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How to Force Quit on a Mac

Has one of the apps on your Mac frozen? Are you seeing the ‘spinning beach ball’? Has your mouse stopped working? All these are symptoms that suggest an app has stopped working and you need to Force Quit before you can carry on. But how do you Force Quit on a Mac? Or, if you are used to Windows, how do you control alt delete on a Mac?

Windows users will be very familiar with the classic Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination, the measure of last resort when an application has become unresponsive. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a Mac will do nothing, that’s if you can even find those keys: on some Mac keyboards the Alt key is called Option, the Control key is there, but it’s equivalent on a Mac is really the Command key, and there isn’t usually a key marked as Delete.

So how do you Force Quit a Mac? There’s actually more than one way to Force Quit an app on a Mac. Here we’ll show you a variety of ways to find the problematic programs and shut them down, without the need to resort to the power button.

If you’re finding that apps are becoming unresponsive on a regular basis, and that it’s not always the same one, then it might be worth backing up all your data and doing a clean install of macOS . It’s a rather nuclear option, but could save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

You might also find it helpful to check out How to fix a frozen Mac . We also run through How to shut down a MacBook or Mac .

Before we begin we will quickly summarise the five different ways to force quit on a Mac:

• Right click on the app in the Dock
• Click on the Apple menu and select Force Quit
• Press Command + Alt (or Option) + Escape
• Force Quit in Activity Monitor
• Restart your Mac

Read on for details of how to do each of the above.

Force Quit via the Dock

If an app has become unresponsive, then there’s a good chance that trying to place your mouse pointer over the menu bar at the top of the screen will result in a spinning beach ball that doesn’t allow you to select any options. You can of course give the app some time to resolve its issue, but if the problem persists then the app will need closing and launching again.

• Go to the Dock at the bottom of your screen.
• Find the icon for the app.
• Right click (or Ctrl+click) to bring up the contextual menu.
• At the bottom of this list is the Quit option. Click this and hopefully the app will close.
• If this doesn’t close the app repeat the process, but when the menu appears hold down the Alt key and the Quit option changes to Force Quit. Select this and the program should close immediately.

Force Quit via the Apple menu

There is another way to access the Force Quit command:

• Switch to an app that is working fine. 
• Now click on the Apple icon in the top left of your screen. 
• You can select the Force Quit option from the drop-down list.
• Don’t worry, this won’t Force Quit the app you’re currently using – it will give you a list of all currently open apps, from which you can select the frozen one (s).
• Now click on Force Quit.

Force Quit on a Mac using the keyboard

Another way to Force Quit an app is to hold down the Command + Alt (or Option) + Escape keys, this will bring up the same Force Quit Applications window as seen above.

• A list will appear showing every app currently running on your system – the one you’re having problems with most likely has ‘Not Responding’ in brackets next to it.
• Highlight the app.
• Click the Force Quit button in the bottom of the window.

What to do when you can’t leave an app

In severe cases, you’ll find that you can’t actually escape from the app itself to perform the above commands. If this is the case then you still have a command you can use.

Simply hold down the Cmd + Alt (Option) + Shift + Esc buttons and macOS should close whichever app is currently the active one on your screen.  

Force Quit via Activity Monitor

If you’re experiencing problems on your system, say the spinning beach ball is appearing more than normal, then one way to see what’s happening is using the Activity Monitor app.

• Open Activity Monitor (press Command + Space and start to type Activity Monitor, or going to the Finder and navigate to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.)
• Once launched the Activity Monitor tool will display all the apps and services that are using the CPU , Memory , and Network among other things.
• Double-clicking on any app will bring up a separate window with even more information about the app and its current demands.
• From here you can choose to Sample the app, which gives you a report of its activities over a short period of time, but this is quite a technical procedure and the results are unintelligible for most people.
• The more useful command is the Quit button, which will of course close the app.

What to do if your Mac is frozen

Sometimes an app can get into trouble and cause your entire system to freeze. While these cases are rare, they do happen. We offer more advice about what to do if your Mac is frozen in a separate article as there can, of course, be a number of reasons why your Mac is frozen.

Should you be faced with an unresopnsive Mac due to an app that won’t force quit the only option left to you is to hold down the power button on your Mac for several seconds.

Normally when you press the power button a message is sent to your system telling it that you want to close it down. The system then usually responds by putting the machine to sleep. Holding the button down for longer will give you a dialog box with various options such as Restart, Sleep, or Shut Down. But in a severe system crash, even this option might not appear.

So the last resort is to hold the button down until the machine cuts off the power completely. Now, while this will allow you to reboot and get back into your Mac, because of the sudden nature of the shutdown you may find that any unsaved data will be lost.

It’s not perfect, but sometimes it’s the only way to get back up and running.

Note, if you want to prevent the application that was causing the problem from opening up again when the computer restarts make sure that the box beside Reopen windows when logging back in is not ticked!

We look at restart the Finder in a separate article. 

Wondering how to copy and paste on a Mac?

Author: Martyn Casserly , Contributor

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.

Recent stories by Martyn Casserly:

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How to Force Quit an Application on a Mac

Last Updated: December 16, 2023 Tested

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Using the apple menu, using the dock, using activity monitor, using terminal, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Gonzalo Martinez . Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 4,359,164 times.

Force-quitting a frozen app is an easy fix. This wikiHow will walk you through the different easy ways you can force quit an app on your Mac.

• The note "(Not Responding)" will appear in red next to frozen apps.

• The note "(Not Responding)" will appear next to frozen apps.

• If your computer is frozen, you may need to restart it.

• If a normal Force Quit doesn't work, you may need to use this method to end the program.

• The COMMAND list may use a truncated name for the program. Look for a name that looks similar to the program you are trying to close.

• If the program does not respond to the “kill” command, type “sudo kill -9 ###”, replacing ### with the PID number.

• It is not possible to force quit Finder. If you select Finder, the "Force Quit" button will say "Relaunch". Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Before you click "Force Quit", double check that the application is still frozen. Sometimes the application un-freezes while you bring up the "Force Quit" window. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Force quitting a running program can cause you to lose any unsaved changes in that program. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ Gonzalo Martinez. Computer & Phone Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 30 March 2021

About This Article

1. Open the Apple menu. 2. Click on Force Quit… . 3. Click on the app you want to quit. 4. Click on Force Quit . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Unfreeze Safari On Mac

Whenever a new version of macOS makes its way to market. Safari can be one of the applications for experiencing freezing issues. So that’s why we’ve put together a guide to answer  “why is safari frozen on my mac ?“ and how to fix it!

Safari could be frozen for a number of reasons on your Mac. This could include issues ranging from an unstable version of macOS to a glitchy browser extension or even a virus within your computer. 

Restarting Safari

Close tabs and/or other resource intensive applications, updating your software, wiping your history, cache and cookies data, disable/uninstall extensions, why is safari crashing on my mac, related posts, how to unfreeze safari on mac [step by step].

If Safari has crashed then sometimes a pretty simple restart can help fix the issue. However, if it’s frozen to the point where you can’t even close it, then you could force quit Safari.

Step 1: Press the Command-Option-Esc keys together

Step 2: Click on Safari and press the Force Quit Button

Step 3: Click on Force Quit when it prompts you to confirm your decision.

After this launch safari again and try and see if you can mimic the same behaviour that caused it to crash before. It could be that it was just a random crash and nothing to worry about. 

However, if the issue still persists even after a restart you could try restarting your mac to see if that resolves the issue. Also, be sure to check if you have Javascript enabled in Safari.

Step 1: Launch Safari browser

Step 2: Click on Safari in the top menu

Step 3: Click on Preferences 

Step 4: A new window with a layout like this will pop up

Step 5: Click on Security in the upper hand menu

Step 6: Make sure the “Enable Javascript” checkbox is checked

Sometimes too many tabs or another resource-intensive application could be the reason why Safari is crashing on your Mac. Your computer only has a finite amount of resources and it could be that too many tabs or other applications could be hogging it all. 

To view your current resource usage statistics you can use Activity Monitor to get an idea of whether or not this could be the issue at play.

Step 1: Click on the Finder application in the dock

Step 2: A new window will pop up

Step 3: Click on Applications in the left-hand side menu

Step 4: Type Activity Monitor in the search section

Step 5: Click on the Activity Monitor application that shows up

Step 6: A new window with your MacBooks resource utilization information will pop up. This section shows CPU utilization . 

Step 7: Click on Memory in the top menu

Step 8: Over here you can see the list of applications consuming memory in descending order

Step 9: If you find a process consuming an unnatural amount of memory, click on it and press the button with a cross symbol within it located near the top left side edge to quit the process

Step 10: Click Ok or Force Quit when prompted. 

Like this, you can observe unnecessary applications that might be running in the background that you could close in order to free up more resources for Safari. 

In case you find that Safari is consuming an alarming amount of resources even when you have a few lightweight tabs open. It could mean there could be a deeper issue within Safari itself.

Keeping your software updated is a crucial part of having a stable system. Outdated versions of software can have security flaws and bugs that can leave them susceptible to malicious attacks as well as issues in resource management. 

Make sure both macOS and Safari are updated to the latest version. We’ve detailed guides below on how to do that in case yours aren’t up to date.

