If you're an avid Safari user on your Mac, you may have noticed an interesting quirk with the "Swipe to Go Back" gesture. This feature, which allows you to navigate back to the previous web page by using a two-finger swipe gesture on your trackpad, can sometimes result in the webpage reloading rather than simply going back.
This behavior has puzzled many users, but fear not, as we're here to shed some light on this issue. The reason behind this seemingly odd behavior lies in how Safari handles the caching of web pages. When you swipe to go back using the gesture, Safari attempts to reload the previous page to ensure you have the most up-to-date version of the content.
While this behavior can be useful in scenarios where you want to ensure you're viewing the latest information on a webpage, it can be frustrating if you were in the middle of reading or interacting with the page and didn't intend for it to reload.
So, what can you do if you find this behavior more bothersome than helpful? Luckily, there are a few workarounds you can try to improve your browsing experience. One simple solution is to right-click on the "Back" arrow in Safari's toolbar instead of using the swipe gesture. This method typically avoids the page reload issue and takes you back to the previous page without refreshing it.
Alternatively, you can also try using keyboard shortcuts to navigate back in Safari. By pressing Command + [ (left bracket), you can go back to the previous page without triggering a reload. This method provides a quick and reliable way to navigate through your browsing history without encountering the reloading problem associated with the swipe gesture.
If you prefer to stick with the two-finger swipe gesture but want to minimize the chances of the page reloading, you can adjust Safari's caching settings. To do this, go to Safari preferences, click on the "Advanced" tab, and tick the box next to "Show Develop menu in menu bar." Once you've enabled the Develop menu, you can then access the "Disable Caches" option when needed to prevent pages from reloading when navigating back using the swipe gesture.
While the swipe to go back gesture in Safari for Mac may occasionally result in webpage reloads, understanding the reasons behind this behavior and exploring alternative navigation methods can help you streamline your browsing experience and avoid unnecessary page refreshes. Whether you opt for using keyboard shortcuts, right-clicking on the back arrow, or tweaking caching settings, there are options available to enhance your browsing efficiency and minimize interruptions caused by page reloads.