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How to Activate the iPhone Debug Console or Web Inspector

Use Safari's web developer tools to study problematic websites

mobile safari developer tools

  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
  • Switching from Android

What to Know

  • Activate Web Inspector on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced and move the Web Inspector toggle switch to the On position.
  • Use Web Inspector on macOS: Connect your iOS device to a Mac and choose the URL to inspect from the Develop menu.

If you run into a bug or another issue with a website on Safari mobile, use the Web Inspector tool to investigate. This article explains how to use the Safari console for iPhone to debug errors with the help of your Mac computer. Instructions apply to iPhones with iOS 14, iOS 12, or iOS 11, and well as Macs with macOS Big Sur (11.0), macOS Catalina (10.15), or macOS Mojave (10.14).

Activate Web Inspector on Your iPhone or Other iOS Device

The Web Inspector is disabled by default since most iPhone users have no use for it. However, if you're a developer or you're curious, you can activate it in a few short steps. Here's how:

Open the iPhone  Settings  menu.

On an iPhone with an early version of iOS, access the Debug Console through Settings > Safari > Developer > Debug Console . When Safari on the iPhone detects CSS, HTML, and JavaScript errors, details of each display in the debugger.

Scroll down and tap  Safari  to open the screen that contains everything related to the Safari web browser on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Advanced .

Move the Web Inspector toggle switch to the On position.

Connect Your iOS Device to Safari on a Mac

To use the Web Inspector, connect your iPhone or another iOS device to a Mac that has the Safari web browser and enable the Develop menu .

With Safari open, select Safari from the menu bar and choose  Preferences .

Select the  Advanced  tab.

Select the Show Develop menu in menu bar check box and close the settings window.

From the Safari menu bar, select Develop and choose the name of your attached iOS device, then select the URL that appears under Safari to open the debug console for that site.

After you connect your device, use your Mac to inspect the website you want to debug and have it open in the Safari mobile browser.

What Is Web Inspector?

Web developers use Web Inspector to modify, debug, and optimize websites on Macs and iOS devices. With Web Inspector open, developers can inspect the resources on a web page. The Web Inspector window contains editable HTML and notes regarding the styles and layers of the web page in a separate panel.

Before iOS 6, the iPhone Safari web browser had a built-in Debug Console that developers used to find web page defects. Recent versions of iOS use Web Inspector instead.

With Safari 9 and OS X Mavericks (10.9), Apple introduced Responsive Design Mode in Web Inspector. Developers use this built-in simulator to preview how web pages scale to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations.

To set up Web Inspector on your iPad, open your iPad's Settings and select Safari > Advanced , then turn Web Inspector On . Connect the iPad to a Mac computer, then open Safari on the Mac and select Safari > Preferences > Advanced , then turn on Show Develop menu in menu bar .

You cannot just connect your iPhone to a Windows PC and start using Web Inspector through Chrome like you can with a Mac. Installing package manager software can provide you a sort of workaround, but it's not recommended unless you're familiar with the package management app you intend to use.

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How To Debug Websites Using Safari Developer Tools

mobile safari developer tools

Safari is the default browser on iPads, Macbooks, and iPhones. It lies second on browser preferences right after Chrome. Its 250+ features offer users striking benefits that set it apart from other most popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox. Building on that, iPhone’s popularity has resulted in a global smartphone market share of 53.6% for Safari.

mobile safari developer tools

Last year, Apple’s number of active devices witnessed a significant increase to 1.5. Since the user base keeps rising, Apple constantly ensures a near-perfect user experience and an optimized performance across all its devices.

Thanks to its good usability and the massive popularity of Apple devices, Safari has gained a broad user base. If that’s the case, it’s vital to offer them an ideal browsing experience across various browser versions. But once you go ahead and launch a website, debugging it after encountering a bug becomes almost impossible.

That’s why it’s crucial to debug websites for Safari before they go out there. In this article, we look at how to debug websites using Safari Developer tools.

But before that, let’s check out why it’s vital to debug websites on Safari.

Why debug websites on Safari?

Safari has been a part of the most popular browsers since 2003. Its first version was released the same year with Mac OS X Panther. Since the iPhone launched in 2007, a mobile version of Safari has been included in all iOS devices. If a user doesn’t change it, it’s the default browser on Apple devices.

Considering the number of Apple devices and their never-ending versions, the combinations of different features and screen resolutions are enormous. But when you debug websites on Safari before launch, your users can hop on to the Window that quickly takes them to your services and products.

Web developers must validate website appearance across different screen sizes to maintain cross browser compatibility . This ensures the correct rendering of web pages across various browsers. It also provides a comparatively superior user experience with consistency. It’s also essential to consider how a particular version of Safari might interact with a device’s hardware specifications. This adds to another form of verification that is crucial for the web development pipeline.

Since Safari is the second most popular browser, businesses shouldn’t risk losing out on potential customers because of website bugs. After all, vulnerability, compromised navigation, and other incompetencies can turn a simple user interface into a screaming nightmare!

On the upside, device functionality and operating system are more superficial than Android devices. According to QA, deciding on a testbed is straightforward too.

