Safari Can't Open the Page? Here's What to Do

When Safari can't open a page or fails to load it properly on your Mac, you can try these simple fixes to get it working.

Safari on macOS is pretty stable. So it might come as a surprise when Safari can't open a page. Such a struggle could tempt you to download or use Firefox, Chrome, or Edge to open the page instead, but you don't have to go down that road just yet.

We'll show you how to get Safari to open web pages normally with some simple troubleshooting tips.

1. Quit and Relaunch Safari

At times, an unknown glitch might prevent Safari from opening sites. You should quit and restart Safari if it fails to open the page to fix these glitches.

If you have any important work open in any of the tabs, save it first. Then press Cmd + Q to quit Safari.

Relaunch Safari as normal to see if it can open the page you wanted to visit now.

2. Check Your Internet Connection If Safari Can't Open a Page

If Safari can't open a page, then it might not be the browser's problem. Your internet connection might be slow or intermittent. You can check that by testing your internet connection speed to see if it's slowing everything down.

Related: How to Access Websites That Won't Load

Since Mac supports dual-band routers, you can switch your internet connection to a 5GHz band (if your router offers it). This can help if too many devices are using the same band (usually the 2.4GHz), slowing down browsing performance.

You can also bring your Mac closer to the router and change the Wi-Fi router's channel for better speeds and reliable connectivity.

3. Safari Can't Open a Page If It Doesn't Exist

By default, the latest Safari version doesn't show the full URL in the address bar, giving a minimalist look instead. If you're trying to open pages of old websites or outdated URLs from your bookmarks, it's a good idea to verify the URL to make sure you got it right.

Click on Safari's address bar to reveal the entire URL. You can then inspect whether it's the one you want to open or a misspelled mistake.

If the URL is incorrect, or the page no longer exists, you'll get the 404 error, which means Safari can't open the page no matter how much you try.

4. Check the DNS Settings for Your Mac

Most people use the default DNS of their Internet Service Provider (ISP). In such cases, an ISP's DNS servers might be choking up. So Safari can struggle to open a web page if it can't use a fast DNS.

Changing to different DNS addresses is often suggested as an easy way to improve your internet speeds. You can use Google's DNS servers to speed up things for your Mac.

Here's how to change DNS addresses on your Mac:

  • Open System Preferences and select Network .
  • Click on the Advanced button and go to the DNS tab.
  • Click the Plus ( + ) button to add Google's Public DNS addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 .
  • Click OK on that window and then select Apply to confirm the changes.

Next, open the Terminal and run the following command to clear the DNS cache:

After that, you should try disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network to see whether Safari can open a page or not now.

5. Purge Safari's Cache and Temporary Files

Safari retains a cache from all the websites you visit, just like other browsers do. But if that website data is outdated on your Mac, Safari might say it cannot open a page. It's a good idea to dump Safari's cache every now and then to avoid this problem and make space for new data.

Here's how to purge Safari's Cache:

  • Launch Safari, and click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  • Head to the Advanced tab and select the checkbox for Show Develop menu in menu bar at the bottom.
  • Close the Preferences window and click Develop > Empty caches to purge all the old Safari cache.

Once you make the Develop menu appear, you can hit Option + Cmd + E to delete the Safari cache at any time. You can also employ Safari browser tweaks to further boost its speed and performance.

6. Check Safari's Website Restrictions in Screen Time

If your Mac runs macOS Catalina or Big Sur, it's worth checking whether you have Screen Time enabled and applying Website Restrictions.

Go to System Preferences > Screen Time and select the Content & Privacy option from the sidebar. That'll reveal whether you've set any rules for blocking certain kinds of websites.

Click on the Turn Off button at the top, next to where it says Content & Privacy Restrictions to disable the website restrictions, if any.

7. Inspect and Edit the Hosts File on Your Mac

Some extensions or apps tend to edit the hosts file to connect your Mac to the webservers of an app or service directly. And the entries for that contain a domain or sub-domain.

Whether you're using your Mac for local server development or simply blocking the redirects, the hosts file might have some unknown IP address entries.

Cleaning up the unwanted entries from the hosts file can also help Safari and other apps.

