14 DAY TRIAL // Safari, just like most modern web browsers, has always been plagued by unexpected quits, crashes and other kinds of abnormal behavior in the course of its existence. Based on users' reports and the efforts of Apple's developer community, the company behind the Mac operating system has posted (updated) a knowledge base article on its Support segment, outlining some of the resolutions available for users experiencing issues with the browser.
According to Apple, this Support document teaches users what they can do if Safari quits unexpectedly – “for example when you visit a certain website.” Naturally, the first resolution is to update your Apple software. “Make sure that your Apple software is up to date. Software that is out-of-date may lead to incompatibilities with some website content,” Apple says.
Then again, your third-party plug-ins may be the cause of Safari quitting unexpectedly. This is why “you should make sure any third-party plug-ins are up to date,” Apple advises users. “Some third-party plug-ins may put an icon in System Preferences - if so, see if its preference pane includes a "Check for Updates" feature, then use that to find available updates. You can also check with the vendors of third-party plug-ins to see if any updates are available,” the company explains.
“If you aren't sure which (if any) third-party plug-ins you have installed, choose Installed Plug-ins from the Safari Help menu,” the document continues to outline. “A window appears showing the versions of each plug-in, as well as other information.”
Additional (possible) resolutions include:
- Troubleshoot third-party plug-ins - Troubleshoot Input Managers - Reset Safari - Check Web Clip widgets - Try a new user account - Try a different ISP or Internet connection - Reinstall Safari - Reinstall the latest Mac OS X Combo OS update.
Lastly, Apple suggests performing an Archive and Install of your OS. “If none of the above steps resolve the issue, perform an Archive and Install installation of Mac OS X.” If you ask us, this one's a bit of a stretch – after all, we're talking about a web browser, not the heart of Mac OS X itself. But hey, if your work depends on the good functionality of Safari, this may be the resolution for you.