Step 1: Click on the Apple logo

Step 2: Click on System Preferences

Step 3: A new window will pop up

Step 4: Click on Software Update

Step 5: Wait for macOS to check for any new updates

Step 6: If there is an update you will be prompted to download and install it, if not it’ll notify you that you’re already on the latest version.

Step 7: Click on Advanced

Step 8: Make sure the checkbox “ Check for updates ” is checked. 

Step 2: Click on App Store

Step 3: A new window with the Mac App store will pop up. 

Step 4: Click on Updates on the left hand side menu

Step 5: From here if there is an update available for Safari you can download and install it from here. 

Sometimes clearing your stored data in Safari can help get rid of the stutters and crashes. However be warned this will remove all your saved passwords and saved websites logins as well. So proceed at your own caution.

Step 3: Click on preferences 

Step 5: Click on Privacy in the upper hand menu

Step 6: Click on Manage Website Data

Step 7: Click on the Remove All button

Step 8: Click Remove Now when prompted

Step 9: Click on Advanced in the upper hand menu

Step 10: Make sure the option Show Develop menu in menu bar is checked

Step 11: Click on Develop in the Safari menu bar at the top

Step 12: Click on Empty Caches

Sometimes browser extensions can the reason your browser is facing the issues that it is. To find out which browser extension could be the potential culprit disable them one by one to see and check if your issues are resolved. To disable browser extensions. 

Step 3: Click on Preferences  

Step 4: Click on Extensions in the top menu

Step 5: From here you can disable extensions that you have installed (if any)

Before we move on to our solutions it is important to realize why Safari might be crashing on your Mac, so that if this issue arises in the future you are better equipped to deal with.

When a new version of Safari is released or a new version of macOS. Expect there to be stability issues. It can take a while to work out the kinks and bugs within the software, so freezes and crashes can occur.

Especially if you’re using beta software, as the versions released within beta are still being tested by the development team. So opt out of the beta program if the issues are too frequent in nature.

Browser extensions and old cache data within Safari could also be the reason why it keeps freezing or crashing. 

Sometimes extensions no longer remain compatible with a newer version of safari till their updated and cache data can cause safari to become slow and eventually freeze. 

Fixing Safari Unresponsive & Frozen On Mac

So after reading through our through and conclusive guide you should have all the information you need to figure out why why is safari frozen on my mac and how to fix it!

If you feel we missed out on anything be sure to leave that in the comments down below.

Hassaan has been passionate about technology for as long as he remembers, and aims to provide you with all the information you need to find the right laptop for you.

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Why Won’t Safari Quit and How to Force Quit It on Mac?

When Safari becomes unresponsive, it can interrupt your whole workflow. While often a frustrating experience, you can easily get out of it with a few quick fixes.

Working as an Apple repair technician has shown me that Safari often hangs and becomes unresponsive for a variety of reasons. But luckily, it’s usually an easy fix. 

Let’s explore why won’t safari quit, and how you can force quit it on your Mac.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Quit via keyboard, quit via finder menu, use the apple menu to force quit, force quit from the dock, force quit using activity monitor, shut down your mac, keep your mac up-to-date, remove malware and system junk, final thoughts.

• You might need to Force Quit Safari if it stops responding or freezes.
• There are a few ways you can force quit Safari, the quickest way is undoubtedly using the keyboard shortcut , Option , Command , and Esc .
• You can also force quit using the Apple menu or the dock , or even by killing the process via Activity Monitor.
• While uncommon, you may have to shut down and restart your computer if Force Quit does not work. 
• To ensure Safari works as you expect it to, keep your Mac up-to-date with the latest software.
• Additionally, keeping your Mac optimized and free from Malware will ensure Safari keeps working properly.

Why Won’t Safari Quit on Mac

Safari is Apple’s web browser that is automatically installed on all of their devices. Just like all web browsers, Safari sometimes freezes, and you are unable to quit the application. This can happen for several different reasons. 

First, Safari may simply have too many tabs open . Are you someone who likes to have videos playing in the background while surfing the web with 100 different tabs open all at the same time? 

Sometimes it isn’t your fault at all, but an issue with the application. You may need to reset the cache or update your software .

Lastly, it is possible that Safari is just frozen . In any of these cases, the following ways to Force Quit on Mac will help you close Safari when it is not responding. 

Before we continue, let’s make sure you’re clear on how to quit Safari normally.

If you are in an application (Safari in this instance) and you press Command-Q on your keyboard , this quits the application.

Now, this is not a forced quit, so it may not work in this instance, but it is worth a try if clicking the red X is not working for you right now. 

You can also quit Safari by right-clicking on the icon in the dock . Then select Quit.

If neither of the usual ways of closing Safari work or the Quit Safari button is grayed out, then you will need to Force Quit the app.

How to Force Quit Safari on Mac?

When Safari refuses to quit, the best course of action is to use the handy Force Quit option. 

The fastest way to Force Quit Safari is by using the keyboard shortcut . This special key combination will bring up the Force Quit menu.

Step 1: Hit the Option , Command , and Esc keys simultaneously. That will open the Force Quit menu. 

Step 2: Once this menu opens up, select Safari and Force Quit.

Step 3: Click Force Quit again to confirm.

Simply hit the Apple icon in the upper left of your screen, then select Force Quit from the options. From here, you can select the app you would like to force quit from the menu.

Finally, you can simply click on the Safari icon on your dock. If Safari is unresponsive, you will get an option to Force Quit when you right click.

If Safari won’t force quit in the typical ways, you can always kill the active process through Activity Monitor.

To get started, just open Launchpad.

Open Activity Monitor .

Navigate to Safari and Click the X at the top.

Click Force Quit to Confirm.

If all else fails, simply shut down the computer. This will force Safari to restart. 

Click the Apple menu, and Shut Down .

If you need to Force Shutdown your Mac, then simply Press and Hold the power button until the computer turns off.

Next, just turn your computer back on and check if Safari is functioning properly. To prevent any future issues with Safari, you should check for updates and make sure your Mac is optimized. Let’s discuss how to do that.

Safari could be malfunctioning due to out-of-date software, so checking for updates is wise if Safari freezes or becomes unresponsive.

To get started checking for updates, just click the Apple icon in the upper left corner and select System Preferences from the drop-down menu . Alternatively, you can hit the System Preferences icon on the dock .

The following window will pop up. Look for Software Update . Open this and install any updates that are available.

Sometimes Safari doesn’t work properly when you have too much junk on your computer. While anything from minor software bugs to malware could cause Safari to malfunction, checking for these problems can be time-consuming.

A third-party app like CleanMyMac X is pretty helpful for taking care of this stuff for you in one shot. Probably the most helpful thing, in this case, is flushing your DNS cache. Resetting your cache can often fix issues related to Safari not working properly.

After downloading and installing the app, just launch it and select Maintenance from the sidebar. Here you can select options like running maintenance scripts and flushing your DNS cache. Just hit run, and the app will handle the rest.

Additionally, if a malware issue is causing Safari to become unresponsive, you can easily check for and remove it using CleanMyMac X.

While not necessarily a free program, you can try it out with a free trial, and an annual subscription will save you more time than it is worth. You can read our full CleanMyMac X review to learn more.

There are several reasons why Safari may not be quitting. These include out-of-date software, cache, too many tabs open, and simply being frozen. We hope these methods of Force Quitting applications helped you to get Safari closed out. 

In order to prevent future issues with Safari, and other applications as well, you should ensure you run software updates frequently. 

Additionally, third-party apps like CleanMyMac X can help prevent problems with Safari by automatically running maintenance scripts, and clearing malware and system cache, among a host of other handy tasks.

Did these methods work for you? Were you able to quit Safari? Let us know in the comments below!

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How to End Tasks on a Mac

How to force quit frozen apps on your Mac

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In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Force Quit an App
• Stop Apps From Running in Background
• Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

• From the Dock, right-click the program > click Quit .
• Press option + command + Esc for the Force Quit menu> Choose app > click Force Quit > click Force Quit again.
• Open Activity Monitor > find the task you want to quit > click it > click the X icon > click Force Quit .

When apps freeze up on your Mac, it can be a minor annoyance or a big problem. Sometimes, it can make your entire Mac unresponsive. This article provides three ways to force quit apps, quit frozen apps, and stop background tasks on a Mac.

All instructions in this article use macOS Catalina (10.15) , but the basic concepts apply to all later versions of the macOS.

How Do You Kill a Task on a Mac?

Perhaps the easiest and quickest way to kill a task on a Mac—another way to refer to quitting a program—is to use the macOS Dock. Here's what to do:

In the Dock, right click the app you want to quit.

If you don't have a mouse or trackpad and so can't right click, hold down the Control key and then click the app.

Click Quit and the app and all of its windows will be closed.

Clicking the red X button in the top left corner of a window does not quit an app. It only closes that window, but leaves the app still running.

How Do You Force Quit an Application on a Mac?

If the application you want to quit is frozen up or won't respond to other commands, try using macOS's built-in Force Quit menu. Force Quit is just what it sounds like—a more powerful version of the Quit command you can use when Quit isn't working. Here's what to do:

Open the Force Quit menu. There are two ways to open the Force Quit:

• Apple menu > Force Quit .
• Press the option + command + Esc keys at the same time.

In the Force Quit menu, click the program you want to quit.

