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Browserling offers free online cross-browser testing in the Safari browser. We offer Safari versions 18, 17, 16, and 15 which are available on macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, macOS Ventura, and macOS Monterey. The installed Safari versions are from the official Apple installation packages and they are not fake browser emulators or simulators. To access Safari from Browserling, you don't have to install any additional software, as Browserling is powered by HTML5 and JavaScript.

Try Online Safari Now!

Use the browser testing widget (below) to load an online Safari browser. Simply enter the address of a website that you want to open and press the "Test now!" button.

The free Browserling version offers 3 minutes of Safari testing on macOS but to get unlimited minutes and access all other operating systems, you'll have to get a developer plan.

Online Safari Testing FAQ

Can I use Safari online without downloading it?

Yes, you can use Safari online through our cloud-based browser testing service. Our service runs Safari on remote macOS computers and lets you access it from any device. Simply open this link to launch Safari: browserling.com/browse/safari.

Do you run a Safari emulator?

No, we've installed Safari from the official Apple installation packages and it runs on a real Mac computer. It's not an emulator nor a simulator but a real browser.

What is the latest Safari version for macOS?

The latest Safari version is 18, which runs on macOS 15 Sequoia. You can access it via our quick browsing URL: browserling.com/browse/safari18.

What is the earliest Safari for macOS?

The earliest Safari version that we support is 15 that runs on macOS 12 Monterey and you can also access it via our quick browsing URL: browserling.com/browse/safari15.

How do I access other Safari versions?

Simply change the version at the end of our quick browsing URL. For example, to access Safari 16 (on macOS Ventura), visit browserling.com/browse/safari16 and to access Safari 17 (on macOS Sonoma), visit browserling.com/browse/safari17.

Can I test my website on Safari without a Mac?

Yes! You can use our cloud-based browser testing service to run online Safari tests on a real Mac. This way, you don't need to own an Apple device to check how your website works on Safari. Click here to try!

Why does my website look different on Safari?

Safari has unique rendering rules, especially with fonts, colors, and CSS animations. It also enforces stricter security and privacy features, which may block some scripts or cookies that work fine in other browsers.

How do I test Safari on different screen resolutions?

You can test Safari on various screen resolutions by adjusting the browser window size or by using our resolution changer feature. You can select the resolution you need by clicking the "Display" button in the floating menu when using Browserling.

How do I test Safari for responsive design?

You can use Safari's Responsive Design Mode to test how your site looks on different devices and screen sizes. Alternatively, you can resize Safari's window to the size you need or change the screen resolution (see previous question).

How can I check if my website is mobile-friendly on Safari?

You can use Safari's Responsive Design Mode to see how your site looks on a mobile device. Open Safari, go to Develop - Enter Responsive Design Mode, and switch between different device sizes. If you don't see the Develop menu, enable it in Safari - Settings - Advanced.

Do you offer Safari testing on iPhones?

Offering Safari browser testing on iPhones is one of our top tasks and we're working on it!

Do you offer Safari testing on iPads?

Offering Safari browser testing on iPads is also one of our top tasks and we're working on it!

How do I enable developer tools in Safari?

Go to Safari - Settings - Advanced, then check the box for Show Develop menu in menu bar. After that, you can open the Developer Tools with Option + Command + I.

Do you support private browsing mode in Safari?

Yes, we support private browsing mode in Safari. This allows you to test how your website behaves when users are in incognito mode, which can sometimes affect caching and cookies.

Why does Safari throttle JavaScript timers in background tabs?

Safari aggressively throttles setTimeout, setInterval, and requestAnimationFrame in background tabs to improve battery life. Consider using Web Workers or server-based solutions (such as sending events from the backend via a WebSocket) for real-time updates that don't depend on JavaScript timers.

Why doesn't Safari play certain videos?

Some websites use video formats that Safari doesn't fully support, like AVI or certain MP4 codecs. Also, if you're using strict privacy settings, some embedded videos may be blocked due to cross-site tracking restrictions.

Does Safari have a built-in VPN?

No, Safari doesn't have a built-in VPN, but Apple offers iCloud Private Relay, which hides your IP address and encrypts some of your browsing data. For full VPN functionality, you'll need a separate VPN service.

How do I stop Safari from auto-filling passwords?

