from the menu bar. Click the pop-up menu, and then choose how far back you would like to go. In this instance, I would suggest deleting everything, though be warned this may make webpages load slower until you download certain cache files again. 

The second method, which is also the easiest, is a powerful cleaning tool like Intego Washing Machine that will erase all cache and other clogging files from your device while optimizing its performance in real time.

➡️ Get Intego Washing Machine

7. Delete All Website Data

If none of the above solutions are providing an answer to your Safari woes, it may be time to consider deleting all of your website data from Safari. Items such as cookies and other data may potentially be causing problems with Safari, causing it to crash. Fortunately, deleting all website data from Safari isn’t too much of a hassle, though users may need to log back into certain websites. 

• Open Safari on your Mac. Then go to  Safari > Settings .
• Tap  Privacy.

8. Disable Safari Extensions

Users may also want to consider disabling any extensions they are running with Safari. This includes third party extensions. As you can turn off one or multiple extensions, it may be wise to disable all extensions, and then bring them back to your browser one by one to see if there is one causing particular issues. Users may want to delete any extensions they do not recognize. Outdated extensions or problematic extensions may be causing issues as well. 

To disable third-party extensions or any extensions, follow these steps: 

• From the Safari app, go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences ).
• Click  Extensions from the list of options.

• To uninstall an extension, click on it and then click the  Uninstall button. 

9. Reset PRAM or NVRAM 

Users who are experiencing problems with Safari may also want to reset their NVRAM or PRAM. These sections of memory help store certain settings, and these settings may have an impact on your browser and its performance. Fortunately, we have a rather extensive guide on how to reset your NVRAM/PRAM as well as your SMC . If you are having issues with Safari and none of the above options work, check out our article to see if this provides a solution. 

10. Run Disk Utility 

Another option users have is running Disk Utility. An incredibly useful app that comes baked directly into macOS, users can run this program to check for any errors on their drive. It can be especially useful in situations such as these when an app is misbehaving or crashing. Even better, using Disk Utility is rather straightforward, and can help repair your startup disk. In this instance, users will be taking advantage of the First Aid option for their disks. Remember that Disk Utility can be found in Finder by going to Applications > Utilities. 

• Open the Disk Utility app.
• Select your primary drive. It will likely be named Macintosh HD . 

• A pop-up will notify you that the app is about to check the disk for errors and repair them if necessary. Select Run . 
• Wait for Disk Utility to finish. 

11. Use Apple Diagnostics to Check for Hardware Issues

While this is more of a last resort, it may be hardware problems causing Safari to crash. Though this hopefully isn’t the case for users, it may be a possibility that a hardware problem may be causing issues with Safari. Fortunately, there is a way to inspect and test your hardware, thanks to Apple Diagnostics. I’ve personally written a guide about how to test your Mac using Apple Diagnostics , and I would suggest giving it a read if this is a route you are considering taking. 

If there are issues with your hardware, or if you have tried all of these methods and none seem to work, it may be time to talk to Apple Support . 

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• Nick deCourville

How To Force Quit Safari On A Mac

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Safari, the default web browser for Mac, is known for its smooth performance and user-friendly interface. However, there are instances when Safari may become unresponsive or freeze, leaving users in a quandary. In such situations, force quitting the application becomes necessary to regain control and continue browsing without disruptions.

Understanding the need to force quit Safari is essential for Mac users, as it empowers them to troubleshoot unresponsive browser instances effectively. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to force quit Safari on a Mac , ensuring that users can navigate through such scenarios with ease and confidence.

By delving into the intricacies of force quitting Safari, users can gain valuable insights into troubleshooting unresponsive browser issues, thereby enhancing their overall Mac experience. Whether it's a temporary glitch or a persistent problem, having the knowledge to force quit Safari can be a valuable skill for Mac users, enabling them to swiftly address browser-related challenges and resume their online activities seamlessly.

In the following sections, we will explore the step-by-step process of force quitting Safari on a Mac, along with alternative methods to tackle unresponsive browser situations. By equipping users with these essential techniques, this article aims to empower Mac users to navigate through potential browser issues with confidence and ease.

Understanding the Need to Force Quit Safari

Safari, the default web browser for Mac, is renowned for its stability and seamless performance. However, despite its reliability, users may encounter situations where Safari becomes unresponsive or freezes unexpectedly. This can be attributed to various factors such as conflicting extensions, excessive memory usage, or issues with web pages or scripts. When Safari stops responding, it can disrupt the user's browsing experience and hinder productivity.