Click Force Quit .

In the confirmation dialog, click Force Quit again to quit the program.

How Do I Stop Apps From Running in the Background on My Mac?

The final way to quit a program, especially a frozen program, is also how you stop apps from running in the background. Many programs can perform tasks in the background, allowing them to perform functional tasks for you while you're doing something else (for example, Mail checking your email while you browse the web or Music playing a song while you work on a spreadsheet).

Background tasks are usually helpful, but they can sometimes go awry, use memory, or drain your battery. In those cases, you'll want to stop the app from running in the background by following these steps:

Open Activity Monitor .

This program comes pre-installed on all Macs and can be found in Applications > Utilities .

Activity Monitor shows all programs, services, and tasks running on your Mac at that moment. Frozen apps will be red and say Not Responding next to them. Browse or search Activity Monitor to find the task you want to quit and click it.

With the program you want to quit selected, click the X button in the top left corner.

The confirmation dialog offers two options for quitting:

• Force Quit: Click this when you want to close a program right away. This is best for apps that are frozen.
• Quit: Click this to quit the program when doing so won't cause data loss or interfere with other programs.

From the Safari menu, select Safari > Quit Safari or use the Command+Q keyboard combination to quit the app. If those methods don't work, try right-clicking and quitting Safari from the Dock or selecting the Apple menu > Force Quit > Safari . You could also open Activity Monitor and quit Safari from the CPU tab.

To end a screen recording on your Mac with QuickTime Player, go to the menu bar and select the Stop button. Alternatively, press Command+Control+Esc .

From the app menu, select Terminal > Quit Terminal . To quit active commands within a session, type exit , and press Return . If you need a refresher or help with Terminal, browse our guide on Mac Terminal commands .

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Safari Keeps Crashing on Mac? 5 Ways to Fix It

Mac users are pretty familiar with Safari crashing on their systems, but it's nothing you can't fix. Here are all the important troubleshooting steps.

Safari is the go-to browser for almost all Mac users. It works well and is faster than other browsers due to its integration with macOS.

But just like any other browser, Safari is prone to error, too. It often tends to freeze or crash, sometimes getting stuck on the dreaded spinning beach ball and displaying the "Safari quit unexpectedly" error.

In some cases, Safari will cause your entire Mac to stop responding, leaving you no choice but to restart your system. Don't fret, though, because Safari crashing is pretty common among Mac users, and there are many fixes for it.

Why Does Safari Keep Crashing on Your Mac?

Safari constantly crashing can ruin your browsing experience. Here are some reasons why it might be happening:

• You have too many tabs open, and they're putting a strain on the CPU. Although Safari indeed uses less memory than Chrome and other browsers, opening too many tabs will still cause it to crash sometimes, especially if you have other resource-intensive applications running simultaneously.
• You're using a browser extension that's causing Safari to crash.
• You're using an older version of macOS and Safari. Safari updates itself when you update macOS. So, if you haven't updated your Mac in a long time, it could be why the browser is acting up.

5 Potential Fixes When Safari Keeps Crashing on Your Mac

Here are five things you can do if Safari keeps crashing on your Mac despite restarting and closing other tasks:

1. Force Quit Safari

Force quitting Safari is the first thing you should do if it stops working. First, try closing Safari by pressing Command+Q or by clicking on Safari in the menu bar and selecting Quit Safari from the drop-down menu.

If you can't click on anything, you'll have to minimize Safari and open the "Force Quit Applications" window. To do that, click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and choose Force Quit in the drop-down menu.

Select Safari in the list of applications and click on Force Quit .

2. Clear Cache Files

Cache files are temporarily stored files meant to speed up web pages, but too many cache files can actually slow down your browser and cause it to crash. That's why it's essential to clear cache files from Safari regularly.

Clearing cache is one of the many ways to reset Safari to default settings on your Mac . To delete cache files, click on Develop in the menu bar, and select Empty Caches .

If you don't see the Develop menu in the menu bar, you'll have to activate it by going to Safari > Preferences and then checking the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" option in the Advanced tab.

3. Delete Website Data

You can select which websites to delete, but since there will be so many, it'll be easier to just delete all of them.

To delete website data, click on Safari in the menu bar and select Preferences . Go to the Privacy tab and click on Manage Website Data . Click on Remove All and now relaunch Safari to see if crashes again.

4. Delete Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are useful tools, but sometimes they can negatively affect your browser's speed because some of them consume an excessive amount of memory. It's best to delete extensions that you don't use frequently.

To delete extensions, go to Safari > Preferences and click on the Extensions tab. Uncheck the boxes next to any extension you don't want to use. Remember that this only disables the extension. To completely remove it, click on Uninstall under the extension's name.

5. Update macOS​

One of the ways you can fix high CPU usage on macOS is by updating your Mac. Apple frequently releases macOS updates that contain fixes for bugs and glitches.

So, if none of the solutions above work for you, then you should check if any software updates are available for your Mac. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and go to System Preferences .

Click on Software Updates and if you see any updates there, click on Restart Now to start installing it.

Enjoy a Stable Safari on Your Mac

No one likes a slow browser. Safari is one of the fastest browsers, but it's susceptible to problems, too. It often crashes, which can make anyone's browsing experience unpleasant. You can fix it by performing certain actions, such as clearing the cache and resetting it.

If nothing else works, you should check if you have any pending macOS updates. Safari crashing isn't a major issue, and with a few tweaks here and there, you should be able to improve your browsing experience.

How-To Geek

How to disable the pop-up blocker in safari on mac.

Never miss important pop-ups.

Quick Links

How to disable pop-up blocker for all websites in safari, how to disable pop-up blocker for specific website in safari.

Safari blocks all kinds of pop-up windows by default. In that mix, it ends up blocking some legitimate ones. Here's how you can disable the pop-up blocker in Safari for all websites or specific ones on Mac.

Many websites offer helpful pop-ups to enter important details such as login credentials, captcha, forms, and more. So it makes sense to allow pop-ups for certain websites.

It's annoying to click on the pop-up blocked notification every time you visit sites that require you to allow pop-ups. Luckily, you can change Safari's default behavior and get pop-up windows while browsing.

To get started, open the Safari browser on your Mac. Next, click "Safari" in the top-left corner of the menu bar and select "Preferences."

Click the "Websites" tab.

In the "General" column on the left, scroll down and select "Pop-up Windows."

Use the drop-down menu next to the "When Visiting Other Websites" option in the bottom-left and choose "Allow."

Safari will allow all future pop-up windows for all websites.

Related: How to Allow Pop-Ups in Safari on Mac

If you want to allow pop-up windows for a specific website (like a bank site), Safari lets you do that too. First, open Safari on your Mac, then browse to the websites you want to allow pop-ups for.

Next, click "Safari" in the menu bar and select "Preferences."

In Safari Preferences, click the "Websites" tab.

Scroll down in the "General" column and select "Pop-up Windows."

On the right, you'll see the list of websites open in Safari and the option "Block and Notify" set for each site. Use the drop-down menu next to a site and select "Allow." Repeat the same to allow pop-ups for the other websites on the list.

That's it! Close the Preferences window, and you're ready to go. When you're done, you might want to update Safari on Mac to make the best of the latest pop-ups blocker settings. Happy Browsing!

Related: How to Update Safari on Mac

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How to stop safari?

Do you know how to stop safari, when the text 'Stop Safari' is grey. CMD+Q doesn't stop Safari either.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Parallels 6 (Windows7) installed

Posted on Nov 13, 2011 9:35 AM

Posted on Nov 13, 2011 9:43 AM

You can force quit in the menubar,  > Force quit.. > Select Safari from the list.

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Nov 13, 2011 9:47 AM in response to captfred

Thank you for your quicky reply. Safari stopped.

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Safari Not Working on Mac/MacBook, How to Fix?

Updated on Tuesday, June 4, 2024

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Safari Not Working on Mac/MacBook? Simple Fixes Are Here

Summary:  Safari not working on Mac? Follow this guide that explains how to troubleshoot Safari that's not working properly on Mac/MacBook Pro. All possible solutions are included.

As the default search engine on Mac computers, Safari has powerful features. Most Mac users work well with Safari until some recently find it is not working without warning. You may undergo Safari not working on Mac after an update or Safari not responding.

Whatever your specific problem with Safari is, this post can give you a hand. It contains almost all general solutions to troubleshoot the Safari not working on Mac/MacBook issue. Follow the methods in this post and make your Safari browser perform properly again.

Safari not working on Mac, try these solutions

If you are experiencing the Safari not working on MacBook issues, such as not opening because  Safari can't establish a secure connection  to the server or not responding, quitting unexpectedly, running slowly, not loading web pages, online  videos not playing on MacBook , or other problems, you can try the solutions below.

Quick solutions to fix Safari not working on Mac :

Check the network

Force quit safari, restart mac, clear the website data in safari, disable safari extensions, clean up the corrupted safari plist files and database, terminate the processes that may affect safari running, update safari.

It is worth mentioning that the network will affect your access to a website in the Safari browser. If your Safari not working on Mac , you can check if your Wi-Fi is down and reset your network settings.

When Safari is not responding on Mac, you can activate it by force quitting and relaunching it.

• Click the Apple logo and select Force Quit.