Go to Safari - Settings - Autofill and uncheck Usernames and passwords. If you want to manage saved passwords, go to Settings - Passwords.

Why does Safari keep asking for my location?

Websites that use location services will ask Safari for permission to access your location. You can change this in Settings - Websites - Location and choose to allow, deny, or ask for each site.

Why does Safari block some websites?

Safari has strict security settings that can block websites with outdated encryption, mixed content, or suspected malware. You can check your Safari settings under "Privacy & Security" to adjust how strict it is.

Why does Safari block some downloads?

Safari might block a download if it thinks the file is unsafe. It checks for malware and might stop certain files from unknown sources. If you're sure the file is safe, you can manually allow the download in Safari - Settings - Websites - Downloads.

What browser engine does Safari use?

Safari is based on the WebKit browser engine. WebKit was also used by Chrome, Edge, and Opera browsers.

How do I clear cookies and cache in Safari?

Go to Safari - Settings (or Preferences) - Privacy, then click "Manage Website Data" and remove specific cookies or clear all of them. To fully reset the cache, go to Develop - Empty Caches (enable the Develop menu in settings if you don't see it).

How do I debug JavaScript in Safari?

Use Safari Developer Tools by enabling the Develop menu in Safari - Settings - Advanced. Then, open the Web Inspector with Option + Command + I to debug scripts, inspect elements, and monitor network requests.

How do I debug performance issues in Safari?

Use Safari's Web Inspector (Option + Command + I) and go to the "Timelines" tab. This helps analyze rendering speed, JavaScript execution, and network requests. The "Rendering Frames" tool can also highlight slow UI updates.

How do I enable experimental web features in Safari?

Go to Develop - Experimental Features to enable or disable new and under-development APIs, like WebGPU, WebAssembly SIMD, or new CSS properties. These features may change in future updates.

Why do my CSS animations look different in Safari?

Safari has stricter handling of hardware acceleration and compositing layers. Some properties like transform and opacity may behave differently, and you might need -webkit- prefixes for certain animations.

How do I handle Safari's autoplay restrictions for videos?

Safari blocks autoplaying videos with sound by default. To allow autoplay, videos must be muted (muted attribute) or initiated by user interaction (click or touch event).

Does Safari support WebP images?

Yes, Safari supports WebP images starting from version 14 (access it via browserling.com/browse/safari14). If your WebP images don't load, check if you're using an older Safari version or if there's a compatibility issue with your site's code.

Does Safari support AVIF images?

As of Safari 17 (try it via browserling.com/browse/safari17), AVIF is officially supported. However, older versions require WebP or JPEG fallback solutions. You can use picture elements with multiple source formats to ensure compatibility.

Does Safari support HEIC and HEIF image formats?

Yes! Safari fully supports HEIC and HEIF images on macOS and iOS since Apple introduced these formats in 2017. However, some websites and non-Apple browsers may not recognize these formats, so consider providing fallback images via picture tag in JPEG or PNG formats.

Does Safari support VP9 video codec?

Yes, Safari started supporting VP9 on macOS Big Sur (Safari 14) for better quality streaming on sites like YouTube. However, VP9 is not supported in Safari on iOS, where Apple prefers HEVC (H265) for video playback.

Does Safari support WebRTC?

Yes, Safari supports WebRTC starting from Safari 11. However, there are some differences in implementation compared to Chrome and Firefox, especially in how permissions, codecs, and security policies are handled.

Does Safari support WebAssembly (WASM)?

Yes, Safari supports WebAssembly (WASM) starting from Safari 11, with performance improvements in later versions. However, some experimental WebAssembly features may still be behind flags in Safari's developer settings.

Does Safari support Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

Yes, Safari supports PWAs, but with limitations. On iOS, PWAs run in a standalone WebKit process without full access to all web APIs. There's no push notification support, and background sync is limited.

Does Safari support native lazy loading for images?

Yes, Safari supports native lazy loading using the loading="lazy" attribute, starting from Safari 15. Lazy loading helps websites load faster by only loading images when they appear in the viewport. If lazy loading isn't working, check if your JavaScript or other CSS rules are interfering with it.

Does Safari support fetch() and modern JavaScript features?

Yes, modern versions of Safari support fetch(), async/await, and most ES6+ features. However, some older versions may require polyfills for missing features.

Does Safari support push notifications?

