Is Safari loading old pages? Noticing that your current Safari session is opening and loading pages from previous visits, such as last night or yesterday? Are your Favorites and Bookmark not working or functioning normally? It could be a Safari cache problem.
Several people report problems that Safari’s cache prevents them from browsing a web site’s current version; instead, Safari loads pages from previously cached files (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch). It’s reported that clearing cache, cookies, and history do not fix this problem. Readers note that this issue happens intermittently.
iOS: Safari cache problem: Fixes
Make sure you are running the latest available version of iOS for your iDevice
Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install and if asked, enter your passcode
Or with iTunes, select your device and click Summary, then click Check for Update. Select Download and Update and if asked, enter your passcode
An iOS update may have changed your Safari settings
Tap Settings >Safari >Block Cookies and change it to Allow from Websites I Visit or Always
Tap Settings> Safari > Advanced > Website Data
Select Remove All Web Site Data to remove all data from ALL SITES
If you only want to remove certain website’s data, tap and swipe on the specific site name and delete just that site’s data OR select Edit in the upper right corner and tap the minus sign to the left of the site name to remove the data
iOS 10 also allows you to search for a particular site so you can find and delete its data. Just use the top Search Bar and type in the same of the site where you want to remove data
Try to clear out your history and data again from iOS with Settings > Safari > Clear History
If you still have problems, some of our readers have success setting the time one or two days in the future (Settings > Date & Time) and then clearing Safari’s cache and cookies, and finally resetting the date by toggling on Set Automatically
For this issue try Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This might resolve the issue for you too!
I didn’t have this problem until I upgraded my modem. For me, the modem’s auto time setting was an hour ahead, turning off this auto setting and setting the clock manually worked for me. So check your modem!
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I have tried to clear certain website data in the advanced settings. Rebooted my iPad, only to have to do the same, trying to clear website data. Over and over again!!!
I have to clear ALLdata at least three times in order to clear this data stored on my iPad. Something truly wrong!!!
Safari will not allow SHUT DOWN. Directs to use QUIT SAFARI, but access to Quit SAFARI is blocked. Haven been unable to get any RESPONSE. Any suggestions–???
any further ideas on how to get safari working again on iPad Air? It opens up ok but crashes back to home page when tap on address / search. Can’t close any tabs either. Have tried restarting, reset, clearing history and cache (which doesn’t actually clear). Also tried turning off the safari suggestions. Nothing making any difference. Any ideas? (Apart from going to chrome or Mercury please) thanks.
Safari isnt working at all on Iphone 5s. When I open safari and go to search field it goes straight back to the home page. I have done all of the above and reset all content and settings. Any ideas, this is very frustrating and time consuming?
I cant get my Safari to load pages and my MacMail will not accept or send emails since I installed updates.
Looks like problems similar to Microsoft are appearing in Mac. Sad to see. Maybe because Microsoft owns such a big share of Apple now. Who knows.
My Mac is now virtually useless unless this can be fixed and I do not have time to spare to fix these problems. The Programming staff need to take more care and think things through before unleashing them on us
Safari, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Absolutely useless.
Tried all the fixes listed, nothing worked on a permanent basis.
Downloaded mercury browser. It’s free, fully featured and so far no issues.
Until apple fix safari, forget it, waste of time and space.
Hello. After upgrade to IOS 6 I have the same problem Safari can not load some Pages. Please Apple let me downgrade to IOS 5. iTunes has broken my IPhone 4S and my New IPad , Thanks Apple Team now I’ lost with your maps
i tried, but it does not work. My iPhone 4S with iOS 6.0 does not permit emptying the cache memory. Under “settings”, “safari” the button to empty cache is missing.
The problem is that Apple thought it would be a good idea if the browser would actually cache POST-requests to servers, which violates the http-standard.
Good move, Apple, good move indeed.
When will they fix it though…?
There is also some kind of problem with chrome on ipad – I updated one of my sites and one of the graphics in the page footer was updated.
I tried refreshing it half a dozen times which didn’t help, so I opened just the image and after 2 refreshes the new graphic appeared. So I went back to the main page but it still would not show the new graphic.
I then cleared the cache – old graphic still there.
I then cleared everything – old graphic still there. In fact it’s still there now 3 days later. It’s a bit worrying because it seems clearing everything, isn’t actually doing that.
I have tried to clear certain website data in the advanced settings. Rebooted my iPad, only to have to do the same, trying to clear website data. Over and over again!!!
I have to clear ALLdata at least three times in order to clear this data stored on my iPad. Something truly wrong!!!
