Top 12 Fixes for Safari Not Loading Pages on iPhone and iPad

The Safari browser is preinstalled on Apple devices such as iPhone and iPad. Many iOS and iPadOS users prefer to use it as their default browser. Unfortunately, the browser sometimes does not work because the pages do not load there. If you are among the unlucky ones, you have landed on the right page. You can easily fix it when Safari won’t open webpages on iPhone and iPad as discussed in this article.

IPhone and iPad users face different kinds of Safari related issues. Some see a blank white page and others get errors like “ Safari cannot open the page because the iPhone is not connected to the internet ” or the browser freezes and hangs without loading any pages.

The following fixes will help you fix all kinds of issues with Safari not loading pages on iOS and iPadOS. Let’s start.

1. Restart the phone and modem

To start the troubleshooting process, restart your iPhone and iPad. Also restart your modem if you are using Wi-Fi. If you are connected via cellular data, please turn it off for a few seconds and then on again.

Point: You also need to remove the SIM card from your phone for a while.

2. Check the network connection

Then check if the problem is with Safari alone or not. To do this, check if other apps are working on your iPhone or iPad. If you are unable to connect to the Internet using other applications, the problem is with your network connection. Switch to mobile data from Wi-Fi or vice versa.

Point: Check out 8 fixes for the server not found error on Safari.

3. Activate airplane mode

Another way to troubleshoot issues with network connections is to put your device in Airplane mode. This will disable everything and refresh all network connections. To turn on Airplane mode on your iPhone or iPad, open Control Center and tap the Airplane mode icon. Otherwise, go to Settings and turn on Airplane mode. Leave it on for a few seconds, then turn it off.

4. Disable the VPN

Are you using a VPN on your iPhone or iPad? If so, turn it off for a while and see if you can open any webpages through Safari.

Point: Find out if you need security apps on your iPhone or iPad.

5. Update the software

Before trying the fixes mentioned below, we suggest you update Safari browser from App Store. Often there is a bug in the phone app or software. So you should check for available software updates and install them. To check the phone software, go to Settings> General> Software update.

6. Check cellular data settings

If you can load webpages over Wi-Fi, but the pages don’t load over cellular data, you need to check the mobile data settings. To do this, go to Settings> Cellular data / Mobile data. Scroll down and make sure the toggle next to Safari is green. If it is off, turn it on.

Point: Find out more ways to fix iPhone apps that only work on Wi-Fi, not mobile data.

7. Check content restrictions

You need to check on your iPhone / iPad if any content restrictions are enabled. To do this, go to Settings> Screen Time> Content & Privacy Restrictions. If the content and privacy restrictions toggle on the next screen is off, ignore this fix and move on to the next one.

In case it’s enabled, scroll down and tap Content restrictions. Access web content and select Unlimited access.

Point: Find out how to block and unblock certain websites on iPhone.

8. Enable JavaScript

You need to check if the Safari browser is allowed to use JavaScript. To do this, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Safari> Advanced. Activate the toggle next to JavaScript.

9. Clear cache and browse data

This is one of the fixes that fixed the web page loading issue for many users. For that, proceed as following:

Step 1: Open the settings on your iPhone / iPad. Go to Safari.

2nd step: Scroll down and tap Advanced.

Step 3: Tap on website data. Scroll down and tap Delete all website data.

Step 4: Restart the phone and see if you can open any web pages. If the problem persists, go back to Settings> Safari. Scroll down and tap Clear history and website data. Confirm when prompted. This will delete all of your browsing history and other browsing data from all Apple devices using the same iCloud account.

Point: Find out how to fix if Clear History and Website Data button is grayed out.

10. Reset network settings

Often times, the problem of webpages not opening on Safari occurs due to some problematic network settings. The best way to fix this problem is to reset the network settings. It will not affect your personal data. Only the settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. will be reset to their default values. You will need to configure them again. Find out in detail what is happening by resetting the network settings.

To reset network settings on iPhone and iPad, go to Settings> General> Reset> Reset network settings.

11. Disable content blockers

If you’ve installed a content blocker on your iPhone or iPad, you should try disabling it for a while. To do this, go to Settings> Safari> Content blockers. Turn them all off and see if you can load pages now. Know what content blockers are and you should use them on your iPhone.

You should also try to disable the various Safari experimental features one by one. To do this, go to Settings> Safari> Advanced> Experimental features.

12. Change the Wi-Fi DNS

Sometimes the problem occurs with an incorrectly configured DNS server. You need to change it to Google DNS and see if websites open in Safari browser.

For that, proceed as following:

Step 1: Go to Settings> Wi-Fi.

2nd step: Tap the (i) icon next to the problematic Wi-Fi. Tap Configure DNS.

Step 3: If Automatic is selected, tap Manual> Add server. Enter 8.8.8.8, delete the existing ones and press Save. If Manual is selected, tap Automatic.

Change default browser

We are confident that at least one of the above fixes should fix the issues with Safari browser. We also suggest that if you have a large number of tabs open in Safari browser, you should close at least some of them. If the problem persists, you can still use Chrome, and now you can even make it your default browser.