To inspect and edit the hosts file, launch Terminal app and type this command:

Once the hosts file opens in Terminal, scroll down using the arrow keys and remove the unwanted entries. Then hit Ctrl + O to add those changes to the hosts file and Ctrl + E to exit the nano editor.

Updating the hosts file might make a few apps and sites run slow momentarily.

8. Install Outstanding Updates for Safari

Running the latest version of Safari on your Mac is a good way to eliminate all the niggles that hinder it from opening pages. An updated browser can often fix many problems, especially when Safari couldn't open a page that demands a specific browser version to work.

Head to App Store > Updates to check for any outstanding updates for Safari and install if there is one. Then go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for macOS updates as well.

You can also reset Safari to default settings to purge all old website data as well as cookies.

The Best Ways for Safari to Open Web Pages

While there's no single reason to point at, these solutions can remove any underlying issue that Safari faces when opening a page or a site. These improvements will make Safari faster after a few seconds once it gathers new cookies and site data.

Whenever Safari hits a roadblock while loading a site, you can use the solutions mentioned above to troubleshoot it. To improve your Safari browsing experience, there are lots of Safari tips and tricks you can use to tweak it to its maximum potential.

Google Docs not working? Here’s our guide on how to fix it

TechieTechTech Team

  • September 30, 2020

How to fix Google Docs not working issues Banner Image

Google Docs is an excellent word-processor that allows you to create, edit, and share files with other users. You can access Google Docs as a web service or a mobile application (available for both iOS and Android). It is used by millions of users because of its ease of use, online collaboration abilities, and other niceties. Many users use Google Docs as a primary tool for their personal or office work. Now, imagine, you’ve got to edit and send an important document, and suddenly, Google Docs shows up an error. This can be really maddening, right? There can be instances when Google Docs won’t work, open, load, or save files on your device. To help you fix such issues, we’ve come up with our troubleshooting guide.

Whether you’re struggling with Google Docs not working, not saving, or not loading issues, or if you just can’t open Docs in Google Chrome on your device, we’ve mentioned some effective workarounds in this guide that will help you fix such problems.

Before we jump to the list of solutions, let’s have a look at some common reasons why Google Docs is not loading properly on your device.

Why is Google Docs not working or loading?

1. no or unstable internet connection.

A poor or unstable internet connection is one of the most common reasons why Google Docs works very slow on your laptop or smartphone. In the case of poor network connectivity, you might not be able to open your file, or you may feel that Google Docs is taking forever to save your files. If there’s an unstable network, you would see a message saying “Trying to connect”. If you encounter such issues, the best is to verify if the internet is working properly or not. 

2. Extensions and Plugins

Sometimes, browser extensions and plugins can interfere and cause issues with Google Docs, and other Google apps like Slides, Forms, and Sheets. Apart from Google services, you may also face trouble while loading certain websites on your device.

3. Cache and Cookies

A web browser stores cache and cookies for the websites that you visit. Cookies make your online experience better by saving your browsing data, and the cache remembers certain parts of a web page you visit, to open them faster for you during the next visit. However, sometimes,  the cached data takes too much space or gets corrupted. This can lead to errors while browsing or interacting with some websites.. 

4. Outdated Browser

Sometimes, you may face issues on a particular web browser. It can be possible that Google Docs is not opening, or saving because of some bugs with your web browser. Moreover, an outdated browser makes it very difficult to quickly load and open heavy web applications like Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides on your device. 

5. Firewall

The firewall settings on your device may interfere with your browser and prevent it from loading certain websites. Sometimes, customized firewall and proxy settings may block access to the Google drive. Make sure to match your Firewall settings with the settings shared by Google.

6. Using a lot of resource extensive apps at the same time

If you’re using several resource extensive apps or opened too many tabs at the same time, it may give you trouble with Google Docs. In such cases, you may feel that Google Docs is lagging or that you’re not able to edit your documents smoothly (it’s taking 3-4 seconds for a pressed character to appear on the screen).

Disclaimer: Proceed at your own risk, TechieTechTech will not be responsible if anything goes wrong with your device.