• Wait a few seconds and reopen Safari.

Sometimes, the Safari browser that doesn't perform properly on Mac is due to temporary operating system glitches. A restart will  refresh your Mac  and all programs.

To  restart your Mac device , go to the Apple menu > Restart.

Have you ever cleared the Safari browser data? If haven't, that may be the cause of your Safari not working on MacBook well. The accumulated website data will slow down the speed at which Safari loads pages.  

And also, some website data carry viruses that can lead to Safari freezing, crashing, or not responding.

To delete the website data, including cache files, cookies, and history, follow these steps:

Delete Safari cache:

• Launch Safari and click Safari at the top menu bar. Then, select the Preferences option.

• Choose Develop at the top Safari menu bar > Empty Caches.

Remove cookies and history:

• Choose the length of time you want (better choose all history) to clear cookies and other website data in Safari.

Extensions add new features to Safari and simplify your internet experience. But some extensions are auto-added to your Safari. And some of them may make conflicts in Safari when they proceed with tasks or self-maintenance, leading to Safari crashing or sudden quitting.

When that happens, you can disable all the extensions immediately to do troubleshooting.

• Open Safari and select Safari from the top menu bar > Preferences.
• Click the Extensions tab.
• Uncheck the extensions you are unfamiliar with or don't need.

Maybe the corrupted PLIST files or database of Safari result in Safari in a disordered state. You can remove this data to debug your Safari.

• Open Finder and click Go at the top menu bar.
• Select Go to Folder from the Go menu.
• Copy and paste ~/Library/Safari into the box and click Go.
• Move the LastSession.plist and file names containing "History.db" to Trash.

Then, relaunching Safari can enable it to recreate these PLIST files and history databases automatically. You'll find your unresponsive Safari back to normal now.

If Safari not working on Mac even after the above troubleshooting on it, check if other programs block Safari from normal working. Especially some third-party browsers or the recently installed software.

You can close the running third-party programs and then reopen the Safari app to see if it performs well now.

Apple releases software updates in routine to enhance software performance and fix existing bugs. So, when Safari not working on your MacBook properly, you also need to check if your Safari browser is up-to-date.

Safari is the default software in macOS. That means Safari will be updated along with a  macOS update .

• Select the Apple logo > About This Mac > Software Update.
• Click Update Now or Upgrade Now if new versions are available.

Safari won't open on Mac, what to do?

Unfortunately, you may even fail to launch the Safari browser on Mac. In that case, try the three general ways mentioned above - restart your Mac, clear up website data, and update Safari.

If these ways are useless, you can read this post carefully to fix your Safari that's not opening on Mac:  How to Fix Safari Won't Open Issue?

Fix the error Safari can not be opened because of a problem

Some Mac users report that they have received an error message from Safari - Safari can not be opened because of a problem. This error pops up at your every attempt to access Safari.

It is said that this problem is caused by the incompatibility between iTunes 12.8.1 and Safari. And some users give a testified but the temporary solution:

• Open Finder and select Go from the top Finder menu bar > Go to Folder.
• Enter /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ in the pop-up box and click Go.
• Find and remove the MobileDevice.framework file in the Library folder.

Then you can open Safari again to check if the Safari not working on Mac error is resolved.

[Proved] 9 Ways to Speed Up Safari on Mac

This article will tell you how to speed up Safari on Mac with nine proven ways and help you get Safari running smoothly on Mac again.  Read more >>

Why is Safari not working on Mac?

Whether your Safari is crashing, not responding, not opening, or has other abnormal performances, the Safari that's not working on Mac is usually caused by:

• The outdated current Safari version
• The old macOS
• Software bugs
• Too many tabs opened in Safari at once
• The accumulated cookies, cache, and history logs in Safar
• The viruses or errors in extensions, plugins, or opened websites

How to Uninstall and Reinstall Safari Browser on Mac

This article delves into the process of Safari uninstallation. You will learn how to completely delete Safari from your Mac and how to reinstall it if you need it again.

Connie Yang is the primary columnist in the computer field at iBoysoft. She is enthusiastic about sharing tech tutorials on data recovery and operating system-related problems resolution. Over the years, Connie has published many computer-related guides and introductory articles.

Jessica Shee is a senior tech editor at iBoysoft. Throughout her 4 years of experience, Jessica has written many informative and instructional articles in data recovery, data security, and disk management to help a lot of readers secure their important documents and take the best advantage of their devices.

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macOS: How to Manage Multiple Open Safari Tabs

Browser tabs in Safari are a great way to visit multiple webpages in the same browsing session without having to close any of them, which makes them particularly useful for cross-referencing and researching things online.

1. Bookmark All Open Tabs

If the browser tabs you have open are related and you plan to regularly revisit them, it's worth bookmarking them together in their own bookmark folder. To do so, simply select Bookmarks -> Add Bookmarks for These X Tabs... (X being the number of open tabs).

You'll then be invited to create a name for the bookmark folder and select where you want it to be kept amongst your other bookmarks, which you can access at any time by selecting Bookmarks -> Show Bookmarks in the menu bar.

Note that you can perform a similar action to add all open tabs to your Reading List for later perusal, even when you're offline. ( Bookmarks -> Add These X Tabs to Reading List .)

2. Use Tab Groups

In macOS Monterey, Tab Groups are a neat way to save and manage related tabs without having to have those tabs active and taking up space. If you're planning a trip, for example, you can save all of your tabs into a "Vacation" group, accessing them when needed and leaving your device free for other content when you're not doing active planning.

To create a new Tab Group, click the Show Sidebar icon next to the traffic lights, then select New Tab Group . Alternately, click the down arrow next to the Show Sidebar icon and select either New Empty Tab Group or New Tab Group With X Tabs , "X" being the number of tabs currently open.

Any Tab Groups you create are listed in the sidebar for easy switching. You can also select groups by clicking the down arrow next to the Show Sidebar icon. Any tabs that are opened when a Tab Group is selected will automatically be included in that group. For more tips on working with Tab Groups, check out our dedicated how-to .

3. Change Safari's Tab Layout

Safari offers two tab layouts: Compact and Separate. Compact is a more unified Safari design that does away with the dedicated URL and search interface and makes any individual tab able to be used for navigation input.

The problem with the Compact layout is that it severely limits space for multiple open tabs. In this regard, the Separate layout is more preferable, as it positions the URL/search bar at the top of the Safari window, with your tabs arranged below it.

If you're not already using the Separate tab layout, you can switch to it easily enough by selecting Safari -> Preferences... in the menu bar. Click the Tabs menu in the preference pane and select Tab Layout: Separate to remove the compact tab bar that merges everything together.

4. Rearrange Open Tabs

Sometimes you may have several open tabs from a handful of websites that you tend to visit but which are mixed up with other tabs from different places across the web.

In such cases, it can be useful to rearrange your tabs so that tabs from the same website are lined up next to each other, allowing you to easily review what you've read and dispense with any redundant tabs that were hiding between them.

To sort your tabs according to website, or title if you prefer, simply right-click any tab and select Arrange Tabs By -> Website or Title from the dropdown menu.

5. Pin Tabs

Safari's pinned tabs feature lets you better organize your tabs, especially if find you have too many open at the same time. It's particularly useful if you have certain websites that you tend to visit frequently throughout the day.

The neat thing about pinned tabs is that they stay in place, even when you open a new Safari window or quit and reopen Safari. And when you click a link to another website from a pinned tab, the other website opens in a new tab, ensuring your pinned tab always shows the website you pinned.

To pin a tab, drag the tab to the leftmost side of the tab bar, and when the tab shrinks to show just the website's favicon, simply drop it in place. You can also select Window -> Pin Tab from the menu bar, or right-click (Ctrl-click) a tab, then choose Pin Tab from the contextual menu.

If you have multiple pinned tabs, you can rearrange them in the Tabs bar by dragging them with your cursor. To unpin a website tab, just drag the pinned tab to the right side of the tab bar and it will expand to become a normal tab again.

6. Kill Them All

If you're done with all your other open tabs because you've found what you were looking for, then you can close all open tabs except the currently active one. Alternately, you can opt to close all open tabs to the right of the one you're currently viewing. Simply right-click the currently active tab and select Close Other Tabs or Close Tabs to the Right .

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How to Cool Down Your MacBook Pro? 11 Ways That Work

Are you looking to cool down your MacBook Pro? After facing similar issues with all my MacBooks, I have created this detailed guide that covers all the tips and different methods to prevent your MacBook Pro from overheating and eventually cooling it down. Here is everything you need to know.

Why Is My MacBook Pro Getting So Hot?

Your MacBook Pro is heating up for several reasons you may not have considered. I have been facing it for quite some time now on my MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Here are some reasons.

• Background Processes: Several processes or software are running in the background, even when you are not actively using them increases temperature.
• Poor Ventilation: I cannot stress enough how poor ventilation makes everything worse. Especially when using it on your bed, pillow, sofa, etc., it restricts your system from heat dissipation.
• Dust and Debris: Have you cleaned the fan vents anytime soon? This could be another major reason for your MacBook Pro heating up.

These are some of the factors that could lead to MacBook Pro overheating. However, we have a few tips and tricks and certain methods to cool down MacBook Pro. Let’s check them out below.

How To Cool Down My MacBook Pro

1. place it on a table or any flat surface.

