Have you ever tried to visit a web page or web site with Safari and the browser giving you the "Safari Can’t Open the Page" error message? It stops you in your tracks as the web page can’t be viewed at all.
The "Safari Can’t Open the Page" error can happen on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, on any version of the web browser. If this happens, you can usually resolve the problem quickly by following the troubleshooting steps below.
Fixes for “Safari Can’t Open Page” Error on iPhone, iPad, Mac
Fix 1: Check Your Internet Connection If Safari Can’t Open a Page
If you see an error that says “Safari can’t open the page because your iPhone is not connected to the internet” or “Safari can’t open the page because the network connection was lost,” your internet connection might be slow or intermittent. Check your internet connection to make sure that it is active and enabled. This applies to Mac, iPhone, iPad, and anything really.
If the device or computer is disconnected from the internet, you will see the "Safari Can’t Open the Page" every time.
Confirm that you have an active and functioning internet connection first, this is often the problem. Maybe it’s due to low cell phone reception, or a junky wi-fi connection, whatever it is, confirm that your internet actually works. Load other web pages, use other services, etc.
Fix 2: Check the URL!
Safari can’t open page that 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 If you’re trying to open pages of old websites or outdated URLs from your bookmarks, it’s a good idea to verify the URL to make sure you got it right.
Tap or 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.
Fix 3: Refresh the Web Page
Simply refreshing the web page often fixes the problem, particularly if the connection was interrupted for some reason.
To refresh a web page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, hit a reload icon in the right edge of the address bar or perform a downward swipe on a web page.
To refresh a web page in Safari on Mac, navigate to the menu bar in Safari, then choose View > Reload Page. Or press Command-R.
Fix 4: Quit and Relaunch Safari
At times, an unknown glitch might prevent Safari from loading web pages. You should quit and restart Safari if it fails to open the page to fix these glitches.
To quit Safari on iPhone or iPad:
- Navigate to your Home screen and swipe up from the bottom of the screen. If this is an iPhone 8 or earlier, double press the Home button.
- This will reveal the app switcher which lists your most recently used apps.
- Swipe left or right and find the Safari preview.
- Swipe up on the Safari icon.
- Then reopen Safari normally to see if your issue is resolved.
To quit Safari on Mac, press Cmd + Q.
Relaunch Safari normally to see if it can open the page you wanted to visit now.
Fix 5: Check DNS and Use Google DNS
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 load a web page if it can’t use a fast DNS.
You can use Google’s DNS servers to speed up Internet connection on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Google DNS servers are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Here’s how to switch to Google DNS on an iPhone or other iOS device:
- Go to "Settings"> "Wi-Fi."
- Tap the "ⓘ" icon next to the Wi-Fi network you want to change the settings for.
- Scroll down to the DNS section and tap "Configure DNS."
- Tap "Manual."
- Tap "Add server" under "DNS servers" and enter new DNS server addresses:
8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4 for IPv4. - Apply changes.
Here’s how to switch to Google DNS on macOS:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Network in the sidebar.
- Select the first Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection in the list, the one you are connected to.
- Next, click on the Details button.
- Go to DNS.
- Click the + button in the DNS servers section.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 in the box.
- Then click again the + button and enter 8.8.4.4
- Click OK, then click on Apply.
- Restart your Mac for the changes to take immediate effect.
After that, you should try disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network to see whether Safari can open a page or not now.
6: Another Fix: Update Software
Updating the operating software on your device can include bug fixes for Safari
To update your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If there is an update available, update your device.
To update your Mac:
- From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar of the window that opens, then click Software Update on the right. In earlier versions of macOS, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Software Update.
- When opened, Software Update automatically begins checking for updates.
- If new software is available for your Mac, click the button to Update or Upgrade.
7: Clear Safari Browsing History and Cache
Sometimes Safari caches can cause strange browser behavior like displaying a "Can’t open page" error message. If a site has stopped loading completely, there may be a conflict between an older version of it that Safari has cached and a newer one. Emptying the browser caches and site data can often remedy this issue.
To clear Safari cache on an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Safari.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Tap Clear History to confirm.
To clear Safari cache on Mac:
- On Safari browser, select Safari -> Settings… in the menu bar.
- Click the Privacy tab, then select Manage Website Data….
- Select a website that is listed, then click Remove. To remove all website data from Safari, click Remove All.
Note that by clearing caches, cookies, and site data you will have to login again to any site you have saved a password or other customizations for.
8: Try a Different Browser
Another choice is to use a different web browser of course too, if the site loads in Chrome or Firefox or Opera but not in Safari, it may indicate a specific problem with Safari.
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.
