SAFARI FOR WINDOWS– SIMPLE, FAST, and SECURE
Being able to use Safari on Windows computers has made internet browsing enormously secure and convenient for me. Now, I can freely make financial transactions, do my research work, and surf the internet without worrying about security and password leaks.
Safari is my all time favorite browser. It’s light and quick. Unlike Chrome, it doesn’t drain my laptop’s battery fast and syncs well with all my APPLE devices. I can sync my passwords with KEYCHAIN (the only app I trust for my passwords). Thanks to private relay (through iCloud), I can rest assured that my credit card information will not be stolen any time I go and shop online.
In addition, the use of trackpad gestures add icing on the cake.
I am not so heavy on extensions, but if I were- safari doesn’t support too many of them. However, you can always find for yourself. I make sure to use safari for all my financial purposes like net banking, credit card payments and shopping, having learnt the hard way that other browsers can be hacked at any point of time especially when my parents are using my PC.
Lastly, I know that everytime I am on Google, it’s tracking and recording all my movements and passing it to other apps like Instagram which is why I don’t trust it. So, all in all, safari is my go-to choice for easy, hassle free and peaceful internet surfing, even on Windows.
And, if you are looking for a way to run Safari on Windows, I am sharing the method with you!
WHAT IS SAFARI?
BEST SAFARI FEATURES I LOVE!
Safari is a web browser developed by Apple, which is available on all Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, VisionOS, and macOS. First introduced on the macOS X Panther in January 2003, it has since been the default web browser on all Apple devices. Its privacy and security features are so supreme that thousands of Windows users have also been trying to get Safari on their computers- I am here to help you with that.
Here’s a list of top Safari features on computer that make it so popular among both working professionals and students-
- Add tabs to the dock or home screen- While using Safari on Windows you can add website tabs to your dock or home screen. This way you can quickly access their favorite websites without downloading its app.
- Customizable start page- To customize Safari’s appearance, click on “Edit” in the lower right corner and select the elements you want to see on the Start page. This menu also allows you to change the Start page background and decide whether you want to view the same Start page on all your Apple devices.
- A keyboard shortcut for (almost) everything- Safari supports a number of useful keyboard shortcuts. For example- if you visit a website and go through n number of inner pages, you will need to press the BACK button multiple times to reach the search query page in most browsers. In safari, you can simply press:
“Command + Option + S”
and the latest search results page in that particular tab will open up. - iCloud sync- Safari syncs quickly and easily on all your devices. This includes browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, background image, and all your customizations- you can pick it up on any device, right where you left it last.
- Privacy is the best policy- When you use Safari’s Private browser, the system ensures that your data is not stored or remembered. Safari’s Advanced tracking and Fingerprinting protections (ATFP) prevent all websites from tracking and identifying your devices, offering utmost browsing security. You can also switch it off or on by visiting Safari’s Advanced Security Settings.
SAFARI SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDOWS
| Component | Requirement |
| Operating system | Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11 – 64 Bit Recommended- Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 3.90 GHZ or better AMD Ryzen 3 or better |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Free disk space | 80 GB for OS installation (Recommended: 100 GB free space) |
| Audio devices | Any standard device after 2021 can work. |
| Graphics | Any standard device after 2021 can work. |
WHAT SETS SAFARI APART?
I get to hide my email address
On the internet, many websites require our email address before allowing access to more information. As a result, one may end up sharing their regular email addresses with a large websites across the web, leading to spam. To avoid this, Safari’s Hide My Email feature allows you to fill out the email field in online forms, with an email address that redirects to your regular email address, but is not your regular email address. It keeps your email from being shared across different websites, also keeping you safe from spam.
I get to know and control most of the trackers with Privacy Reports
Privacy Report shows me all the trackers that are present on a website, and which of them have been blocked. I use this to filter trackers based on the kind of information they assess from my computer and then I either keep them or block them. This helps me control the information a website can acquire and access from me and share with its partners. To get a Privacy Report, open the app, go to the left top corner, click on Safari, and select Privacy Report.
Separate profiles, for separate purposes
As an internet user, you can be using your web browser for a wide range of personal and professional tasks. Safari lets you create separate profiles to segregate different tabs.
These profiles help you create separate profiles for different purposes.
For example, I use one profile, named Safari to manage this website, then there’s a second profile named “research,” where I read and write research papers, and then I have another profile- “personal,” where I watch YouTube, surf Amazon, or plan my next visit home.
It helps me ensure that I never mix two things and none of my colleagues get to be into my personal life, while I present or share screen.
To quickly shift profiles, use- Command + Option + Shift + 0 (or the profile number you wish to access).
START USING SAFARI ON PC!
HOW TO INSTALL SAFARI ON WINDOWS?
To use Safari on your Windows PC, you can install a virtual macOS on your computer. This will add a virtual MacBook inside your Windows laptop’s environment, and you will be able to switch it on by opening the VirtualBox application, selecting your macOS, and clicking “Start.”
Here’s how you can do it:
Files and Downloads
Step 1: Download the macOS ISO files from this link.
Step 2: Visit the VirtualBox downloads page and start “Windows hosts” download.