To cool down your MacBook Pro, always place it on a flat surface, such as a tabletop. This ensures proper ventilation and allows heat to dissipate from the vents.

Many users, including myself, have often used the Mac on the bed, sofa, or other soft surfaces that eventually block the vents and cause the MacBook to overheat. To avoid this, you can have a proper setup or workstation with a flat surface, or you can place it on a laptop stand that gives it ample space for ventilation and keeps the system cool.

2. Quit Multiple Tabs on Your Browser

I have often experienced first-hand that the fans are louder and working tirelessly to keep the system cool due to multiple tabs opened on my internet browser.

This majorly happens with the Chrome browser . Hence, it is best advised to quit all the unnecessary windows and tabs opened on your browser. This will eventually put less strain on your CPU and consume less energy overall.

3. Remove Dust and Debris

Since MacBook Pro has fans in their system to keep it cool, it becomes necessary to clean the vents periodically. Often, dust and debris may get stuck on these vents and restrict proper airflow through the laptop.

Hence, you can use a soft cloth or a cotton swab to clean the vents. You can even get a compressed air duster from any store online and use it carefully to remove dust and debris.

4. Shut Down Your Mac for a Few Minutes

When did you last shut down your Mac? It has been months, and I still always close the lid when my work is done. However, your MacBook Pro needs a breather, too. Hence, occasionally shutting down your Mac for a few minutes might help the system to cool down.

Here’s how to shut down your Mac.

• Open the Apple menu on the top-left corner of your screen.

5. Quit CPU Draining Apps from the Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor is one the most useful tools that helps you keep track of all the apps and system. Using this, you can figure out which apps are consuming a significant amount of CPU power, and thus force quit those apps.

This can be done every day whenever you experience your system heating up or hear that loud noise from the fans. Let’s look at the steps you can follow.

• Press Spacebar + Command to open Spotlight Search.

• Under the CPU menu, look for %CPU, and you can see the apps consuming the most power.

This will shut down the app you want to quit. Repeat the same for other apps as well to limit CPU usage . You will notice the change in temperature of your MacBook Pro within minutes.

6. Avoid Google Chrome

While checking Activity Monitor, you may often find Google Chrome consuming massive CPU power, as mentioned above. This has been a constant issue with every other Google Chrome user for years.

Although the browser might be very useful due to the multiple extensions it offers, saved passwords, bookmarks, etc. However, in the long run, it might cause many issues, such as heating your MacBook Pro. It is better to restrict the use of Chrome and switch to something lighter and more efficient, such as Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.

7. Close Multiple Unused Apps on the Screen

Apart from Google Chrome, if you have multiple other apps opened in the background, which you may or may not be working on, it can cause heating issues. We often have the habit of multitasking, and this causes a strain on the CPU. Hence, delete unused apps from your Mac.

8. Use External Cooling Pad

If none of the above methods work, you can always use external devices, such as a Cooling Pad, to cool down your MacBook Pro. You can find the right cooling pad perfect for your Mac and use it regularly by placing it on its back.

This works best when using a laptop stand or on an elevated surface. There are hundreds of cooling pads available in multiple e-commerce stores that you can buy and use every day to cool down your MacBook Pro.

9. Switch to Apple Silicon

Are you using an Intel-based Mac or an Apple Silicon? This factor makes a huge difference to why your MacBook Pro is heating up. If you are still using your Intel-based Mac, it is time to switch to Apple Silicon.

Now, here is why this is a much better option. Some of the advantages Apple Silicon chip MacBook Pro has over the Intel MacBook include better energy efficiency which translates to lesser power consumption. Moreover, Apple Silicon chips have a more advanced thermal management system to adjust the processor’s performance and other components to balance power usage and heat generation.

10. Use Macs Fan Control App

You can download the Macs Fan Control app on your MacBook Pro to keep your system cool. It is designed to manage and optimize the fan speed of your MacBook Pro, contributing to better thermal management.

The app allows you to manually adjust the fan speed or set custom fan curves based on your preferences. For example, you can increase fan speed during resource-intensive tasks like video editing or gaming.

11. Update Your macOS

Yes, updating your macOS helps to cool down your MacBook Pro. With the latest updates, your Mac will be equipped with improvements and bug fixes.

Here’s how to update your Mac.

From here, you can then install the available updates. We hope the guide helped you keep your MacBook Pro cool. If you have any other interesting tip let us know in the comments below.

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How to force an app to close on your Mac

If an app stops responding and you can't close the app normally, follow these steps to force the app to close.

To close a Mac app normally, choose Quit from the app’s menu in the menu bar, or press Command-Q. If the app won’t close, follow these steps to force the app to close.

Force an app to close

Press these three keys together: Option (or Alt), Command, Esc (Escape). 1 Or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen.

A Force Quit window will open. Select the app you want to close, then click Force Quit:

The Finder is always open, but if it stops responding, you can force it to close and then open again: select Finder in the Force Quit window, then click Relaunch.

Find out how to close an app on your iPhone or close an app on your iPad .

If you can't force the app to close

If you can’t force the app to quit, try restarting your Mac: Choose Apple menu  > Restart.

If your Mac won’t restart, force your Mac to turn off:

Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds until your Mac turns off. 2

Turn your Mac back on.

1. Even computers that have a Touch Bar It’s on the left-hand side of the Touch Bar.

2. Every Mac has a power button. On Mac laptops, the power button is in the top right-hand corner of the keyboard. If the laptop keyboard has Touch ID, that key is also the power button.

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Brenda Stolyar

Which MacBook Should You Buy?

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

in 2020, Apple’s MacBooks entered a new era. The company announced it was moving away from the Intel chips it had been using since 2006; in their place it rolled out the first Macs with the Apple-designed M1 . Cut to 2024 and the company now offers the choice between 11 custom processors, the latest of which is the M3 lineup—powering the latest MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) and the new MacBook Air (13-inch and 15-inch).

Like Apple’s iPhones , the chips run on the ARM architecture and afford the company greater control over its hardware and software . These processors make Apple laptops more powerful and more power-efficient, meaning greatly improved performance and battery life. You get other perks, like the ability to run mobile apps originally made for iOS. Despite all these advances, choosing a MacBook is still difficult. Here’s what you should spend your hard-earned money on.

Updated March 2024: We've added our thoughts on the new M3-powered 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air.

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The Best for Most People

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

Apple’s latest MacBook Air ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) with M3 isn’t dramatically different from the MacBook Air with M2 . It has the same boxy chassis (instead of the old wedge design), a 13.6-inch LCD screen (with a 60-Hz refresh rate and a max brightness of 500 nits), plus a notch that cuts into the display housing a 1080p webcam.

It comes in the same four colors: Starlight, Midnight, Space Gray, and Silver. However, the Midnight color now has an anodization seal to reduce fingerprints, which works pretty well—you can still see smudges (especially in direct sunlight), but I didn't find myself using a cloth to wipe it down as much as the Starlight version. It is easy to see dust in such a dark shade though.

Apple kept the same port selection too. There are two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe port for charging. Speaking of, there's support for fast charging if you purchase the 70-watt USB-C power adapter , which Apple claims can juice up the laptop up to 50 percent in 30 minutes (if you opt for one of the higher storage configurations, Apple will include it in your purchase). As for battery life, Apple claims the same 15 hours of wireless web browsing as its predecessor. In reality, I hit 29 percent after eight hours during the workday. It's better than the M2-powered MacBook Air, which had to be plugged into the charger after the same amount of time, but it's not a big leap ahead.

By Christopher Solomon

By Julian Chokkattu

By Boone Ashworth

Under the hood is Apple’s M3 chip. It offers a nice boost in performance over the original M1 processor—Apple says it's up to 60 times faster, but it's only 20 percent faster than the M2 chipset, so don't upgrade if you have that model. With the M3, you get an 8-core CPU with the option to choose between an 8-core or 10-core GPU. I tested the model with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16 GB of unified memory. Performance was super smooth on standard workdays when I had apps like Slack, iMessage, Spotify, and Telegram running simultaneously, along with about 60 tabs open in Google Chrome.

When I opened up about 10 more tabs, it started to struggle. Still, it wasn't enough to trigger the infamous rainbow wheel or make me close any tabs or force-quit apps. I attribute this to the higher unified memory configuration. If it's in your budget, I highly recommend opting for anything above the base 8 GB model for a smoother experience.

Apple has also added the ability to use two external displays, with support for one display with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz and another with up to 5K resolution at 60 Hz. This is a welcome change since the M1 and M2 chipsets natively support only one monitor. But there's a huge caveat: You have to keep the MacBook Air closed. (Technically it still only supports two displays.) One of the external displays will go completely dark whenever you open the lid.

The M3-powered Air is ideal for anyone who needs a reliable laptop for everyday tasks and a little more. If your workload is graphics-intensive, I suggest snagging one of the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro models below.

If You Want a Bigger Screen

The 15-inch MacBook Air is the first large-screen option within the Air lineup. You finally don't need to splurge on a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro just to get a big screen. It packs all the same features as its smaller sibling (see above) and remains thin and lightweight at 3.3 pounds—around a half-pound heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air and slightly lighter than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. It supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for download speeds that are twice as fast as its predecessor, but you'll need a Wi-Fi 6E router to take advantage .