Yes, starting from Safari 16 on macOS Ventura, Safari supports push notifications for web apps. However, on iOS, push notifications for web apps were only added in Safari 17 on iOS 17. If push notifications don't work, make sure the user has granted permission in Settings - Notifications.

Does Safari support hardware acceleration?

Yes, Safari uses hardware acceleration for smoother graphics, videos, and animations. However, some macOS versions may have different GPU optimizations. If your animations or videos lag, try enabling or disabling "Use hardware acceleration" in Safari - Settings - Advanced.

Does Safari support background sync?

No, Safari does not fully support Background Sync like Chrome. However, iOS and macOS have their own system-level background refresh features, which allow some web apps to update data periodically. If your web app depends on background sync, consider using a service worker.

Does Safari support Picture-in-Picture mode?

Yes! Safari supports Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode on macOS and iOS. You can activate it by right-clicking on a video and selecting "Enter Picture in Picture". Alternatively, you can Control + click on the video. Some websites block this feature, so if PiP isn't working, then try using the built-in macOS media controls in the menu bar.

Does Safari support dark mode?

Yes! Safari follows your system's dark mode setting on macOS and iOS. Websites that support dark mode will automatically adjust, but some sites may still appear in light mode.

How does Safari handle third-party cookies?

Safari has Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP), which aggressively blocks third-party cookies by default. This can impact cross-site tracking, authentication, and analytics services that rely on cookies.

Why does my website break in Safari but works in Chrome?

Safari enforces stricter CORS policies, has different default styles for elements, and lacks support for some newer web APIs found in Chromium-based browsers. Debug using Web Inspector and check for missing vendor -webkit- prefix in CSS.

Can I change Safari's default search engine?

Yes! Safari lets you choose a different search engine. Go to Safari - Settings - Search, then select Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo.

Is Safari safer than Chrome or Firefox?

Safari is one of the safest browsers because of Apple's strong privacy features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) and built-in anti-fingerprinting. However, Chrome and Firefox also have good security features, so it depends on your needs.

Can I use Safari without an Apple ID?

Yes, you don't need an Apple ID to use Safari. However, some features like iCloud sync, keychain, and Handoff require an Apple ID.

Why is Safari so slow on my Mac?

Safari might slow down due to too many open tabs, outdated extensions, or a bloated cache. Try closing unnecessary tabs, disabling unused extensions, and clearing the cache to speed it up. Alternatively, you can use our online Safari by simply going to this link: browserling.com/browse/safari/18. We run Safari browsers on the fastest Mac servers.

Does Safari support multiple profiles?

Yes! Starting in Safari 17 on macOS Sonoma, Apple added support for multiple profiles. This lets you keep separate histories, cookies, bookmarks, and extensions for different purposes like work and personal browsing. You can create and switch profiles in Safari - Settings - Profiles. If you don't see the option, make sure you're using Safari 17 or later.

Does Safari support Chrome or Firefox extensions?

No, Safari doesn't support Chrome or Firefox extensions because it uses a different browser engine (WebKit). However, Safari has its own extension system, and many popular extensions are available on the Mac App Store.

Does Safari support headless mode for CI/CD testing?

No, Safari does not have a built-in headless mode like Chrome or Firefox. However, you can run CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous deployment) tests via our Headless API that automates Safari testing. The Headless API allows you to run Safari tests remotely on real macOS machines without needing a graphical interface. It integrates seamlessly into CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Bitbucket Pipelines, and CircleCI.

How do I test my website in multiple Safari versions using CI/CD?

Since Safari updates are tied to macOS versions, you'll need to run each test on the right macOS version. Unlike Chrome or Firefox, where you can install multiple browser versions side by side, Safari is locked to the OS version it comes with. We host all Safari versions on real macOS computers and you can use our Live API or Headless API to run tests in multiple versions.

Why do my UI tests fail only in Safari but pass in Chrome?

Safari enforces stricter security rules, different CSS rendering, and CORS policies that may break tests that work fine in other browsers. Check for console errors, ensure proper -webkit- CSS prefixes, and use explicit waits to make sure page has completed loading before running the next test.

What is the Safari browser's user agent?

