Why can’t Safari on my Mac open College Board while other browsers can?

August 5, 2026 3 answers
Asked by MellowPine47
Safari on my Mac shows a message saying it can't open https://www.collegeboard.org because the server unexpectedly dropped the connection. The site works on my iPad, in Chrome on the same Mac, and when I use a newly created Mac user account. It only fails in Safari under my regular account. What could be causing this, and how can I fix it?

Answers

CobaltMango8
Since the site works in Chrome and under another Mac user account, the network, website, and macOS installation are probably fine. The problem is likely limited to settings or stored data in your Safari profile. Start by opening Safari’s Privacy settings, viewing website data, searching for “collegeboard,” and removing only that site’s cookies and data. Then restart Safari and try again.

MellowPine47: I removed the site data, but Safari still gives me the same error.

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JuniperVale23
The next thing I’d check is Safari extensions. Go to Safari’s Extensions settings, disable all extensions, and test the site again. An extension that filters content, changes requests, or handles privacy features can cause a connection to fail only in your normal account. If that fixes it, re-enable the extensions one at a time to find the culprit.
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NorthstarKite6
It’s also worth comparing your Mac’s connection settings with the devices that work. Check for an enabled VPN, proxy, custom DNS server, or security software that might apply only to your main account. If none of those are involved, resetting Safari’s account-specific settings or testing with a fresh Safari profile may be necessary.
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