How to prevent linking to Apple Support docs versioned for Other Countries?

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How to prevent linking to Apple Support docs versioned for Other Countries?

I'm using Safari 18.4 in macOS 15.4.

Lately I've experienced several instances of Safari linking to Apple Support docs that are versioned for countries other than the US and I subsequently have trouble finding and linking to the same docs' US versions.

For example, this morning I googled "Safari User Guide" and got linked to this: Safari User Guide for Mac - Apple Support (PH) Philippines resource. !?

A couple days ago I tried to link to "MacOS User Guide" and ended up at an Apple resource in Chinese. Only after much trial and error did I find a previously saved link that took me to the correct page.

Once I've opened these links and realized the document version is incorrect, I cannot easily find and link to the US version of these docs.

I've emptied Safari caches via the Develop menu, I've deleted Safari history, relaunched Safari, restarted the Mac... yet these have not eliminated the problem.

Does anyone have guidance that might help, please?

Thanks!

MacBook Air (M2, 2023)

Posted on Apr 13, 2025 09:45 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MrHoffman

Community+ 2025

Level 10

141,349 points

Apr 13, 2025 10:28 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

The Apple country-or-region switcher (circled in red, below) is seemingly broken for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The switcher works correctly for other countries and regions, but does not select correctly for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico

If I know I’m opening a different country support document, or if I need to open and verify a document in another language by hacking the URL, I’ll open the support document in a private window.

Last few times I’ve gotten stuck here, switching to a country or region such as México (and not US, PR, CA), and then switching back to EN-US has worked. Switching among ES-US or ES-PR or EN-US or EN-CA has not worked. Or didn’t, when last I got an ASC tab region-stuck.

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Answer 2

D.I. Johnson Author

Level 7

30,977 points

Apr 13, 2025 10:07 AM in response to Niel

Niel wrote:

Whenever you get one of those, delete the en-ph or other code, and the slash after it, from the address.

Thanks, but this was actually my first thought and the attempt failed. I was still linked to the Philippines and Chinese versions. That's what prompted me to empty the cache and delete the recent history.

Have you got any other good guidance?

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Answer 3

D.I. Johnson Author

Level 7

30,977 points

Apr 13, 2025 10:52 AM in response to MrHoffman

MrHoffman wrote:

The Apple country-or-region switcher (circled in red, below) is seemingly broken for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The switcher works correctly for other countries and regions, but does not select correctly for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

[...]

Ah-HA! This is just what I was needing. Problem solved!

I did not realize/know that identifier was a selectable switcher and provided localizing options. That's brilliant!

Surprisingly, I am able to select Canadian and Puerto Rican English with that, but not US English as you noted. Australian and UK English would also be fine, I suppose, in most instances.

If I know I’m opening a different country support document, or if I need to open and verify a document in another language by hacking the URL, I’ll open the support document in a private window.

This sounds like not a bad idea. I'll try to remember this for future reference.

Thank you, my friend!

And thank you, too, Niel!

🙏🏽🙂

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Answer 4

Apr 13, 2025 12:19 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

D.I. Johnson wrote:

MrHoffman wrote:

The Apple country-or-region switcher (circled in red, below) is seemingly broken for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The switcher works correctly for other countries and regions, but does not select correctly for United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

[...]

Ah-HA! This is just what I was needing. Problem solved!

I did not realize/know that identifier was a selectable switcher and provided localizing options. That's brilliant!

Surprisingly, I am able to select Canadian and Puerto Rican English with that, but not US English as you noted. Australian and UK English would also be fine, I suppose, in most instances.

You can select any of them certainly, but the sticky setting from the URL was overriding (and not being reliably overridden by) the selection for US, PR, and CA. Switching con un viaje a través de México or another choice unsticks the setting. Or that was the case when last I was tangling with this.

If I know I’m opening a different country support document, or if I need to open and verify a document in another language by hacking the URL, I’ll open the support document in a private window.

This sounds like not a bad idea. I'll try to remember this for future reference.

Thank you, my friend!

And thank you, too, Niel!

🙏🏽🙂

De nada.

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Answer 5

Niel

Community+ 2025

Level 10

739,691 points

Apr 13, 2025 09:58 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Whenever you get one of those, delete the en-ph or other code, and the slash after it, from the address.

(259921)

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How to prevent linking to Apple Support docs versioned for Other Countries?

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