Are you experiencing issues with printing images from web pages when using Safari? Many users have reported a frustrating problem where images fail to appear when printing a webpage to PDF, especially in Safari’s Reader View. This issue seems to have surfaced with Safari version 15.4 and persists in later updates, affecting users across macOS and iOS, including Big Sur, Catalina, and iPad Pro with iOS 15.5. Instead of images, you might see blank placeholders in your printed PDFs.
This problem isn’t universal across all websites, suggesting it’s not a fundamental flaw in every webpage’s code but rather a compatibility issue that Safari 15.4 and later versions introduced. Apple Tech Support has acknowledged this as a change in Safari version 15.4, requiring their engineering team to investigate. Unfortunately, there’s no immediate timeline for a definitive fix from Apple.
However, users have discovered several workarounds to ensure you can successfully print web pages with all their images. Here are some effective solutions:
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Utilize Chrome’s Reader Mode: Google Chrome offers a built-in Reader Mode that, unlike Safari in recent versions, correctly includes and prints images. To enable it, you need to visit
chrome://flagsin Chrome and activate the “Reader” flag. Once enabled, Chrome’s Reader Mode and PDF printing function should work correctly with images. -
Copy and Paste into Apple Notes: A simple workaround within the Apple ecosystem is to copy and paste the Reader View content directly into Apple Notes. Printing from Apple Notes has been reported to successfully include images, although some users noted extra HTML information might appear alongside the images.
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Employ a Javascript Snippet: For a more technical approach, you can use a Javascript snippet in Safari’s developer console to temporarily resolve the issue on a page-by-page basis. By removing the
loading="lazy"attribute from images, you can force them to load immediately for printing. The snippet is:const images = [...document.getElementsByTagName('img')]; images.forEach((img) => { img.removeAttribute('loading') }); -
Downgrade Safari (macOS): For macOS users, reverting to Safari version 15.3 by reimaging your Mac to macOS 12.2.1 is a drastic but effective solution if printing images in Safari is critical for your workflow.
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Consider Alternative Browsers with Extensions: Browsers like Edge or Chrome, combined with extensions like “Print Friendly & PDF,” offer alternative printing solutions that bypass the Safari issue.
The root cause of this Safari printing problem is likely related to the introduction of the loading="lazy" attribute in Safari 15.4. This feature is designed to improve page load performance by deferring the loading of off-screen images until they are needed. While beneficial for browsing speed, it appears to interfere with the print function in certain scenarios, preventing images from being rendered in the printed output.
In conclusion, while Apple works on a permanent fix for this printing images problem in Safari, the workarounds mentioned above provide practical solutions. Whether you opt for using Chrome’s Reader Mode, copying to Apple Notes, or employing a Javascript fix, you can overcome this Safari printing hurdle and ensure your printed web pages include all the necessary visuals. Keep an eye on Safari updates for a future resolution from Apple to restore seamless printing images functionality.
