Running Safari For Windows: Overcoming Common Testing Challenges

Safari is used by millions on Macs, iPhones, and iPads. It’s Apple’s browser, known for its speed and smooth experience.

Safari is designed to protect users’ privacy. It blocks third-party cookies and limits website trackers to keep data safe. Also, Safari has over 250 features, and one of its useful tools is cloud syncing. It allows users to access bookmarks, tabs, and history across Apple devices.

Apple users mostly use Safari, and it’s not available for Windows anymore. But there are ways to get around this. Using a virtual macOS makes it possible to test Safari on a Windows computer. More about overcoming testing challenges like this will be explained in this blog.

Why It Is Important To Test on Safari

There are many benefits to testing on Safari. The top 3 are mentioned below:

Safari is the default browser for macOS and iOS devices. Many people use Apple products, so it will be difficult to ignore Safari as it would mean losing potential users.

Safari uses WebKit. It is a rendering engine that behaves differently compared to Chrome’s Blink or Firefox’s Gecko. This means that your website may not look or function the same way on Safari as it does on other browsers.

Apple focuses a lot on security and user experience, so issues with Safari will hurt your brand’s credibility.

Different Methods To Safari On Windows Are

Keeping all this in mind, it’s time to learn how you can run Safari for Windows and overcome common testing challenges

Use Older Safari Versions For Windows

You can still find old versions of Safari that worked on Windows. Apple stopped updating Safari for Windows after version 5.1.7 in 2012, but these older versions are available online.

But there are some things you need to keep in mind while doing so. Understand that these outdated Safari versions do not support modern web features and standards. Many improvements and updates have been made to Safari since 2012. Some features or layouts that work perfectly on newer Safari versions may not work as expected on the older ones.

Security is another major concern. Apple doesn’t update or fix these old Safari versions anymore, so they can be easily attacked by hackers.

Cross-Browser Testing Tools

You can use cross-browser testing tools to run your website on Safari without needing an Apple device. Some popular tools for this are LambdaTest.

These tools work by giving you access to real devices or virtual machines that run Safari. With Safari browser online testing, you can open Safari from your Windows PC and see how the website looks and works. This is a big advantage because you are testing on a real version of Safari, not an outdated one.

With LambdaTest, you can test both older and newer versions to make sure the website works well for all Safari users. The process is simple. Just log in to the platform, select Safari, and start testing.

One of the biggest benefits of these tools is that they provide accurate results since you are testing on a real Safari environment. The website will perform the same way for users on macOS or iOS devices. This makes cross-browser tools much better than using outdated Safari versions.

Virtual Machines or macOS Services

Another way to test Safari on Windows is by using virtual machines or cloud macOS services.

A virtual machine (VM) is software that runs one operating system inside another. For example, install macOS on a virtual machine on your Windows PC. After setting it up, use Safari and test the website directly. Popular VM software includes VirtualBox and VMware. But setting up a virtual machine requires a copy of macOS. And you can’t get it legally without a Mac.

Another option is to use cloud macOS services like MacStadium or AWS (Amazon Web Services). These services provide remote access to real Mac computers over the Internet. Simply connect to these Macs from your Windows PC, open Safari, and test the website in real time. This method is easier because you don’t have to install anything on the computer. Everything runs in the cloud, and you just log in.

WebDriver For Safari Automation

WebDriver is a part of the Selenium framework and a tool to automatically control web browsers.

To use WebDriver with Safari, you need to set up a few things first. Install and enable Safari’s WebDriver to start writing test scripts and automate your tests.

WebDriver allows you to run tests without any manual input. This means you can check how the website behaves in Safari without clicking through every page. All you have to do is write scripts to perform actions like filling out forms, clicking buttons, and checking if certain elements appear.

The best part? You can use any programming language that supports WebDriver, such as Python, Java, or JavaScript.

One of the benefits of using WebDriver is that it runs tests on a real Safari browser. This gives accurate results and helps you catch issues like broken links or layout problems that only appear on Safari.

Ways To Overcome Common Testing Challenges

Testing on Safari from a Windows machine brings unique challenges. Given below are some common problems and different ways to solve them.

Challenge 1: Different Rendering Engines

As mentioned before, Safari uses WebKit. It is a rendering engine that works differently from Chrome’s Blink or Firefox’s Gecko. This means some websites may look or behave differently on Safari compared to other browsers.

Solution

To overcome this, it’s important to follow web standards (W3C). These standards will see if the website works well on most browsers including Safari or not.

You should also test your site on various browsers, not just Safari.

