safari "broken"

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Level 1

16 points

safari "broken"

I have not made any configuration changes or software installs. Yesterday evening i started to get safari issues. The browser was slowing, and i restarted. I noticed the first issue which was safari is not remembering previously opened tabs, even though it is set to open with previous tabs. I carried on using safari that evening, re-opening my tabs manually.

I shut down and restarted my mac this morning. Safari is now completely un-usable. It runs, and shows its menu items. I am unable to enter preferences. It doesnt even run the "about" item. New windows show in the safari program, but are not displayed.

Is there any way to start safari in any kind of safe mode, or go back to safari defaults? I am using the latest safari, downloaded a couple of weeks ago. Cant open the about tab to get the version.

Mac mini, macOS 11.5

Posted on Sep 30, 2021 3:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

188,646 points

Sep 30, 2021 7:47 AM in response to rossb2

rossb2 wrote:

I have not made any configuration changes or software installs. Yesterday evening i started to get safari issues. The browser was slowing, and i restarted. I noticed the first issue which was safari is not remembering previously opened tabs, even though it is set to open with previous tabs. I carried on using safari that evening, re-opening my tabs manually.

I shut down and restarted my mac this morning. Safari is now completely un-usable. It runs, and shows its menu items. I am unable to enter preferences. It doesnt even run the "about" item. New windows show in the safari program, but are not displayed.

Is there any way to start safari in any kind of safe mode, or go back to safari defaults? I am using the latest safari, downloaded a couple of weeks ago. Cant open the about tab to get the version.

Still waiting for a stand alone Safari installer pkg for "Big Sur " to sort the plethora of issues that are presenting themselves in this latest Safari15 update for some users.

Suggested coarse of action is simply reinstall the macOS on top of your existing macOS to refresh the baked in applications.

How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

The work around is not a panacea for everyone.

You can always use an alternative browsers that has no issues, until Apple releases an update to the update.

My understanding is "Apple knows about this. They suggested using recovery mode to reinstall my OS"

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

91,669 points

Sep 30, 2021 5:01 AM in response to rossb2

Follow this Big Sur discussion for solution from @leroydouglas

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253198475

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Answer 3

rossb2 Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 30, 2021 6:58 AM in response to PRP_53

thanks. I did the stated fix:

From the Finder>Go?Go to Folder, copy and paste:

~/Library/Containers/Safari/Data/Library/Safari/

delete the following or move to the desktop to delete later

safaritabs.db

safaritabs.db-shm

safaritabs.db-wal

I found that this fixed one issue. I can now start safari, and access preferences.

Still have a couple of issues:

-safari is not bringing up previously open tabs on restart, they are all removed

-the tabs bar does not show on Safari start, even when i select to show tab bar , from the view menu. A work around is to go view, show tab overview, then open another tab. The tab bar then comes back.

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Answer 4

rossb2 Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 30, 2021 8:55 AM in response to leroydouglas

thanks. I will use chrome as a back up if needed.

My safari works okay, once I have a couple of tabs open and the tab bar showing. It just seems to be really bad, on start up. I may leave my mac on standby, until it gets patched.

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