In such scenarios, understanding the need to force quit Safari becomes crucial. Force quitting is a troubleshooting technique that allows users to terminate unresponsive applications, including Safari, effectively resolving the issue and restoring normal functionality to the browser. By force quitting Safari, users can address instances of unresponsiveness, frozen tabs, or unexpected behavior, enabling them to regain control and continue their online activities without interruptions.

The need to force quit Safari arises when the browser becomes unresponsive to user input, fails to load web pages, or exhibits erratic behavior such as slow performance or unexplained crashes. In these situations, force quitting Safari can serve as a practical solution to address the underlying issues and restore the browser to a functional state.

Furthermore, force quitting Safari can be necessary when attempts to close the browser through conventional methods, such as clicking the close button or using keyboard shortcuts, prove ineffective. In such cases, force quitting becomes the go-to method for terminating the unresponsive browser instance and preventing it from consuming system resources unnecessarily.

Understanding the need to force quit Safari empowers Mac users to tackle unresponsive browser instances effectively. By recognizing the symptoms that indicate the necessity of force quitting, users can take proactive measures to troubleshoot browser-related issues and maintain a smooth browsing experience on their Mac devices.

In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the step-by-step process of force quitting Safari on a Mac, providing users with a comprehensive guide to address unresponsive browser situations confidently and efficiently. Additionally, alternative methods to force quit Safari will be explored, offering users a range of options to troubleshoot browser issues and optimize their browsing experience on Mac.

Step-by-Step Guide to Force Quit Safari on a Mac

When Safari becomes unresponsive on a Mac, force quitting the application can help resolve the issue and restore normal functionality to the browser. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide to force quit Safari on a Mac:

Accessing the Apple Menu : To initiate the force quitting process, start by clicking on the Apple logo located in the top-left corner of the screen. This action will open the Apple Menu, providing access to essential system functions and options.

Selecting "Force Quit" : Within the Apple Menu, navigate to the "Force Quit" option, which is designed to terminate unresponsive applications. Clicking on "Force Quit" will prompt a window to appear, displaying a list of active applications and processes on the Mac.

Identifying Safari : In the "Force Quit Applications" window, locate and select "Safari" from the list of active applications. This step is crucial for targeting the unresponsive Safari instance and initiating the force quitting process for the browser.

Confirming the Force Quit : After selecting Safari, click on the "Force Quit" button located in the bottom-right corner of the window. This action will prompt a confirmation dialog to appear, verifying the decision to force quit Safari. Confirm the force quit by clicking on the "Force Quit" button in the dialog box.

Verifying the Force Quit : Once the force quit command is executed, Safari will terminate, effectively ending the unresponsive browser instance. Users can verify the successful force quit by ensuring that Safari is no longer listed in the "Force Quit Applications" window.

Relaunching Safari : With Safari successfully force quit, users can relaunch the browser by accessing it from the Applications folder or clicking on its icon in the Dock. Relaunching Safari allows users to start afresh, providing an opportunity to resume browsing activities without the previous unresponsiveness or disruptions.

By following these step-by-step instructions, Mac users can effectively force quit Safari when it becomes unresponsive, enabling them to troubleshoot browser-related issues and restore seamless functionality to their browsing experience. This method empowers users to take control of unresponsive browser instances and maintain a smooth and productive browsing environment on their Mac devices.

Alternative Methods to Force Quit Safari

In addition to the conventional method of force quitting Safari through the Apple Menu, Mac users can explore alternative approaches to terminate unresponsive browser instances effectively. These alternative methods provide users with additional options to address unresponsive Safari situations, offering flexibility and convenience in troubleshooting browser-related issues. Here are some alternative methods to force quit Safari on a Mac:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac users can leverage keyboard shortcuts to force quit Safari swiftly. By pressing "Option + Command + Esc" simultaneously, the "Force Quit Applications" window will appear, allowing users to select Safari and initiate the force quitting process. This method provides a quick and convenient way to terminate unresponsive browser instances without navigating through multiple menus, streamlining the troubleshooting process for users.

Activity Monitor

The Activity Monitor , a built-in utility on Mac, offers a comprehensive view of system processes and applications, enabling users to force quit unresponsive programs, including Safari. To access the Activity Monitor, users can navigate to the "Applications" folder, open the "Utilities" subfolder, and launch the Activity Monitor application. Within the Activity Monitor, users can locate Safari in the list of active processes, select it, and choose the "Quit Process" option to force quit the unresponsive browser instance effectively.