Step 3: Launch the VirtualBox Installer and follow on-screen instructions.
Step 4: Now, on the VirtualBox Downloads page, go to the VirtualBox Extension Pack box on the right, and click “Accept and Download.”
Step 5: Launch the Extension Pack installer and follow on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Remove the Virtual Machine Conflicts From Your Computer
All Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers come with an in-built virtualization software- Hyper-V, which allows you to access different Windows and Windows Server operating systems, inside their Windows 10/11 laptop. Yes, that sounds a lot like what we are doing, but, for installing macOS on your Windows computer. However, since, Hyper-V is a Microsoft owned virtualizer, it does not allow macOS installation directly, which is why VirtualBox becomes a useful tool for adding a Mac environment on your Windows laptop.
But, here’s another catch- being a virtualization software itself, Hyper-V can cause conflicts or put access restrictions as we try to install macOS in VirtualBox. To solve this issue, you need to disable Windows Hyper-V before setting a virtual computer on your Windows PC.
Let’s see how it’s done.
Step 6: Switch off Memory Integrity
– Type “Windows Security” in the Windows search bar
– Open “Windows Security”
– Select “Device security”
– Click on “Core isolation details”
– Toggle off “Memory integrity”
Now, half of the disable process is complete. In the next step, we will completely disable Hyper-V.
Step 7: Go back to the search bar and type “Command Prompt” or “CMD.” Right-click on the “Command Prompt” icon and click on “Run as administrator.”
Copy and paste this code inside Command Prompt and hit enter:
Bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
Restart your computer and the disable process will finish.
macOS setup
Step 8: Start a new macOS installation in VirtualBox
– Open VirtualBox
– Click on the “New” button
– Enter the name for this installation, pick your ISO image file, select the macOS Version as Mac OS X (64-bit), and click “Next.”
– After this step, allocate the storage space for your VM macOS (recommended- at least 80 GB).
– Click “Finish” and your installation will be complete.
Audio, Display, and WiFi Settings for your new MacBook
Step 9: Inside the VirtualBox window, click on the “Settings” icon.
– Open the “System” tab
– Set the Chipset to ICH9 and enable EFI check to ensure faster boot times
– Go to Display settings, set Video Memory to 128 MB, and Enable 3D Acceleration- this will ensure that your MacBook supports all kinds of macOS animations
– Now, go to the “Network” tab > “Adapter 2” > “Enable Network Adapter” and select your adapter from the “Attached to” menu.
Making your installation secure and safe to run
Like any other software or operating system, our macOS installation may have some bugs and glitches. To fix these issues, we usually use the inbuilt updater in our operating system. Since, this is an independent installation, not involving Apple or Microsoft, we can use certain patches or patch codes to introduce necessary updates and bug-fixes into our macOS.
While searching patch codes, I have never had an issue with the Internet Archives website. However, you should always carefully assess the codes before making any changes to your computer.
Once, you have found these codes-
Go to the search bar > search Command Prompt > right click and “Run as an Administrator” > paste these codes and hit enter. The macOS in your Windows PC will be patched and secured.
Finishing installation
Step 11: Install macOS into the Virtual Machine
– Open VirtualBox
– Click “Start” at the top
A script will start running- wait for it to complete.
Step 12: Format the Virtual Drive
– After the previous steps, macOS will boot and the Apple logo will appear.
– Select your preferred language and click on “Disk Utility.”
– Select VBOX HARDDISK Media and click on the erase button in the top bar
– Rename your drive and Erase it
– Close Disk Utility, and click on “Install” macOS
– Follow the on-screen instructions
– Select the newly created disk and click “Continue”
The installation process can take 30 to 50 minutes to complete- depending on your system and processor.
After the installation, your macOS will start.
Once the macOS installation is complete, you can use any of the macOS applications on your Windows computer, including the built-in browser- Safari.
5 TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF SAFARI
Reveal Full URLs in the Address Bar
By default, Safari shows us shortened URLs in the address bar. If you are more familiar with full URLs, then you can can change this by going to:
Safari > Settings > Advanced > Show full website address
Show the Status Bar
Most browsers show us the status bar at the end of the page, displaying the URL of a link, when we hover over it. In Safari, this is switched off by default. To switch it on, go to:
Safari > Menu > View > Show status bar.
Automatically Increase Font Size
Safari allows you to set a minimum font size as per your preference.
To do this, go to:
Safari > Settings > Advanced > Never use font sizes smaller than > select a size from the drop-down menu.
Stop Autoplaying Videos
Many web pages have videos that start playing as soon as you open the web page. Safari lets you disable the auto-playing feature in such videos. You can go to:
Safari > Settings > Websites > Autoplay > and choose your specific settings.
View Websites in Reader Mode
Reader mode allows you to access the lighter version of your favorite pages on any website. In Safari, you can set reader mode as default for the websites of your choice. You can turn this on by going to:
Safari > Settings > Websites > Reader > Pick your website(s) > Turn on/off the reader mode.
