Apple’s software has been one of the best when it comes to usability and smoothness. Many of its apps like the Safari browser is developed to work flawlessly with macOS. But many Windows users miss out as the Safari for Windows is not supported currently. This browser is specifically designed for Apple’s software and works pretty much smoothly on every Apple device such as the iPhone, iPad, Macbooks, and more.
With Safari browser’s latest updates like quick notes, inline dictionary and more, it has become popular amongst many users and grabs the attention of Windows users. So, in this article, I am going to show you how to use Safari on Windows PC and laptop.
How to Download and Install Safari on Windows
Before we move on, let’s talk about what happened to Safari development for Windows. Earlier, Apple supported Safari for Windows users up until macOS X 10.8 Mountain Lion was launched. The reason is still unknown but some speculations claim that Safari was based on a completely different architecture than any normal Windows app. So it would be really buggy to operate. Other say that Apple wants to keep some of its apps exclusive for macOS and iOS devices.
Whatever the reason may be, the older version of Safari for Windows is still available to download. But, it is only recommended if you are a developer or just want to try it out. The reason is that being the older version, it does not support the latest features while also being not as secure as the latest version which might hamper with your privacy.
Coming back to the tutorial, there are two ways through which you can download Safari for Windows systems:
- Using the last supported version of Safari browser.
- Using a cross-browser testing tool.
So without wasting any more time, let’s see how we can start using Safari on Windows PCs and laptops.
Method 1: Download and Install Safari on Windows using .exe file
As I said, this downloadable file is the last supported version and would not have the latest features or the security measures. Use this method only if you are a developer and wants to see how your project UI looks on the old version of Safari. It is not recommended to use as regular web browsers for your Windows. Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the steps:
1. Download the setup of the Safari browser from this link. By clicking this, it will automatically download the executable file on your system.
2. Double click the SafariSetup.exe file and click on the Next > button to start the installation process.
3. You will now have options to make Safari your default browser, install Bonjour and automatically update Safari. Make sure to uncheck these three options as you would not use this as a daily browser. Click Next > again to continue.
5. After clicking next, it will install Safari browser on your Windows machine and also creates a desktop shortcut for Safari.
6. Double click the icon on the desktop to open Safari browser. In order to test the browser and speed, enter any website URL in the address bar and press Enter.
7. As you can see, the Safari browser is fully functional and working properly. You have now successfully installed Safari for Windows and it is ready to use.
It is very clear from screenshots, the Safari version is way older than what is currently available. Moreover, some website has some visual components that work best with the newest version of any browser. If you look closely, the “Search box placeholder” of our website is out of place. Like this, many websites would have minor visual differences which might hamper your browsing experience.
2. Using Safari on Windows with Cross-Browser Testing Tool
Cross-Browser Testing tool is pretty useful for developers and designers who need to test their websites on multiple web browser versions without actually installing them on their machine. With the help of these tools, we can use the latest version of Safari browser on Windows.
1. Open Experitest’s Cross-Browser testing tool website using either Google Chrome or Firefox.
2. Start your free trial by clicking on the “Free Trial” button.
3. It will take you to sign up page where you need to create an account or login directly with your Google or LinkedIn accounts.
4. Now enter your mobile number and click Continue. This will send you a One-Time Password (OTP) to verify your mobile number.
5. After entering your mobile number, you will be redirected to the dashboard where you will see a list of devices available for testing.
6. Now click on “Browsers & Emulators” to see the list of available browsers.
7. Select Safari and the version you want to use.
8. This will open a virtual session of Safari on your Windows browser. This session is completely free for the first 30 minutes.
9. You can end the session by clicking the large red “End Session” button.
After using the cross-browser testing tool, I can say it does have all the latest features of Safari but it is not as smooth as a browser would be. The best of this tool is, you can record the entire screen during the session. The major drawback is that it is a monthly-paid service where the user has to pay to use the features. For a developer or a designer, it is okay. But for users who just want to use the browser, it might go out of budget. And I must say, using a cross-browser testing tool is much safer than installing an out-dated version of the browser.
Conclusion for Safari on Windows
In the end, I think I have answered the question that many Windows users have, “Is Safari available for Windows laptops and PCs”. If you look at it in a way, technically it is available to use. But as I said previously, I would not recommend people to use Safari as a default browser and use to shop online, log on to social media websites and so on. The security of this browser is not up to date and your privacy might be at risk.
If Apple could have continued to support the Safari for Windows, it would have been perfect and pretty useful for people who use Windows device. Because of this, people now either have to use the older version of Safari or have to pay to use the cross-browser testing tools.
Have you downloaded Safari for Windows? Or used the cross-browser testing tool to use Safari on Windows? Let us know in the comments.
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