How to fix Google Docs not saving, editing, or loading issues?

We would like to mention something important here. As soon as you notice that you’re unable to edit Google Docs or face errors while saving your work, you must backup the document by either downloading the docx file or copy-pasting your content in an offline document or a new doc in a new browser/window. 

1. Check your Internet connection

As soon as you start facing any problems with Google Docs, the first thing is to check your internet connection. It can be possible that you’re assuming that Google Docs is not working on Chrome or your smartphone, but actually, it’s the internet that’s giving you the headache. Therefore, you must check whether you’re connected to a stable internet connection by opening a website (try opening the one that you usually visit). Then press Ctrl + F5. If you can’t do that, your internet connection is certainly the culprit. If you’re sure that there’s no issue with the internet connection and you’re still facing the same problems, move to the other steps mentioned below.

2. Refresh the page

If you can’t edit or open a file in Google Docs, Google Slides, or Google Sheets, you can try refreshing the page. It can help you clear out the errors that are preventing Google Docs from loading in your web browser. 

Here’s how to refresh the page in different browsers:

  • Google Chrome: Click the clockwise arrow present at the top-left corner.
  • Firefox: At the top, click Reload current page icon (clockwise arrow)
  • Safari: View > Reload page
  • Internet Explorer/ Microsoft Edge: Press F5 on your keyboard

You can use the Ctrl + F5 to refresh the page. It will refresh the page but does not use the existing cached data.

3. Check if you’re facing issues with Google Docs only or other services as well (Google Sheets and Slides)

When you’re facing problems with Google docs, it’s a good idea to check if you’re able to use other Google services like Sheets, Slides, etc. I would like to share my experience here.

Earlier this week, I was having trouble saving my work on Google Docs (I’ve shared an image below). I had made a few changes to my document and for almost 25-30 mins, Google Docs showed “Saving” at the top (where you see the Document status). I switched to Google Sheets, made a few changes, and it got saved immediately.

Google Docs saving issues

You should also try doing the same as it will help you narrow down the problem. If you can’t use Google Sheets, Slides, or other services, it’s the time to check if Google Servers are down. In this case, move to step 5. On the flip side, if you can use other Google services without any issues, move to the other troubleshooting steps that we’ve mentioned below.

4. Wait or re-open the Google Docs

If you’re still unable to save or edit Google Docs, you can try closing the file and open it again after some time. Some minor glitches might be interfering with your device or browser and not allowing Google Docs to function properly. Closing and reopening the file works like magic in some situations. Therefore, make sure to give it a try, before proceeding to the other steps. 

5. Check for Google Docs outages

Before you try out other steps to fix Google Docs not working problems, it’s worth checking if there’s a service disruption or outage of Google Servers. You can check the same on

G Suite Status Dashboard. In case there’s a service disruption for a Google Service, you’ll see an orange dot. For a service outage, you’ll see red dots beside the name of the Google service. You can click on the dots to know more about the details.

In these situations, there’s nothing that you can do at your end, except to wait and let the Google experts fix the problem. If there’s no disruption or outage for Google Docs, try out the other steps. 

6. Check if you’ve opened too many tabs

If you’ve opened too many tabs at the same time or using several resource-intensive apps, like using video editing software or playing games, it may give you trouble working with Google Docs. The more tabs or apps you’ve opened, the more RAM you’re using, and it may slow down your device. Therefore, reduce the number of opened tabs and close the apps that you don’t need right now. It can help you fix Google Docs working too slow or not loading issues.  

7. Reduce file size

If you’re struggling to open a document properly or facing some loading issues with Google Docs, make sure to check the size of the document. If a file is too heavy/large, it may take more time to open or load in your browser. Also, if you’re unable to store a file in your Google Drive, make sure the size of the file lies within the acceptable range. Documents with up to 1.022 million characters are permitted. If you’ve converted a large text document into Google Docs format, make sure the file size is not more than 50 MB.

If you’re facing similar issues with Google Sheets, Slides, or other files, click here to find out the acceptable file sizes.

In case a file is too heavy or close to the acceptable limit, you must divide the information into multiple files.

