JavaScript is probably already on — here's how to check and turn it back on if it's off

JavaScript is a programming language that websites use to make things interactive — buttons that work, forms that respond, videos that play, and pages that load content without refreshing. If JavaScript is turned off in your browser, many websites will look broken or won't work at all. The good news is that JavaScript is on by default in every major browser on Mac, and turning it back on takes less than a minute.

The steps depend on which browser you use. Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all handle this differently, so find your browser below and follow those steps.

Key Takeaways

  • JavaScript is turned on by default in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on Mac, so you likely do not need to change anything.
  • If a website is not working properly, JavaScript being off is one possible cause — but usually not the most common one.
  • The steps to turn JavaScript on are different for each browser and take between one and three minutes.
  • After you turn JavaScript on, you may need to refresh the website or restart your browser for the change to take effect.

Enable JavaScript in Safari on Mac

Open Safari and look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen. Click Safari, then scroll down and click Settings (or Preferences if you are using an older version of macOS).

A window will open. Click the Security tab at the top. You will see a checkbox that says Enable JavaScript. If the box is empty, click it to turn JavaScript on. If the box already has a checkmark, JavaScript is already on and you do not need to do anything.

Close the Settings window. If you had a website open that was not working, go back to that page and refresh it by pressing Command+R on your keyboard.

Enable JavaScript in Google Chrome on Mac

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window. Click Settings from the menu that appears.

On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Site settings. Look for JavaScript in the list and click it. You will see two options: Allowed and Not allowed. Make sure Allowed is selected (it should have a filled circle next to it). If Not allowed is selected, click Allowed to turn JavaScript on.

Close the Settings tab and refresh any website that was not working by pressing Command+R.

Enable JavaScript in Firefox on Mac

Open Firefox and type about:config in the address bar at the top, then press Enter. A warning page will appear. Click the button that says Accept the Risk and Continue.

In the search box that appears, type javascript.enabled. You will see one result. Look at the column on the right — if it says false, click the circular arrow icon to the left to change it to true. If it already says true, JavaScript is on and you do not need to do anything.

Close the tab and refresh any website that was not working by pressing Command+R.

Enable JavaScript in Microsoft Edge on Mac

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings.

On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the section called Site permissions and click JavaScript. Make sure the toggle switch is turned on (it should be blue and moved to the right). If it is off (gray and moved to the left), click it to turn JavaScript on.

Close Settings and refresh any website that was not working by pressing Command+R.

What to do if a website still does not work after turning JavaScript on

If you turned JavaScript on and a website is still broken, the problem is usually something else. Try closing your browser completely and opening it again — sometimes a full restart fixes loading problems. You can also try clearing your browser cache, which is the temporary storage of website data that can sometimes get corrupted.

If the website works in a different browser, the problem is specific to the browser you were using, not JavaScript itself. Try updating your browser to the newest version — go to the menu and look for an option that says About [Browser Name], which will check for updates automatically.

If the website still does not work after trying these steps, contact the website's support team or try accessing it from a different device. The problem may be on their end, not yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to have JavaScript turned on?

Yes. JavaScript is a standard part of how the modern web works, and turning it on is safe. All major browsers have built-in protections against malicious code. If you are worried about a specific website, you can turn JavaScript off just for that site instead of turning it off everywhere — each browser has a way to block JavaScript on individual websites.

Will turning JavaScript on slow down my Mac?

No. JavaScript runs inside your browser and does not affect your Mac's overall speed. If a website feels slow after you turn JavaScript on, the slowness is usually caused by the website itself downloading large files or running heavy code, not by JavaScript being enabled.

Why would JavaScript be turned off in the first place?

Usually it is not — JavaScript comes on by default. If it is off, either you or someone else turned it off deliberately, or a browser update reset your settings. Some people turn JavaScript off for privacy reasons, but this breaks most modern websites.

Do I need to restart my Mac after turning JavaScript on?

No. You only need to close and reopen your browser, or refresh the website you were trying to use. A full Mac restart is not necessary.