test older safari versions

How to test my websites on previous safari versions

I am a web developer and my mac is updated to Sierra.

I have a handmade website that I need to test on Safari 9 but I couldn't find any way to do it on Sierra so far.

Is there a suggested way I can test my website on older safari versions? or does Apple not want developers to do so?

Apple wants users to use the most secure fastest browsers available for their operating system, like Microsoft and other providers.

For testing all the many old versoins of IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari as well as on different platforms such as PC, Mac, Mobile and different operating systems you will want to use a service dedicated to that. There are free versions that more focus on just screenshots, but for Web Developers who need to test in all the countless environements something like https://www.browserstack.com is best.

Safari Browser Testing

Browserling offers free online cross-browser testing in the Safari browser. At the moment, we offer Safari versions that run on Windows but very soon we'll also be adding Safari on macOS. The Windows Safari versions are installed on Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and XP. 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 Safari in Browserling 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 Windows 10 but to get unlimited minutes and access to all other operating systems, you'll have to get the developer plan .

Safari Testing FAQ

What is the latest safari version for windows.

The latest Windows Safari version is 5.1.5. You can access it via our quick browsing URL: browserling.com/browse/safari/5.1.5 .

What is the earliest Safari for Windows?

The earliest Windows Safari version is 4.0 and you can also access it via our quick browsing URL: browserling.com/browse/safari/4.0 .

Does Apple still maintain the Windows port of Safari?

No, Apple stopped maintaining Windows Safari after version 5.1.5

Do you offer Safari testing on macOS?

We're working on it! We don't have Safari on macOS yet but it's one of our top priority tasks to add it. Stay tuned!

Do you offer Safari testing on iPhones?

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

What browser engine does Safari use?

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

Do you run a Safari emulator?

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

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 [email protected] 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.

For any other questions about cross-browser testing in Safari please contact us at [email protected] or use our contact form .

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How to Get New Safari Browser on macOS Big Sur or Older Versions

Install New Safari Browser on Older macOS Versions in 2021

Install safari 15 beta on your mac running macos big sur or catalina.

If you are really interested in testing the new browser, we have explained the easiest method to get the new Safari browser experience on your Mac device.

Download Safari Technology Preview to Use New Safari Browser on macOS Big Sur

4. On the installer window, click on Continue to start installing the Safari Technology Preview on your macOS Big Sur device.

9. Once the Safari Technology Preview has been installed, you will get a confirmation. And that’s it. You can now start using the redesigned Safari browser with tab groups, new More menu, and sharing features, among other features.

Use New Safari Browser on Older macOS Versions on Mac

1. To get started, open the Safari Technology Preview app . You can find it in the Applications folders. For quick access, drag the app from the Applications folder and drop it in the Dock.

Shared with You

“Shared with You” automatically shows up all the links shared in the Apple Messages app. Additionally, it also stores the shared links that you pin. Hence, if you ever want to check the web links shared via the stock message app on Apple devices, you no longer have to dig into conversation threads.

Now, uncheck the “ Shared with You ” option, and that’s it.

Use the Redesigned Safari Browser on Older macOS Versions

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An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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Old safari browser to test Web pages

• Thread starter al404
• Start date Apr 20, 2016
• Sort by reaction score

macrumors 6502a

• Apr 20, 2016

I'm a Web developer and unfortunately my client has an older mac, not sure how old but something that on old IE9 works it doesn't seem to work on that version of safari. Is it possible to install into parallels an older os x ? Or if you guys know another way to test older safari versions  

• Apr 23, 2016

Safari is updated along with the OS. So yeah, you'll have to install the OS X version that he uses. Parallels will work fine for that. It'll be a big hassle getting that exact OS version, though. And you'll have to install it too. What does he want, you keeping a Mac with Parallels with all OS versions? Seems a big hassle for a small shop. Do tell your client that this is all quite irregular, right? I'd stipulate in your next contract that you test on only the latest versions of all browsers.  

macrumors G3

al404 said: I'm a Web developer and unfortunately my client has an older mac, not sure how old but something that on old IE9 works it doesn't seem to work on that version of safari. Is it possible to install into parallels an older os x ? Or if you guys know another way to test older safari versions Click to expand...