Favorites and Bookmark stopped functioning. I followed your advice to clear Safari website, in the Advance function and the problem is resolved.
Allen,
I’m very glad to hear the tips worked for you. And thank you for letting us know.
Cheers,
SK
safari block SHUT OFF. instructs to QUIT SAFARI; it is also blocked. No response for help/ Any suggesion–???
Safari will not allow SHUT DOWN. Directs to use QUIT SAFARI, but access to Quit SAFARI is blocked. Haven been unable to get any RESPONSE. Any suggestions–???
It also has a problem when you want to close it, too slow.
any further ideas on how to get safari working again on iPad Air? It opens up ok but crashes back to home page when tap on address / search. Can’t close any tabs either. Have tried restarting, reset, clearing history and cache (which doesn’t actually clear). Also tried turning off the safari suggestions. Nothing making any difference. Any ideas? (Apart from going to chrome or Mercury please) thanks.
Safari isnt working at all on Iphone 5s. When I open safari and go to search field it goes straight back to the home page. I have done all of the above and reset all content and settings. Any ideas, this is very frustrating and time consuming?
Please switch off “Safari Suggestions” on your Safari Settings.
This problem was observed within the last 15 hours. please switch off the safari suggestions.
I cant get my Safari to load pages and my MacMail will not accept or send emails since I installed updates.
Looks like problems similar to Microsoft are appearing in Mac. Sad to see. Maybe because Microsoft owns such a big share of Apple now. Who knows.
My Mac is now virtually useless unless this can be fixed and I do not have time to spare to fix these problems. The Programming staff need to take more care and think things through before unleashing them on us
I m many times try to iOS in my 3GS bt no use no download and how to o download ios
This worked for me, thank you
Mercury works as safari did before ios 6.
Now my browser of choice.
Bad move apple.
Safari, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Absolutely useless.
Tried all the fixes listed, nothing worked on a permanent basis.
Downloaded mercury browser. It’s free, fully featured and so far no issues.
Until apple fix safari, forget it, waste of time and space.
This fix did not work for me on an iPad. Safari still incredibly slow. And now all my login data for website has been deleted. Any other ideas?
I implemented my own fix…I downloaded Mercury and got rid of Safari altogether. Works great!
I have the same problem Safari on iphone 4S IOS 6 and Ipad 3 IOS 6. Please how downgrade to ios 5.1.1 😉
Hello. After upgrade to IOS 6 I have the same problem Safari can not load some Pages. Please Apple let me downgrade to IOS 5. iTunes has broken my IPhone 4S and my New IPad , Thanks Apple Team now I’ lost with your maps
Same problem here. It does not work on my iPhone 4S 🙁
with this error you can untether your iphone4s said developers
i tried, but it does not work. My iPhone 4S with iOS 6.0 does not permit emptying the cache memory. Under “settings”, “safari” the button to empty cache is missing.
Can clear cache and delete browsing history.
Next time I go to my companies website need to do it all again to get new data (updated twice daily!)
Have tried the above fix many times but does not correct the problem.
This has turned my iPad 2 into a hunk of useless time consuming junk.
Back to windows!
Now to research how to take back to ios 5.1
After installing ios 6 I can’t delete web history. I have treed everything and I mean everything.
Hi,
It worked fine in my ipad2.
Thanks a lot for the help!
Apple w/o Jobs is not performing as w/Jobs …
This may have worked for me. The iPad 2 seems to be working a bit better now. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll give it a workout. Thanks for the tip!
The problem is that Apple thought it would be a good idea if the browser would actually cache POST-requests to servers, which violates the http-standard.
Good move, Apple, good move indeed.
When will they fix it though…?
Another workaround is to work with chrome browser for iphone.
it work fine.
Are apple going to change this behaivor ?
There is also some kind of problem with chrome on ipad – I updated one of my sites and one of the graphics in the page footer was updated.
I tried refreshing it half a dozen times which didn’t help, so I opened just the image and after 2 refreshes the new graphic appeared. So I went back to the main page but it still would not show the new graphic.
I then cleared the cache – old graphic still there.
I then cleared everything – old graphic still there. In fact it’s still there now 3 days later. It’s a bit worrying because it seems clearing everything, isn’t actually doing that.
thanks, this fix worked for me.
I have the same issues as Megan’s. I still cant access certain sites that worked prior to update
None of the listed fixes worked on my phone. I am still unable to access certain webpages that have always been problem free prior to the update.
Google chrome worked on my iPhone 4S. Thanks