Safari is a high-performance web browser developed by Apple Inc. It was first released in the year 2003 for Macintosh computers. It is the default browser for macOS. However, its older version is available for Windows. Safari is more than just a simple web browser. It allows its users to view links and access their saved passwords and credit cards. It even allows them to pay for services and goods through Apple Pay.
Over the past decades, a drastic change has been seen in the web. Many webs have become common, and billions of people are now connected globally. Many webs have even become extinct. The same is true with Safari for Windows. However, the demand for an easily operated web browser is increasing due to the ever-evolving world. The Safari browser for Windows has now been adjusted for usability.
This article comprehends the Safari web browser, features, and workaround strategies. It will also provide knowledge of where to download Safari for Windows.
Understanding the Safari web browser
Safari developed by Apple, is a free web browser. The name Safari refers to the spirit of exploration. The company wanted to give the same spirit to the browser. It comes pre-installed with all Apple computers. It is built into Apple’s Operating Systems and uses Apple’s open-source browser engine WebKit.
Safari was originally designed for Mac OS but has been ported to Windows and iOS. The iOS version of Safari differs from the OSX version as it has a different GUI, API, and Webkit version. After getting an idea about the Safari web browser let us know its features.
Features of Safari
Being developed for many years Safari offers a broad range of features. It provides the ability to synchronize with the cloud, use the Download Manager, and launch the private browsing mode. Safari also changes the default search engine, converts web pages into PDFs, enables reader mode, and hides IP (Internet Protocol) from trackers. Apart from these some key features of Safari are mentioned below:
- Privacy protection- Safari has a strong emphasis on users’ privacy. It has features like ITP (Intelligent Tracking Protection) that block third-party trackers and prevent websites from collecting data about the users’ browsing habits. Safari is the only browser on the internet with no built-in option to track the user. It sends warning messages to users when they load any insecure page on Safari.
- Faster browsing- Safari known for its speed loads web pages rapidly, renders graphics, and tests efficiently.
- Intelligent tracking prevention- Safari has stopped the support of cookies for domains with cross-site tracking abilities. Improved intelligent tracking prevention limits long-term tracking based on client-side first-party cookies and verifies partitioned cache entries.
- Reader mode- This feature of Safari leaves only the main content or easy reading by stripping away clutters from web pages.
- AirPlay- It is an exclusive protocol suite of Apple. It allows the user to stream between devices of video, audio, photos, and device screens. This feature is also available on the Safari web browser.
- Password monitoring- Safari has a built-in password manager that monitors the user’s saved passwords and recommends strong and unique passwords.
- Tab groups- This feature organizes the opened tabs into groups. This makes it easier to manage and navigate through multiple websites.
- Media- The support for simulcast and VP8 in WebRTC is added to support multi-party video conferencing. It also has enabled cross-browser Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) by adding APIs without the WebKit prefix.
- Dark mode for the web- Safari browsers provide the ability to enable color scheme customization of websites even in dark mode. This dark mode feature makes the browser more calm and comfortable by changing the color of the web making it more accessible to read at night.
Why Safari on Windows?
Safari runs smoothly on Windows 10 PCs with a plain layout and an orderly user interface. The Safari browser is better in terms of speed up against other browsers like Firefox and Chrome. Mentioned below are some reasons supporting the fact that Safari on Windows is better than other browsers:
- Speed- Safari is way more responsive than Chrome to user input. There isn’t a vast difference between the loading page time of the two browsers. The graphic integration of Safari allows it to offer an effortless scrolling experience and keen feedback while using fewer system resources.
- Privacy and security- Safari has a strong emphasis on users’ privacy. It has features like ITP (Intelligent Tracking Protection) that block third-party trackers. It also prevents websites from collecting data about the users’ browsing habits.
- Improved battery life- Safari has been designed in a way that enables the opportunity to maximize battery life on its products. Apple provides a secure hardware environment. Safari runs fewer individual processes than Chrome. It is generally less processor-intensive.
- Autofill passwords- The password manager is a feature for both iOS and macOS. The user can enter into an account with the help of a face ID. They only need to enter their credentials once as remembering passwords is not required. This autofill feature of Safari also covers the security codes for two-factor authentication, enabled by the third party.
Getting Safari for Windows?
Since Apple has stopped providing updates for Safari for Windows there are no bug fixes or patches for users of Windows. If a UI tester wants to check the browser compatibility, this is where downloading Safari for Windows creeps in. Mentioned below are some methods to download Safari for Windows:
- The first step is to download the executable file of Safari for Windows.
- After downloading Safari for Windows, the next step is to withdraw the contents of the installation file into a target folder.
- Next, double-click on Safari.exe to launch Safari browsers on Windows.
- Click on next. Then click on finish to complete the installation process.
- The last step is to launch the browser.
Workaround strategies
Safari’s Workaround strategies include techniques developers can implement to handle issues related to achieving Safari compatibility on Windows. Mentioned below are some key strategies:
Virtual machines
If a user does not have a Mac to run their tests on the Safari browser, they can conduct the tests on a Windows local host with the help of a virtual machine. They can use their PC or system as the server.
Many virtual machines are available for the user to choose from, all they need to do is to configure settings at the software and hardware level.
Cross-browser testing tools
Safari on Windows can be run using an online service called cross-browser testing. It can test web programs across many browsers. It also checks the browser compatibility of the software. Cross-browser testing allows the user to run the latest version of the web browsers that are not even compatible with their operating system. This includes the most recent version of Safari, which is unavailable on Windows. Utilizing cross-browser testing platforms like LambdaTest can do that.
LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that is used for testing web and mobile applications both manually and automated. This platform allows testers to perform both real-time and automation testing by providing access to more than 3000 environments, real mobile devices, and browsers online.
By using this platform the users can run a combination of multiple operating systems and browsers at once. They can even record videos of complex bugs and share them. This platform allows users to speed up the testing process by running parallel testing. It includes many features like a highly scalable cloud infrastructure and offers high execution speed and fast automated screenshots.
LambdaTest can test several browsers on any OSD environment or browsers. It is highly reliable and secure for performing automated cross-browser testing. The users can easily analyze their test runs and send reports with the help of its handy reporting features and detailed integration.
macOS Virtual machine
Users can set up a macOS virtual machine on their Windows PC. This is to be done if they lack access to macOS. This can be accessed with the help of virtualization software like VirtualBox and VMware. Users can install Safari on the MacOS virtual machine and perform testing as they would on a native macOS environment.
Remote access to macOS device
Users can remotely connect to a macOS from their Windows devices if they have physical access. This can be done using remote desktop software like AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop, or Teamviewer. This allows for testing and swaying of Safari on macOS without actual access to it.
Remote testing service
This service allows users to test and access Safari on a real macOS environment directly from Windows through a web browser. For remote service testing, users can utilize remote testing services such as LambdaTest. These services offer virtual machines with different OS and browsers, including Safari on macOS.
Conclusion
Safari has its technology and challenges, just like any other browser. Achieving Safari compatibility on Windows is a crucial aspect of web development to secure an immaculate user experience across various platforms and browsers. It is important to ensure Safari compatibility as it is widely used. Hope this article provides you with the knowledge of achieving Safari compatibility on Windows and its workaround strategies.