Also read: Google Photos vs Google Drive

8. Turn OFF browser plugins and extensions

Sometimes, browser extensions and plugins can interfere and cause issues with Google Docs. If you work regularly with Google Docs, there are high chances that you would have installed the Grammarly extension on your browser. Many users have reported issues with Google Docs while using Grammarly extension. Therefore, before you first try to remove the extension, check if that particular extension is interfering with your browser’s operations. You can also try reinstalling the plug-in if the error still persists. You can also contact Grammarly support so that they can fix the issue. The same rule applies to other plugins and browser extensions.

Here’s how to disable extensions in Google Chrome:

1. Open the Google Chrome browser

2. Click the three vertical dots present at the top-right corner

3. Select More Tools > Extensions

How to disable extensions in Google Chrome

4. Now, turn OFF all the extensions , except the Google Docs Offline and Chrome Apps.

9. Switch browser (Switch to Google Chrome)

It can be possible that you’re facing Google Docs loading issues on a particular web browser. Also, an outdated browser makes it very difficult to load and open Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides on your device. In such cases, it’s the browser that is giving you the trouble, and not Google Docs. Therefore, first, make sure that your browser is up to date. If you’re still experiencing the same issues, try opening your file on another device or with a different browser like Microsoft Edge or Firefox.

Also read: How to enable Dark mode in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides on Android

10. Check browser version

If you’re using Google Docs for the first time on a computer and you just can’t load or open your files, check if you’re using a supported browser and operating system. Click here to check the system requirements and supported browsers for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. It’s worth mentioning that Google services can be used with the most 2 recent versions of the supported browsers. 

11. Clear browser cache

Your web browser stores some information in its cache and cookies for a better internet experience. It helps the browser to open the websites faster for you during the next visit. When the cache becomes large in size or gets corrupted, you may face some loading or formatting issues on your device. Therefore, you can try deleting the cache and see if it works for you.

Here’s how to delete cache in Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.

2. Click the three vertical dots on the top-right corner.

3. Select More Tools > Clear browsing data

How to delete cache in Google Chrome

4. Now, choose a time range . To delete everything, select All Time.

Select Time range

5. Make sure to check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”

6. Click Clear data.

12. Turn Offline access on and off

If you usually face internet issues, you must set up offline access, so that you can easily view and edit files on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides even if you don’t have an active internet connection. Once you connect to a stable internet connection, your files will automatically be synced with the latest changes.

Before you turn ON Offline access, make sure of the following:

  • Your device must be connected to a stable internet connection
  • You must use Google Chrome browser
  • Don’t use Incognito mode
  • Install and turn ON Google Docs Offline Chrome extension
  • Please ensure that there’s enough storage space available on your device to save the files.

Here’s how to enable Offline access for Google Docs:

1. Open Google Chrome

2. Go to Google Drive > Settings

Enable Offline access

3. Check the box next to Offline

If you’ve already enabled Offline access and are still facing trouble in opening or editing your files, you can turn it off and on again to fix the issue. 

13. Check your antivirus software

Sometimes Antivirus software and ad blockers interfere with web apps like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Also, it can be possible that your antivirus has blocked internet access on the device. Therefore, check and make sure that the antivirus software on your device is not blocking G Suite tools. 

14. Check Firewall and proxy settings

In some rare cases, Google Docs/Sheets do not work at all because the Firewall on your device is interfering with your browser and not allowing it to connect to certain websites. Therefore, you must ensure the Firewall settings are properly configured to allow a connection to Google web applications like Google Docs, Google Drive, etc. Please note that it’s recommended not to change any of the firewall and proxy settings unless you’re a network administrator.

Looking for the best keyboard for writers? Make sure to check our recommendations.  

How to fix Google Docs not opening issues?

There can be instances when you just can’t open Google Docs in Chrome or any other web browser. This usually happens if there’s no or poor internet connection, you’ve signed in to a different account, or you don’t have the permission to view that file (in case of shared files). We’ve mentioned 6 effective solutions to try if Google Docs is not opening in Chrome or any other web browser.

