Should you update to Safari 26.6.1?
Yes, this week. Safari 26.6.1 is a security update Apple released on 18 Aug 2026 for Mac. It fixes 23 security flaws.[1] None of them is known to be used in attacks.
It is the newest Safari 26 release, so it’s the one to have.
Should you update?
Yes, this week. It fixes 23 security flaws, and attackers study each release to work out what it fixed. Every security update closes holes that become public the moment it ships, so the risk of staying on the old version only grows. Waiting a week to see if others hit problems is a common habit; with a security update it’s the wrong trade.
Is Safari 26.6.1 safe to install?
Yes. It’s Apple’s own security release, and updates rarely go wrong; a backup makes it painless if one does. The one unsafe way to get it is from a link: Apple never sends updates by email, text or pop-up, so install it only from System Settings → General → Software Update.
What it fixes
Apple lists 23 security flaws across 4 parts of Safari. For each, Apple says what an attacker could have done before the fix.[1]
| Part | Flaws | What an attacker could do |
|---|---|---|
| WebKit | 19 | Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash |
| WebRTC | 2 | Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to memory corruption |
| WebKit History | 1 | Visiting a maliciously crafted website may leak sensitive data |
| WebKit Storage | 1 | Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected Safari crash |
How to update, and how long it takes
Usually a few minutes on its own, or as part of a macOS update. Quit Safari first.
- Back up first if you can.iCloud backup or your computer. Updates rarely go wrong, but a backup makes it painless if one does.
- Open Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update (Safari updates come with macOS, or on their own for older Macs).Your Mac shows the newest version it can run. Tap or click Update Now, or Upgrade Now for a new major version.
- Leave it plugged in.It downloads, prepares and restarts. Expect 15 to 45 minutes.
- Turn on automatic updates.In the same place, under Automatic Updates, turn on both downloading and installing security responses and updates.
To check it worked: Safari → About Safari shows the version. It should say 26.6.1 or later.
26.6 vs 26.6.1
Safari 26.6, released 27 Jul 2026, fixed 10 security flaws. Safari 26.6.1 fixes 23 security flaws and includes the fixes before it, so going straight to 26.6.1 gets you both.
- Before: Safari 26.6, 27 Jul 2026, 10 security flaws
- After: none yet. This is the newest.
- Safari updates, every release and the latest version
- Updates, the latest version of everything HARD tracks
References
- ^ Apple. “About the security content of Safari 26.6.1”, 18 Aug 2026.