get rid of frequently visited safari

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How to disable safari's frequently visited start page on iphone, ipad, and mac.

The new Frequently Visited and Siri Suggestions sections in the start page on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS might annoy some users. Here's how to hide both.

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How to disable the frequently visited section, how to disable siri suggestions.

iOS 13's, iPadOS 13's, and macOS Catalina's Safari updates are quite robust. But the redesigned start page leaves something to be desired. If you don't like the new Frequently Visited or Siri Suggestions sections, here's how to disable them.

As the name suggests, the new Frequently Visited section in Safari's start page lists websites that you visit frequently. If you already have those websites in the Favorites section, this new feature is redundant. You also might not want Safari to show these websites for privacy reasons .

You can either hide a website from this section or disable the whole Frequently Visited section altogether.

Disable the Frequently Visited Section on iPhone and iPad

On your iPhone or iPad, open the Safari app and go to the start page. Find the Frequently Visited section and then press and hold on a website icon.

From the popup, tap on "Delete."

To disable the entire Frequently Visited section, we'll need to go to the Settings app.

Open the Settings app and go to the "Safari" section.

Here, in the General section, tap on the toggle next to "Frequently Visited Sites."

The Frequently Visited section will instantly disappear from the Safari start page.

Disable the Frequently Visited Section on Mac

If you're using a Mac, you can customize the Frequently Visited section right from the start page in Safari.

To delete a particular website from the Frequently Visited section, right-click on the website icon and then click on "Delete."

If you want to remove the entire Frequently Visited section, right-click in the blank area on the start page and uncheck the "Show Frequently Visited" option.

Siri Suggestions have now made their way to the Safari app. Just like Siri Suggestions in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, they aren't really helpful in Safari. Siri Suggestions will show you websites from your reading list, open tabs from other devices, and sites it thinks you might want to visit.

Disabling the Siri Suggestions section is straightforward on the Mac, but the option in iOS and iPadOS is hidden deep in the Settings app.

Disable Siri Suggestions on iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and then go to the "Siri & Search" section.

Here, find the "Safari" option.

On this page, tap on the toggle next to "Show Siri Suggestions In App" to disable Siri Suggestions section in the Safari start page.

Disable Siri Suggestions on Mac

To hide Siri Suggestions section in Safari on macOS Catalina, simply right-click in the empty area on the start page.

Here, click on the "Show Siri Suggestions" option.

The Siri Suggestions section will instantly disappear from the Safari start page.

Related: The Best New Features in iOS 13, Available Now

Embarrassing browser history? How to get rid of Frequently Visited on iOS Safari

Stop anyone seeing your most frequently visited websites on iOS Safari

For improved browsing privacy on your iPhone, you’ll want to get rid of “Frequently Visited” in Safari.  

The iPhone's Safari web browser makes internet browsing convenient with a highly customizable Start Page that gives you a Privacy Report and shows Siri Suggestions, recently closed tabs, favorite web pages, and frequently visited websites. But if you share your device with others and don’t want them to see your regular internet haunts, it’ll help to do away with the Frequently Visited segment. You’ll also enjoy a more minimalist and clutter-free look on your Safari without this segment.  

In this guide, we’ll show you how to do so in a few simple steps. And after you’ve eliminated the Frequently Visited section from Safari, explore these 9 hidden iPhone features for travellers .  

Steps to get rid of “Frequently Visited” on Safari iPhone

Note : The steps given below were performed on an iPhone running iOS 17 . 

1. Open the start page in Safari

Open Safari on your iPhone. If you’re not already on the start page, tap the Tabs button in the bottom right, then tap the New Tab button (plus icon) in the bottom left.

2. Tap Edit

Scroll down the start page and tap Edit .

3. Disable Frequently Visited

Toggle off Frequently Visited . If you only want to delete some of the frequently visited tabs instead of disabling the feature, then tap and hold the website you want to remove (on the start page) and select Delete . 

With a few taps and swipes, you've bid farewell to the “Frequently Visited” segment on Safari. Rest easy knowing others can’t see where you hang on the internet, and enjoy the uncluttered browsing space.  

For more quick tips and tweaks for your Apple devices, explore our guides on how to enable and disable Crash Detection on iPhone , how to use the iPhone guided access mode , how to hide your number on iPhone , and how to enable Enhanced Stabilization on iPhone .  