Different methods to debug websites using Safari Developer tools

Before debugging websites using Safari Developer tools, it’s essential to have a device that runs on iOS or macOS. This section will explore three different techniques to debug websites using Safari Developer tools.

Debug Using Responsive Design Mode in Safari Developer tools.

Debug Websites on Safari using Web inspector on iPhones and iPads.

Debug Websites using Safari Developer tools on the LambdaTest platform.

Remote debugging for iOS Safari on OS X

Let’s take a look at different methods one by one!

Debugging websites with Responsive design mode

In this section of the article on Developer tools for Safari, we will look at how you can debug the mobile view of a website using Safari Developer tools. Remember that you need to enable the Developer menu before accessing the responsive design mode since it’s disabled by default for Safari.

After launching the Safari browser, select Preferences > Advanced .

Check the box and click the Show Develop menu in menu bar .

mobile safari developer tools

Here is how it looks.

mobile safari developer tools

Below are the steps for viewing a website’s mobile version with the help of Safari Developers tools –

Launch Safari and visit the URL of your choice.

Go to Develop > Enter Responsive Design Mode from the menu bar.

After that, you can view the desired website by selecting the Apple mobile device.

mobile safari developer tools

  • If you wish to debug a particular issue for a specific viewport or screen size or inspect a particular element, Web Inspector is the key to doing it. Developers can find it in the development view and use the element selector to inspect specific elements after activating the inspector.

mobile safari developer tools

Debugging websites on Safari using Web Inspector

As mentioned in the above method, here is how you can easily debug websites on iPhone and iPads on Safari using the Web Inspector.

Let’s take a look.

Connect your iPad or iPhone to the machine.

Navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced and enable the Web Inspector toggle button.

mobile safari developer tools

You can now preview the desired web page on your Safari browser in mobile or start debugging using Safari Developer tools.

Debugging websites using Safari Developer tools on LambdaTest

Cross browser testing platforms like LambdaTest provides integrated Safari Developer tools that allow users to debug websites in real-time on iOS simulators for browser testing. It also enables devs and testers to test on Safari browser online across different real Safari browser versions and operating systems. They can easily view and debug any JavaScript, CSS, or HTML web applications or websites and check their sites through changes in code via developer tools across different iOS devices.

Why Use LambdaTest for Safari Browser Debugging?

LambdaTest is a cross browser testing platform that offers an online browser farm of 3000+ real browsers and operating systems to perform browser and app testing of websites and web applications. Therefore, you can perform web testing on different versions online for identifying browser compatibility issues. In addition, it facilitates browser testing on real Safari browsers online that run on real machines. This ensures website compatibility on all legacy Safari versions and new ones from Safari 15 to 5.1.

Users get a broad range of Safari browser versions for debugging, ensuring a pixel-perfect experience for customers. In addition, thanks to parallel testing, LambdaTest helps you reduce test execution time for testing your website on both mobile and virtual macOS online.

The best thing about the LambdaTest platform is that you don’t even have to install or download anything, not even virtual machines! The cloud grid of mobile Safari browsers allows users to run Selenium IDE tests on cloud.

Also, with LambdaTest integrations, you can directly mark your bugs from LambdaTest and use Asana, JIRA, or other bug management tools. In addition to that, users can also move them to Gitlab, GitHub or carry out communication over Slack. Other integrations include Mantis Bug tracker, Clubhouse, Bugherd, TeamWork, Paymo, VSTS, and BitBucket.

LambdaTest tunnel allows users to access online Safari browsers for local page testing of private or locally hosted web apps for browser compatibility on different Safari browsers. Single-click responsive testing and full-page screenshot testing are some added functionalities.

Below are the steps on using iOS Developer tools for Safari on the LambdaTest platform for real-time testing –

Login to your LambdaTest account. If you don’t have an account, register on LambdaTest .

If you want to test on emulators and simulators , select **Real Time Testing **from the left sidebar. To test on a real device cloud , choose Real Time from the Real Device dropdown.

mobile safari developer tools

  • Enter a test URL, select the Mobile OS icon, choose DEVICE TYPE , DEVICE , OS , and BROWSER . Then, click START .

mobile safari developer tools

  • It will route you to the selected cloud-based iOS simulator . To open the integrated Safari Developer tools, click the **DevTools **icon.

mobile safari developer tools

You can now debug your web applications or websites using Developer tools for Safari.

If you want to debug websites on real devices, here is a quick tutorial on performing real-time testing on real devices.

Remote debugging iOS Safari on OS X can be a challenging task. But it’s simpler than you might think. First, install the Safari browser version on your computer.

Connect an iPhone or iPad to a Mac computer with the help of a USB.

Enable Web Inspector on your device by selecting Settings > Safari > Advanced and switching on the Web Inspector toggle. This will switch it on in case that wasn’t in the default mode.

After successfully enabling Web Inspector, do the same with the develop menu by selecting Safari > Preferences > Advanced and check the box in the menu bar. Don’t do anything if it’s enabled already by default.