• May 1, 2016

cerberusss said: Safari is updated along with the OS. So yeah, you'll have to install the OS X version that he uses. Parallels will work fine for that. It'll be a big hassle getting that exact OS version, though. And you'll have to install it too. What does he want, you keeping a Mac with Parallels with all OS versions? Seems a big hassle for a small shop. Do tell your client that this is all quite irregular, right? I'd stipulate in your next contract that you test on only the latest versions of all browsers. Click to expand...

• May 2, 2016

al404 said: i always do specify IE 10 and up, Firefox Safari and Chrome latest versions but when the boss has a specific browser and OS version he thinks that it has to see it correctly Click to expand...

Make testing easier with old browsers versions emulator

One of the biggest problems faced by website developers is the lack of cross-browser compatibility, especially browser version testing. Cross-browser compatibility is usually understood as the ability of a site to display equally well, regardless of the browser in which the user is viewing the pages.

For example, when viewing pages of a web resource in the older Firefox browser versions , all pages can be displayed without any problems. And when viewing the same site in older versions of Internet Explorer, some blocks will start to move out, display crookedly. In addition, there may be problems with the display of fonts, web forms, etc.

Try testing for free right now.

Why do testers need to test website on old browsers, using browser emulators, installing all older browser versions and check manually, using local virtual machines, using built-in developer tools, tips on how to perform test on old browsers emulator wisely, what's the result of the testing website on old browsers versions, frequently asked questions.

There are many sites on the Internet that compete with each other. When browsing sites, users use the browser that is more convenient for them and they like for some reason. Some people like the interface and many add-ons in Chrome, some like the simplicity of Firefox, and for some, standard Edge or Internet Explorer are enough for their small needs. In order to attract and retain more users of the site, developers are forced to create and test sites in different browsers (including browser version testing).

According to Statcounter , the most popular browser in the world in March 2021 is Google Chrome 64.19%. It is followed by the other browsers (ranked in order of decreasing popularity):

• Safari - 19.03%
• Mozilla Firefox - 3.68%
• Edge - 3.45%
• Samsung Internet - 3.27%
• Opera 2.13%

Usually, for testing in browsers, the two latest versions of the browser are used: the current one and the previous one. However, if we take the same Statcounter, then we have the following picture of the use of browser versions. The most popular versions of using Google Chrome are older versions of browsers, namely 88 and 87. At the time of writing this article, the latest version of Google Chrome is 89.

As we can see, not all users have switched to the new version of the browser and prefer older ones, so what is left for developers to do if they want to have an up-to-date and adapted website? Yeap, exactly, they need to test old browsers, because if they don’t do it, then someone else will do it, and thus the potential flow of clients and traffic will go to someone else.

After all, you must admit that new versions of browsers are released almost every two weeks, if not more often, and to assume that the user will use the latest versions is a utopia. And if we take into account the reluctance of users to update to new versions for personal reasons or for reasons of security, then testing sites on older versions of browsers is a very weighty argument.

How to perform the test on old browsers versions

Now that we know the answer to the question why it is important to test website on old browsers, it is logical to predict the next question, namely, how to do it? There are many different ways to test your site in different browsers and different operating systems. Fortunately, we live in a modern world that can provide us with different options, for instance old browsers emulator services, for conducting these tests. Let's take a closer look at them.

When creating a website design, you need to test the resulting result in all popular browsers and their versions to make sure that everything looks as it was intended. Or, at least, there are no obvious glitches and bugs that make it impossible to use the site. For testing, you can use online old browser emulator services, for instance Comparium . This online service does not require installation and can check the appearance of the site in many browsers and operating systems. If there are difficulties with finding and installing old browser versions, Comparium - a testing service with a rich set of operating systems and browsers including browser version testing support will come to the rescue.

Installing local browsers takes time, creates version conflict issues. And different versions of Internet Explorer, for example, cannot coexist with each other without special tweaks. But what if you need to test in Internet Explorer with only macOS available? Or you are an avid Windows user and need to test on older versions of Safari? Therefore, you need to have more than one or two devices in order to be able to install all possible versions on all kinds of devices to test website on old browsers.

