16

To illustrate the issue, think opening new tabs from Reddit's homepage for the posts that you find interesting and then Safari sometimes will just close the last tab you opened as you keep opening new tabs.

Also, it will re-open tabs. For example, you Googled something and opened 1-2 of the results then closed the Google tab and switch to one of the new tabs and suddenly the Google tab will come back.

Lastly, sometimes when you click on a link and navigate to another page in the same site, Safari will take you back. Thin clicking on someones profile on Twitter and just at the moment that the page loaded it will go back as if you clicked the back button.

All this happens only when using Tab Groups. I regularly have 3-5 tab groups with 20-50 tabs opened, I know it's not ideal but that's how I do it.

I actually filed a bug report through the Feedback assistant but so far no response. I also don't see other people complaining about it, so maybe there's a solution?

I don't use too many add-ons, I just have AdGuard enabled as an adblocker.

Any idea how to solve this unwanted behavior in Safari?

bmike
  • 226,393
  • 78
  • 398
  • 871
mrtksn
  • 473
  • 4
  • 12
  • I also have this issue and AdGuard. Have you tried disabling AdGuard? – user3071284 Aug 02 '22 at 14:16
  • 1
    I've been having this problem ever since Tab Groups were introduced with Safari 15. I kept waiting for a point release that would fix the bugs. I can confirm that it's still just as buggy in Safari 16, a year later. The only thing keeping me on Safari at this point is my desire to use iCloud Keychain. – Glenn Schmidt Oct 11 '22 at 00:45

2 Answers2

14

This behavior seems to be caused by iCloud syncing problems. Specifically, the automatic sync process is interacting poorly with tab groups causing this pain.

Current workaround would be disabling iCloud syncing for Safari.

  1. Go to System Preferences
  2. Choose Apple ID
  3. Untick Safari

You’ll have to re-enable sync once you are done browsing to have your changes propagate until Apple fixes this.

bmike
  • 226,393
  • 78
  • 398
  • 871
Steven He
  • 543
  • 4
  • 9
3

Good news everybody, It appears that the bug is fixed with macOS 12.5 as Apple specifically put it in the release notes!

macOS Monterey 12.5 includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates.

  • TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward
  • Fixes an issue in Safari where a tab may revert back to a previous page

Edit: Unfortunately the issue is not fixed as of macOS 12.5.1

Edit2: The issue is still not fixed as of macOS Ventura 13.0 Beta 7 (22A5342f)

Edit3: The issue is still not fixed as of macOS Ventura 13.0 Beta 9 (22A5358e)

Edit4: The issue is still not fixed as of macOS Ventura 13.0 Beta 10 (22A5365d)

Edit5: The issue is still not fixed as of macOS Ventura 13.0 Beta 11 (22A5373b)

Edit6: The issue is still not fixed as of macOS Ventura 13.0 Release (22A380)

mrtksn
  • 473
  • 4
  • 12
  • 1
    Not in my experience, unfortunately – sage2k Jul 24 '22 at 14:08
  • 1
    doesn't work for me either, just caught this nasty bug again after the update :( this is ridiculous. I can't trust my browser. – Dobby007 Jul 26 '22 at 07:29
  • 1
    I assume you refer to the second item in the release note. It doesn't refer to tab groups though, also the other comments here imply that it has not been fixed. – nohillside Jul 31 '22 at 14:25
  • 1
    It looks like Apple might have not fixed it after all and they are referring to another bug in the release notes. That's unfortunate. – mrtksn Aug 01 '22 at 07:37