Ensure that your devices are plugged in on your computer before opening your desired web page. Select Develop > iOS device name and select the page you wish to debug.

Now, you can view and update the DOM (Document Object Model) and have access to the JavaScript console and some other features and options.

The reason for the Javascriptexecution failure is generally provided in the error message, including a stacktrace of the error given by the browser’s JavaScript engine.

Summing Up!

You won’t automatically gain a billion users by designing a feature-filled website. Even if you manage to acquire people to browse your website with compromised features, they will encounter bugs and leave your platform forever. Remember that retention is vital to ensure consistent conversions and high ROI besides gaining users. Every bug in your interface takes your customers closer to your competitors.

The methods mentioned above are helpful for QA teams to debug websites using Safari Developer tools. Interface bugs can lie on the spectrum of simply being annoying and causing major user experience disruptions. Debugging on Safari browsers is necessary to launch web applications that work well under all conditions.

Some developers and testers might find website debugging for Safari a bit challenging. But it’s important to remember how crucial it is to offer a satisfying and seamless user experience for better customer acquisition and retention.

Do you have any questions regarding how to debug a website using Safari Developer tools? Let us know in the comments below.

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Markdown

Safari Dev Tools: The Complete 2023 Guide

Introduction to safari developer tools.

Safari is Apple's proprietary web browser that comes pre-installed on all Mac and iOS devices. Its integrated developer tools provide everything web developers need to build, debug and optimize websites for Apple's ecosystem.

In this comprehensive tutorial, we'll cover key capabilities of Safari's dev tools including:

  • The Web Inspector for inspecting page structure and CSS
  • The Debugger for stepping through JavaScript code
  • The Resources panel for auditing page assets
  • The Audits panel for testing web standards compliance
  • Device Mode for simulating mobile screens
  • Advanced debugging features like conditional breakpoints
  • Network throttling to simulate real-world conditions
  • Experimental features for early access

By the end, you'll have master expertise using Safari dev tools to squash bugs faster, improve site performance, and deliver exceptional web experiences across Apple devices. You'll also discover resources like DevHunt to continue exploring the latest Safari developer tools.

A Brief History of Safari

Safari originated within Apple in 2003, based on the open source KHTML rendering engine. It was first released for Mac OS X Panther and quickly became Apple's default browser.

In 2007, Apple launched the first Windows version of Safari to expand its userbase. That same year, Safari made its mobile debut on the first iPhone.

Over the years, Safari has gone through many major version updates adding new features and support for emerging web standards. It remains the pre-installed browser on all Apple operating systems and devices including Macs, iPhones and iPads.

Why Learn Safari Developer Tools?

Here are some key reasons web developers should learn Safari dev tools:

  • Pre-installed on all Mac and iOS devices, used by millions globally
  • Allows direct debugging on iOS devices
  • Can emulate mobile devices in desktop browser
  • Essential for targeting Apple's ecosystem
  • Identify optimizations for Safari to improve site experience
  • Learn how your sites perform on Safari and make improvements
  • Fix rendering issues specific to WebKit browser engine
  • Utilize experimental features to build cutting-edge websites
  • Discover new Safari dev tools on platforms like DevHunt

With Safari holding significant browser market share, especially in the mobile space, having expertise in its developer tools is vital for crafting high-quality cross-browser experiences.

Core Safari Developer Tools

Now let's dive into the core developer tools available within Safari on both desktop and mobile.

The Web Inspector

The Web Inspector is the main hub for visually inspecting and modifying a web page. Key functions include:

  • View and edit the live DOM tree
  • Inspect and modify CSS styles
  • Audit accessibility information
  • Analyze network requests and performance
  • Identify layout issues or style problems
  • Live edit code changes right in the browser

For front-end developers, the Inspector is indispensable for debugging HTML, CSS and accessibility issues. You can instantly see how changes to markup and styles affect rendering.

The Debugger

Safari's JavaScript Debugger allows pausing code execution to step through scripts line-by-line. You can:

  • Set breakpoints to isolate issues
  • Inspect stack traces and variable scopes
  • Profile memory usage and CPU utilization
  • Emulate device throttling conditions
  • Blackbox third-party scripts

The Debugger equips you to tackle even the most complex JavaScript bugs. From tracking down logic errors to profiling performance, it's an essential tool for front-end logic and optimization.

The Resources Panel

This panel displays all resources loaded by the page like scripts, stylesheets, fonts, images and media. For each resource you can:

  • View request URLs, status codes and timings
  • Filter by type, folder location or domain
  • Check dependencies and redundancy
  • Audit performance and bottlenecks
  • Download resources to your machine

Knowing exactly what resources a page loads is invaluable for optimizing performance. The Resources panel helps you eliminate unnecessary requests and prioritize critical assets.

Storage Inspector

The Storage Inspector lets you view and edit browser storage like cookies, LocalStorage, SessionStorage and IndexedDB. You can:

  • Add, modify or delete stored keys and values
  • Export storage data as JSON
  • Emulate different browser states for testing
  • Clear storage entirely to test initial experience

Being able to inspect persistence mechanisms is vital for debugging issues related to state management in modern web apps.

