Help

Solstice is a free, private and secure web browser for Mac, built on WebKit, the engine behind Safari. Here's how to install it, keep it up to date and get the most from it.

What you need

A Mac running macOS 14.4 Sonoma or later, with Apple silicon or Intel. Page translation needs macOS 15 or later.

Installing Solstice

• Solstice is coming soon. When it's ready, download Solstice.dmg from the home page and open it.
• Drag Solstice into your Applications folder, then open it from there.
• Solstice is signed with an Apple Developer ID and checked by Apple (notarized), so macOS opens it normally. If you see a warning, make sure you downloaded it from jpam.studio.

Updates

Solstice checks for updates automatically once a day. You can also choose Solstice › Check for Updates…. Every update is signed, and Solstice checks that signature before installing anything.

Passwords

Solstice saves logins in your Mac's Keychain and fills them only when you click the key icon. It can generate strong passwords and warns you if a saved password appears in a known data breach. Viewing saved passwords needs Touch ID or your Mac password. Settings › Security runs a Safety Check for compromised, reused and weak passwords.

Privacy and security features

• HTTPS-First uses the secure version of every site, and warns you before loading a site that can't be encrypted.
• Tracker and cryptominer blocking is on by default. Ad blocking is optional.
• Private windows save nothing and lock with Touch ID when you step away. Press ⌃⌘L to lock them now.
• Lockdown Mode gives maximum protection for all sites (Settings › Security) or one site (click the lock icon).
• Profiles keep cookies and sign-ins separate for work and personal use (Settings › Profiles).
• Secure Proxy sends Solstice's traffic through your VPN provider's HTTPS or SOCKS5 proxy, with a kill switch (Settings › Secure Proxy).

A website doesn't work properly

• Click the lock icon in the address bar and check whether Lockdown Mode is on for that site.
• If you turned on ad blocking, try that site with it switched off.
• Press ⌥⌘R (Reload Page From Origin) to load a fresh copy.
• If HTTPS-First warns that a site isn't secure, only continue if you trust it.

Handy keyboard shortcuts

• ⌘T new tab, ⇧⌘T reopen a closed tab, ⇧⌘N new Private window
• ⌘L address bar, ⌘F find on the page
• ⇧⌘R Reader, ⇧⌘Y Translate, ⇧⌘\ Tab Overview, ⇧⌘L sidebar
• ⌘D bookmark, ⇧⌘D add to Reading List, ⌘Y history

Contact

Email [email protected]. We usually reply within 1 to 2 business days. Please tell us your macOS version, your Solstice version (Solstice › About Solstice) and what happened. A screenshot helps a lot.