The Safari browser's user agent is a string that tells websites what browser and operating system you're using. It usually includes something like Mozilla/5.0, AppleWebKit, and Safari to show it's running on Apple's WebKit engine. Websites use this info to adjust how pages load, but sometimes, developers change the user agent to test how a site behaves in different browsers. Here are the latest Safari user agent strings by version:

• Safari 18: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/18.2 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 17: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/17.6 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 16: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/16.6 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 15: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.6 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 14: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_14_1) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/14.1 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 13: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_14) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/13.2 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 12: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_14) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/12.1 Safari/605.1.15
• Safari 11: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_13_3) AppleWebKit/604.5.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/11.0 Safari/604.5.6
• Safari 10: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_12_3) AppleWebKit/602.4.8 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/10.1 Safari/602.4.8
• Safari 9: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_11_2) AppleWebKit/601.3.5 (KHTML like Gecko) Version/9.0 Safari/601.3.5
• Safari 8: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_10_4) AppleWebKit/600.7.12 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/8.0 Safari/600.7.12
• Safari 7: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_9_2) AppleWebKit/537.74.9 (KHTML like Gecko) Version/7.0 Safari/537.74.9
• Safari 6: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_8_3) AppleWebKit/536.29.13 (KHTML like Gecko) Version/6.0 Safari/536.29.13
• Safari 5: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_7_1) AppleWebKit/534.48.3 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0 Safari/534.48.3
• Safari 4: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_5_7) AppleWebKit/530.19.2 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Safari/530.19.2
• Safari 3: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_4_11) AppleWebKit/523.10.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Safari/523.10.6

To find the user agent of another Safari version or any other browser, you can also use our What's My User Agent? online tool.

How often is the Safari browser updated?

Apple updates the Safari browser regularly, usually with major updates (such as from version 17 to 18) once a year when a new macOS or iOS version is released. Smaller updates, like security fixes and performance improvements, come every few months. These updates help keep Safari fast, secure, and compatible with new web technologies.

When was the first Safari browser version released?

The first version of the Safari browser was released on January 7, 2003. Apple introduced it during a keynote presentation by Steve Jobs at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco. It was initially available for Mac OS X and later became the default browser for all Apple devices.

When were other Safari browser versions released?

Here's a list of major Safari browser release dates after version 1 (which was released in January 2003) along with major features each version shipped with:

• Safari 1 was released on January 7, 2003 (Available on Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, introduced as Apple's first in-house web browser, replacing Internet Explorer for Mac).
• Safari 2 was released on April 29, 2005 (Available on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, first version with RSS support).
• Safari 3 was released on June 11, 2007 (Available on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, first version with Windows support).
• Safari 4 was released on June 8, 2009 (Available on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, introduced Top Sites, Cover Flow, and Nitro JavaScript Engine).
• Safari 5 was released on June 7, 2010 (Available on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, added Safari Extensions and Reader Mode).
• Safari 6 was released on July 25, 2012 (Available on Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, dropped Windows support, introduced Smart Search).
• Safari 7 was released on October 22, 2013 (Available on Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, improved iCloud Keychain Integration).
• Safari 8 was released on October 16, 2014 (Available on Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, added a new browser design).
• Safari 9 was released on September 30, 2015 (Available on Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan, introduced content blocking extension).
• Safari 10 was released on September 20, 2016 (Available on macOS 10.12 Sierra, added in-browser Apple Pay support).
• Safari 11 was released on September 19, 2017 (Available on macOS 10.13 High Sierra, added Intelligent Tracking Prevention).
• Safari 12 was released on September 17, 2018 (Available on macOS 10.14 Mojave, added automatic strong passwords).
• Safari 13 was released on September 20, 2019 (Available on macOS 10.15 Catalina, redesigned the start page).
• Safari 14 was released on September 16, 2020 (Available on macOS 11 Big Sur, added a built-in translator).
• Safari 15 was released on September 20, 2021 (Available on macOS 12 Monterey, redesigned tabs, new extension support).
• Safari 16 was released on September 12, 2022 (Available on macOS 13 Ventura, introduced Passkeys).
• Safari 17 was released on September 26, 2023 (Available on macOS 14 Sonoma, added multi-profile support).
• Safari 18 was released on September 16, 2024 (Available on macOS 15 Sequoia, added Distraction Control and new Video Viewer).

Which Safari versions work on which macOS versions?