1. Check internet connection

When you can’t open Google Docs on your laptop or smartphone, the first thing is to check your internet connection. No or unstable network connectivity could cause opening or loading problems for Google Docs. To double-check, try opening a website or do a quick internet speed test on your device to verify that you’re connected to a stable network. If you’re unable to do so, try connecting to a different network. If you’re sure that there’s no issue with the internet connection, and you still can’t open Google Docs in Chrome, move to the other steps mentioned below.

2. Wait and open your files later

If you’re unable to open a file or if Google Docs is taking too long to open, you can try closing the file and open it again after some time. Some minor issues might be interfering with your device and not allowing Google Docs to open. Closing and reopening do work in such situations.

3. Restart your PC

If you’re trying to open or edit a very long document, and Google Docs is crashing or not working properly, try restarting your PC. This trick has worked effectively for many users, who were facing similar issues on Google Docs. Therefore, make sure to give it a try. 

4. Opening a shared file? Check file permissions

It can be possible that the file owner didn’t give access to you to view or edit the file and that’s the reason why you can’t open or edit a file with Google Docs. Also, there can be instances when you’re opening an old file that you were able to open earlier, but now, you just can’t access that file. This usually happens when the file owner has removed your permission to view/edit. In such situations, you must contact the file owner and ask for permission. Alternatively, open the file, on the “You need permission” page, click Request Access. Now, you’ll get an email when the owner approves your request to view the files.

5. Switch to another Google account (if you use more than 1 account)

Switch Account

If you use multiple Google accounts, try switching to a different account, and see if you’re able to open the file. It can be possible the document that you’re trying to access is meant to be opened from a different account from the one that you’re currently using. In simple terms, the other account has view/edit permissions for the document you’re trying to open. Make sure to select the account which has the permissions/access to open the document.

Follow these steps to switch to another account:

  • Open the document
  • On the “You need permission” page, select Switch Accounts
  • Sign in with a different account and check if you’re able to access that file.

6. Try opening files on a different device 

It can be possible that something’s wrong with your smartphone or laptop, and that’s why you’re not able to open Google Docs on your device. Therefore, you can try opening Google Docs on a different device and check if it works for you. Just log in to your Google Drive from another device and try to open the doc.

Also, sometimes you might experience trouble with Google Docs because of a specific web browser. First, make sure that you’re using the latest version of the browser. If it’s already up to date, try opening Google Docs in a different browser. If you’re using Safari or MS Edge, try switching to Google Chrome.

7. Check if there’s an outage for Google Drive or Google Servers

In case there’s a service disruption or outage for Google Drive or Google Servers, you can check it on G Suite Status Dashboard. If there’s a service disruption for a Google Service, you’ll see an orange dot. In the case of a service outage, you’ll see red dots beside the name of the Google service. You can click on the dots to know more about the details. 

In such cases, you’ll have to wait and let the Google team fix this issue. 

With this, we’ve come to the end of our guide on how to fix Google Docs not working, not loading, not opening, and not saving issues. We hope the mentioned steps have helped you get rid of all those problems and resume your work on Google Docs.

Also, don’t forget to check our guide on how to disinfect your laptop .

TechieTechTech Team

TechieTechTech Team

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While it can be handy to have access to Google Docs when you're working between multiple machines or locations, if you can't access the documents, they're fairly useless. If you're having issues with accessing Google Docs from your Mac computer, the first steps are to try to alter the settings or the conditions in which you access them. If those steps still don't solve the problem, use Google Docs' Help site to troubleshoot issues and report your problem.

Some users have encountered issues when using the native browser, Safari, with Google Docs. The issues include the inability to open documents, and may come with an error message that says that Google Docs cannot find the server. As an initial troubleshooting step, ensure that Javascript is enabled in your browser by selecting the Safari menu, selecting "Preferences" and then ensuring that the Javascript checkbox is ticked.

Clear Cache and Cookies

According to Google, a possible workaround for this issue is to clear the browser's cache and cookies. If you have Safari, you can do this by selecting the Safari menu and then selecting "Reset Safari." At the next screen, click "Remove all website data." If you're using another browser, resetting your cache and cookies can also be helpful for problems with Google Docs.