The Audits Panel

Safari's Audits panel runs diagnostics on pages to surface optimization opportunities and standards compliance issues. Audits include:

  • Performance analysis and scoring
  • Accessibility checks following WCAG guidelines
  • Best practices for progressive web apps
  • SEO enhancements
  • Modern web platform usage

Running audits before launching any website can help you catch critical problems early and compare against industry benchmarks.

Advanced Safari Developer Tools

Beyond the basics, Safari offers powerful advanced tools for seasoned developers.

Device Mode

Device Mode accurately emulates mobile screens and conditions right in desktop Safari:

  • Simulate precise device dimensions and resolution
  • Throttle CPU and network to mimic real devices
  • Essential for building mobile-friendly, responsive sites
  • Test touch events and gestures during development

With Device Mode, you can build fully optimized mobile experiences without constantly switching devices.

Advanced Debugging

Safari provides next-level JavaScript debugging capabilities:

  • Set conditional breakpoints using expressions
  • Group breakpoints for easy management
  • Step through async code with async stack traces
  • Profile memory heap allocations over time
  • Blackbox scripts to hide library code
  • Break on caught or uncaught exceptions

These advanced features help you tackle difficult bugs in even the most complex single-page apps and frameworks like Vue.js.

Network Throttling

Network Throttling allows simulating slow network connections, like 3G and LTE. You can:

  • Rate limit bandwidth and latency
  • Identify assets blocking page load
  • Debug loading behavior in emerging markets
  • Optimize performance for offline/low-bandwidth
  • Throttle cache usage and response compression

Testing how your site performs under real-world network conditions is crucial to providing good user experiences for all.

Experimental Features

Safari lets developers try out experimental tools before they are formally released:

  • Get early access to new capabilities
  • Provide feedback to help shape future features
  • Use at your own risk as they are still in development
  • Currently includes CSS Flexbox debugging tools

Tapping into experimental features allows you to build cutting-edge experiences and directly influence the browser platform's evolution.

Debugging JavaScript Issues

Now let's explore strategies for debugging JavaScript using Safari's advanced capabilities.

Breakpoint Usage

Effective breakpoint usage is key for isolating issues:

  • Set breakpoints directly within the source code
  • Organize breakpoints into groups by context
  • Use conditional breakpoints to pause on specific criteria
  • Disable breakpoints without deleting to toggle behavior
  • Manage breakpoints efficiently even in complex codebases

Mastering breakpoints gives you precise control over pausing execution to inspect logic flow and data.

Scope Inspection

Understanding scope is vital for tracking down variable issues:

  • Inspect variable values in different call frames
  • Detect scope pollution across closures and modules
  • Ensure code executes in the intended lexical scope
  • Fix bugs caused by accessing stale variable references
  • Avoid global namespace pollution

With Safari's scoping tools, you can confidently debug even complex nested closures and callback contexts.

Async Debugging

Safari provides multiple approaches for debugging asynchronous code:

  • Step through promise resolutions and rejections
  • Inspect async operation call stacks and task queues
  • Profile async code performance with CPU profiler
  • Set breakpoints within async callbacks and timers
  • Visually trace async code flows

Smooth async debugging helps you tackle race conditions, timing issues, and callback hell.

Error Handling

The key to debugging runtime errors is Safari's break on exception feature:

  • Break on any caught or uncaught exceptions
  • Inspect error call stacks to trace where issues originate
  • Log values with console.log() to debug logic flow
  • Validate edge cases and fix crashes
  • Handle errors gracefully to improve user experience

With robust error handling, you can isolate bugs quicker and build more resilient apps.

Optimizing Page Speed

Next let's explore some common techniques for optimizing page speed using Safari developer tools.

Image Optimization

Safari provides multiple ways to optimize images:

  • Audit image sizes and formats using the Resources panel
  • Compress and resize images as needed
  • Lazy load offscreen images to improve TTI
  • Serve next-gen formats like WebP to Safari users
  • Remove unnecessary decorative images

With Safari's insight into image resources, you can significantly cut page weight and load times.

Script Loading

Optimizing script loading is key for performance:

  • Minimize parser-blocking JavaScript
  • Load non-critical scripts asynchronously
  • Dynamically create and load scripts
  • Code split bundles into logical chunks
  • Tree shake and minify code to reduce payload

Safari shows you exactly how scripts impact loading behavior so you can optimize delivery.

Caching Assets

Effective caching can boost repeat visit performance:

  • Set optimal cache lifetimes for static assets
  • Cache assets locally using service workers
  • Version assets linked to app release cycles
  • Avoid cache-busting query strings
  • Maximize cache reuse for returning users

The Resources panel helps you dial in caching for faster loads without staleness.

Layout Thrashing

Diagnosing layout thrashing is key for smooth UX:

  • Identify forced synchronous layouts
  • Defer non-critical DOM updates with requestAnimationFrame()
  • Avoid reading styles after writes during rendering
  • Batch DOM reads/writes together
  • Profile with Debugger to pinpoint problems

With Safari's performance tools, you can isolate and fix sources of jank and lag.