And by the way, do not forget that the same site may look different in older versions of the browser on different operating systems. Now imagine a picture, you - with a twitching eye have been sitting for a whole week manually checking your site - intriguing prospect, don’t you think so?

The most useful, stable and somewhat productive solution is the use of virtual machines, even though this is problematic in the initial deployment. But, having several deployed virtual machines, you gain flexibility and the ability to test cross-platform, cross-browser, including browser version testing as well as change screen resolutions without any problems. However, this requires large capacities, and this, in turn, requires large costs.

By the way, using built-in developer tools is another good way to test website on old browsers. For example, Internet Explorer has an integrated function for displaying content with "old" browsers, which is a very useful function, since it is impossible to install several versions on one copy of Windows without the need to install additional software. Although this method is reliable, it is by no means practical and has several disadvantages.

Well, we figured it out and answered a number of questions regarding testing using old browsers emulators. However, you should not select absolutely all versions of all browsers in a row thinking that this will help in promoting the site. Because first of all, it may not be very wise, and second of all, you can go crazy, do you have any idea about the number of versions of different browsers?

To prioritize versions in order, you need to draw up a cross-browser testing strategy, which means that you need to study the analytics from which devices most of the traffic is coming, and thus determine which versions and which browsers are worth starting the test. The development of the browser compatibility matrix can help you in studying this issue.

Just admit, as if you resort to radical measures and say goodbye to old browsers, almost deliberately stuffing the site on purpose with modern technologies and showing a pop-up in old browsers with a proposal to urgently update, this is not very client-oriented. It is also naive to assume that all users update their browser versions on the day of their release, because they are accustomed to the old functionality and not everyone likes something new.

So, if you refuse to test in older versions of browsers, using either old browser emulator services, development tools or virtual machines, it will lead to a loss in the number of customers, a decrease in traffic, a loss of profits, and, as a result, the collapse of your product as such. Do you need it? Definitely not. Therefore, our advice to you is, do not be lazy to analyze the browser market and test website on old browsers in order to avoid harm to your business. After all, if you spend your time wisely you will get profit.

I am developing a website using the latest IE and Chrome for testing. Found some glitches on older browsers like IE 6/7 as some percent of clients still use these versions and the site doesn’t look like it is intended. Installing different versions of browsers is killing me, especially when you need to test it all manually. Is there any way I can emulate browsers' different versions? Interested in IE and Firefox.

You can use https://comparium.app/ This service helps you create screenshots in different browsers.

How to Use New Safari on Macos Big Sur or Older Versions

If you’re looking for ways to try out the upcoming features of Safari 15 but you don’t wish to put your primary Mac to risk by installing macOS Monterey on it, then there’s one way you can do so.

The following post should help you understand what you can expect from Safari 15 on macOS Monterey, and how you can access some of its features without installing macOS 12 beta. 

What’s new on Safari 15 on macOS?

Unlike on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Safari 15 on a Mac isn’t much of a redesign over Safari 14 on macOS Big Sur. The Start Page on both versions are pretty much the same showing you different sections – Frequently Visited, Privacy Report, Reading List, and From Your Devices (if any).

The only major addition to Safari 15 is the availability of Tab Groups which are also the highlight for the Safari app on iOS 15. Tab Groups allow users to hold a bunch of tabs on Safari and access them separately depending on the time or purpose. This way, you can group a bunch of tabs for when you’re working and save others for leisure or social networking activities. This feature is currently available in the Safari Technology Preview app that we’re going to use in this post. 

Besides this, Safari will also bring you the ability to summon Quick Note directly from Safari’s address bar at the top. This should work in similar ways to that of the Quick Note gesture on iPadOS 15 that brings up the Notes app in a floating window by swiping towards the center of the screen from the bottom right corner. 

Other than that, there are just some other minor changes to the Safari app on macOS 12 like the relocation of the Reload button from the address bar to a menu inside the 3-dots button, the new “Use Start Page on All Devices” option, and a toggle to view iCloud Tabs on the Start Page. 

How to get new Safari features without installing macOS Monterey beta

If you’re interested in trying out the new features of Safari 15 but you don’t want to go beta-testing the upcoming macOS Monterey, there’s another way you can do so. Apple offers most of its forthcoming Safari features through the Safari Technology Preview that’s available as a separate app that has nothing to do with the Safari browser on your Mac.