Terminal Commands

For users comfortable with command-line interfaces, Terminal provides a powerful alternative for force quitting Safari. By launching the Terminal application and entering the appropriate command to identify and terminate the Safari process, users can force quit the unresponsive browser instance with precision and control. While this method requires familiarity with Terminal commands, it offers a versatile approach to troubleshooting unresponsive applications, including Safari, on a Mac.

Force Quit from the Dock

Mac users can also force quit Safari directly from the Dock, providing a convenient shortcut to terminate unresponsive browser instances. By right-clicking on the Safari icon in the Dock while holding down the "Option" key, users can access the contextual menu and choose the "Force Quit" option to terminate the unresponsive browser swiftly. This method offers a streamlined approach to force quitting Safari, allowing users to address browser-related issues with ease.

By exploring these alternative methods to force quit Safari on a Mac, users can expand their troubleshooting capabilities and tailor their approach to address unresponsive browser instances effectively. Whether through keyboard shortcuts, system utilities, command-line interfaces, or contextual menus, these alternative methods provide Mac users with a range of options to tackle unresponsive Safari situations, ensuring a seamless and productive browsing experience on their Mac devices.

In conclusion, mastering the art of force quitting Safari on a Mac is a valuable skill that empowers users to navigate through unresponsive browser instances with confidence and efficiency. By understanding the need to force quit Safari and familiarizing themselves with the step-by-step process, Mac users can effectively troubleshoot browser-related issues and maintain a seamless browsing experience on their devices.

The step-by-step guide to force quitting Safari provides users with a clear and structured approach to address unresponsive browser situations. By accessing the Apple Menu, selecting Safari, and confirming the force quit, users can swiftly terminate unresponsive browser instances and resume their online activities without disruptions. This method equips users with the knowledge and capability to take control of unresponsive Safari instances, ensuring a smooth and productive browsing experience on their Mac devices.

Furthermore, the exploration of alternative methods to force quit Safari offers users a diverse set of options to troubleshoot unresponsive browser instances effectively. Whether through keyboard shortcuts, the Activity Monitor, Terminal commands, or the Dock, Mac users can tailor their approach to force quitting Safari based on their preferences and familiarity with different methods. This versatility enables users to address browser-related issues with flexibility and convenience, enhancing their overall browsing experience on Mac.

By combining the foundational knowledge of force quitting Safari with alternative methods, users can build a robust troubleshooting toolkit to tackle unresponsive browser instances comprehensively. This empowers Mac users to overcome unexpected browser challenges and maintain a smooth and uninterrupted browsing experience, ultimately optimizing their productivity and satisfaction with Safari on their Mac devices.

In essence, the ability to force quit Safari on a Mac is not only a practical skill but also a means to reclaim control and restore normal functionality to the browser. By equipping users with the knowledge and techniques to address unresponsive browser instances, this article aims to enhance the browsing experience of Mac users, enabling them to navigate through potential challenges with confidence and ease.

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How to Force Quit an Application on a Mac

Last Updated: December 16, 2023 Tested

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Using the apple menu, using the dock, using activity monitor, using terminal, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Gonzalo Martinez . Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 4,357,083 times.

Force-quitting a frozen app is an easy fix. This wikiHow will walk you through the different easy ways you can force quit an app on your Mac.

• The note "(Not Responding)" will appear in red next to frozen apps.

• The note "(Not Responding)" will appear next to frozen apps.

• If your computer is frozen, you may need to restart it.

• If a normal Force Quit doesn't work, you may need to use this method to end the program.

• The COMMAND list may use a truncated name for the program. Look for a name that looks similar to the program you are trying to close.

• If the program does not respond to the “kill” command, type “sudo kill -9 ###”, replacing ### with the PID number.

• It is not possible to force quit Finder. If you select Finder, the "Force Quit" button will say "Relaunch". Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Before you click "Force Quit", double check that the application is still frozen. Sometimes the application un-freezes while you bring up the "Force Quit" window. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Force quitting a running program can cause you to lose any unsaved changes in that program. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ Gonzalo Martinez. Computer & Phone Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 30 March 2021

About This Article

1. Open the Apple menu. 2. Click on Force Quit… . 3. Click on the app you want to quit. 4. Click on Force Quit . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Safari Keeps Crashing on Mac? 5 Ways to Fix It

Mac users are pretty familiar with Safari crashing on their systems, but it's nothing you can't fix. Here are all the important troubleshooting steps.