Wrap Up and Key Takeaways

Safari developer tools provide everything needed to build high-quality websites targeting Apple's ecosystem.

Key highlights include:

  • Debugging directly on iOS devices with Web Inspector
  • Stepping through JavaScript with advanced Debugger features
  • Auditing pages for standards compliance
  • Simulating mobile devices and networks during development
  • Optimizing performance using Network Throttling
  • Trying out experimental capabilities early
  • Discovering new Safari dev tools on platforms like DevHunt

Learning Safari developer tools allows you to find and fix cross-browser issues faster. You can optimize sites specifically for Safari and deliver stellar experiences to millions of Apple users worldwide.

With a comprehensive understanding of Safari's robust toolset, you can confidently build, debug and enhance modern progressive web apps. Safari developer tools help web developers succeed across platforms.

mobile safari developer tools

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Safari User Guide

  • Get started
  • Go to a website
  • Bookmark webpages to revisit
  • See your favorite websites
  • Use tabs for webpages
  • Import bookmarks and passwords
  • Pay with Apple Pay
  • Autofill credit card info
  • View links from friends
  • Keep a Reading List
  • Hide ads when reading
  • Translate a webpage
  • Download items from the web
  • Add passes to Wallet
  • Save part or all of a webpage
  • Print or create a PDF of a webpage
  • Interact with text in a picture
  • Change your homepage
  • Customize a start page
  • Create a profile
  • Block pop-ups
  • Make Safari your default web browser
  • Hide your email address
  • Manage cookies
  • Clear your browsing history
  • Browse privately
  • Prevent cross-site tracking
  • See who tried to track you
  • Change Safari settings
  • Keyboard and other shortcuts

mobile safari developer tools

Use the developer tools in the Develop menu in Safari on Mac

If you’re a web developer, the Safari Develop menu provides tools you can use to make sure your website works well with all standards-based web browsers.

If you don’t see the Develop menu in the menu bar , choose Safari > Settings, click Advanced, then select “Show features for web developers.”

Open Safari for me

Web Inspector 4+

Developer console for safari, and a dinosaur.

  • #37 in Developer Tools
  • 4.1 • 95 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

### Please refresh the page if you tap the "i" button and nothing happens ### Web Inspector expands Mobile Safari with a set of web development tools: DOM: View, inspect, edit, and search the elements that make up the DOM of a webpage. Elements: See the details about the webpage’s nodes and styles. Console: Type JavaScript commands in the console to debug, modify, and get information about your webpage. You can also see logs, errors, and warnings emitted from a webpage. Network: See a detailed list of network requests and responses made from a webpage. Resource: Find details about the data stored by a webpage such as cookies, local storage, and session storage.

Version 1.2.4

- Turn off Inspect mode after selecting an element because it confuses people.

Ratings and Reviews

It's so close to being exceptional.

This really is impressive. It's extremely intuitive, very appealing to look at, and integrates directly with safari. It feels very reminiscent of Chrome DevTools, so you feel right at home using it. Now, the things that are missing are quite noteworthy. There's no way to edit CSS without editing the html and applying inline styles. You also cannot see all the possible styles that are inherited from the classes applied to the element. Only the computed styles. That's a pretty big deal. Furthermore, I haven't found a way to resize the panel as its much too large. I saw somewhere the dev saying you could tap and hold and drag it down, but I haven't been able to figure it out and neither have some other people, so that could be a little bit more intuitive. It also is a little buggy where the nav bar of the panel doesn't always show up. Have to close safari completely and reopen it to fix that. Frankly, the CSS and resize things are the most important. With those two things fixed, this app would be worth $$$ and I could see this being worth every penny. Safari is always a pain to debug without a mac and this helps you inspect what a lot of your clients are probably seeing. First person I've seen use safari extensions for this and it's about time.

Exactly what I wanted

In the past 10 or so years I have been using IOS apps I have probably only left 4 or 5 reviews because most of the time I do not feel strongly enough about the performance of a product that I feel it is worth the effort. This app is an exception. I was just looking for a way to use networking tools, similar to the likes of which you would find in chrome, while on mobile. Not only did it let me get the information I needed with no hassle/troubleshooting but I see that it has a whole suite of tools you can use with a simple, yet effective and intuitive UI. Although I have seen other complaints about not being able to edit CSS, I think those complaints are somewhat irrelevant because I can’t imagine being in a situation where you would ever want to edit css on a mobile device instead of using an emulator/vm on your primary system. I also see other complaints about not being able to access images although from my experience it seems as though that is not the fault of this extension and is instead the fault of the user, because I have had no errors or trouble doing that on my end. Good job devs behind this, this is a perfect example of how safari extensions on IOS should be executed <3

Can’t edit CSS

It’s fine for as far as it goes. Editing HTML is nice. But not being able to edit the CSS is kind of a dealbreaker, because that is what’s most important for me. You can see the CSS fine, like on the desktop Inspector, but you can’t edit the values or add/remove declarations. Also, there doesn’t seem to be any way to minimize or dismiss the panel to see whatever changes you made or to screenshot the changes. You have to tap an Apply button to apply the HTML changes you make. Seems like that should be automatic, like the desktop experience. It’s got potential though, if those could be fixed.

