The default web browser for macOS is Safari, which is made by Apple. This is one of the most popular privacy options from Apple. Safari has improved significantly over the years, and now includes features such as reading mode, stored passwords, and protection from websites tracking you. Typically, a new version of the web browser comes with each update of macOS. However, if your Mac does not support the latest version of macOS, it may still support the latest version of Safari. Here, the web browser can be updated separately, which is normal practice for Apple.
Compared to other apps, updating the Safari browser on Mac is a bit tricky. However, you need to update it regularly to keep it running smoothly. Read this article to learn how to update the Safari browser and why you need to do it.
Contents:
- What is the latest version of Safari for Mac?
- Why should I update Safari?
- How do I update Safari on my Mac
- How do I reset Safari on Mac quickly?
- How do I reset Safari browser manually?
What is the latest version of Safari for Mac?
With macOS Golden Gate, Apple released the latest version of the browser – Safari 27.0 (September 2026). The new version is lighter and quicker: it uses less power while loading pages faster and handling JavaScript, scrolling, and animations more smoothly. The Start Page opens faster too. If your Mac runs macOS Sequoia or Tahoe, you can still get Safari 27 – it comes as a separate update in Software Update.
The most interesting new feature is Notify Me. Safari can keep an eye on a web page for you and let you know when something changes, for example, when the price of a product drops or an item is back in stock. No more refreshing the same page again and again.
Also, the new version of Safari allows you to create your own extensions without any coding. Just describe in plain words what you need – for example, a button that saves your favorite recipes – and Safari will generate the extension for you.
What is great in Safari 27 is the new tab organization: Safari automatically groups your open tabs by topic as you browse. This is especially useful if you have dozens of tabs open for different projects and need to quickly find the pages related to one task.
These smart features are powered by Apple Intelligence, so they are available on Macs that support it.
Why should I update Safari?
Apple updates Safari more often than many people think. A major version arrives once a year together with a new macOS, and smaller updates, such as Safari 27.1 or 27.2, come out during the year. Most of them fix security issues in WebKit, the engine Safari uses to open web pages. If you skip them, your browser stays open to known threats. You can see what each update fixes on Apple’s page, for example, About the security content of Safari 27.
In addition, websites keep moving forward. An outdated version of Safari may not support new web technologies, so some pages can load incorrectly, run slowly, or stop working at all.
Keeping Safari up to date means protection against new security threats, access to the latest features, and better speed and performance. The easiest way is to turn on automatic updates – then Safari will stay current together with your Mac.
How do I update Safari on my Mac?
Safari is built into macOS, so you won’t find it in the App Store or on Apple’s website as a separate download. It updates through Software Update, together with your system or on its own.
Step 1. Check your current version of Safari
- Open Safari.
- Click Safari in the menu bar and select About Safari.
- You will see the version number. If it’s lower than 27.0, it’s time to update.
Step 2. Update Safari
- Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner and select System Settings.
- Click General in the left sidebar.
- Select Software Update and wait while your Mac checks for updates.
- Go to the Also Available section and click the “i” icon next to Other Updates.
- In the window that opens, you will see the list of available updates, including Safari 27.0.
- To install only Safari, uncheck all other items and leave Safari selected.
- Click Update Now.
What you do next depends on your version of macOS.
If you are on macOS Golden Gate, click Update Now. Safari will be updated together with the system.
If you are on macOS Tahoe or Sequoia, you will see macOS Golden Gate at the top with the Upgrade Now button. You don’t need to upgrade the whole system to get the new Safari. Note: Upgrade means moving to a new version of macOS, while Update installs fixes for the version you already have.
Tip: the list usually includes a security update for your current macOS as well, like macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 in the example above. It’s a good idea to install it too: it fixes known security issues and doesn’t move you to a new version of macOS.
Step 3. Turn on automatic updates
To stop checking for updates manually, let your Mac do it for you:
- In Software Update, click the “i” icon next to Automatic Updates.
- Turn on Download new updates when available, Install macOS updates, and Install system data files and security updates.
- Click Done.
Now Safari will receive new features and security fixes as soon as Apple releases them.
Don’t see the Safari update?
Safari 27 is available for macOS Golden Gate, Tahoe, and Sequoia. If your Mac runs an older version of macOS, you won’t see this update. In this case, check whether your Mac can upgrade to a newer macOS. Our chronological list of macOS versions will help you find out which versions your model supports.
How to reset Safari on Mac quickly
Over time, Safari collects a lot of history, cookies, and cached files. Usually, they help pages open faster. But if Safari starts freezing, loading pages incorrectly, or behaving strangely, a reset often fixes the problem.
Unlike some other browsers, Safari doesn’t have a Reset button. You can reset it in two ways: manually, by clearing history, website data, and cache one by one, or in a few clicks with App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
Before you start, keep in mind what a reset does:
- It removes your browsing history, cookies, and cached files, so you’ll be signed out of most websites.
- If you use Safari with iCloud, your history will be removed on all devices signed into the same Apple account.
- It doesn’t remove passwords saved in the Passwords app or your Safari extensions – extensions are separate apps and should be removed separately.
- Resetting with App Cleaner & Uninstaller also returns Safari settings, such as your homepage, to default.
We recommend that you save your time and reset the Safari browser in a few clicks by using the App Cleaner & Uninstaller application. You can do this using the following steps:
- Launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- Click App Cleaner & Uninstaller in the menu bar and open Settings.
- Check the Show system applications option and enable Expert mode.
- Find Safari in the list of apps.
- Right-click on it and select the Reset application option.
How to reset Safari browser manually
Earlier, we showed how you can reset the Safari browser quickly using a dedicated application. To reset the browser manually, you will have to complete all three steps in turn: reset history, reset website data, and reset the cache.
- Steps to reset history:
Launch Safari → click History in the menu bar → select Clear History. In the Clear drop-down list, choose All History (by default, it’s set to Last Hour) and click the Clear History button.Note that clearing history also removes related cookies and other website data. If you use Safari with iCloud, your history will be removed on all your devices signed into the same Apple account, such as your iPhone and iPad.
- Steps to reset website data:
Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings. Go to the Privacy tab and click the Manage Website Data button. Click Remove All and confirm the deletion by clicking Remove Now.
- Steps to reset the cache
Launch Safari, click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings. Go to the Advanced tab and check the Show features for web developers option. The Develop menu will appear in the menu bar. Click on it and select Empty Caches.
Conclusion
Updating Safari takes a couple of minutes but gives you the latest features, faster browsing, and protection against known security threats. Even if you don’t want to move to a new version of macOS, you can still install the new Safari on its own through Software Update. To stop checking manually, turn on automatic updates and your Mac will keep Safari current for you.
