Browser guide — Apple Safari
Keep your screen awake in Safari
Safari picked up the Screen Wake Lock API in version 16.4 (March 2023), arriving on macOS, iOS and iPadOS at the same time. On Apple platforms, Safari's version number is the whole story — here's why.
Support at a glance
| Platform | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Yes — Safari 16.4+ (macOS 13.3+) | Visible, HTTPS tab required |
| iPhone & iPad | Yes — iOS/iPadOS 16.4+ | Page must stay on screen |
| Home Screen web apps | Yes | “Add to Home Screen” pages can hold the lock too |
| Safari 16.3 and older | No | Update the OS, or use caffeinate / Auto-Lock |
Why every browser on iPhone is “Safari underneath”
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and any other browser on iOS are required by Apple to use the WebKit engine — Safari's engine. That means one rule covers them all: if the device runs iOS 16.4 or later, wake lock works in every iOS browser; below that, in none. Updating iOS updates them all at once. (The EU now allows alternative engines in theory, but WebKit remains what ships on virtually all iPhones.)
Using the tool in Safari
Open the tool, pick a duration, tap the button. Safari holds the lock while the page is on screen; lock the phone or switch apps and it releases. On a Mac, the tab must be visible — a separate Safari window does nicely.
Safari versions follow the OS
Safari doesn't update separately: its version comes from macOS and iOS updates. To check yours: Safari → About Safari on a Mac, or Settings → General → About on iPhone. If you're below 16.4, an OS update is the fix — and brings years of security patches with it.
Alternatives on Apple platforms
- Mac: the built-in
caffeinatecommand or Lock Screen settings — details in the Mac guide. - iPhone: Auto-Lock → Never, StandBy while charging, or Guided Access — all covered in the iPhone guide.