The Safari browser on the Apple Mac mini is perhaps the worst browser in the world, but it is so intertwined with all the other software I end up using it.

With Verizon FIOS, wireless, and Safari the speed test shows 53 MBPS down / FAIL up.

Checking the speeds on another machine with Safari, on a wired connection, it shows 97 / 125. This is what I am paying for (100/100).

Trying to log into Verizon account on Safari, the browser did not accept my password, nor the answer to my secret question. Calling Verizon, getting a new password, the same problem existed while on the phone. I went to Firefox, and bang, temporary password accepted, new password created, and new secret question answered.

Then, on Firefox, the speed test while wireless showed 87 / 125. Faster than Safari. No failure upload.

Back to Safari, I tested again. Download speed 83 / upload fail. I turned off UBlock Extension, tried again, same result.

What in the world makes Safari so poor? What do I do to fix it?

I'm not so tech savvy as many here but the only thing I can add about Safari being poor is, I've used it now going on 5 years and really no issues to complain about. I have read over the years that they're are those who prefer another browser and have good results. I've no real need to change as of yet. I would add that I have a late 2013 macbook pro retina if that makes a difference.

Download firefox and use that. I only use safari on ipad/phone.

Try this (MacOS Sierra):

1. Open Firefox (or whichever browser you want as your default)
2. In the Menubar, choose Firefox -> Preferences
3. In firefox preferences, click the box "Make Default" - a checkmark should appear in "Always check if Firefox is your default browser".
4. A dialog box should appear on your desktop that asks 'Do you want to change your default web browser to "Firefox" or keep using "Safari"?
5. Click on the button 'Use "Firefox"'

I do have Firefox and know how to make it a default. My question is more about Safari. It is integrated with Notes, Mail, etc. and as I work on iPad, iPhone, and Mac mini, having all working on Safari is a real need. Other browsers on the iPhone do not work well. The Dolphin browser on the iPad is so much faster, but again, does not bring in the utilities of Safari for Notes, e-mail sharing, message sharing, etc.

I need Safari to work. How do I fix it?

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
I do have Firefox and know how to make it a default. My question is more about Safari. It is integrated with Notes, Mail, etc. and as I work on iPad, iPhone, and Mac mini, having all working on Safari is a real need. Other browsers on the iPhone do not work well. The Dolphin browser on the iPad is so much faster, but again, does not bring in the utilities of Safari for Notes, e-mail sharing, message sharing, etc.

I need Safari to work. How do I fix it?

Have you tried clearing the history (cache, cookies, etc.)?

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
I do have Firefox and know how to make it a default. My question is more about Safari. It is integrated with Notes, Mail, etc. and as I work on iPad, iPhone, and Mac mini, having all working on Safari is a real need. Other browsers on the iPhone do not work well. The Dolphin browser on the iPad is so much faster, but again, does not bring in the utilities of Safari for Notes, e-mail sharing, message sharing, etc.

I need Safari to work. How do I fix it?

Does this apply to all your sites or it it just Verizon?
Are you using any Extensions than UBlock?
Cleared Cache/cookies?
Done a restart?
Do you have JavaScript disabled?
Do you have Flash disabled? Are you updated to latest version of Flash?
Are you on the latest versions of MacOS & Safari?

I do encounter site that work better on Safari than Firefox & vice versa.

I'm on Xfinity & my results w/ Safari:
Speedtest.net 89/12
Verizon 89/Fail (with any combination)
TestMy.net 61/10.8
AT&T Internet Speed Test 66.2/12.2
Speakeasy Speed Test 70.25/11.9
Bandwidth Place 85/11.2

This might just be an issue with Verizon. Speed tests will vary with each attempt, time of day, server load, provider load, etc.

I couldn't get any combination in Safari to not fail on uploads on the Verizon speed test. Firefox worked & I got 85.3/12.2 - I don't have anything else to offer.

You might try the Apple Support forums.

Thanks for testing your speeds and sharing! I can see that verizon + safari + upload is just not working.

Mines probably slower than most on ATT, I also clear my cache and use Clean My Mac3 regularly and Safari runs fine.

I'm getting such inconsistent reports from any of the speed testing sites. I'm on Spectrum 300/20 service. But one problem is that my home router has a 250Mbps capacity with the security profiling enabled. So without me spending $,$$$ on hardware that will keep up I'm ok (because it's just me). Spectrum also gives me 2 interfaces that I can use. So, one for my personal network and one for the corporate devices. Yes, combined I can get consistent 150/10 simultaneously on wired devices on each network.

There also seems to differences on browser based downloads vs apps on a mobile device. Every site, I'll say, mileage may vary greatly.

Don't get me started on WiFi, that will be left for another thread...

Spectrum/TWC
Edge Ping 36 D/L 83.31 U/L23.39
IE11 Ping 29 D/L 84.24 U/L 23.36
Safari Ping 31 D/L 89.40 U/L 21.43
Firefox Ping 31 D/L 89.98 U/L 23.48
Chrome Ping 23 D/L 82.06 U/L 19.41
As you can see Firefox best and Chrome was worst. I also tried Opera but it wouldn't load OOKLA at all.

Safari has been known to be slower than all the other major browsers since the day it was released.

 
Forget wireless (when you can). Cabled is far superior on any platform.
 

I get my full 100mb download speed with Safari wirelessly. Never had an issue.

Safari on my iPhone wifi runs north of 100 Mbps.

Would love to go wire. Cat6 cable. But, a nearby lightning strike fried the Ethernet port on my Mac mini.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Would love to go wire. Cat6 cable. But, a nearby lightning strike fried the Ethernet port on my Mac mini.

Two possible solutions there, if your Mini is new enough to have Thunderbolt ports. Either the Apple TB-->gigabit adapter, or a TB dock, all brands of which have a built in gigabit port. I use the adapter on my MBP, which has no ethernet port. I get the full speeds that I am paying for on a speedtest, exactly the same as on my Mac Pro. When I check speeds using Wi-fi only, on the MBP, they are usually less, sometimes only half, other times 90%. And that is with the cabled wi-fi access point only a few feet away (a gen 4 AEBS).
 
Sorry you are having trouble with Safari. I have used it, and only it, since day 1 with OS X, and have never experienced an issue. From a 2006 MBP with Tiger, to the current pair (2013 Mac Pro and 2015 MBP).
 
A few suggestions. First, try a non-flash speed test, like the one at DSLReports. Enable the "Develop" menu for Safari (Preferences/Advanced check box) and use it to clear your caches. Also clear your history, and if it won't cause too much grief, delete all of your cookies. Disable all extensions. Go to your user Library/Preferences and delete all three com.apple.Safari.* plist files and restart Safari. If all else fails (or maybe even as a first resort), make a USB installer for your version of OS X, if it is still available on the Mac App Store, and do a fresh install of your version, without wiping the disk first. This will reinstall all of the system files but leave your data and apps alone (backup first, of course). If you cannot get your version any more, I have the final versions of Yosemite (10.10.5), El Capitan (10.11.6), and all of the point versions of Sierra (10.12.0-4), and can easily make you a USB installer from any of those and send it to you.