To run Selenium tests in Safari on macOS, enable Safari’s remote automation permission, then create a Safari session with a current Selenium client library. Apple supplies safaridriver with macOS, so you normally do not download a separate driver. You can enable the permission in Safari under Develop > Developer Settings… > Allow remote automation, or run safaridriver --enable in Terminal. Apple’s macOS setup instructions cover both routes.
Enable Safari WebDriver
Safari’s WebDriver support is off by default. Turn on remote automation once for the macOS account that will run the tests. Use either method below; both configure Safari’s automation permission.
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Enable it in Safari
- Open Safari.
- From the menu bar, open Develop and choose Developer Settings….
- Check Allow remote automation.
If the Develop menu is not visible, use the Terminal method instead, or consult Apple’s current instructions for locating the setting in your Safari version.
Enable it in Terminal
Run this command in Terminal:
safaridriver --enableApple notes that an upgrade from an earlier macOS release may require elevated privileges. If the command does not enable the setting, try:
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sudo safaridriver --enableEnter your macOS administrator password if prompted. The command’s lack of visible output does not by itself indicate failure; start a session with Selenium to check that the permission is enabled.
Start a Safari session with Selenium
Install the Selenium client library for your language and use its Safari driver. Selenium’s Safari driver is installed with macOS and is ordinarily launched by the client library; the standard executable is /usr/bin/safaridriver. See the Selenium Safari browser guide for the client-library setup details.
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The central pattern is to create a Safari WebDriver instance through the Selenium API, navigate to a page, and then close the session. Exact imports and installation steps depend on the language and Selenium version, so follow the Safari section of the current Selenium documentation for your chosen binding.
Choose the Safari build you want to test
The standard safaridriver launches the Safari version associated with the installed macOS browser. Safari Technology Preview is a separate target: it has its own driver executable inside its application bundle, and that driver launches the matching preview browser. If your client library supports selecting an explicit driver executable, point it to the Technology Preview driver when testing that build. Apple documents the association and locations in its WebKit WebDriver guide.
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| Target | Driver selection | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Installed Safari | /usr/bin/safaridriver |
You want to test the Safari version supplied with macOS. |
| Safari Technology Preview | The separate safaridriver inside the Technology Preview application bundle; location and selection method can vary by installation and Selenium binding. |
You want preview-build coverage and will explicitly select its corresponding driver. |
Do not install or configure the former Selenium-maintained SafariDriver implementation. Apple’s WebKit guide explains that Apple’s native implementation replaced it. Use the native driver through a current Selenium client instead.
What Safari’s WebDriver session changes
Apple describes WebDriver test windows as isolated from your ordinary Safari browsing windows, settings, and preferences. Do not rely on your normal browsing session’s state or preferences being present in an automated test. See Apple’s WebDriver overview.
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Troubleshoot common setup failures
- Safari says remote automation is disabled: revisit Develop > Developer Settings… > Allow remote automation, or run
safaridriver --enable. On an upgraded system, retry withsudoif needed. - The command is not found: check that macOS’s Safari driver is available at
/usr/bin/safaridriver. If targeting Safari Technology Preview, use its bundled driver rather than assuming the standard path applies. - Selenium opens the wrong browser build: select the driver associated with the intended Safari version. Standard Safari and Technology Preview use separate executables.
- An old setup guide asks for a separate legacy SafariDriver: disregard that legacy workflow and use Apple’s native WebDriver with a current Selenium client.
- The test does not share your normal Safari login or preferences: WebDriver windows are isolated by design, so make the test establish the state it needs rather than depending on an ordinary browsing window.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to capture a page rather than exercise it interactively with Selenium, ScreenshotNeo returns a screenshot or PDF from one GET request; it is not a replacement for browser automation tests. For example, this cURL request saves a WebP capture:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does SafariDriver require a separate download?
No. Apple’s Safari driver is supplied with macOS; Selenium ordinarily launches it through the client library.
Can Selenium test Safari Technology Preview?
Yes. Use the separate driver bundled with Technology Preview and configure the client library to launch that matching browser build.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIs ScreenshotNeo a substitute for Selenium Safari testing?
No. ScreenshotNeo captures a page as an image or PDF; Selenium is the appropriate choice for interactive browser tests.
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