Safari is the go-to browser for almost all Mac users. It works well and is faster than other browsers due to its integration with macOS.

But just like any other browser, Safari is prone to error, too. It often tends to freeze or crash, sometimes getting stuck on the dreaded spinning beach ball and displaying the "Safari quit unexpectedly" error.

In some cases, Safari will cause your entire Mac to stop responding, leaving you no choice but to restart your system. Don't fret, though, because Safari crashing is pretty common among Mac users, and there are many fixes for it.

Why Does Safari Keep Crashing on Your Mac?

Safari constantly crashing can ruin your browsing experience. Here are some reasons why it might be happening:

• You have too many tabs open, and they're putting a strain on the CPU. Although Safari indeed uses less memory than Chrome and other browsers, opening too many tabs will still cause it to crash sometimes, especially if you have other resource-intensive applications running simultaneously.
• You're using a browser extension that's causing Safari to crash.
• You're using an older version of macOS and Safari. Safari updates itself when you update macOS. So, if you haven't updated your Mac in a long time, it could be why the browser is acting up.

5 Potential Fixes When Safari Keeps Crashing on Your Mac

Here are five things you can do if Safari keeps crashing on your Mac despite restarting and closing other tasks:

1. Force Quit Safari

Force quitting Safari is the first thing you should do if it stops working. First, try closing Safari by pressing Command+Q or by clicking on Safari in the menu bar and selecting Quit Safari from the drop-down menu.

If you can't click on anything, you'll have to minimize Safari and open the "Force Quit Applications" window. To do that, click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and choose Force Quit in the drop-down menu.

Select Safari in the list of applications and click on Force Quit .

2. Clear Cache Files

Cache files are temporarily stored files meant to speed up web pages, but too many cache files can actually slow down your browser and cause it to crash. That's why it's essential to clear cache files from Safari regularly.

Clearing cache is one of the many ways to reset Safari to default settings on your Mac . To delete cache files, click on Develop in the menu bar, and select Empty Caches .

If you don't see the Develop menu in the menu bar, you'll have to activate it by going to Safari > Preferences and then checking the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" option in the Advanced tab.

3. Delete Website Data

You can select which websites to delete, but since there will be so many, it'll be easier to just delete all of them.

To delete website data, click on Safari in the menu bar and select Preferences . Go to the Privacy tab and click on Manage Website Data . Click on Remove All and now relaunch Safari to see if crashes again.

4. Delete Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are useful tools, but sometimes they can negatively affect your browser's speed because some of them consume an excessive amount of memory. It's best to delete extensions that you don't use frequently.

To delete extensions, go to Safari > Preferences and click on the Extensions tab. Uncheck the boxes next to any extension you don't want to use. Remember that this only disables the extension. To completely remove it, click on Uninstall under the extension's name.

5. Update macOS​

One of the ways you can fix high CPU usage on macOS is by updating your Mac. Apple frequently releases macOS updates that contain fixes for bugs and glitches.

So, if none of the solutions above work for you, then you should check if any software updates are available for your Mac. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and go to System Preferences .

Click on Software Updates and if you see any updates there, click on Restart Now to start installing it.

Enjoy a Stable Safari on Your Mac

No one likes a slow browser. Safari is one of the fastest browsers, but it's susceptible to problems, too. It often crashes, which can make anyone's browsing experience unpleasant. You can fix it by performing certain actions, such as clearing the cache and resetting it.

If nothing else works, you should check if you have any pending macOS updates. Safari crashing isn't a major issue, and with a few tweaks here and there, you should be able to improve your browsing experience.

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How to Force Quit a Frozen Mac App

Macs aren't infallible, and at some point during your time using them you'll come across a situation in macOS where an app has become unresponsive, leaving you without access to its contents and functions, and only a continually revolving beachball for your troubles.

How to Force Quit An App - Method 1

If the app is acting up, hold down the Option key and right-click its icon in the Dock to reveal a Force Quit action in the popup menu.

How to Force Quit an App - Method 2

There's a second option for quitting an unresponsive app, and it may be one of the more intuitive solutions.

• Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar.

• Click the app that you want to quit. Unresponsive apps will have a "Not Responding" designation next to them.

Alternatively, you can open the Force Quit applications interface by pressing Command + Option + Escape all at once.

How to Force Quit An App - Method 3

You can also force quit misbehaving Mac apps using Activity Monitor. You can find it in the /Applications/Utilities folder.

