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How to Emulate the Latest Safari Browser Online

September 27, 2024
Testsigma Engineering Team
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How to Emulate the Latest Safari Browser for Testing Websites in 2022
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Developers often rely on tools to simulate different browser environments when they have to test how well a website performs across different platforms. Since Safari is the most popular browser for Apple systems, it is very important to be able to simulate it. When developers run an emulation of Safari, what it really means that they can guarantee that the website will work as it should when it is opened in safari browser in different environments.

Can You Run the Safari Browser on Windows 10 & 11?

A segment of users wishes to use Safari as a default browser on Windows 10 and 11. This is because of its user-friendly design and speed. Safari runs parallel with popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox when it comes to its outstanding performance. However, there is a catch. 

Even if you can download Safari on Windows, you risk your system because you can face potential security issues. The overall performance of your PC might even get compromised if you download expired or old versions of the software. Apple, therefore, has discontinued offering Safari as a standalone browser for any other operating system, including Windows. 

However, you can install the browser as a substitute browser on any PC that runs the operating system of Microsoft from unofficial online platforms. Concludingly, we can say that there is currently no Safari emulator for Windows. 

No Safari emulator is dedicated to running on any version of Windows, be it Windows 10 or 11. However, many websites offer users the option of testing Safari on Windows.

How Can I Test Websites on Safari Without Mac? 

Safari has been deemed the second most popular browser in 2022 and is the native default browser of Apple devices. It is an ideal browser for testing any online product or site because of its fast responsiveness.

However, one of the biggest challenges most software testers and website developers face is the lack of a Mac (iMac or Macbook). You are primarily required to have a Mac for both automated and manual testing in the Safari browser because this browser is platform-specific.

To address this problem, you can use the following hacks to test your product on the Safari browser:-

Use a Virtual Machine

You don’t need to worry about not having a Mac to run your tests on the Safari browser. To do so, you can easily conduct them on a Windows local host with the help of a virtual machine by using your PC or system as the server. 

Numerous virtual machines are available for you to choose from, and they will run any browser inside Linux or Windows. 

All you need to do is configure a handful of settings at the hardware and the software level (choosing the amount of disk space and RAM to allocate to each OS). Your computer, however, needs to have enough power to sustain this configuration. 

Usage of cross-browser testing tools

What are cross-browser testing tools?

If you are developing a website or an application that should run on different browsers and devices (and of course, you should), you need cross-browser testing. The tools that help you execute it are called cross-browser testing tools.

To overcome the challenge of testing websites on Safari without a Mac, you can opt for these testing tools. These tools allow you to see how the website functions and looks on multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. These tools detect and report cross-browser compatibility errors since they help test on different browsers, environments, and screen resolutions. 

This approach significantly reduces the risk of user dissatisfaction and also increases its accessibility – which means greater customer loyalty.

Some of the famous cross-browser testing tools are Testsigma, Lambdatest, and BrowserStack.

Automate Tests for Cross-Browser Compatibility

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Advantages of Cross-Browser Testing

Let us look into some advantages:

The advantages of using a cross-browser testing platform are listed below:-

  • It saves time: With cross-browser testing, you can check your website for any hidden bugs or glitches before launching it. This helps save money and time because it detects issues before publishing the website. 
  • Test on local and on-premise machines: With cross-browser testing, you can run test cases and websites on any OS environment on any local system behind firewalls.
  • Numerous test reporting procedures: You can choose any preferred reporting from videos, images, and the like for better understanding.
  • Real test environments: You can seamlessly check your cross-browser compatibility on actual browsers to identify every kink and bug in your website or application.
  • Secure customer privacy: These platforms take stringent measures to help maintain the privacy of every customer.
  • Broad test coverage: Most platforms for browser testing are codeless because they are AI or NLP-powered. This helps in reaching a broader test coverage.
  • Debugging is easy: The debugging features in cross-browser testing platforms are top-notch to help deliver bug-free websites seamlessly.
  • Easy CI/CD integration: Most cross-browser platforms have convenient CI/CD pipelines for managing faster and continuous delivery.
  • 24*7 test runs: Cloud-based cross-browser testing platforms help run test suites 24*7 to conduct faster and more efficient testing with the least effort.
  • Requires no additional coding: You need not have prior knowledge of CSS or HTML coding for cross-browser testing. They are user-friendly and can even be used by beginners.

Safari browser testing using Testsigma

Testing your application on Safari is crucial for ensuring compatibility with Apple’s ecosystem. 

Testsigma makes this process straightforward by integrating with various tools that support Safari browser testing. This setup provides an environment to validate how your application performs on Safari without needing a Mac. 

By running your tests in Testsigma, you can seamlessly incorporate Safari browser testing into your automated test suite, ensuring a consistent user experience across all browsers. 

Thus, you can effectively address any compatibility issues and optimize your application’s performance for Safari users.

