I recently decided to tackle the challenge of downloading and installing Safari on my Windows 11/10 PC. I had heard about some users managing to get Safari up and running on Windows despite it being primarily designed for macOS. Curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to see if it was possible to achieve the same on my system. This is the story of how I went about it, and how you can too, if you find yourself in the same boat.
The first thing I learned is that Safari for Windows is no longer officially supported by Apple. The last version Apple released for Windows was Safari 5.1.7, which came out back in 2012. This means that any downloads available online are outdated and might pose security risks. Despite these warnings, I decided to proceed with caution, understanding that any software from this era might not perform optimally or be vulnerable to various issues.
I began my journey by searching for the Safari 5.1.7 installer. After some thorough research, I found that there are several websites hosting the old installer file. However, I had to be extremely careful about where I downloaded it from. I chose a site that seemed reputable and had positive reviews. It’s important to always be vigilant when downloading files from the internet to avoid malicious software.
Once I had the installer, I downloaded the file to my PC. The next step was to run the installer. Before doing so, I made sure to disable any antivirus software temporarily. I did this because some antivirus programs might mistakenly identify the old Safari installer as a threat due to its age or unknown nature. However, I was mindful of reactivating my antivirus after the installation was complete to ensure my system remained protected.
I ran the installer by double-clicking on the file. A security warning popped up, as expected, given that the software was from an unknown source. I clicked on “Run” to proceed. The setup wizard for Safari appeared, and I followed the on-screen instructions. The process was straightforward: I accepted the license agreement, chose the installation location (the default location was fine for me), and clicked on “Install.”
The installation took a few minutes. During this time, I kept an eye on any pop-ups or prompts that might indicate something was wrong. Once the installation was complete, I was prompted to restart my computer. I chose to restart immediately to ensure that all changes were applied correctly.
After rebooting, I found Safari in my list of applications and launched it. The browser opened without any issues, but the first thing I noticed was that it looked quite outdated compared to modern browsers. The interface was reminiscent of early 2010s web design, and the features felt a bit clunky. Nevertheless, I was impressed that it worked at all on a contemporary operating system like Windows 10 or 11.
One of the main reasons I wanted to install Safari was to test how it handled web pages compared to other browsers. I navigated to a few popular websites and found that the browsing experience was somewhat slow and inconsistent. Some modern web features did not work as expected, likely due to the outdated nature of the browser. Websites that used advanced scripts or modern web technologies were not displayed correctly, which was a significant limitation.
Another aspect I had to address was security. Since Safari 5.1.7 is no longer supported, it does not receive updates or security patches. This makes it a potential target for vulnerabilities. I made sure to use the browser cautiously, avoiding any sensitive transactions or activities. It became clear that using Safari on Windows was more of a novelty rather than a practical solution for everyday browsing.
Throughout this process, I realized that Safari is best experienced on its native macOS environment, where it is fully supported and optimized. On Windows, it felt like a relic from a bygone era. If you’re interested in Safari’s features, using it on a Mac or through an iOS device might provide a more seamless experience.
If you are set on using Safari on Windows, my experience shows that it’s possible to install it, but it comes with limitations and risks. Given that Safari’s Windows version is outdated, you might encounter various issues ranging from poor performance to security vulnerabilities. For a more reliable and secure browsing experience, sticking with modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge is generally a better choice.
In summary, installing Safari on Windows 10/11 involves downloading an old version of the browser, running the installer, and being prepared for potential issues related to performance and security. While it can be done, it is not recommended for regular use due to its outdated nature and lack of support.