Note that if the app or process has files open, force quitting it may cause you to lose data. Also, bear in mind that if the process you force quit is used by other apps or processes, those apps or processes may experience issues.

If your work in the crashed app hasn't been saved recently either manually or automatically, then there's not much you can do to retrieve your work other than check Time Machine.

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Top 7 Ways to Fix Safari Not Responding on Mac

With the last couple of macOS updates, Apple has heavily invested in the Safari browser with a fresh coat of paint and new additions such as Tab Groups, redesigned home screen, and more. However, Apple doesn’t seem to have paid much attention to app reliability. Users are reporting Safari failing to load webpages or even not responding at times on Mac. Here’s how you can fix Safari not responding on Mac.

Fix Safari Not Responding on Mac

Based on our experience, Safari doesn’t respond mostly when you run out of physical memory on your Mac. There are other factors involved as well. Let’s discuss them and troubleshoot the problem.

1. Force Quit Safari

This is the first trick you should try when an app like Safari fails to respond on Mac. You need to force quit Safari browser and launch again.

There are two ways to force quit an app on Mac. You can right-click on the app icon on the Mac dock and select force quit or use the Activity Monitor.

1. Press Command + Space keys and search for Activity Monitor .

2. Find Safari from the list and click on it.

3. Click on the X mark at the top and macOS will completely terminate all Safari activities on Mac.

Try launching Safari again and start browsing the web.

2. Close Other Apps in the Background

This trick is most applicable to Mac users with 8GB of RAM. When too many apps and services are running in the background, you might run out of physical RAM on your devices.

You can access the Activity Monitor (refer to the steps in the above section) and glance over the total physical memory and memory used on your Mac. If you are indeed running low on RAM, close the unnecessary apps and services running in the background. Free up the RAM and launch Safari on Mac again.

3. Disable Apps Opening on Startup

When too many apps and services launch at startup on Mac, you may experience issues with installed apps. Here’s how you can find which apps open on Mac at startup and disable them.

1. Click on the little Apple icon at the top left corner.

2. Open System Preferences menu.

3. Go to Users & Groups .

4. Slide to Login Items menu.

5. Select an app that you want to stop launching at startup.

6. Click on – icon at the bottom to remove it. You may have to click on the lock icon at the bottom before making changes. This is done to prevent accidental changes.

4. Remove Safari Preferences

First, you need to force quit Safari browser on Mac and then delete the file that stores Safari preferences. This trick works for us whenever we find Safari not responding on Mac.

1. Open the Finder menu and press Command + Shift + G keys.

2. It will open Go to the Folder box .

3. Paste the following command.

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari/Data/Library/Preferences

4. Find com.apple.Safari.plist file from the list and right-click on it. Move it to Trash.

Restart your Mac and try using the Safari browser again.

5. Remove Junk Files on Mac

Unlike iOS, macOS allows users to download apps from the web. You might have downloaded too many unwanted files from the web. Some of these junk files might mess up with other app operations on the Mac.

Instead of finding such files from the Finder menu, you can use CleanMyMac X software and remove these files with a single click.

It’s paid software at a $29 one-time price tag, but the software is worth considering the functionalities on offer.

Download – CleanMyMac X

6. Update macOS

Safari is a part of macOS. You can’t simply go ahead and update the app from the Mac App Store. Apple distributes Safari updates via the system-wide OS updates.

Whenever a major macOS version drops, there are bound to be some issues with system apps. Apple is quick to resolve them with OS updates.

You can open the System Preferences and go to the Software Update menu to install the latest macOS. Try your luck with Safari again.

7. Try Safari Alternatives

Whenever users start dealing with dozens of tabs in the Safari browser, the app starts freezing up and stops responding. If you are facing the same, it’s time to ditch the Safari browser and go with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome on Mac.

Unlike on iPhone, these browsers are Chromium-based on Mac and compatible with all the excellent Chrome extensions .

Download – Google Chrome for Mac

Download – Microsoft Edge for Mac

Get Safari Up and Running on Mac

Safari not responding may lead to unproductive hours on Mac. Before you start thinking about ditching Safari on Mac though, try the tricks above and troubleshoot the issue. There are many awesome browsers available these days and it is perfectly okay to use a combination of two browsers too. That way, you can distribute the load between two browsers leading to slightly better results. Worth a try.

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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How to Force Quit Applications on Your Mac When They're Not Responding

Quick links, force quit an app from the dock, force quit apps using the force quit menu, force quit an app using the activity monitor, force quit apps using the terminal.

