Replacing Safari in Applications folder on Mac

Safari stopped working, it gives me the beach ball

I would have it restored from the backup but that doesn't work lik that.

The backup version can't replace the app in the applications folder bc 'Safari is required and cannot be modified'. I downloaded Safari from the backup and put it in a different folder.

Now I can use it but how do I replace Safari in the Applications folder?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 5:55 PM

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Jan 22, 2025 3:28 AM in response to Lance.scs

You obviously want to do everything short of completely erasing the Mac. Reinstall macOS first. You can always pursue the nuclear option later.


The problem is not likely to be a defective app. It is more likely to be caused by one of Safari's many supporting files, along the lines of what this guy went through: *Unable to open safari at all* - Apple Community


Try Safe Mode too.

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Jan 22, 2025 2:16 AM in response to Lance.scs

Quit Safari; force-quit if necessary. Then press and hold a Shift key while launching Safari from Applications or the Dock. Release the Shift key when a Safari window opens, or the spinner appears again.


We can't replace Safari in /Applications for the reasons explained. All we can do is reinstall macOS (which may or may not fix it).


Let us know what happens.

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Jan 22, 2025 3:06 AM in response to John Galt

Thank yo for the reply.

It did not work, the only thing left is reinstallation of the complete os.

But I think that it must be a clean-install bc the application will not be overwritten.


I tried to disable SIP and delete the application but alas, it can't be done that way either.

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Replacing Safari in Applications folder on Mac

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