How to Debug Websites on iPhone Safari

iOS Safari Developer Tools allow you to debug webpages efficiently by inspecting elements, monitoring network activity, and troubleshooting performance issues on iPhone Safari through a Mac.

This article explains the importance of debugging websites on iPhones and how to use iPhone Safari developer tools in detail.

Why is it Important to Debug on iPhone?

With a market share of 22.71% (as of March 2025), Safari accounts for a significant share of website traffic. Debugging on iPhone Safari ensures your website functions properly and helps identify device and browser-specific issues.

Here are a few more reasons to perform Safari debugging on iPhone.

• Identify how a web app performs in real-world conditions, including gestures, hardware differences, and user interactions.
• Monitor your website’s performance under various network conditions, including different types of cellular connections and varying signal strengths.

• Fix rendering issues and layout shifts that appear only on specific iPhone models or iOS versions.
• Validate media queries, touch responsiveness, and viewport settings on mobile Safari.

How to Debug Websites on iPhone Safari?

Debugging websites on iPhone Safari allows you to analyze elements, monitor network activity, and troubleshoot issues directly on iOS devices.

Below is a detailed explanation of each method and the steps to implement.

Method 1: Debug using the Web Inspector feature on iPhones or iPads

Debugging issues for mobile web pages can be difficult at times. However, starting from iOS 6, Apple provides a Web Inspector, which makes debugging web pages much easier on iPhones or iPads. Follow the steps below to use it:

Step 1. Connect the iOS device to the machine.

Step 2. Enable the Web-Inspector option. To do so:

• Go to Settings > Safari > Scroll down to the bottom > Open Advanced Menu>
• Turn on Web Inspector

Step 3. Open the desired web page to debug or preview on your mobile Safari browser. Once done, enable the Develop menu on the Mac device.

To enable the Develop menu, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Launch Safari browser

Step 2. Click on Safari at the top > Open Preferences > Advanced

Step 3. Mark the checkbox – Show Develop menu in the menu bar to enable it

Step 4. Now, you’ll be able to view the Develop menu in the top bar. Click on it and it will show the connected iPhone or iPad along with the URL that is active on Safari.

Step 5. By Clicking on that URL, a new inspector window will open that allows the developer to inspect, preview, or debug the page on a mobile browser from their Mac. Just click on the Resources section, and then all interactions with the web elements will be highlighted in real-time on that iPhone.

Method 2: Debug errors on iPad or iPhone using the Safari Console Menu

The Safari Console in Web Inspector lets you monitor JavaScript logs and inspect the DOM and JavaScript in real-time. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1. Select “Console” from the iPhone Safari Web Inspector Menu

Step 2. Console is a Command Line API that allows you to debug Safari on iPhone using Developer Tools. The Console allows access to the DOM and JavaScript of the open page, allowing you to inspect HTML nodes and JavaScript objects in more detail by using the console commands.

Method 3: Debug iPhones or iPads using BrowserStack’s Real Device Cloud

BrowserStack is a real device cloud testing platform that gives you access to 3,500+ iOS devices and browser combinations. You can choose both the latest and legacy iPhone devices and OS versions. Here are a few more reasons to use BrowserStack to debug websites on iPhone Safari.

• Real device features: Test complex workflows, such as OTP authentication, payment, location, and more.
• Multi-device testing: Test your website on up to four real devices simultaneously to accelerate the testing process.
• Natural gestures and interactions: Check if your website works with natural gestures, such as tap, scroll, zoom, and swipe.

• Test local and internal websites: Test even if your website is hosted on localhost, staging, and internal networks.
• Network testing: Test your website’s performance in different network conditions, like 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and offline mode.
• Browser-specific features: You can adjust device time, timezone, and Safari settings, such as pop-ups and tracking, to simulate real scenarios.

This example opens the bstackdemo.com website, accesses the developer tools to inspect elements, and temporarily changes the pricing of the iPhone 12 Mini. The Chrome DevTools is currently only available on Android 7 and above.

Get started by following three simple steps listed below:

Step 1. Sign up on BrowserStack Live for a free trial or purchase a plan.

Step 2. Navigate to the Live Dashboard after successful sign-up.

Step 3. Click iOS > iPhone, and then select Safari.
Wait for the device to be booted.

Step 4. In the browser on the device, enter https://the-internet.herokuapp.com/broken_images.

Step 5. Inspect specific elements to access the HTML code and debug in real time.

• Right-click the broken image, and then select Safari Web Inspector.

• Replace the file name with img/avatar-blank.jpg.

• Click anywhere on the Live dashboard to apply the changes.
  You can see the following change applied.

It is important to note that these changes are not permanent and just apply to the current session. Using this feature helps you simulate situations that you might encounter as part of your testing.

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Why Debug Websites Using Real Device Cloud?

Testing websites on a real device cloud ensures precise results across various iPhone models and iOS versions. Real-device testing captures actual user behavior, performance, and rendering. It helps

• Catch real-world bugs that don’t show up in simulators
• Test layout, gestures, and performance on real hardware
• Switch between multiple iPhone models and iOS versions
• Avoid the setup and maintenance of physical device farms
• Debug behind firewalls or in staging environments without extra configuration

Best Practices for Debugging Websites on iPhone Safari

Follow these best practices when debugging websites on iPhone Safari to ensure smooth performance and functionality.

• Test on multiple iPhone models and iOS versions: Verify compatibility across a range of iPhone models and iOS versions to ensure broad coverage.
• Inspect elements with Safari Web Inspector: Use the Safari Web Inspector for a detailed view of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript errors.
• Monitor console logs and network activity: The Console tab tracks real-time JavaScript errors, warnings, and network issues.
• Test touch interactions: Check the performance of touch interactions like swipes, taps, and gestures on the iPhone screen.

• Check Safari-specific issues: Verify layout, animations, and media queries for compatibility with Safari’s rendering engine.
• Test in landscape and portrait modes: Ensure your site’s responsiveness works seamlessly in both orientations.
• Verify cross-site tracking and pop-up blockers: Test for issues caused by Safari’s privacy features, such as pop-up blocking and cross-site tracking prevention.

• Use the device’s settings to simulate real-world conditions: Adjust settings such as time, location, and network to mimic various real-world scenarios.

Conclusion

Debugging websites on iPhone Safari ensures your site performs optimally across iOS devices. Use tools like Web Inspector and BrowserStack to identify layout, functionality, and performance issues. This helps create a smooth and reliable user experience across different iPhone models and iOS versions.

BrowserStack allows you to debug your website on 3,500+ real iOS devices and Safari versions. You can use the Safari Web Inspector in BrowserStack to identify issues with elements, monitor network requests, and make real-time changes. This helps ensure your website performs well in real user conditions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Safari have developer tools?

Yes, Safari includes developer tools such as the Web Inspector and Console for debugging websites on macOS and iOS devices.

2. How to access developer tools in Safari?

On macOS, enable the Develop menu in Safari’s Preferences. Then, unlock your iPhone, enable Web Inspector in Settings > Safari > Advanced, and connect the device to your Mac.

3. How do you inspect a website in Safari iOS?

Connect the iOS device to a Mac, open Safari’s Develop menu, select the connected device, and use the Web Inspector to inspect the webpage.