This way, you can preview all the features that might be available in Safari 15 and later versions without needing to commit to them. At any time, if you don’t like using the Technology Preview version of Safari, you can close it and open the default Safari app on your macOS Big Sur to go back to using your regular Safari browser, the way you always have. 

Another advantage of using the Technology Preview is that you might also gain access to other Safari features that haven’t yet been made available in macOS Monterey beta. 

If you wish to check out the upcoming Safari on your Mac, you can do that by first going to Safari Developer Downloads page on any browser. When the downloads page loads up, click on the Safari Technology Preview for macOS Big Sur link under the ‘Safari Technology Preview’ section.

Apple also offers the Technology Preview for macOS Monterey beta but since our aim is to access features of Safari 15 within macOS Big Sur, we will be downloading the version that’s compatible with macOS 11. 

You will be asked where you want to save the DMG file. When you do that, the file will be downloaded. 

Next, you need to install the DMG file. For this, locate where you saved the downloaded file and open it by double-clicking on it. 

When you do that, a virtual disk named “Safari Technology Preview” will appear on the desktop.

You should also see the ‘Safari Technology Preview’ window appear on the screen. Here, double-click on the ‘Safari Technology Preview.pkg’ file.

A Safari Technology Preview installer should now load up on your desktop. To commence the installation process, click on the ‘Continue’ button. 

Next, click on ‘Continue’ to agree to the license agreement. On the next window, select where you wish to install the app and then click on ‘Continue’. 

Once that’s done, you can start the installation by clicking the ‘Install’ button at the bottom right corner of this window. 

You will now be asked to enter your Mac’s password inside a prompt. macOS will now install the Safari Technology Preview on your device. Once the installation is complete, the installer window should show “The installation was successful” message. 

You are now ready to use the new Safari on macOS Big Sur. 

How to use Safari beta on macOS Big Sur

Now that you have installed the Safari Technology Preview on your Mac, you can now start using it using any of the following methods. 

You can search for it inside Spotlight (Command + Spacebar). 

You can also access it by searching for “Safari” inside Launchpad and clicking on Safari Technology Preview. 

The Safari Technology Preview app can also be accessed inside Finder > Applications. 

How to create Tab Groups with Safari Technology Preview on macOS Big Sur

Of the upcoming features coming to Safari in macOS Monterey, Tab Groups are probably the most significant one and it’s the only available feature inside the Safari Technology Preview app. 

There are two ways to create Tab Groups on the new Safari – one by creating a group with tabs that are already open and one by creating a group from scratch. 

If you have a bunch of tabs open inside Safari Technology Preview, click on the down arrow adjacent to the Sidebar button on the toolbar at the top and then select the ‘New Tab Group with X Tabs’ option.

Alternatively, you can also create a Tab group from the Start Page by clicking on the down arrow adjacent to the Sidebar button on the toolbar at the top and then selecting the ‘New Empty Tab Group’ option. After this, you can load websites you want to add to the group and add new tabs inside it.

You should now see the Safari Sidebar expand from the left-hand side with the new Tab Group open inside it. You can rename the Tab Group however you like and press the Enter key to confirm the changes.

The expanded sidebar can be minimized by clicking on the Sidebar icon at the top left corner.

When you minimize the Sidebar, you should see the name of your current Tab Group adjacent to the Sidebar icon.

When Safari’s Sidebar is open, you can right-click on Tab Group name and perform different functions like Copy Links, Rename, Delete, and Show/Hide Tab Overview.

When you toggle Tab Overview inside the new Safari, you should see all the tabs open under the Tab Group as thumbnails on the screen, just like you would on iOS 15.

Can you go back to using the old Safari?

Safari Technology Preview is a standalone app that can be used regardless of which version of macOS your Mac runs on. This means you can use the new and upcoming features of Safari Technology Preview alongside your current Safari app without committing to the macOS beta. This not only allows you to compare the new features with the current Safari for reference purposes but also gives you a chance to roll back to your preferred setting on the default Safari browser. 

That’s all there is to know about using the new Safari 15 on macOS Big Sur. 

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