6 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

Quick Tips

• Ensure there are no problems with network connectivity on your iPhone.
• Clear the browsing data in Safari to get rid of any bugs or junk files causing the problem.
• Make sure you’ve enabled JavaScript in Safari settings to enable interactive content on websites.

Basic Fixes

• Restart iPhone: Restart the Safari app, and restart your iPhone/iPad to fix any temporary bugs and glitches.
• Disable VPN: Using a VPN may prevent you from accessing certain websites and content.
• Check network connection: Ensure there are no problems with the Wi-Fi or the cellular network your device is connected to.
• Update device: Update your device to the latest version of iOS/iPad OS for a bug free experience.

Fix 1: Edit Your Screen Time Settings

If you’ve enabled Screen Time restrictions for Safari, it cannot be used once you exhaust the set limit.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.

Step 2: You need to select App Limits.

Step 3: Safari will show up in this list if there is a limit for it. Tap on it, and select Delete Limit.

Fix 2: Check Cellular Settings for Safari

If you have turned off cellular data access for Safari, the browser won’t be able to open websites and work as expected.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Cellular.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Safari. Turn on the toggle to give Safari access to cellular connectivity.

Fix 3: Clear Safari History and Data

If you have been using Safari for a long time, it will accumulate a lot of website data. This can slow down Safari and affect the web browsing performance.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Safari.

Step 2: Tap on Clear History and Website Data and select Clear History and Data to confirm. This will delete your browsing history, stored cache, cookies, and saved passwords.

Fix 4: Turn Off Hide IP Address From Trackers

While this ensures that your IP address is not provided to any browser trackers, it might cause issues with Safari on your iPhone/iPad.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Safari.

Step 2: Tap on Hide IP Address. Select Off, if not already.

Fix 5: Check Safari Extensions

While Safari extensions on iPhone help expand functionality, not all extensions are stable and some might cause issues with your web browsing experience.

Note: The extension we are using to show you the steps is just an example. By no means we are stating that this extension is causing issues.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Safari.

Step 2: Now, tap on Extensions. Select the extension, and toggle it off.

Fix 6: Enable JavaScript

JavaScript is a crucial element in websites that enables interactive content. If you disable it, you won’t see any images, videos, or other media content on a website.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Safari.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Advanced. Turn on the toggle for JavaScript.

If none of the above methods work, try resetting all the settings on your iPhone/iPad.