Unlike the smaller MacBook Air, the base model has a 10-core GPU instead of the 8-core GPU. Apple sent me the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16 GB of memory, and it handled 41 Chrome tabs, three separate windows, and multiple apps without any hiccups. As usual, I recommend upgrading to at least 16 GB of unified memory, which ensures the machine won't sputter when you push it with dozens of browser tabs and apps running simultaneously.

One other difference is the speaker system. The quad-speakers on the 13-inch MacBook Air are upgraded here to a six-speaker system, which includes two tweeters and two sets of force-canceling woofers. The difference is noticeable. It delivers better sound clarity, and I don't have to crank it to max volume whenever I watch a movie. Battery life is also better. Apple claims the 13-inch and 15-inch have up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing, but I saw better results with the larger MacBook. I'd have to plug in the 13-inch MacBook after seven or eight hours of use, but the 15-incher hit 54 percent after the same amount of time with similar workloads.

I generally never felt the need to connect this 15-inch laptop to an external monitor , which was more of a necessity with the 13-inch MacBook Air. If you find these smaller screens to be a little too cramped, then go for the 15-inch MacBook Air.

Best Budget MacBook

Photograph: Apple 

The MacBook Air ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) from 2020 with the original M1 chip is still a pretty powerful laptop for the money (especially since the price has come down since its launch). My unit is still going strong despite daily, rigorous use. It's not the snazziest Apple laptop, but it lasts more than a full workday, with the battery hitting 22 percent after I ran it almost nonstop from 9 am to 7 pm using Safari and work apps like Slack. (I had to plug in the old Intel model by 4 pm.)

Unlike older MacBooks you might still find available with Intel chips, this one can instantly wake up from sleep whenever you tap the keyboard or trackpad or lift the screen, just like when you tap your iPhone or iPad to wake it up. There’s no fan here, so it remains whisper-quiet even under the heaviest loads. There is a thermal heat spreader to dissipate heat and it never gets too warm.

You can only buy the base model with 8 GB of unified memory and 256 GB of storage nowadays, which should be sufficient for general-purpose tasks. If you push it with many browser tabs and apps running simultaneously, you may run into some slowdowns. Downsides? The 720p webcam isn’t great. and the M1 chipset only supports one external monitor.

For Power-Hungry Port Lovers

Photograph: Apple

Apple launched the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro less than a year after releasing the M2 Pro and M2 Max versions. In addition to the M3 Pro and M3 Max, you can now configure the 14-inch model with the entry-level M3 chip—replacing the 13-inch Macbook Pro, which Apple no longer sells through its store. The 16-inch can be paired with the M3 Pro or M3 Max. Apple also introduced a new Space Black color, which includes a special treatment that reduces fingerprint smudges, but it's only available on high-end models.

Both sizes have the same chassis as their predecessors, which come equipped with Mini LED screens (providing deeper blacks and rich color like  on the iPad Pro ) and a  120-Hz refresh rate for smoother-looking interactions. Apple bumped up the brightness by 20 percent though. It packs a variety of ports, including an HDMI, three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 (the 14-inch version with M3 has two), an SD card slot, a high-impedance headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. You'll also get a 1080p webcam, a six-speaker sound system, and support for Wi-Fi 6E along with Bluetooth 5.3.

Of the three processor choice options, the M3 Pro and M3 Max are significantly more powerful than most people need. Editing 4K videos? Rendering 3D models in CAD? Producing music? That’s what these machines are intended for. If you’re mostly working through a web browser and typing up documents, these chipsets are overkill. You should opt for the M3-powered version instead. I have tested the 14-inch MacBook Pro with this chip. Performance is smooth—even with multiple apps running simultaneously in the background (like Slack, Spotify, Messages, Notes, Zoom, and Telegram) and about 30 browser tabs open. I do recommend going for 16 gigabytes of unified memory if you can swing it. It's also worth noting that, while the M3 Pro and M3 Max versions come with support for two external displays out of the box, the M3-powered 14-inch MacBook will have the same capability in a future software update (similar to the M3 MacBook Air models above).

WIRED contributor Christopher Null tested the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Max ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ). He says the improvements are incremental but measurable compared to any prior-generation MacBook. “With each benchmark I threw at the system, it blew everything else I ever tested out of the water.” When running benchmark tests in High Power Mode (a feature exclusive to the 16-inch MacBook Pro that enhances performance for more graphics-intensive projects), he didn't see much of a difference aside from a Cinebench GPU test that improved by less than 10 percent.

As for battery life, the 16-inch MacBook Pro reached an impressive 19 hours and 20 minutes of YouTube video playback time on High Power Mode. After running three different power tests on a fully bright, all-white screen, the machine managed to hit just over 15 hours. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 reached 22 hours of YouTube playback time. I had the brightness set to about 50 percent and toggled off automatic brightness and True Tone via the Settings. During a typical workday, I still had about 53 percent battery left after using the computer for almost seven hours straight. With the display settings toggled on, I would consistently hit about four or five hours before the machine tapped out. I recommend turning off those settings to optimize the battery life.

If you're stuck on the exact combination to go with, I recommend the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Max chip for those who want a big display and excellent battery life. For intermediate content creators, the M3 Pro coupled with either size will suffice—the 14-inch MacBook Pro is similar in size to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, making it easier to travel with, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro might feel ginormous.

The 14-inch with M3, on the other hand, is ideal for anyone who wants a few of the “Pro” features but doesn't want to spend nearly $2,000 to get it. Most people should just stick with the M3-powered MacBook Air models, but if you want the 120-Hz screen refresh rate , extra ports, or the slight bump in power thanks to the built-in fan, then you'll be more than happy with it.

Honorable Mentions

Apple releases new MacBooks at a somewhat quick pace, so you might feel inclined to buy the latest and greatest. But these slightly older models are still good options, as long as you find them on sale for the right price. Apple no longer sells them directly (aside from the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air), but we recommend checking third-party retailers (like Amazon , Best Buy , or B&H ). Just cross-check the price with the latest models and make sure you're spending decidedly less on the older machine.

• MacBook Air (15-inch, 2023) : The 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) came out less than a year ago, so it's still an excellent buy. You'll get all the same features as the 13-inch version, plus a larger screen. The M2 also offers great performance and good battery life (we squeezed about 10 hours out of it). Try to find it for around $1,050 or less.
• MacBook Air (13-inch, 2022) : At only two years old, the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) is still a nice laptop. The M2 chip delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks (like writing emails, creating spreadsheets, web browsing, and streaming content) and solid battery life (we reached about eight hours before having to plug it in). You'll also get a bigger and brighter display (13.6 inches), a 1080p webcam, and MagSafe charging. Apple still sells the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Air for a reduced price of $999 (down from $1,099), but we recommend looking for it on sale through third-party sellers for $899 or less .
• MacBook Pro (13 Inch, 2022) : This is the best option if you want the Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard since it's the last model to come equipped with one. Under the hood is an M2 chip, which performed fairly well in our tests but did feel sluggish at times—the laptop stuttered a bit while editing video footage and photos. But unlike the MacBook Air, it has a fan, which allows it to eke out more power over a longer period. It's helpful if you're working on pro-level tasks but can't spend the premium that Apple charges for its bigger Pro models. We only recommend it if you can find it for $1,000 or less.
• MacBook Pro (14 Inch and 16 Inch, Early 2023) : If you don't want to spend a ton of money on the latest 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ), the M2 Pro and M2 Max (which launched early last year) are more than capable for handling intensive, graphically demanding production work. In our testing, both the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Max delivered smooth performance and playback after being put through stress tests (like editing 4K and RED Raw footage, as well as adding 3D effects). We recommend only snagging this one for around $1,800 or less.
• MacBook Pro (14 Inch and 16 Inch, 2021) : These MacBooks ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ), powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max, were the start of a new era for Apple's high-end machines. The company introduced a redesigned chassis with more ports, a 120-Hz refresh rate, and a MagSafe port. Even though these launched in late 2021, you don't have to steer clear of them—both processors are still plenty powerful. In our testing, we found the M1 Max felt one-to-one with the $6,000-plus Mac Pro. It didn't struggle at all while editing heavy-duty footage. However, it's growing increasingly tough to find in stock at third-party retailers. If you do manage to find one, we suggest only purchasing it if it's on sale for around $1,500 or less.

Which M-Series Chip Is Right for You?

Now that Apple offers not one but 11 in-house chipsets for MacBooks, choosing the right one might feel a bit overwhelming. It all depends on what you plan on using the MacBook for.

M1 : This is the base-level chip of the lineup. It has an 8-core CPU and up to an 8-core GPU. Originally, there was support for up to 16 GB of unified memory (RAM) at an extra cost, but nowadays you can only purchase the 8 GB model. It’s much faster than any previous Intel-powered MacBook Pro, and it is the practical choice for most people. It packs more than enough processing power to get you through common day-to-day tasks—even light gaming— and it can handle more intense jobs like photo and video editing. Only the MacBook Air from 2020 uses this chipset.

M1 Pro : The next step up is the M1 Pro . It has up to 10 cores in the CPU and up to a 16-core GPU, with up to 32 GB of unified memory. Apple says performance and graphics are both twice as fast as on the M1. We found it to be considerably more capable than the base chip, and it’s the ideal option for anyone who works heavily on MacBooks for music production or photo and video editing.