Each version of Safari is tied to specific macOS releases. Here's a compatibility list:

• Safari 1 – Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (First-ever Safari version, released in 2003).
• Safari 2 – Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
• Safari 3 – Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard (first Windows version).
• Safari 4 – Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
• Safari 5 – Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
• Safari 6 – Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
• Safari 7 – Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
• Safari 8 – Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
• Safari 9 – Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
• Safari 10 – macOS 10.12 Sierra.
• Safari 11 – macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
• Safari 12 – macOS 10.14 Mojave.
• Safari 13 – macOS 10.15 Catalina.
• Safari 14 – macOS 11 Big Sur.
• Safari 15 – macOS 12 Monterey (try in Browserling).
• Safari 16 – macOS 13 Ventura (try in Browserling).
• Safari 17 – macOS 14 Sonoma (try in Browserling).
• Safari 18 – macOS 15 Sequoia (try in Browserling).

Does Apple still maintain the Windows port of Safari?

No, Apple stopped maintaining the Windows version of Safari after Safari 5.1.7, which was released in 2012. Since then, Safari has only been available for macOS. If you're using Safari on Windows, it's outdated and may have security risks, so it's best to use a different browser like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.

Can I install Safari on Windows 10 or 11?

No, Apple stopped supporting Safari for Windows after version 5.1.7. The only way to use a newer Safari version on Windows is through a virtual browser like ours or by buying a Mac computer.

I really need an old Safari version for Windows. Can you help?

We can help you! We have archived all Safari versions, even for Windows and have versions 4.0, 4.0.5, 5.0, 5.0.5, 5.1, and 5.1.5 (the last version released on Windows).

Can I use Safari on Linux?

Not directly. Apple doesn't make a Linux version of Safari, but you can use our online Safari testing service from any Linux browser to access a real Safari running on macOS.

What is a Safari emulator?

A Safari emulator tries to mimic Safari without running the real browser. It attempts to recreate Safari's rendering engine, features, and behavior, but it's not always accurate. Many emulators miss important details like Apple's font rendering, JavaScript quirks, and privacy settings. If you need real results, it's best to use a actual Safari browser running on macOS.

What is a Safari simulator?

A Safari simulator is a program that tries to copy Safari without actually running it. It looks similar but doesn't work the same way. Some websites might load differently or break. For the best results, use a real Safari browser on a Mac.

Can you help us with an issue on our website in Safari?

We'd love to help! We have been solving cross-browser testing problems for over 10 years and know everything there is about the Safari browser. Please email us at hello@browserling.com and we'll help you with your website issue in Safari.

What is the Live Safari API?

It's a technology that we created. It lets you embed a Safari in your own project (a website or a webapp). Take a look at the Live API page that shows how it works.

Virtual Safari Testing FAQ

What is a virtual Safari?

A virtual Safari lets you test websites and code in a cloud-based Mac environment. Instead of downloading Safari, you can access it online through our service, which runs real Safari browsers on macOS. You can try a virtual Safari via this link: browserling.com/browse/safari.

Can I test my websites in different virtual Safari versions?

Yes! A virtual Safari allows you to run multiple Safari browser versions without maintaining your own devices for testing. This makes life easy for website developers who want to check how their site works in older Safari versions without buying multiple Mac computers. Click here to load a virtual Safari 18!

How is a virtual Safari different from a Safari emulator?

A virtual Safari runs on a real cloud-based Mac, while an emulator tries to simulate Safari's behavior but isn't always 100% accurate. Our service ensures you get the real browsing experience instead of an approximation.

Is a virtual Safari safe to use?

Absolutely! Our virtual Safari service is secure and private. It runs on real macOS machines and your connection is encrypted using SSL, so your browsing session can't be tracked. After each session, the virtual Safari is destroyed, including cookies and downloads. You can test websites, web apps, and even private browsing without worrying about security risks.

How fast is a virtual Safari compared to a local installation?

Our virtual Safari runs on the fastest Mac servers, so it's blazing fast. While a local Safari installation might be slightly quicker in rendering complex pages, our virtual Safari is optimized for smooth, real-time browsing and testing.

Can I automate website testing on a virtual Safari?

Yes! We offer automation tools through our API, allowing you to run automated tests in Safari without manual interaction. Our software stack is made for continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows and large-scale browser compatibility testing.

Support

For any other questions about cross-browser testing in Safari please contact us at support@browserling.com or use our contact form.