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Download Using Apple Software Update on Microsoft Windows (PDF, 401 KB)

How do I manually check for updates for the Apple Safari web browser?

If you have a computer with a Microsoft operating system and Apple software installed then the easiest way to update it is to use Apple Software Update. Apple Software Update is automatically installed with any of the following Apple programs – Safari,iTunes or QuickTime.

Apple Software Update for Microsoft users

The Apple Software Update program is essential if you want to manually update the Safari web browser because Safari does not have an in-built "check for updates" feature like many applications do.

Apple Software Update will automatically check and advise you when software updates are available for the Apple software on your computer.

Alternatively, you can manually check for new updates using the Apple Software Update program by following these steps.These steps only apply to Microsoft computers which already have Apple software installed.

For Windows Vista

1. Click the “Start” button in the lower left corner of your computer screen. The button looks like the image on the right.
2. Select “All Programs” from the Start menu as shown in figure 1 below.

   

   Figure 1, Vista start menu

3. Select “Apple Software Update” from the menu as shown in figure below.

    

   Figure 2, Vista start menu

4. Open Apple Software Update. As soon as it is opened it will check for updates and either report that the software is up to date, or provide you a list of software to update, as shown in figure 3 below.

    

   Figure 3, Apple Software Update for Microsoft Windows

   The Apple Software Update tool will detect and report if there are:   

   • software updates for existing Apple Software you already have installed; and
   • Apple software programs that you do not yet have installed.

   Therefore, just because software is listed in Apple Software Update, it does not mean you need to install all listed software – unless, of course, you want to do so. From a security perspective, the most important point is to install updates for already installed software.

5. Select the check box/es for the software you wish to update, or install. Then click the “Install” button. You will also need to agree to the terms of the user license to complete the installation/software update.

   Note that Apple Software Update cannot be used to update the software on Apple mobile devices such as iTouch, iPhone and iPad. Updating the software on these Apple mobile devices occurs by physically connecting the device to a computer that has iTunes installed. Apple iPhone, iTouch and iPad all have software that requires regular updating to fix security bugs, stability problems and to update other features from time to time.