How to see which browser engine you are using

If you want to know whether your browser uses Blink, WebKit, or Gecko, its name is a useful clue, but it is not the whole answer. A browser engine is the software that turns a web page's code into what you see and interact with.

Use Browser Info to check the engine your current browser reports. You can also see the browser version and compare the result with another browser on the same device.

Check your browser engine

1. Open Browser Info in the browser you want to check.
2. Find the browser engine detail in the report. Read it separately from the browser name and version, since those refer to different things.
3. Write down the browser name, version, and engine. The version helps if you need to compare results or report a problem.
4. If you have another browser installed, open the tool in that browser too. Compare the reported engines and versions.

For a fair comparison, test the same device and network without changing browser settings between checks. A browser opened inside another app, such as a link viewer in a messaging app, may not use the same browser as the one you normally open yourself.

What the result means

Blink

Blink is the engine used by Chromium-based browsers. Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge use it, as do several other browsers built on Chromium. Their menus and features can look different, even though the underlying page-rendering engine is related.

Browsers using Blink may still behave differently because of version changes, settings, extensions, or extra browser features. A shared engine does not guarantee identical results.

WebKit

WebKit is the engine used by Safari. On iPhone and iPad, browser engine choices can also depend on the operating system, browser, region, and current platform rules. Do not assume that a browser uses the engine associated with its brand on every device. Check the report on the device you are actually using.

Gecko

Gecko is the engine used by Firefox. Firefox also has its own interface and features, so the engine name alone does not tell you everything about the browser's settings or compatibility.

The report gives a different name or no clear result

Some browsers are based on an existing engine but use their own branding, and a browser's privacy settings or an in-app browser can affect the details a site can identify. The report may use a technical name or give a less familiar result. Check the browser version and repeat the test in the full browser, not an app's built-in page viewer.

If the engine report seems wrong

1. Check that you are testing the browser you meant to open. Open the browser from your computer's app list or dock, then visit the tool directly. A page opened inside an email, chat, or social app may be displayed in a separate built-in browser.
2. Check the browser version. On Windows 11, look in Chrome under Menu › Help › About Google Chrome, Edge under Settings › About Microsoft Edge, or Firefox under Help › About Firefox. On macOS, check Chrome under Menu › Help › About Google Chrome, Edge under Settings › About Microsoft Edge, Firefox under Help › About Firefox, or Safari under Safari › About Safari. Menu wording can vary slightly between releases.
3. Update the browser if it is out of date. Use its About page to check for an update, install it if available, then close and reopen the browser before checking again. Older versions may report different details or handle newer web features differently.
4. Check for browser identity changes. Some extensions, privacy tools, or developer settings can change information a page receives about the browser. Temporarily test in a clean browser profile or turn off a user-agent override, if you use one. This can change what a site identifies, but it does not necessarily change the actual engine rendering the page.
5. Compare with a second browser. If the same site works differently in two browsers, compare their engines and versions first. Other differences, including extensions and privacy settings, can matter too. See why the same website can behave differently by browser for more checks.

Why the engine matters

Web developers use browser engines to display pages and run web features. If a site looks broken, a video will not play, or a button does not respond, knowing the engine can help narrow down whether the issue affects one browser family or all browsers on the device.

An engine name is not a complete compatibility test. Browsers can enable different features, apply different privacy protections, and receive updates at different times. If a site works in one browser but not another, record both the engine and version, then test the page with extensions disabled. That gives support staff more useful information than the browser brand alone.

Browser Info checks the browser you opened it in, so run it separately in each browser you want to compare.