SAFARI PC ALTERNATIVES
- Arc Browser- Arc is one of the browsers with the simplest UI. I started using it nearly five months ago and I was amazed by its full screen view. It allows you to:
– Create separate profiles for work and personal tasks
– Use the Boosts feature to customize how different websites look in your browser
– Get AI answers, summaries, and other insights about a webpage using the Ask on Page feature of Arc Max- you can press the Shift key and hover over any piece of information on a webpage, and the “Ask on Page” AI will summarise that section for you.
However, for daily usage, I personally love the Split View and the in-built Picture-in-Picture video player that allows me to watch tutorials while working on my tasks in real time. Plus, the full screen makes it easier to work across multiple tabs and profiles, also enhancing the split screen usage- I mostly use it while writing new research papers, for example I open the notes document on the left side, and research material on my right.
Since Security and Privacy are the primary considerations for anyone looking to use Safari, Arc has a variety of features to secure user data and privacy. While Safari uses Tracking Prevention, Arc’s Minimal Data Collection feature helps minimize the amount of data any webpage collects from the user. - Brave Browser- This is another favorite browser of mine that I have used for over three years. Brave Browser once got so popular that I could see it on almost every other computer- I was amazed when I saw my 67 years old dermatologist using it. Well, the reason- it works just as well as Safari, has a robust tracking prevention system to mitigate any privacy concerns before they arise, supports all the popular Chrome extensions, has a more extensive themes library and a UI that breaks Chrome’s monotony, while also maintaining its familiarity and ease, plus, Brave Browser pays its users in crypto simply for using it. Speaking of privacy and security, Brave browser by default blocks ads and pop-ups across all websites, which Safari still may allow in some form. For all these features, I still use Brave Browser, when my other browsers are occupied. It pays me off around 50 to 60 cents a month for hardly 10 hours of usage.
Now, if it’s so good, why did I stop using it regularly?
I have an exploring nature and I like to figure out new interfaces and designs, so I keep trying different browsers. - Microsoft Edge- If you have a Windows computer, Microsoft Edge would be your default web browser and will offer you fast and secure browsing experiences. I have used Microsoft Edge on my Windows computer, MacBook, and even iPad and iPhone, and I have loved its unique UI. Just like Safari, it is a straightforward browser with a simple UI. I personally love the design of its top Task Bar, along with the In-built AI tool- CoPilot. I often use it to summarize a topic on the go or to translate something quickly without leaving the current tab. I also love its easy Tab Grouping feature, which is available on many other browsers, but, none of them direct you to use it like Edge does. The first time I figured out this feature was on Microsoft Edge and that helps me streamline my browsing and work management even today.
Coming to Privacy, Microsoft Edge works seamlessly with the Microsoft Defender to precisely prevent tracking, manage passwords, and present Privacy reports so you can decide which trackers you wish to allow and which of them you want to block. - DuckDuck Go- If you are looking for a web browser that ensures your data’s security and privacy, DuckDuckGo maybe your best bet. While Safari tracks user information to provide users with a personalized browsing experience, user information tracking is a strict no for DuckDuckGo. Plus, DuckDuckGo’s built-in ad blocker help enhance the browsing experience. Another thing I love about DuckDuckGo is that whenever you open a website for the first time, the browser does not only block ads, but, also informs you about the website’s privacy norms, privacy terms & conditions, and tracker information, helping you decide whether or not you wish to continue on that website.
For example, when I opened YouTube in DuckDuckGo for the first time, it gave me this message-
“Heads up! Since Google owns youtube.com, I can’t stop them from seeing your activity here.
But browse with me, and I can reduce what Google knows about you overall by blocking their trackers on lots of other sites.”
This heads up notification came as a smooth slider, right above the header, and I was impressed by how considerate DuckDuckGo is as a business.
FAQs
No, Apple no longer provides Safari for Windows. In 2003, Apple launched a Safari version for Windows, and in 2012, the browser was discontinued on Windows OS due to low user base. However, Windows users can still access it by setting up a virtual machine such as VMWare or VirtualBox, or by renting a cloud Mac computer. All these solutions allow you to access macOS inside a dedicated Window on your Windows computer.
Safari browser was discontinued on Windows due to a small user base. Since Microsoft Windows always used to get the Internet Explorer as a default browser and Safari was not endorsed as a Microsoft product, not many Windows users were keen on switching to Safari.
To install Safari browser on Windows PC, you can set up a virtual macOS on your computer, using the following methods:
- VMWare: VMWare is a virtualization software that creates an environment for running multiple operating systems inside your Windows computer. Once VMWare is active on your PC, you can use a macOS ISO file to install the macOS inside VMWare and use it to access Safari or other Mac specific applications.
- VirtualBox: VirtualBox is another virtualization software that allows users to access macOS on Windows and use Safari browser on their Windows PCs. For the above installation process, I have used VirtualBox.
- Cloud Mac: It is an application that allows Windows users to rent and access online Mac computers and use them on their Windows PCs. For example, if you download the MacinCloud application and rent a Cloud Mac for $20/month, you will be able to use the macOS environment in a separate Window inside your Windows PC.
RECEIVE OUR LATEST SAFARI BLOGS
Sign-up for our newsletter for all the latest Safari content.