This is an example image of cross-browser testing in the Testsigma automation tool

Emulate-safari-using-Testsigma

How to Test Safari Browser on Windows?

Testing Safari Browser on Windows can be challenging because Safari is primarily designed for macOS and iOS platforms. However, there are a few approaches you can consider to test Safari on a Windows machine:

  • Remote testing services: Utilize remote testing services such as BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, which offer virtual machines with different operating systems and browsers, including Safari on macOS. These services allow you to access and test Safari on real macOS environments directly from your Windows machine through a web browser.
  • macOS virtual machines: Set up a macOS virtual machine (VM) on your Windows computer using virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox. You can install Safari on the macOS VM and perform testing as you would on a native macOS environment.
  • Remote access to macOS device: If you have access to a physical macOS device, you can remotely connect to it from your Windows machine using remote desktop software like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or Chrome Remote Desktop. This allows you to control and test Safari on the macOS device without needing to physically access it.
  • Cross-browser testing tools: Some cross-browser testing tools like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs offer a feature called “Interactive Testing” where you can remotely access and interact with Safari browsers running on real macOS devices from your Windows machine.

Cloud-based test automation platforms: Consider using a cloud-based test automation platform like Testsigma, which provides access to real macOS environments with Safari installed. Testsigma allows you to run automated tests on Safari Browsers without needing physical access to macOS devices.

Emulate Safari Across Other Different OS

There are separate pathways for different operating systems when it comes to emulating Safari. We have consolidated the best ways to emulate Safari on the following OS:-

How to Emulate Safari on Linux?

To emulate Safari on Linux, you can follow two methods.

  • Installing Safari using WINE.
  • Using WINE and PlayOnLinux provides a graphical user interface (UI) for WINE. 

Emulate Safari Using Various Browsers

There are several browsers available that users use at their convenience. This is why you must test it on every possible platform before launching your website or application. Down below, we have listed the various ways you can emulate Safari on numerous browsers:-

How to Emulate Safari on Chrome

To emulate Safari on Chrome, you can use websites such as TestingBot or Chrome extensions such as BrowserStack. BrowserStack is a very reliable solution that allows you to initiate testing sessions with a large number of device and browser combinations. You can immediately set up a Safari testing environment by clicking on the BrowserStack extension icon in your Chrome browser.

Alternatively, you can use these steps to emulate Safari using the Developer tools:

  • Hit the Control + Shift + I keys to open the Developer tools environment
  • Go to the Network tab and click on Network conditions
  • Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Use browser default’ radio button and click on the dropdown with the ‘custom’ label
  • Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari, and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with

How to Emulate Safari in Firefox

Firefox is notably one of the most popular browsers used by millions worldwide. If you want to emulate Safari in Firefox, you have to use visualization software which you can download as a browser extension or turn to a cross-browser testing website. The latter option is completely free of cost, hassle-free, and requires no technological prowess.

How to Emulate Safari on Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer is one of the oldest browsers known to mankind. Although quite rarely used, it is still surprisingly used to this day. If you still use Internet Explorer to this day, you can emulate Safari on Internet Explorer with a cross-browser testing platform or an additionally installed extension. 

How to Emulate Safari on Edge?

Edge is a popular browser developed by Microsoft. You can emulate other browsers by changing the user string. If you want to emulate Safari on Edge, you need to follow the steps listed below:-

  • Open Microsoft Edge and visit the link you wish to test
  • Hit the F12 key to open the Developer tools environment
  • Go to the Network tab and click on Network conditions
  • Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Select automatically’ radio button and click on the dropdown
  • Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with

Emulate Safari Browser Online 

Although the ideal way to emulate Safari is by using an open-source testing platform, some other ways to do the same have been listed below:-

  • Using browser widgets
  • Downloading older versions of Safari, like Safari 5.1.7 or previous versions 

Summary

Every application or website is built using codes using HTML, JavaScript, or CSS elements. Since they are launched online, it is impossible to ascertain which user will use which browser. Safari has its own technology, comes with its own set of challenges, and interprets every application in its own way. 

Therefore, to ensure that your website or application runs smoothly on Safari, you need to conduct cross-browser testing to maintain consistency in its display and functionality. Running automation tests is also integral to software testing. Testsigma is a great platform for seamlessly running automation tests. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you emulate Safari on PC?

The Safari Browser has now been limited only to macOS and iOS. However, you can easily emulate this browser on Windows or any other OS by using a virtual machine with your computer as the server. 

How do I emulate a device in Safari?

To emulate a device in Safari, you can use the Simulator added with Xcode and debug/inspect those reviews remotely by using the Develop menu in Safari.

How do I test Safari online?

To run a website on a Safari browser without a Mac, you can use a cross-browser testing tool or an online testing platform. 

Suggested Reading

Android Emulator Online

Testsigma Author - Testsigma Engineering Team

Testsigma Engineering Team

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