Browser Plugins

In some cases, plugins that you've added to your browser -- whether Safari, Firefox or another browser -- may be interfering with Google Docs. In this case, you can perform a reset of your browser to get it back to its original configuration, or you can try to disable plugins one-by-one to determine if one of them is causing the issue. If you've recently added any new plugins, try disabling them first and then try Google Docs again. If that doesn't do anything, reset the browser to its original configuration.

Update or Change Browser

If you continue to have issues with Safari and clearing the cache and cookies does not solve the issue, you have a few other options. First, ensure that you are using the latest version of Safari by clicking the Apple menu and then clicking "Software Update." If you see a notification for a Safari update at the next page, follow the prompts to update the browser. If that does not solve your issue with Google Docs, consider downloading and using another browser, such as Google Chrome, Firefox or another browser of your choice.

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Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

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2 Answers 2

Full restart of Safari did the trick for me.

sigmapi13's user avatar

  • One liners are considered low quality at times. Please explain this a bit more –  clhy May 2, 2016 at 2:25
  • 1 I'm sorry, I thought that was fairly self explanatory. Completely close all Safari windows and tabs, then open it again. –  sigmapi13 May 2, 2016 at 3:04
  • Not trying to make you feel sorry –  clhy May 2, 2016 at 3:15

Not sure if this is your issue, but using a User Agent Overrider causes issue for me on Ubuntu. When I disable the overrider, it connects without issues.

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How to fix Safari not downloading files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

You may, at times, encounter an issue where Safari refuses to download photos, videos, audio, PDFs, documents, and other files from a website. In this article, we’ll explore common reasons why Safari may not be downloading files on iPhone, iPad, or Mac and provide solutions to help you get back to downloading with ease.

List of Safari downloads on iPhone

The issues you may be facing

  • Clicking the download link opens a new blank tab, and no file download starts.
  • Safari is refusing to begin file downloads from one or all sites.
  • File download starts, but it fails immediately in a second or two.
  • The download happens up to a point and then fails midway or just before completing.
  • Safari downloads a file but opens it and then deletes the original files (this happens with ZIP and other compressed files).

The solutions below should help fix all the above issues and also ones similar to them.

Before you begin

It’s possible that you’re not following the right steps to download the file. On Mac, it’s super easy, but on iPhone and iPad, downloading files may not be as obvious. With that said, even if the file has been downloaded, you may not know where it’s saved and how to find it. So, look at these tutorials, if needed:

  • How to download videos from Safari on iPhone and iPad
  • How to download files and documents to iPhone or iPad
  • How to access downloaded files on iPhone and iPad

Retry the download

In many cases, initiating the download again does the trick. Try hitting the download link again, and it should work. If not, refresh the webpage and click the download button again.

Note: Some websites put downloads behind a login wall. So, make sure to honor that.

Pause and resume the download

The download may look like it has started, but it will pause or fail in a few seconds. If that happens, hit the tiny retry button a few times, and it should start the download. If not, hit the download link again on the website.

Check your internet

Make sure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is connected to a stable Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, or Ethernet connection and the internet is working properly.

Some useful tips

  • Turn off VPN if you’re using one.
  • Restart your Wi-Fi router.

Troubleshooting internet problems

  • How to fix cellular data not working on iPhone or iPad
  • What to do when your iPhone or iPad can’t connect to Wi-Fi
  • Internet not working on your Mac? Here are 16 solutions to fix it

Allow the website to download files

When you try to download a file from a website for the first time, it doesn’t start immediately. Instead, you will see an alert asking your permission to allow this site to download and save files locally or not. Make sure you allow that. If you choose to block the download, follow these steps to fix it:

On iPhone and iPad: Hit the download link again on the website and tap Allow or Download when asked. If you don’t see the Allow button, clear your browser data.

Allow and Download popup alert in Safari before downloading a file

On Mac: Open Safari and click Safari > Settings from the top menu bar. Now, go to Websites > Downloads > click the drop-down menu next to the website name and choose Allow . While you’re here, also make sure it says ‘ Ask ‘ or ‘ Allow ‘ next to ‘ When visiting other websites .’

