How to Update Safari on Mac, iPhone and iPad

There's no Update button inside Safari, and you won't find it in the App Store either. That confuses a lot of people, but it's simple once you know the rule: Safari is part of the operating system on every Apple device. Update the system and Safari updates with it. Here's how on each device, plus what to do when a website insists your Safari is out of date.

Update Safari on a Mac

1. Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click General, then Software Update.
3. If an update is listed, click to install it and follow the prompts.
4. Your Mac restarts, and Safari is updated along with macOS.

Software Update may offer two things: an update to your current version of macOS, and an upgrade to a newer major version. Either brings Safari up to date for that system. If you're not ready for a big upgrade, the smaller update still carries Safari's security fixes.

Update Safari on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General, then Software Update.
3. Tap to download and install the update.
4. Plug in and stay on Wi-Fi if it asks, then let the phone restart.

While you're there, switch on Automatic Updates so security fixes install overnight without you remembering.

Which update brings Safari up to date

Device	What to update
Mac	The macOS software
iPhone	iOS
iPad	iPadOS
Apple Vision Pro	visionOS
Windows PC	Not possible: Safari for Windows ended

Can you update Safari on Windows?

No. Apple stopped making Safari for Windows years ago. The last version was Safari 5.1.7, released in 2010, and Apple describes it as outdated. If you still have it on a PC, uninstall it, because it no longer gets security fixes. Use Chrome, Edge or Firefox on Windows instead.

Check which version of Safari you have

On a Mac, open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and choose About Safari. A small window shows the version number. On an iPhone, the Safari version matches your iOS version, which you'll find in Settings, General, About.

A website says Safari is out of date

This happens even on a fully updated device, and Apple's own guidance is that it may be the website's problem rather than yours. Some sites check the browser in old-fashioned ways and get it wrong. If your system is up to date and you trust the site, contact the site's owner or try another browser for that one task. Don't download any so-called Safari update from a pop-up or a link on a website, because real updates only come through Software Update.

When your Mac can't get the latest Safari

• Older Macs stop getting new versions of macOS after a while, and with it new versions of Safari.
• If Software Update offers nothing and your Mac is old, check Apple's list of supported Macs for the current macOS.
• You may still get security updates for your current system for some time, so install those.
• If Safari becomes too old for the sites you use, another browser that still supports your Mac can bridge the gap.

Should you install a big upgrade straight away?

Small updates to your current system are worth installing the day they appear, because they're mostly security fixes. A major upgrade to a new version of macOS is a bigger step. If you rely on particular apps for work, it's sensible to check those apps support the new version first, and to back up with Time Machine before you start. Most people can upgrade without any trouble, but a week's wait while early bugs are fixed does no harm, as long as you keep installing the smaller security updates in the meantime.

Why updating matters

Apple says many software updates include important security improvements, including ones that help Safari keep pop-ups and fake warnings under control. Your browser handles your logins, email and payments, so it's worth updating as soon as an update appears rather than tapping Later for weeks. It's the single easiest security habit there is.

If you also want a second opinion on your Mac's health, my review of CleanMyMac explains what that kind of app can and can't do, and when you don't need one.

Updates and Safari extensions

Safari extensions come from the App Store and update like apps, separately from Safari itself. After a big macOS or iOS upgrade, open the App Store's updates list and install any pending app updates so your extensions keep working with the new Safari. If an extension stops working after an update, turn it off in Safari's settings until its maker catches up.

My verdict

Forget looking for a Safari update. Turn on automatic software updates on your Mac, iPhone and iPad, and Safari stays current by itself. If a site still tells you it's out of date, trust your Software Update screen over the website. And if you're on Windows, delete the ancient Safari and use a browser that's still supported. Weighing up alternatives? Here's my view on DuckDuckGo for private browsing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I update Safari on my Mac?

Open System Settings, General, Software Update, and install the macOS update. Safari updates with it.

How do I update Safari on my iPhone?

Open Settings, General, Software Update, and install the iOS update.

Can I update Safari without updating macOS?

Safari updates come with macOS updates, so you install the system update to get them.

Can I update Safari on Windows?

No. The last Safari for Windows was version 5.1.7 from 2010 and it's no longer updated.

How do I check my Safari version?

On a Mac, open Safari, then choose Safari, About Safari.

Why does a website say my Safari is out of date?

If your device is fully updated, the problem is likely the website itself.