App Privacy

The developer, And a Dinosaur , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

  • Developer Website
  • App Support
  • Privacy Policy

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How To Open Developer Tools On Safari

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how-to-open-developer-tools-on-safari

Introduction

Opening developer tools in a web browser is a fundamental skill for anyone involved in web development, debugging, or troubleshooting website issues. Developer tools, also known as DevTools, provide a suite of powerful features that allow you to inspect and modify the structure and layout of a web page, analyze network activity, debug JavaScript, and much more. In this article, we will explore how to open developer tools specifically in the Safari web browser.

Safari, known for its sleek interface and robust performance, offers multiple methods to access its developer tools. Whether you prefer using the menu bar, keyboard shortcuts, or the context menu, Safari provides convenient options to suit your workflow. By mastering these methods, you can seamlessly integrate developer tools into your web development process, enhancing your efficiency and productivity.

In the following sections, we will delve into each method, providing step-by-step instructions and tips to ensure a smooth experience. Whether you are a seasoned web developer or just starting your journey, understanding how to open developer tools in Safari is a valuable skill that can empower you to create, debug, and optimize websites with confidence. Let's embark on this exploration and unlock the potential of Safari's developer tools together.

Method 1: Using the Menu Bar

Opening developer tools in Safari using the menu bar is a straightforward and reliable method. This approach is particularly useful for users who prefer navigating through familiar menu options to access essential browser features. Here's how you can effortlessly open developer tools using the menu bar:

Launch Safari : Begin by opening the Safari web browser on your Mac or iOS device. Ensure that you are running the latest version of Safari to access the most advanced developer tools and features.

Navigate to the Menu Bar : Look at the top of your screen for the menu bar. You will find the menu options such as "File," "Edit," "View," "History," "Bookmarks," "Develop," "Window," and "Help."

Access the "Develop" Menu : Click on the "Develop" option in the menu bar. If you don't see the "Develop" menu, you may need to enable it first. To do this, go to "Safari" > "Preferences" > "Advanced" and check the box next to "Show Develop menu in menu bar."

Open Developer Tools : Once you have accessed the "Develop" menu, you will find a list of options, including "Show Web Inspector." Click on "Show Web Inspector," and the developer tools panel will appear, providing you with a comprehensive set of tools to analyze and modify web pages.

Explore the Developer Tools : With the developer tools now open, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the various tabs and features available. You can inspect the HTML and CSS of the web page, analyze network activity, debug JavaScript, and much more.

By utilizing the menu bar to access developer tools in Safari, you can seamlessly integrate this essential feature into your web development workflow. This method provides a convenient and intuitive way to leverage the power of Safari's developer tools, empowering you to create, debug, and optimize websites with precision and efficiency.

Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Harnessing the power of keyboard shortcuts is a time-saving and efficient way to access developer tools in Safari. By memorizing and utilizing these shortcuts, you can seamlessly integrate developer tools into your web development workflow, enhancing your productivity and efficiency. Here's how you can effortlessly open developer tools using keyboard shortcuts:

Initiate Keyboard Shortcut : To open the developer tools using a keyboard shortcut, simply press "Option + Command + I" on your Mac keyboard . Alternatively, you can use "Option + Command + C" to open the developer tools and immediately activate the cursor for inspecting elements on the web page.

Access Developer Tools : Upon executing the keyboard shortcut, the developer tools panel will swiftly appear, providing you with a comprehensive set of tools to inspect, debug, and optimize web pages. This rapid access to developer tools streamlines your workflow, allowing you to delve into web page elements and network activity without interrupting your creative momentum.

Navigate with Ease : With the developer tools now open, take a moment to explore the various tabs and features available. You can effortlessly navigate through the Elements, Console, Sources, Network, and other panels using the keyboard or mouse, gaining valuable insights into the structure and behavior of the web page.

By leveraging keyboard shortcuts to access developer tools in Safari, you can seamlessly integrate this essential feature into your web development process. The intuitive and rapid nature of keyboard shortcuts empowers you to swiftly analyze and modify web pages, debug JavaScript, and optimize website performance with precision and speed. Embracing these shortcuts as part of your web development toolkit can elevate your proficiency and effectiveness, enabling you to create exceptional web experiences with ease.

Method 3: Using the Context Menu

Utilizing the context menu to access developer tools in Safari offers a convenient and efficient method, particularly for users who prefer a streamlined approach to web development. By leveraging the context menu, you can seamlessly open the developer tools directly from the web page, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menu options. Here's a detailed exploration of how you can effortlessly open developer tools using the context menu:

Navigate to the Web Page : Visit the web page that you intend to inspect and analyze using the developer tools. Whether it's your own website, a client's project, or a site you're troubleshooting, the context menu provides a swift pathway to accessing the developer tools.

Right-click on the Web Page : Once you are on the web page, right-click (or control-click) anywhere on the page to reveal the context menu. This menu typically offers a range of options related to the content and functionality of the web page.

