You would think that Apple’s native web browser, Safari, would be available on all its devices, right? Not exactly. The Apple Watch is one such device that lacks a Safari app, given its small form factor.
But that doesn’t mean you need your phone to open any web page. Although the Apple Watch does not have a Safari app built in, it can still open web pages that are sent via mail or messages.
Is it possible to access Safari on the Apple Watch? Yes. Is it convenient? No. But if you’re in a pinch, here’s…
How to access Safari on Apple Watch
Via message or email
- Send a web link via email or message:
Since there’s no browser app on the Apple Watch, we need to first send the website
link to ourselves via email or message.
- Messages app: Start a new message with yourself on your iPhone, paste the link, and send.
- Mail app: Email the link to yourself from your iPhone using the Mail app.
- Open the link on your Apple Watch
- Open the Message or Mail that has the web link on your Apple Watch.
- Tap on the link, and it will open in a mini web browser.
- Change the view
- Some pages will load in Reader View for a cleaner, simpler look.
- If you want the full webpage, tap the URL bar at the top and switch to Web View. This view might make the web page even smaller and difficult to read.
- Navigate the Web Page
- Scroll through the web page using your finger or use the Digital Crown for smoother scrolling.
- On some sites, you can double-tap to zoom in for a clearer view.
- Tap the URL bar to:
- Switch between Reader View and Web View,
- Reload the page,
- Go back to the previous page,
- Enter a new URL manually.
- Exit the web page
- To exit the web page, tap on the cross in the top left corner.
- Or simply press the Digital Crown once, and you will be returned to the watch face.
- To close the web page in the background, double-press the Digital Crown and swipe right, then tap the red cross to close the browser properly.
Via Siri
- Long-press the Digital Crown to access Siri.
- Say a command such as, “Hey Siri, open Pinterest.com”.
- A few links will appear that you can click on directly, and scrolling to the bottom will show an option ‘Search Google’ for the same query.
How to do a quick Google search on your Apple Watch
Via message or email
While it’s not ideal, sometimes we need a quick Google search, and the only device I have on hand (quite literally) is my Apple Watch.
- Send yourself a message with a link to Google.
- Open the message and tap on the link.
- Once the webpage loads, put in your query in the search bar using the keyboard or Siri dictation and tap Search.
Since this method needs a link to be sent via iPhone, and the whole reason why I need to search something on my Apple Watch is that I don’t have access to my iPhone, I have already sent a message to myself with the Google link for such emergency cases.
Via Siri
- Long-press the Digital Crown to access Siri.
- Say a command such as, “Hey Siri, open Google.com and search for new movies 2025”.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Search Google.
What you can’t do with Safari on your Apple Watch
Although there is no dedicated app for the Safari browser on the Apple Watch, there’s a hidden browser that can open links sent via mail or messages. But please beware, the experience won’t be smooth.
- The tiny screen of the Apple Watch makes it difficult to read through a web page.
- Certain web pages don’t load properly.
- Filling out forms and solving CAPTCHAs that pop up before accessing certain pages can become tricky.
- It becomes a little difficult to access the web by sending the links every time. It’s just easier to pull out a phone for the same.
Are There Any Browsers For The Apple Watch?
Although the Apple Watch has a hidden Safari browser, there are many third-party browsers available on the App Store for the Apple Watch. The best one I found in the paid category is the uBrowser, available for $2.99 on the App Store, and the Ant Browser, which is free to download with in-app purchases on the App Store.
The Ant Browser is also the only third-party browser for the Apple Watch that I found that displays websites on a full screen and remembers my login information.
You can also create a shortcut on your Apple Watch that allows you to enter a website, such as Google, and have it display the content directly in the built-in browser. This is the easiest and free way to access a website without having to download third-party apps.
Wrap Up
Browsing the web on an Apple Watch is not ideal, but sometimes, when I don’t have access to my phone and I really need to Google something, it is a good backup to have. Make sure to send yourself a Google link and have it saved in your messages for emergency situations, such as not knowing a general knowledge question when you’re meeting someone new (don’t judge).
Yes, Siri is there to help, but it doesn’t hurt to have a backup link sitting in the messages, you know, just in case.