M1 Max : Like the M1 Pro, the M1 Max has a 10-core CPU but a heftier 32-core GPU (with support for up to 64 GB of unified memory). Apple says it’s four times faster than the M1 in terms of graphics. As proven in testing, this chip is extremely powerful, as it handles every heavy-duty task with ease. It’s the clear choice if you need a computer that can handle multiple streams of 8K or 4K video footage, 3D rendering, or developing apps and running demos. You probably already know if you need this much power.

M1 Ultra : The M1 Ultra is the second most powerful of them all. It's two M1 Max chips connected with a technology called UltraFusion. It packs a 20-core CPU, 64-core GPU (which can be configured with up to 128 GB of unified memory), and 32-core neural engine—complete with seven times more transistors than the base M1. Even with the M2 Ultra now available, the M1 is plenty powerful and a great option for anyone who needs a heavy-duty processor for working with intense visuals and graphics. It’s available only on the first-generation Mac Studio , Apple’s beefy desktop computer, which Apple no longer sells directly through its site. You can still find it through third-party retailers, but we recommend purchasing it only at a discounted price.

M2: You might think the M2 is better than the M1 Pro or M1 Max, but you'd be wrong. It's a base-level chip like the M1, with slightly more processing power. It packs an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU (two more GPU cores than its predecessor), along with support for up to 24 GB of unified memory. Apple says the second-generation chip has an 18 percent faster CPU and a GPU that’s 35 percent more powerful. The M2 is great for daily tasks like word processing and web browsing, but tasks like editing multiple streams of 4K footage and 3D rendering should be reserved for the M1 Pro or M1 Max (or the next two chips).

M2 Pro: The M2 Pro is the next step up from the M2. It has up to 12 cores in the CPU and up to a 19-core GPU, with up to 32 GB of unified memory. Apple claims performance is up to 20 percent faster than the 10-core M1 Pro and graphics are 30 percent faster. We recommend this chip for intermediate video and photo editors. It's a marginal upgrade compared to the M1 Pro, but it's the best option for those who want a more future-proof processor.

M2 Max: The M2 Max packs up to a 12-core CPU and up to a 38-core GPU (with support for up to 96 GB of unified memory). According to Apple, graphics are 30 percent faster than the M1 Max. The M2 Max is an excellent choice for those who work with graphics-intensive content, including graphic design, 3D modeling, and heavy-duty video footage. But as with the M2 Pro, it's an incremental upgrade if you're coming from an M1 Max.

M2 Ultra: This is the successor to the M1 Ultra, making it the most powerful of them all. It's available on the second-generation Mac Studio and the latest Mac Pro . Composed of two M2 Max chips, using Apple's UltraFusion technology, the M2 Ultra has a 24-core CPU and a GPU configurable with 60 or 76 cores. Apple claims the CPU delivers up to 20 percent faster performance and a 30 percent faster GPU than the M1 Ultra. This is the chip to get if you're working with extremely heavy-duty content that you believe the M1 Ultra, M2 Pro, or M2 Max simply won't be able to handle. You'll know if you need a chip this robust.

The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max are the newest additions to the existing lineup of M-series chips. Unlike its predecessors, which were built on 5-nanometer process technology, the M3 chips are built on a 3-nanometer process. This packs more transistors into a smaller space and enhances both power efficiency and the speed of the chip. Apple says all three processors offer significant improvements in CPU core functions and graphics rendering. They come with a few features new to Apple silicon too, including dynamic caching, ray tracing, and mesh shading—all of which you can read more about here . Below, we break down the difference between these three chips.

M3: This is the newest entry-level chipset. It's available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro (late 2023), 13-inch MacBook Air (2024), 15-inch MacBook Air (2024), and 24-inch iMac (2023). It packs an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU with 24 gigabytes of unified memory. When compared to the M1, Apple claims CPU performance is up to 35 percent faster and GPU performance is up to 65 percent faster. The company says the CPU and GPU are both 20 percent faster than the M2. As with the M1 and M2, it's great for basic tasks like word processing, sending emails, using spreadsheets, and light gaming. With the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, you'll have support for two external displays (one display with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz and another with up to 5K resolution at 60 Hz). The same feature will be available with the M3-powered 14-inch MacBook Pro in a future software update.

M3 Pro: With a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU, Apple claims the M3 Pro's GPU is only up to 10 percent faster than the M2 Pro—making this a marginal upgrade from its predecessor. Compared to the M1 Pro, however, the M2 Pro is up to 40 percent faster in GPU performance and 20 percent faster in CPU performance. It's available on the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. It's the ideal in-between for those who need a chip that's more powerful than the M3 but won't utilize the full power of the M3 Max.

M3 Max: This is the next step up from the M2 Max and the most powerful of the three latest chips (but still not as powerful as the M2 Ultra). It has a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and up to 128 gigabytes of unified memory. According to Apple, the CPU performance is up to 80 percent faster than the M1 Max and up to 50 percent faster than the M2 Max. As for GPU performance, it's said to be up to 50 percent faster than the M1 Max and 20 percent faster than the M2 Max. The M3 Max is available on the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. We recommend this chip if you're still on an older Intel-powered Mac and mainly use your machine for working with graphics-intensive content.

Quirks and Issues

There are eccentricities and problems with Apple’s laptops that you should know about before you buy.

Bland Touch Bar : When Apple debuted the Touch Bar in late 2016, it touted the thin touchscreen strip above the keyboard as the next generation of user input . This shift didn't pan out. There was little interest from third-party software designers in doing anything innovative with the tiny display. Most of Apple’s newest MacBooks do not have the Touch Bar anymore, a clear indicator that the company is moving away from it. The company only sells one MacBook with it now.

Palmy trackpad : Apple's trackpads are among the best in the computer business, but with the newest MacBooks these input devices have been blown up to unbelievable proportions and crammed against the bottom edge of the keyboard, right where you rest your palms while typing. Although there’s supposed to be intelligent palm rejection software at work, the trackpads are susceptible to accidental input.

Parched for ports : Aside from the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, the rest of Apple’s MacBooks feature one port type: USB-C (usually only two). It might not work with some of the devices you own. You’ll want to invest in a few adapters if you plan on hooking your computer up to a projector or want to use things like USB drives and SD cards.

MacBooks to Avoid

Older MacBooks with butterfly keyboards (2015-2019) : Apple’s notorious first- to third-generation “butterfly switch” keyboards are gone from the entire current MacBook lineup . And good riddance. Former WIRED editor Jeffrey Van Camp and senior writer Lauren Goode both had multiple issues with the 2017 Pro keyboard. If you’re buying an older-model MacBook, Apple does replace the keyboards for free and did add extra dust guards to the late-2018 and early-2019 models. Apple has detailed instructions on how to clean the old keyboard if yours gets flaky, which is a decent first line of defense against busted keys. Apple also extended its keyboard repair program to cover repairs on all Macs that have been purchased between 2015 and 2019, regardless of warranty status. Still, unless you’re getting it cheap, we suggest sticking with the newer models that feature the improved Magic Keyboard and the more advanced processors.

The old MacBook Air models (with a silver bezel) : Apple’s slim laptop was groundbreaking when it debuted in 2008. Unfortunately, the MacBook Air didn’t undergo many changes until 2018. These older Airs rock a dowdy-looking, non-Retina screen and weak Intel chips that are years old. The old laptops might not require the dongles that a newer MacBook might, but the newer laptops will undoubtedly feel faster for longer. Don’t let their lower price tag tempt you—there are way better laptops you can nab for that kind of cash. How to spot it: The older Air has a thick silver border (bezel) around its screen instead of the black glass of the new models.

The old 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019 : This is a fine laptop that’s not too old , but its price makes no sense when compared to the new 16-inch MacBook Pro. You’re much better off sticking with the new M2 Pro or M2 Max-powered 16-inch MacBook. How to spot it: The product name usually includes “Intel.”

2020 Intel-powered MacBook Air and MacBook Pro : These models have been completely eclipsed by the late 2020 models with Apple's M-series chips, from performance to battery life. They’re only worth buying if you can snag them for well under $500. Anything close to $900 and you should just pay up for the MacBook Air with M1. It's superior.

Get AppleCare+

None of Apple’s MacBooks are cheap, and replacement parts are nightmarishly expensive. Since the entire computer is fully integrated into Apple’s tightly designed aluminum chassis, you’re one coffee spill away from a shockingly large repair bill. This is why Apple’s AppleCare+ is worth it—starting at $100, AppleCare extends your factory warranty to three years, gives you matching telephone support, and throws in two accidental damage repairs as well. After paying a minimum $99 service fee, whatever you did to zap your shiny new Mac will be undone, and you’ll be back to hammering away on your keyboard.

Education Discounts

Apple always offers small discounts on hardware for students and teachers. All you need to do is purchase something through Apple’s Education Store , choose the product you want (you should see the discounted pricing), and go through the motions to place the order like normal. You don’t need to show any proof that you’re a student at the time of purchase, but you should be honest, as Apple can email you at a later date and ask for verification.

Is It a Good Time to Buy?