Allow websites to download files in Safari on Mac

Force Quit and reopen Safari

On iPhone and iPad: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold or double-press the Home button to enter App Switcher. From here, drag the Safari app card all the way up to close it .

On Mac: Save your work in any other open Safari tabs. Next, click the Apple icon  and choose Force Quit . Here, select Safari and click Force Quit .

Now reopen Safari and try downloading the file again.

Use alternate download links

You may see more than one download link on a website. If one link fails to work, try the other one. Note: Sometimes, picking a different download quality (for a video, audio, or image) should do the trick.

Choose different download quality for image, video, and audio

Set Safari download location to anything other than iCloud Drive

If you have set Safari to download files to iCloud Drive,  switch it to any other local storage folder using the steps below:

On iPhone or iPad: Settings > Safari > Downloads > On My iPhone or Other .

On Mac: Open Safari and click Safari > Settings from the top menu bar. From the General section, select Downloads , Desktop , or any local folder next to ‘ File download location .’

File download location in Safari on Mac

Stop Safari from automatically opening files after download

By default, Safari on Mac is set to open files after downloading them. That means if you download a ZIP file, Safari will automatically unzip it after downloading. In rare cases, this may cause the download to fail, not complete successfully, or not even start in the first place if the file you’re trying to download is incompatible. Therefore, it’s best to turn it off from Safari Settings > General > uncheck ‘ Open “safe” files after downloading .’

Restart your device

If Safari is unable to download files due to minor glitches, save your work and do a restart .

Make sure your device has sufficient free space

New file downloads will only succeed if your iPhone, iPad, or Mac has enough free space. So go to Settings, and check how much free storage you have. If it’s full, use these tutorials to free up space:

  • 50+ tips to free space on your iPhone and iPad
  • 30+ ways to free storage space on your Mac

Clear Safari history and cache

One of the most reliable solutions to fix Safari issues is clearing its history and website data .

On iPhone and iPad, you can do this from Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data .

On Mac, click History from the top menu bar and select Clear History .

Try disabling a recently installed Safari extension

If you could download files earlier but can’t after installing an extension, then that extension is likely the culprit. Remove it, restart your device, and now you should have no problem downloading files.

On iPhone and iPad: Head over to this guide on installing and removing Safari extensions .

On Mac: Go to Safari Settings > Extensions > select the extension and click Uninstall .

Uninstall extension from Safari on Mac

Update Safari

Safari updates are tied to system updates on iPhone and iPad. So, go to Settings app > General > Software Update and get the latest version of the operating system.

On Mac, you can update Safari from System Settings .

Update your Mac

If you’re on an older version of macOS, consider updating to the latest version, which should improve your computer’s overall working and stability.

On macOS Ventura and later, go to System Settings > General > Software Update . And on macOS Monterey and earlier, go to System Preferences > Software Update .

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can't open docs safari

If you can’t access a document, a folder, or an app on Mac

If you can’t use a document, a folder, or an app that you need, you may have to change the permission settings for that item.

If you share your Mac with other users, consult with the administrator of your Mac or network. An administrator can control permissions for individual users on a single Mac. On a computer network, an administrator may also be able to control user access to apps, folders, servers, and other resources.

If you are the only user of your Mac, see Change permissions for files, folders, or disks .

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Boeing says it can't find documents on the door plug that blew off mid-air

Juliana Kim headshot

Juliana Kim

can't open docs safari

A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10 in SeaTac, Wash. Lindsey Wasson/AP hide caption

A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10 in SeaTac, Wash.

Amid a federal investigation into what caused a door plug to blow off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet in January, a Boeing top official said the company cannot find documents about the door plug and it's likely that such records never existed.

Ziad Ojakli, the executive vice president of government operations at Boeing, said employees looked "extensively" and failed to turn up any paperwork about the "opening and closing of the door plug," he said in a letter to Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell on Friday.

According to Ojakli, Boeing's working hypothesis is that "the documents required by our processes were not created when the door plug was opened."

The letter was in response to the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on Wednesday, where National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy accused Boeing of withholding key information about the door plug.

