23 Feb Safari Too Many Redirects Error? Fix Guide

Running into the “Safari Can’t Open the Page – Too Many Redirects” error can feel like hitting an internet roadblock. You tap a link, expect a website to load, and instead Safari spins in circles before throwing up a confusing message. Whether you’re browsing on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, this issue is surprisingly common—and fortunately, it’s usually easy to fix once you understand what’s happening behind the scenes.

TLDR: The “Too Many Redirects” error in Safari usually happens because of corrupted cookies, cached data, or conflicting website settings. Clearing Safari’s cache and cookies fixes the issue in most cases. If that doesn’t work, disabling extensions, checking date and time settings, or flushing DNS may solve it. The problem is rarely permanent and can typically be resolved in just a few minutes.

What Does “Too Many Redirects” Mean?

When Safari says a page has too many redirects, it means your browser is stuck in a loop. A redirect happens when one URL automatically sends you to another. For example, a website might redirect:

• From http to https
• From a non-www to a www version
• From a login page to a dashboard

Normally, redirects are harmless and invisible to users. But if a site keeps bouncing your browser back and forth between addresses, Safari eventually stops trying and displays the error message.

Why Safari Shows This Error

The root cause often isn’t the website itself—though it can be. More frequently, the issue stems from stored browser data or configuration conflicts. Here are the most common culprits:

1. Corrupted Cookies

Cookies store login sessions and user preferences. If these cookies become outdated or corrupted, Safari may struggle to authenticate properly, triggering a redirect loop.

2. Conflicting Cache Data

Cached files help pages load faster, but old or mismatched files can interfere with updated versions of a website.

3. Browser Extensions

Ad blockers, privacy tools, or VPN extensions can sometimes interfere with website scripts and authentication flows.

4. Incorrect Date and Time

Security certificates depend on accurate system time. If your device’s clock is off, websites may reject secure connections and redirect repeatedly.

5. DNS or Network Issues

Your device’s DNS cache might be pointing to an outdated server location, causing repeated redirect attempts.

How to Fix Safari Too Many Redirects Error

Let’s walk through step-by-step solutions. Try them in order; often the first or second fix resolves the issue immediately.

1. Clear Safari’s Cookies and Website Data

This solves the majority of redirect loop errors.

On iPhone or iPad:

• Open Settings
• Scroll down and tap Safari
• Select Clear History and Website Data
• Confirm

On Mac:

• Open Safari
• Click Safari in the top menu
• Select Settings (or Preferences)
• Go to the Privacy tab
• Click Manage Website Data
• Choose Remove All

After clearing cookies, restart Safari and revisit the site.

2. Try a Private Browsing Window

Private mode disables stored cookies and cached sessions temporarily.

• On Mac: Click File → New Private Window
• On iPhone: Tap the tabs button and switch to Private

If the website loads properly in Private mode, you can be almost certain cookies were the problem.

3. Disable Safari Extensions

Extensions can conflict with website authentication systems.

On Mac:

• Open Safari → Settings → Extensions
• Uncheck all extensions
• Restart Safari

Turn extensions back on one at a time to find the culprit.

On iPhone, extension management is located in Settings → Safari → Extensions.

4. Check Your Date and Time Settings

An incorrect system clock can break secure connections.

• Go to System Settings → General → Date & Time
• Enable Set time and date automatically

This small fix may resolve certificate-based redirect issues immediately.

5. Flush DNS Cache (Mac Only)

If you’re comfortable using Terminal, flushing DNS can eliminate outdated network information.

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Press Enter and input your password when prompted. Then restart Safari.

If the Problem Is Website-Specific

Sometimes, the issue isn’t on your end at all. Websites misconfigure redirects after updates or server changes. To check:

• Try opening the site in another browser like Chrome or Firefox
• Test the site using mobile data instead of Wi-Fi
• Ask a friend to check if the site works for them

If it fails everywhere, the website likely has a configuration issue. In that case, waiting or contacting the site administrator is your only option.

Advanced Fixes for Persistent Issues

If you’re still seeing the error after basic troubleshooting, consider these deeper fixes:

Update Safari and macOS/iOS

Outdated browser versions can conflict with modern site security protocols.

• On Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update
• On iPhone: Settings → General → Software Update

Reset Safari (Mac)

Though Safari no longer has a one-click reset button, clearing history, removing extensions, and deleting website data effectively resets it.

Change DNS Servers

Switching to public DNS services like Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) can resolve routing-based redirect loops.

• Open System Settings → Network
• Select your connection
• Go to Details → DNS
• Add a new DNS server

How Redirect Loops Actually Happen

For those curious about the technical side, redirect loops often stem from miscommunication between:

• HTTP and HTTPS enforcement rules
• Authentication cookies
• Server-side scripts
• Content delivery networks (CDNs)

For example, a site may be configured to automatically force HTTPS. But if your browser requests HTTP due to an old cookie, the server redirects you. Then another configuration layer redirects you back, forming an infinite cycle.

Safari halts this cycle after detecting excessive redirect attempts to protect users from potential malicious loops.

Preventing the Error in the Future

While you can’t eliminate every redirect issue, you can reduce your chances of encountering one by:

• Regularly clearing browser cookies
• Keeping Safari updated
• Limiting unnecessary extensions
• Ensuring automatic date and time settings are enabled
• Restarting your device occasionally

These small habits keep your browser environment clean and reduce the chance of stored data conflicts.

When to Be Concerned

Most redirect loop errors are harmless. However, you should be cautious if:

• The redirect sends you to suspicious domains
• Pop-ups appear requesting sensitive data
• The problem affects many unrelated websites

In those cases, run a malware scan and review installed extensions immediately.

Final Thoughts

The Safari Too Many Redirects error can seem frustrating, especially when it blocks access to important websites. But in most cases, the solution is straightforward: clear cookies, disable extensions, or reset browser data. Safari is designed to prevent harmful infinite loops, so the error itself is actually a sign of your browser protecting you.

With the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you should be able to resolve the issue quickly and get back to browsing smoothly. And the next time you see that message, you’ll know exactly what it means—and exactly how to fix it.