Apple Safari includes a feature called “Preload Top Hit in the background.” When you type a query into the address bar, Safari tries to guess which search result you are most likely to click on. Before you even hit Enter or select a link, the browser silently downloads the webpage data for that “Top Hit” in the background. If you do click it, the page loads instantly. However, this feature quietly consumes your internet bandwidth and processes data for websites you might never actually visit, which is problematic if you are on a metered connection or a strict data cap.
How to Disable Preloading in Safari on Mac
Turning off the Top Hit preloading feature requires a quick change within Safari’s main preferences menu.
- Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
- In the Mac menu bar at the very top-left of your screen, click on Safari.
- Select Settings… (or Preferences… if you are using an older version of macOS) from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command + , (comma).
- In the Settings window that appears, click on the Search tab located along the top row of icons.
- Look for the checkbox labelled Preload Top Hit in the background.
- Click the checkbox to uncheck it.
- Close the Settings window.
Why You Might Want to Keep it Off
Disabling this feature does slightly increase the split-second loading time of your most frequent searches. However, the benefits often outweigh that micro-second delay:
- Data Conservation: If you use your iPhone as a personal hotspot for your Mac, preloading can secretly eat through your tethering data allowance by downloading heavy images and scripts for pages you never open.
- Privacy: Preloading a page means your Mac makes a server connection to that website. If you value strict privacy, disabling preloading ensures your IP address is only pinged when you explicitly click a link.