Boeing is withholding key details about door plug on Alaska 737 Max 9 jet, NTSB says

Boeing is withholding key details about door plug on Alaska 737 Max 9 jet, NTSB says

Ojakli denied the allegations and said the company has been committed to cooperating "fully and transparently" ever since the incident.

In a preliminary report released last month, the NTSB said the door plug in question was missing four key bolts — ones that help keep the door plug in place. Investigators believe the bolts were not re-installed while the plane received some repair work at Boeing's factory in Washington state last year.

NTSB says key bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9

NTSB says key bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9

On Wednesday, Homendy said the NTSB still does not know who was responsible for failing to reattach the door plug properly.

Ojakli responded in his letter that Boeing has since sent over additional names of employees as requested.

FAA audit faults Boeing for 'multiple instances' of quality control shortcomings

FAA audit faults Boeing for 'multiple instances' of quality control shortcomings

Boeing has been under intense scrutiny ever since Jan 5., when a door plug tore off at 16,000 feet and left a massive hole during an Alaska Airlines flight. No one was seriously injured.

The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration have both launched investigations into the company. The Department of Justice recently opened a criminal probe into the incident, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Boeing did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

DNA1977

Safari can't open Google website

MacBook 2.4 GHz IC2D, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 25, 2010 7:57 AM

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Allan Jones

Nov 25, 2010 8:57 AM in response to DNA1977

Carolyn Samit

Nov 25, 2010 7:59 PM in response to DNA1977

baltwo

Nov 25, 2010 11:53 PM in response to DNA1977

Nov 26, 2010 7:30 AM in response to baltwo

Nov 26, 2010 7:32 AM in response to baltwo

Nov 26, 2010 10:49 AM in response to DNA1977

Nov 30, 2010 6:29 AM in response to DNA1977

Dec 3, 2010 8:16 AM in response to DNA1977

Brhoome

Feb 3, 2011 1:08 PM in response to DNA1977

osecours

May 14, 2011 10:32 AM in response to DNA1977

I had the same problem too.

I searched by using bing.com (fortunately MS search engin has helped me 😮)

I found a archived post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2332104?answerId=11061084022#11061084022

I did what Carolyn said and I also checked the PeerGuardian app

but I don't think it's because of this app that my connection wasn't possible, because I rarely use it.

Et voilà, everything works now.

I'd like to thank Carolyn and Rave for allowing me to do not format my dear iBook G4 that I haven't formated for over 3 years!!! (I've done the whole backup of my iBook) 🙂

May 15, 2011 10:23 AM in response to osecours

Thank you osecours.

I did go through that page and tried it, but unfortunately it didn't work out for me. I was systematically following the steps to rectify it but of no avail. I was messing around to sort out the problem until I deleted the "block list of IP address" in the NetBarrier X5. It solved my problem, at least.

I will advice people to go through steps mentioned on that page (and search for other remedies) till they have to delete the block list. Going systematically will tell the right cause of the problem 😀

saadfromdubai

Jul 18, 2011 2:37 AM in response to DNA1977

its not working for either. the error says

Invalid URL

The requested URL "/", is invalid.

Reference #9.3dd9dd58.1310981689.48c70276

ayhanap

Aug 11, 2012 5:26 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Deleting cookies solved my problem.

Aug 12, 2012 3:13 PM in response to saadfromdubai

Is there some sort of firewall running on your machine?

You could also check your security, and if there are any "allow" list then you might want to ADD the web address. Or if it has "block" list then you could remove the web site from it if not removing the whole list.

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Can’t open a Google file or folder

can't open docs safari

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    Force Quit and reopen Safari. On iPhone and iPad: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold or double-press the Home button to enter App Switcher. From here, drag the Safari app card all the way up to close it.. On Mac: Save your work in any other open Safari tabs. Next, click the Apple icon and choose Force Quit.Here, select Safari and click Force Quit.

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    Amid a federal investigation into what caused a door plug to blow off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet in January, a Boeing top official said the company cannot find documents about the door plug and it's ...

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    Can't open a Google file or folder . Want advanced Google Workspace features for your business? Try Google Workspace today! In the apps. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides app. In the top left, tap Menu . Tap your email address. Choose the account you want to use. On a browser, like Chrome.