Challenge 2: Layout and Responsive Design Issues

Sometimes Safari displays responsive design a little differently than other browsers. For example, the layout is broken, certain elements do not appear correctly on mobile or tablet screens, or something else.

Solution

Solving this challenge requires you to work hard but smartly. Test your design on different Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It’s also a good idea to include fallback styles for older versions of Safari that do not support the latest CSS properties. Fallback styles act as a backup. Even if the latest feature isn’t supported, the website will still display properly.

Challenge 3: Performance Problems

Safari does not always load websites as fast as other browsers. This leads to poor user experience, especially on devices with weaker internet connections.

Solution

Optimize your website. Start by compressing images and other assets to reduce their size. Minify your CSS and JavaScript code to make it lighter and faster and use lazy loading for images and videos.

With lazy loading, these elements are only loaded when they appear on the user’s screen. This improves initial load times and enhances the overall performance.

Challenge 4: Browser-Specific Bugs

At times, CSS properties or JavaScript functions do not work as expected. This leads to issues that only occur in Safari.

Solution

Use browser-specific prefixes. Safari requires the -webkit- prefix for certain CSS properties, so adding these helps avoid styling issues. Use polyfills for JavaScript compatibility. Polyfills are pieces of code that make new features work in older browsers that don’t support them naturally. This way, users with older Safari versions can also enjoy a functional website.

Challenge 5: Handling Media Queries and CSS Flexbox Bugs

Safari interprets media queries and CSS Flexbox differently than other browsers. This leads to design inconsistencies, issues like misaligned elements, or unexpected behavior of flex containers.

Solution

Thoroughly test your media queries and Flexbox layouts across different devices and Safari versions. If any issue arises, adjust the CSS specifically for Safari using browser-specific hacks. Or use alternative layouts that work better across all browsers.

Challenge 6: Inconsistent JavaScript Functionality

Safari behaves differently with new Javascript APIs like fetch, promise, or async/wait. There are also occasional issues with web animations or certain event handlers in JavaScript, which don’t always trigger as expected in Safari.

Solution

Instead of assuming all modern browsers support the latest JavaScript functions, use feature detection to test if Safari supports the features you need. JavaScript libraries like Modernizr will help you check this and implement fallbacks for Safari.

You can also use Safari’s Developer Tools to inspect how JavaScript behaves on this browser. This helps in catching inconsistencies early.

Is LambdaTest a Reliable Option for Safari Testing on Windows?

Developers who want to test their applications‘ compatibility with Safari on Windows can opt for LambdaTest. It helps you simplify cross-browser testing with better process and accuracy.

LambdaTest enables implementing a smooth and compatible test strategy for testing applications on Safari.

Real Safari Environments without Apple Devices

With its robust and compatible cloud-based testing infrastructure, LambdaTest enables closest real macOS and iOS device experiences for testers testing their applications. The platform provides the facility to gain remote access over a secure connection. The best part is that you can test across different versions of the web browsers.

Efficient Debugging with Integrated Developer Tools

LambdaTest is a popular choice for a streamlined debugging experience. From unique CSS to JavaScript quirks, the testing platform provides an effective way of identifying, inspecting, and troubleshooting browser-prone discrepancies. This leads to a quicker detection and rectification of inconsistencies and website optimization complying with Safari’s WebKit rendering engine.

Comprehensive Device and Resolution Testing

The platform provides access to an extensive device and resolution testing capabilities. It facilitates an efficient simulation of real-world device scenarios for your website or app functionalities. A proactive testing approach identifies and rectifies design inconsistencies and layout issues through a consistent user experience for all Safari-compatible devices.

Streamlined Automation for Time-Saving Testing

With proactive support for automation testing frameworks i.e. Selenium WebDriver, LambdaTest allows testers to run parallel tests on Safari. It reduces the time and efforts put in manual testing contributing to seamless functioning of your website across Safari and macOS.

Detailed Analytics and Session Insights

The richer your data is, the richer your insights will get out of your testing results. From logs, screenshots to video recording, LambdaTest makes your test reports more insightful. With such a feature-packed testing platform, testers effectively detect and counter compatibility challenges with seamless user experience.

Conclusion

Testing websites on Safari from a Windows machine is challenging. Automation testing tools like LambdaTest help to overcome various blockers existing in the traditional testing processes across different device environments.

Taking the time to check your website works well on Safari means reaching a wider audience, improving compatibility, and avoiding potential issues down the line. The goal is to provide a consistent experience across all browsers, and testing on Safari is a key part of that process.