Safari Beach Balling

[DavidQPR]

For the last month or so Safari has been unusable. It doesn't appear at all for about thirty seconds after clicking the icon and then beachballs for about another minute. If I persist with it I get random beachballing whilst trying to use it and eventually have to force quit.

I have cleared the cache and disabled all extensions. I have had to start using Brave full time, rather than only for youtube, but would like to be able to use Safari again. Obviously it's not possible to delete safari and reinstall so Im now at a loss what to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[appltech]

Try booting in Safe Mode.
Also, make sure all software updates are installed.

 

[DavidQPR]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Once Ive booted in safe mode, then what? Cheers

 

[appltech]

Just restart the Mac the usual way to boot in Normal mode

 

[DavidQPR]

Yes, but how does booting temporarily in safe mode fix my safari problems

 

[appltech]

Apple says: "Safe mode may help you resolve or isolate problems that you’re having with your Mac.

When you start up in safe mode, your Mac prevents some software, such as startup items, from loading, and it performs a check of your startup disk. Your Mac may take longer to start up because of the check."

Wikipedia says: "Safe mode is intended to help fix most, if not all, problems within an operating system."

Also, as far as I know, it cleans some system caches, temp files and stuff.

Safari is deeply integrated with the system, hence Safe Mode might help.

 

[Slartibart]

Version of Big Sur and Safari? Do you use a beta or TP?

 

[DavidQPR]

Try booting in Safe Mode.
Also, make sure all software updates are installed.

Safe mode never works on this iMac(2020). Holding down shift just does nothing, worked ok on previous Mac

Version of Big Sur and Safari? Do you use a beta or TP?

Big Sur 11.4 Safari 14.1.1

If I do a time machine restore I guess it will copy the corrupted Safari or will it download a fresh copy?

 

[appltech]

The Safe Mode boot process is different on M1 chips.

Start up a Mac with Apple silicon in safe mode​

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu
   
   > Shut Down.
   After your Mac shuts down, wait 10 seconds.
2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until the startup options window appears showing available startup disks and Options.
3. Select a startup disk.
4. Press and hold the Shift key, click Continue in Safe Mode, then release the Shift key.

 

[DavidQPR]

It’s an intel mac

 

[appltech]

Yes, indeed. My bad, sorry (late night working, still sleepy).

 

[DavidQPR]

Haha no worries thanks anyway