• Force quit an unresponsive app from the Dock by right-clicking and selecting "Force Quit."
• Use the Force Quit menu under the Apple logo in the menu bar to close apps immediately.
• Consider using Activity Monitor or Terminal for more advanced methods of force quitting apps.

Macs are very stable, but not every Mac app is. Every once in a while, something you're using is going to crash. And when an app stops working, pressing Command+Q isn't going to fix it. You need to force quit the app instead.

If you're used to using the Dock to manage your apps, then you'll find that it's also the easiest way to force quit an app that isn't responding. Just right-click (or Control+left-click) the icon and you'll see that the usual Quit option has been replaced by Force Quit. Simply click "Force Quit" to close the app, then click the icon again to reopen it.

Sometimes, however, an app can hang but the Force Quit option doesn't appear in the Dock menu. You can try clicking "Quit" as usual, but that often won't do anything either. In that case, you need to use the Force Quit menu.

Remember that force quitting apps will often mean you lose any changes made to documents since you last saved them. If you're pushing your system quite hard, it's a good idea to give an app a minute or two to see if it'll start working again.

You can find the Force Quit tool under the Apple logo in the menu bar. (You can also open this window by pressing Command+Option+Esc, which is like the Mac version of Ctrl+Alt+Delete .)

The Force Quit menu is a simple window, floating above all of your open windows, that shows a list of currently running apps. To force any application to close, click it in the list, then click the "Force Quit" button. In almost all cases, the app in question will close immediately.

Apps that have totally crashed will sometimes show "Not Responding" in red next to the name. This means macOS is aware that it's having problems. Happily, you can force quit these apps just as easily as any other: just select it, then click "Force Quit."

If you have problems with Finder, the option in the Force Quit menu is "Relaunch." Click that to quit and immediately restart the app.

The Force Quit tool is simple, but you can also forcibly shut applications down using the Activity Monitor . Unlike the Force Quit tool, it shows every process running on your Mac, along with info on how much CPU, memory, and energy they're using up. This is useful if you suspect an app is bogging down your machine, but you're not sure which one.

You can open Activity Monitor via Launchpad, where you'll find it in the "Other" folder, or by using Spotlight . To force quit an app, first select it from the list, then click the "X" button in the toolbar at the top.

You'll be asked if you're sure you want to force quit the application. Click "Force Quit" and it should close instantly.

The Quit option, which is the default, probably won't work to close an app you're having trouble with: it triggers the same Close command you see when you right-click a Dock icon, or use the Command+Q keyboard shortcut.

Finally, a slightly more technical solution. You can quit any app instantly using a command in Terminal. Simply open the Terminal app through the Launchpad or Spotlight, and type:

killall [app name]

Replace [app name] with the app you want to close. The names are case-sensitive, and if it has more than one word, put the name inside quotes. So, it would look like this:

killall Spotify

killall "Pixelmator Pro"

Very occasionally, the name of the app file doesn't match the app name, so won't work—Visual Studio Code is Electron, for instance. It's possible to find the name you need through Activity Monitor, but then you may as well use that to close the app instead.

Hopefully, you won't need to force close apps too often. But if you encounter apps that are buggy, or are using resource-intensive apps that are consuming all your memory or processing power, then you now know how to fix it.

How to force an app to quit on your Mac

If an app stops responding and you can't quit the app normally, use these steps to force the app to quit.

To quit a Mac app normally, choose Quit from the app's menu in the menu bar, or press Command-Q. If the app doesn't quit, follow these steps to force the app to quit.

Force an app to quit

Press these three keys together: Option (or Alt), Command, Esc (Escape). 1 Or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen.

A Force Quit window opens. Select the app that you want to quit, then click Force Quit:

The Finder is always open, but if it stops responding, you can force it to quit and then open again: Select Finder in the Force Quit window, then click Relaunch.

Learn how to close an app on your iPhone or close an app on your iPad .

If you can't force the app to quit

If you can't force the app to quit, try restarting your Mac: Choose Apple menu  > Restart.

If your Mac won't restart, force your Mac to turn off:

Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds, until your Mac turns off. 2

Turn your Mac back on.

1. Even computers that have a Touch Bar have an Esc key. It's on the left side of the Touch Bar.

2. Every Mac has a power button. On Mac laptop computers, the power button is in the upper-right corner of the keyboard. If the laptop keyboard has Touch ID, that key is also the power button.

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