Access the "Inspect Element" Option : Within the context menu, look for the option labeled "Inspect Element" or a similar variation. Click on this option, and the developer tools panel will promptly appear, providing you with a comprehensive set of tools to inspect and modify the web page's structure and behavior.

Explore the Developer Tools : With the developer tools now open, take a moment to explore the various tabs and features available. You can inspect and modify the HTML and CSS of the web page, analyze network activity, debug JavaScript, and much more, all within the context of the specific elements you've chosen to inspect.

By leveraging the context menu to access developer tools in Safari, you can seamlessly integrate this essential feature into your web development workflow. This method offers a direct and intuitive pathway to swiftly analyze and modify web pages, empowering you to gain valuable insights and optimize website performance with precision and ease. Embracing the context menu as part of your web development toolkit can elevate your proficiency and effectiveness, enabling you to create exceptional web experiences with seamless accessibility to developer tools.

In conclusion, mastering the art of opening developer tools in Safari is a valuable skill that can significantly enhance your web development capabilities. By exploring the various methods to access developer tools, including using the menu bar, keyboard shortcuts, and the context menu, you can seamlessly integrate this essential feature into your workflow, empowering you to create, debug, and optimize websites with precision and efficiency.

Whether you prefer the familiarity of navigating through the menu bar, the rapid accessibility of keyboard shortcuts, or the streamlined efficiency of the context menu, Safari offers versatile options to suit your preferences and workflow. Each method provides a seamless pathway to unlock the powerful suite of developer tools, enabling you to inspect and modify web pages, analyze network activity, debug JavaScript, and much more.

By leveraging the menu bar, users can rely on the intuitive navigation to access developer tools, seamlessly integrating this essential feature into their web development process. The convenience of using familiar menu options ensures a smooth transition into the world of web page inspection and modification.

Embracing keyboard shortcuts as part of your web development toolkit can elevate your proficiency and effectiveness, enabling you to swiftly analyze and modify web pages, debug JavaScript, and optimize website performance with precision and speed. The rapid access to developer tools streamlines your workflow, allowing you to delve into web page elements and network activity without interrupting your creative momentum.

Utilizing the context menu to access developer tools offers a direct and intuitive pathway to swiftly analyze and modify web pages, empowering you to gain valuable insights and optimize website performance with precision and ease. This method eliminates the need to navigate through multiple menu options, providing a streamlined approach to web development.

In essence, understanding how to open developer tools in Safari is a foundational skill that can empower you to create exceptional web experiences. By seamlessly integrating developer tools into your web development process, you gain the ability to inspect, debug, and optimize websites with confidence, ultimately enhancing the quality and performance of your web projects. Embrace the versatility of Safari's developer tools and unlock the potential to elevate your web development capabilities.

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How to Open Safari Developer Tools & Enable Mobile View Mode

mobile safari developer tools

John on May 12, 2021

mobile safari developer tools

In this tutorial, we will learn how to open the Safari developer console and enable mobile view for responsive web development.

How to Enable Safari Developer Tools

If you don't have developer tools enabled in Safari, you will need to do this before the console can be opened by using the following steps:

  • From the main menu go to Safari > Preferences (or use the CMD + , keyboard shortcut.)
  • Go to the Advanced tab.
  • Check "Show Developer menu in menu bar"

Open the Safari Developer Console

Now open the developer console in responsive mode by going to the menu and selecting Develop > Enter Responsive Design Mode :

Responsive Mode

Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + CMD + R to enter responsive developer mode.

Now you can work on your website in a variety of different mobile device screen sizes by selecting them at the top of the page:

Dev Console

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mobile safari developer tools

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  1. How to Activate the Web Inspector or Safari Console for iPhone

    How to Activate the iPhone Debug Console or Web Inspector. Use Safari's web developer tools to study problematic websites. Activate Web Inspector on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced and move the Web Inspector toggle switch to the On position. Use Web Inspector on macOS: Connect your iOS device to a Mac and choose the URL to inspect from ...

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  3. How to use Devtools for Safari Mobile View?

    To access the Responsive Design Mode, enable the Safari Develop menu. Follow the steps below to enable the Develop menu: Launch Safari browser. Click on Safari -> Settings -> Advanced. Select the checkbox -> Show Develop menu in menu bar. Once the Develop menu is enabled, it'll show up in the menu bar as shown in the image below: Note ...

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    Overview. Safari includes features and tools to help you inspect, debug, and test web content in Safari, in other apps, and on other devices including iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, as well as Apple TV for inspecting JavaScript and TVML. Features like Web Inspector in Safari on macOS let you inspect and experiment with the layout of your ...

  5. How to Debug Websites on iPhone Safari

    Connect the iOS device to the machine. Enable the Web-Inspector option. To do so: Go to Settings > Safari > Scroll down to the bottom > Open Advanced Menu>. Turn on Web Inspector. Open the desired web page to debug or preview on your mobile Safari browser. Once done, enable the Develop menu on the Mac device.

