How to Check Your Safari Version

Do you know which version of Safari you have? In this guide, I will show you how to check your Safari version on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, as well as update Safari to the latest version. Let’s get into it!

Why Checking Your Safari Version Is Important

Knowing which version of Safari you have is important for several reasons. First of all, it’s a good idea to check if you have the latest version and update it to ensure compatibility with modern websites and to make sure Safari is secure, as newer versions typically patch security bugs found in older versions.

Knowing if you have a specific version of Safari can also be useful if a certain website or web app is incompatible with other versions or if you want certain features only available with certain versions.

How to Check the Safari Version on a Mac

Here is how to check your Safari version on a Mac:

Open Safari.
In the top menu, navigate to Safari > About Safari.
A pop-up will appear, which will contain the version number inside, after “Version.”

It’s that easy! You will also see the build number after the version number.

How to Check the Safari Version on an iPhone or iPad

On iOS and iPadOS, the Safari version is the same as the operating system version, since Safari is packaged as part of the operating system.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see your iOS version, which is the same as your Safari version.

How to Check for Safari Updates on Mac

To check for Safari updates or update Safari on a Mac, you need to update macOS. Since Safari comes bundled with macOS, updating macOS will update Safari.

On your Mac, navigate to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. Your Mac will automatically search for new software updates when you open the Software Update tab, or you can click on Check for Updates.

If any updates are available, click on Update (or Update Now, Update Tonight, Upgrade, or Restart Now, depending on which options you see) to update your device.

You may need to enter your password to update the device. Make sure to keep the lid open and the device turned on (it’s best to plug it into a power source) while it updates. Your Mac may restart several times during the update process.

How to Update Safari on iPhone and iPad

Similarly, you can update Safari on an iPad or iPhone by updating iOS.

Follow these steps:

Plug your iPhone or iPad into a charging port to ensure it is connected to a power source.
Connect to Wi-Fi instead of mobile data to ensure the update can download properly.
Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.
If any updates are available, it will appear there. Click on Download and Install to update your device or Update Now/Update Tonight if you see those options.
Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Common Problems When Updating Safari

The most common problems you may face when updating your Apple device include insufficient storage for the download to install and an unstable internet connection preventing the update from downloading.

You may need to delete unused apps and media before updating your device if you have insufficient storage and make sure your internet connction is stable.

It’s also important to ensure your device is plugged into a power source to ensure the battery doesn’t die before the update is complete.

I also recommend backing up your iPhone or backing up your Mac to iCloud before updating it.

New Features Introduced in Safari on iOS 15

In iOS 15, Apple completely rehauled the Safari design, introducing several major changes. For one, the browser bar got moved to the bottom, and the bottom toolbar was merged into the browser bar. Swiping this bar left or right moves between tabs for easier tab navigation.

Another major change was the introduction of tab groups. You can not only open multiple tabs but organize them in groups, making it easy to keep your research areas and browsing interests separate and organized. The tab groups also sync across your iCloud devices.

With iOS 15, Safari also introduced support for Safari browser extensions on mobile, allowing you to customize your experience with ad blockers and other extensions.

How to Keep Safari Running Smoothly

To keep Safari running smoothly and improve Safari performance, I recommend keeping your tabs neat and tidy and closing unused tabs and tab gruops to avoid unnecessary resource consumption, especially on resource-heavy websites. Update your sofftware regularly and uninstall resource-heavy extensions that may be slowing down your device.

Note that other apps or programs running on your computer or phone can also keep your CPU occupied and cause Safari to run more slowly than usual.

Best Practices for Safari Security and Privacy

There are a number of things you can do to improve your safety and privacy when using Safari:

Disable cross-site tracking by going to Safari > Settings > Privacy on your Mac or Settings > Apps > Safari > Privacy on your iPhone and toggling on Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.
In the same settings, you can turn on the option to hide your IP address. If you have iCloud+ and iCloud Private Relay, you can hide it not only from trackers but additionally from all websites.
Similarly, in the same settings, you can require your Touch ID or passcode to unlock your private browsing tabs, which is a great option if you don’t want people snooping around in what you have been browsing privately.
Make sure Fraudulent Website Warnings are turned on in the same settings and exit websites on which you get this warning.
Avoid downloading extensions from suspicious sources and visiting pirate websites or other sites riddled with adware.
Make sure a site starts with HTTPS before entering any private data like passwords or credit card info.
Avoid saving your passwords or credit card info directly on the browser. If you need to, use Apple Passkeys or another password management service instead.
Update iOS or macOS regularly.

Conclusion

I hope this guide was helpful! It’s important to keep Safari up to date for an optimized browsing experience. Since it is bundled with macOS and iOS, updating your Mac, iPhone, or iPad will update Safari as well.