Yes. Apple released a new 14-inch 16-inch MacBook Pro back in November 2023. In early March 2024, the company debuted the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. The lineup is fairly up-to-date and we're not expecting any new models anytime soon.

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iOS 18 makes iPhone more personal, capable, and intelligent than ever

New Levels of Customization and Capability

Photos Gets a Unified View, New Collections, and Customization

Powerful Ways to Stay Connected in Messages

Enhancements to Mail

Big Updates to Safari

Introducing the Passwords App

New Privacy Features Designed to Empower Users

Apple Intelligence Transforms the iPhone Experience

• In Apple Maps , users can browse thousands of hikes across national parks in the United States and easily create their own custom walking routes, which they can access offline. Maps users can also save their favorite national park hikes, custom walking routes, and locations to an all-new Places Library and add personal notes about each spot.
• Game Mode enhances the gaming experience with more consistent frame rates, especially during long play sessions, and makes wireless accessories like AirPods and game controllers incredibly responsive.
• Users get new ways to pay with Apple Pay , including the ability to redeem rewards and access installments from their eligible credit or debit cards. 5 With Tap to Cash, users can send and receive Apple Cash by simply holding two iPhone devices together. 6 Tickets in Apple Wallet bring a richer experience for fans, putting key event information like stadium details, recommended Apple Music playlists, and more at their fingertips. 7
• SharePlay with Apple Music allows even more users to share control of music playing from HomePod, Apple TV, or any Bluetooth-enabled speaker, making listening together more fun and engaging.
• The AirPods experience gets even more personal, private, and convenient with Siri Interactions, allowing AirPods Pro (2nd generation) users to simply nod their head yes or gently shake their head no to respond to Siri announcements. For even clearer call quality, Voice Isolation comes to AirPods Pro, ensuring the caller’s voice is heard in loud or windy environments. AirPods updates also provide the best wireless audio latency Apple has ever delivered for mobile gaming, and add Personalized Spatial Audio for even more immersive gameplay.
• In the Notes app , formulas and equations entered while typing are solved instantly with Math Notes. New collapsible sections and highlighting make it easier to emphasize what’s important.
• In Journal , an all-new insights view helps users keep track of their journaling goals, and the ability to search and sort entries makes it easy to enjoy past memories. Time spent journaling can be saved as mindful minutes in the Health app, and users can log their state of mind right in Journal. A Journal widget is now available for users to quickly start an entry from the Home Screen or Lock Screen, audio recordings are automatically transcribed, and users can export and print journal entries.
• Calendar becomes even more helpful by showing both events and tasks from Reminders . Users can create, edit, and complete reminders right from Calendar, and the updated month view provides an overview of events and tasks at a glance.
• In the Health app , Medical ID has been redesigned to make it even easier for first responders to find the most important information in an emergency. The Health app can help users better understand their data during pregnancy by making adjustments and recommendations to reflect changes in their physical and mental health.
• Emergency SOS Live Video allows users to share context through streaming video and recorded media. In the middle of an emergency call, participating emergency dispatchers can send a request for a user to share live video or media from the user’s camera roll over a secure connection, making it easier and faster to get help.
• The Home app introduces guest access, providing users with easy ways to grant guests control of select smart home accessories, set schedules for when guests can access the home, and more. For an effortless home entry experience, hands-free unlock with home keys leverages Ultra Wideband technology to allow users to instantly open supported entry locks as soon as they are six feet away from their door. With convenient updates to the Energy category, the Home app makes it easier for eligible users to access, understand, and make more informed decisions about their home electricity use.
• Accessibility updates include Eye Tracking, a built-in option for navigating iPhone with just eyes; Music Haptics, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music using the Taptic Engine in iPhone; and Vocal Shortcuts that enable users to perform tasks by making a custom sound.

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

The release introduces all-new customization options, the biggest-ever redesign of Photos, powerful updates for staying connected, and Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA  Apple today previewed iOS 18 , a major release that features more customization options, the biggest redesign ever of the Photos app, new ways for users to manage their inbox in Mail, Messages over satellite, and so much more. Users will be able to arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, and quickly access more controls in Control Center. Photo libraries are automatically organized in a new single view in Photos, and helpful new collections keep favorites easily accessible. Mail simplifies the inbox by sorting email into categories using on-device intelligence, and all-new text effects come to iMessage. Powered by the same groundbreaking technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, users can now communicate over satellite in the Messages app when a cellular or Wi-Fi connection isn’t available. 1

iOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. 2 Built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context, to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks.

“We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customization and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages. There are so many benefits for everyone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “This release also marks the beginning of a tremendously exciting new era of personal intelligence with Apple Intelligence delivering intuitive, powerful, and instantly useful experiences that will transform the iPhone experience, all with privacy at the core. We can’t wait for users to experience it.”

iPhone users have new ways to customize the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. Users can now arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, including placing them right above the dock for easy access or perfectly framing a wallpaper. App icons and widgets can take on a new look with a dark or tinted effect, and users can make them appear larger to create the experience that is perfect for them.

Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day, and it gets new levels of customization and flexibility. The redesign delivers quick access to new groups of a user’s most-utilized controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, as well as the ability to easily swipe between each. Users can now add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center to quickly unlock a vehicle or jump right into capturing content for social media — all from one place. The new controls gallery displays the full set of available options, and users can customize how the controls are laid out, including adjusting them to the ideal size and creating entirely new groups.

For the first time, users can now switch the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen, including choosing from options available in the controls gallery or removing them entirely. With the Action button available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can quickly invoke controls available in the gallery.

Photos receives its biggest-ever redesign to help users easily find and relive special moments. A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums. Plus, collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings libraries to life, so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing. Because each user’s photo library is unique, the app is customizable, so users can organize collections, pin collections to access frequently, and include what’s most important to them in the carousel view.

iMessage receives all-new text effects that bring conversations to life by amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearances. Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough. Tapbacks expand to include any emoji or sticker, and now users can compose a message and schedule to send it at a later time.

When messaging contacts who do not have an Apple device, the Messages app now supports RCS for richer media and more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS.

iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite for the times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available. Powered by the same groundbreaking technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, Messages via satellite automatically prompts users to connect to their nearest satellite right from the Messages app to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. 3 With Dynamic Island, users always know when they are connected to a satellite. Because iMessage was built to protect user privacy, iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.

Later this year, Mail will introduce new ways for users to manage their inbox and stay up to date. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming email into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for what’s important in the moment.

Safari, the world’s fastest browser, 4 now offers an even easier way to discover information on the web with Highlights and a redesigned Reader experience. Using machine learning, Safari can surface key information about a webpage. For example, users can review a summary to get the gist of an article; quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album. Reader has been redesigned to offer even more ways to enjoy articles without distraction, with a summary and table of contents included for longer articles.

Building on the foundation of Keychain, which was first introduced more than 25 years ago, the new Passwords app makes it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. The app also includes alerts for users regarding common weaknesses, such as passwords that are easily guessed or used multiple times and those that appear in known data leaks.

iOS 18 gives users even more control with tools to manage who can see their apps, how contacts are shared, and how their iPhone connects to accessories.

Locked and hidden apps offer users peace of mind that information they want to keep private, such as app notifications and content, will not inadvertently be seen by others. Users can now lock an app; and for additional privacy, they can hide an app, moving it to a locked, hidden apps folder. When an app is locked or hidden, content like messages or emails inside the app are hidden from search, notifications, and other places across the system.

iOS 18 puts users in control by letting them choose to share only specific contacts with an app. In addition, developers now have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhone without letting an app see all the other devices on a user’s network, keeping a user’s devices private and making pairing seamless.

Deeply integrated into iOS 18 and built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

New image capabilities make communication and self-expression even more fun. With Image Playground, users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use, built right into apps like Messages, and also available in a dedicated app.

Memories in Photos lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. In addition, a new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a major step forward, becoming even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal. Users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing, and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple and is only used to fulfill the user’s requests, and independent experts can verify this privacy.

Additionally, access to ChatGPT is integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apple’s platforms, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Additional features in iOS 18 include: 

Availability

The developer beta of iOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com . iOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-18-preview and apple.com/apple-intelligence . Features are subject to change. Some features are not available in all regions, all languages, or on all devices. For more information about availability, visit apple.com .

• Messages via satellite will be available in iOS 18 along with Apple’s existing satellite features in the U.S. on iPhone 14 and later.
• Users with an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and Siri and device language set to English (U.S.) can sign up this fall to access the Apple Intelligence beta.
• SMS availability will depend on carrier. Carrier fees may apply. Users should check with their carrier for details.
• Testing was conducted by Apple in May 2023. See apple.com/safari  for more information.
• The new Apple Pay features are available on cards from participating banks and card providers in certain markets. Subject to eligibility and approval.
• Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, and only available in the U.S. on eligible devices. Learn more about the terms and conditions . To send and receive money with an Apple Cash account, users must be 18 and a U.S. resident, or if under 18, part of an Apple Cash Family account. Tap to Cash transaction limits are subject to change, including lowering limits, at any time during the developer or public betas without notice.
• Ticket enhancements in Apple Wallet are available for events from participating ticket issuers.

Press Contacts

Nadine Haija

[email protected]

Tania Olkhovaya

[email protected]

Apple Media Helpline

[email protected]

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