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  7. How to Use Web Inspector to Debug Mobile Safari (iPhone or iPad)

    Enable Web Inspector on iOS : Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Safari. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Advanced. Tap the toggle next to Web Inspector to the On position. Enable Safari Developer Mode on Mac : Open Safari on your Mac. Click Safari in the top left corner of your Menu Bar.

  8. Complete Guide to Safari Developer Tools

    To open the Safari Developer Tools, right-click on Inspect and start debugging. You can leverage other built-in features offered by LambdaTest, like geolocation testing, uploading files, accessibility, and much more. Using Safari, you can use the Responsive Design Mode while debugging your websites on LambdaTest.

  9. Debug Websites Using the Safari Developer Tools

    View the mobile version of a website by selecting the particular model from the screen. Now, if you want to debug a website with a specific defect for a particular screen size or review a particular webpage element, you need to use the Web Inspector on the Safari Developer Tools.

  10. Guide to Safari Developer Tools

    There are two ways to inspect an element in Safari Developer Tools: In the browser window, right-click on any element and select 'Inspect Element'. In the menu toolbar, select Develop > Show Web Inspector (or use the keyboard shortcut Option-Command-I ). This will display the current DOM of the page.

  11. Debugging Your iPhone Mobile Web App With Safari Dev Tools

    Safari Developer Tools offer a lot of options and settings for development, so feel free to play around with them all. What are your thoughts? Feel free to comment what features you like or dislike, as well as other mobile debugging alternatives. Happy debugging!

  12. Safari Developer Tools: The Comprehensive Guide for Web Developers

    Safari developer tools offer powerful capabilities for debugging and testing modern web experiences. Integrated responsive testing lowers mobile development friction. Advanced profiling guides performance optimizations. With robust features now on par with Chrome and Firefox, Safari devtools deserve a spot in every web developer's toolkit.

  13. How To Debug Websites Using Safari Developer Tools

    Before debugging websites using Safari Developer tools, it's essential to have a device that runs on iOS or macOS. This section will explore three different techniques to debug websites using Safari Developer tools. Debug Using Responsive Design Mode in Safari Developer tools. Debug Websites on Safari using Web inspector on iPhones and iPads.

  14. Safari Dev Tools: The Complete 2023 Guide

    With Safari holding significant browser market share, especially in the mobile space, having expertise in its developer tools is vital for crafting high-quality cross-browser experiences. Core Safari Developer Tools. Now let's dive into the core developer tools available within Safari on both desktop and mobile. The Web Inspector

  15. How to Use Developer Tools in Safari on iOS

    Touch the On button to activate the Debug Console. After the Debug Console is enabled, Safari reports any errors it encounters when accessing a website. At the top of every web page, just under the address bar, the Debug Console reports any HTML, JavaScript, or CSS errors.

  16. Use the developer tools in the Develop menu in Safari on Mac

    If you're a web developer, the Safari Develop menu provides tools you can use to make sure your website works well with all standards-based web browsers. If you don't see the Develop menu in the menu bar, choose Safari > Settings, click Advanced, then select "Show features for web developers.". See also Change Advanced settings in ...

  17. ‎Web Inspector on the App Store

    Web Inspector expands Mobile Safari with a set of web development tools: DOM: View, inspect, edit, and search the elements that make up the DOM of a webpage. Elements: See the details about the webpage's nodes and styles. Console: Type JavaScript commands in the console to debug, modify, and get information about your webpage.

  18. Develop menu

    Overview. The Develop menu is home to the tools available to design and develop web content in Safari, as well as web content used by other applications on your Mac and other devices. The Develop menu also provides quick access to Changing Developer settings in Safari on macOS and Changing Feature Flag settings in Safari on macOS.. Note. If you haven't already enabled features for web ...

  19. How to Debug on iPhone Safari for Windows

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  20. How To Open Developer Tools On Safari

    Access the "Develop" Menu: Click on the "Develop" option in the menu bar. If you don't see the "Develop" menu, you may need to enable it first. To do this, go to "Safari" > "Preferences" > "Advanced" and check the box next to "Show Develop menu in menu bar." Open Developer Tools: Once you have accessed the "Develop" menu, you will find a list ...

  21. How to Use Developer Tools for Mobile Safari on an iPhone Simulator

    In this video I show how you can use an iPhone simulator on Macs to use browser developer tools on the mobile version of the Safari browser. Be sure to subsc...

  22. How to Open Safari Developer Tools & Enable Mobile View Mode

    How to Enable Safari Developer Tools. If you don't have developer tools enabled in Safari, you will need to do this before the console can be opened by using the following steps: From the main menu go to Safari > Preferences (or use the CMD + , keyboard shortcut.) Go to the Advanced tab. Check "Show Developer menu in menu bar".

  23. Is there any way to debug chrome in any IOS device

    In iOS device, open Chrome -> Settings -> Content Settings and enable Web Inspector option. Navigate to the page you want to debug in iOS chrome browser. In Mac, open Safari -> Develop menu -> cursor over the iOS device name and it will show the open tabs to debug. Note: Make sure your iOS device stays unlocked.