The Crash Loop
Safari on macOS has a built-in recovery feature designed to save you from lost work. If the browser unexpectedly quits due to a memory leak, a poorly coded website, or a sudden power failure, the next time you open Safari, it will automatically attempt to reload all the tabs and windows that were open at the exact moment of the crash.
Usually, this is a lifesaver. However, if the crash was caused by a specific malicious website, an overwhelming Javascript loop, or a massive PDF that Safari cannot render, this feature becomes a nightmare. Safari will launch, automatically try to load the broken website, instantly crash again, and get stuck in an infinite crash loop. To break the cycle, you need to stop Safari from trying to restore the previous session.
How to Stop Safari from Reopening Tabs
You can bypass the automatic restore feature using a specific keyboard shortcut while launching the app.
- Ensure Safari is completely closed (if it is frozen, use
Option + Cmd + Escto Force Quit it). - Locate the Safari icon in your Dock or in your Applications folder.
- Press and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
- While continuing to hold the Shift key, click the Safari icon to launch the browser.
- Keep holding Shift until the Safari window fully appears on your screen.
Holding the Shift key tells macOS to completely ignore the saved application state. Safari will launch with a single, fresh, blank window (or your default homepage), breaking the crash loop and allowing you to safely browse the web again without the problematic website automatically loading in the background.