Ability to turn off "This webpage was reloaded because it was using significant memory"

Question

Level 1

6 points

Ability to turn off "This webpage was reloaded because it was using significant memory"

I use some memory-intensive web applications like photopea (free online Photoshop). Since updating to Mac OS Big Sur (and now on MacOS Monterey), they have become unusable because Safari frequently refreshes the page (causing me to lose progress and I have to start the task over again) and displays the message "This webpage was reloaded because it was using significant memory."

I love Safari, but this makes it totally unusable for me. I've had to switch to a new browser for many tasks because Safari just reloads the page and causes me to lose my progress.

How can I turn off this automatic reloading of webpages? Surely Apple engineers wouldn't program in something that could so easily interrupt many peoples' workflows without also adding a way to turn it off...

Over 100 people had this question two years ago and it still hasn't been fixed. See also Safari reloading webpage while working on my Wix site and Automatic Reloading of Safari Tab.

MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)

Posted on Jul 22, 2023 4:52 PM

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Answer 1

JZBolton Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 22, 2023 7:24 PM in response to John Galt

When using Google Chrome for the same website, Photopea, the browser presents the option to “wait” or leave the webpage. When I select wait, the webpage continues functioning. What’s “defective” is the way Safari removed a choice from the user.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

153,856 points

Jul 22, 2023 7:08 PM in response to JZBolton

Safari will automatically reload a webpage if it is defective for any number of reasons, such as the inclusion of a page element that is self-directing. Fixing it is the responsibility of the website designer.

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

153,856 points

Jul 22, 2023 7:35 PM in response to JZBolton

You can complain about it here, which will do nothing, or you can contact Apple, who may or may not be interested in your opinion. Your choice.

Contact Apple

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Answer 4

Dec 29, 2023 3:23 PM in response to John Galt

This has been brought to Apple's attention countless times. Apparently it is a behavior that they care nothing about fixing. I don't have "mission critical" use of Safari like the OP, but I have had forms reload and design stuff lost due to this "feature". It is a problem with Apple/Safari. Literally NONE of the sites (which is a growing list) that exhibit this issue have the same problem for me with other browsers - Chrome (which I am not a fan of for a whole other set of reasons), Vivaldi, Brave... they all work flawlessly and without hiccup with the same web pages. What I have found to be consistent among web pages that cause this "webpage was reloaded because it was using significant memory" - is that they are pages with LOTS of ads. Also- whether I use an ad blocker or not - it is ONLY Safari that chokes on these pages.

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Ability to turn off "This webpage was reloaded because it was using significant memory"

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