How To Update Safari On Mac

Tips
1

I’m trying to update Safari on my Mac and I’m a bit confused about the right way to do it. The App Store isn’t showing a separate Safari update, and I don’t want to mess anything up or lose my data. Can someone explain the proper steps to update Safari on macOS, and how to check that it actually worked? Any tips for common issues during the update would really help.

2

Safari updates are tied to macOS updates now, so you will not see a separate Safari app in the App Store like on iPhone.

Here is the clean way to do it without messing stuff up:

  1. Check your macOS version
    • Click the Apple menu (top left)
    • About This Mac
    • Note the version, like 12.7.3 or 13.6.4

  2. Update macOS, which updates Safari
    • Apple menu
    • System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
    • General > Software Update
    • Wait for it to check
    • If you see something like “macOS Sonoma 14.x” or “macOS Ventura 13.x” or a smaller update like “macOS 12.7.x”, hit Update Now

    Safari updates come bundled in these macOS updates. No separate Safari entry.

  3. About your data
    • System updates do not erase your files, apps, or Safari data
    • Bookmarks, history, passwords stay
    • That said, it is smart to have a backup

    • Plug in an external drive
    • Open Time Machine
    • Set it up and run one backup before updating

  4. If you use an older Mac
    • Some old Macs stop at certain macOS versions
    • Example

    • Many 2013–2014 Macs stop at macOS 11 or 12
      • In that case, Safari will only update within that last supported version
      • You still get security updates with new Safari builds through “macOS Big Sur 11.x Security Update” type entries in Software Update

  5. If Software Update seems stuck
    • Restart the Mac
    • Try again on a stable Wi‑Fi connection
    • Make sure there is 20+ GB free disk space
    • If it still fails, open App Store > Updates to see if there is a “Safari Technology Preview” or related thing, but the main Safari still comes through macOS

  6. Quick way to confirm Safari updated
    • Open Safari
    • Safari menu > About Safari
    • Check the version number
    • For example, on Sonoma 14.3, Safari shows version 17.x

You do not need to reinstall macOS or download Safari from a website. Everything goes through System Settings > Software Update now.

3

Couple of extra angles to add on top of what @sonhadordobosque already said, since Apple made this more confusing than it needs to be.

  1. Why you don’t see Safari in the App Store
    That’s actually normal on Mac. Unlike iPhone/iPad, Safari is considered part of the system. So if you search the Mac App Store and find nothing, that’s not a bug, it’s just how Apple ships it. You’re not missing a secret download button.

  2. You can get Safari updates without jumping to a whole new macOS
    This is where I’ll slightly disagree with the idea that you only get Safari with big macOS updates. On supported versions, Apple sometimes ships “Safari xx.x” as part of a macOS security update or point update for your current system.
    Example: already on Ventura, you might see:

    • “macOS Ventura 13.x Security Response”
      That kind of update can bump Safari too, without forcing you straight to Sonoma. So you can usually stay on your current major macOS version and still get newer Safari builds, as long as that OS is still supported.

  3. If you really don’t want to risk anything right now
    If you’re paranoid about your setup (understandable):

    • Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update
    • Instead of hitting “Upgrade Now” to a whole new OS, look specifically for:
      • “Security Response”
      • “Supplemental Update”
      • “macOS 12.x / 13.x update”
      Install those first. They are smaller and more targeted, and often contain Safari and security fixes.

  4. Backup without overthinking it
    Time Machine is great, but if you don’t feel like setting that up yet, at the very least:

    • Copy your important stuff (Documents, Desktop, Photos library, anything work related) to an external drive or cloud folder.
      System updates shouldn’t wipe data, but hard drives and laptops don’t always read the script. A quick copy-paste backup is better than nothing.

  5. If your Mac is too old for the latest Safari
    This is the annoying part:

    • If your Mac can’t go past, say, macOS 10.15 or 11, your Safari version is capped too.
    • In that case, instead of fighting with Safari, install a modern third party browser like Firefox, Chrome, Brave, whatever you prefer, and use that for “picky” sites that complain about outdated Safari.
      You can still keep Safari for light stuff and bookmarks if you like the feel of it.

  6. Check what you actually have now

    • Open Safari
    • Safari menu > About Safari
      Google “Safari version compatibility” and you’ll see which macOS versions match that build. That tells you if you’re roughly up to date for your OS or if you’ve clearly fallen a few years behind.

Short version:
• No separate Safari in the App Store, that’s normal.
• Use System Settings > Software Update, but you don’t have to leap to the newest macOS if you just grab the smaller updates.
• Back up at least your important files before doing anything.
• On older Macs, consider a different browser for modern sites if Safari can’t go any further.