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Simple Ways to Remove Frequently Visited on Safari: Mac, iPhone + iPad

Last Updated: September 1, 2023 Fact Checked

• Hiding on iPhone/iPad
• Hiding on Mac
• Deleting on iPhone/iPad
• Deleting on Mac

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 8,489 times. Learn more...

Whenever you open Safari, you'll see a list of sites that you frequently visit, but what if you don't want that to show? Fortunately, you can toggle that section off or clear your browsing history so those sites don't display on your new tabs in Safari. This wikiHow article teaches you how to get rid of the "Frequently Visited" sites on Safari on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Things You Should Know

• Hide your 'Frequently Visited' sites on iPhone by tapping "Edit" in a new tab, then toggling the feature off.
• For Mac, open a new tab and click the filter icon, then uncheck "Frequently Visited" to turn it off.
• Alternatively, you can clear Safari's history to get rid of 'Frequently Visited'.

Hiding Safari's "Frequently Visited" on iPhone & iPad

• Use this method if you don't want to delete your browsing or search history, but just don't want "Frequently Visited" to display on your new tabs.

• A "Customizing Start Page" window will open.

• You can also toggle on or off “Use Start Page on All Devices” on your iPhone/iPad to sync those preferences with your other devices.
• To enable "Frequently Visited," simply go back to a new tab, tap Edit and tap the switch so it's green.
• For older iOS versions, the "Frequently Visited" tab is located within your Settings app in the Safari option.
• If it doesn't work, like you toggle it off and then look a day later and see the toggle is back on, make sure you don't have "Use Start Page on All Devices" checked on your Mac, as that could be syncing your Mac's Safari preferences with your other Apple devices.
• To delete individual "Frequently Visited" sites, press and hold the icon next to a site and tap Delete when it pops up.

Hiding Safari's "Frequently Visited" on Mac

• If you're not in a new tab, click the plus icon, or press Cmd + T , or go to File > New Tab . Or, if you have new tabs set to open on a specific page, go to Bookmarks > Show Start Page .

• You won't see that section next time you open a new tab in Safari!
• If you have "Use Start Page on All Devices" checked, any changes you make on your Mac will also affect your iPhone or iPad. So, if you attempt to toggle off "Frequently Visited" on only your iPhone, but it's enabled on your Mac, it will toggle back on automatically. [1] X Research source
• You can also delete individual sites from "Frequently Visited" by clicking one of the icons and dragging it to the trash can in the Dock.

Deleting Safari's History on iPhone & iPad

• If you're using an iPad, open the sidebar instead.
• Use this method if you want to clear the history for Safari rather than just hide your "Frequently Visited" sites.

• On iPad, this will say "History" instead.

• Alternatively, open the Settings app , then go to Safari > Clear History and Website Data to achieve the same results.

Deleting Safari's History on Mac

• Use this method if you want to clear the history for Safari rather than just hiding your "Frequently Visited" sites.

• Alternatively, go to History > Clear History or History > Show all History > Clear History .

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/welcome/mac
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265

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How To : Get Rid of Frequently Visited Websites in Safari on Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Safari has a helpful feature that shows your most frequently visited webpages whenever you open a new tab or window, but it's not for everyone. If you never use it, would rather have a minimalist start page, or want to prevent other people with access to Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac from seeing the websites you frequent the most, you can get rid of it.

Removing the list of your most frequently visited websites in Safari is simple, and you can make your choice apply across all of your iCloud-connected devices.

If you don't use the frequently visited section or want to slim down your start page, hiding it is the best option since you can unhide it and see those sites again. However, if you share an iPad or Mac at home with family and don't want them to see what sites you're visiting the most from your iPhone, erasing your frequently visited sites is best for privacy.

• Don't Miss: 8 Safari Extensions You Should Be Using on Your iPhone or iPad

Method 1: Hide 'Frequently Visited' from Safari's Start Page

Open the start page in Safari on your iPhone or iPad, which should show up immediately if you don't have any open tabs. With tabs already open, long-press the tabs button in the toolbar and select "New Tab" from the menu that appears to open a fresh one. You can also tap the tabs button and hit the plus (+) button.

Scroll down the start page, tap the "Edit" button, and then toggle off the "Frequently Visited" switch. Once you close the start page customization options, the Frequently Visited section should be gone.

If you reopen the start page editor and toggle "Frequently Visited" back on, the webpages you frequently visit should appear again when you exit the editor.

On macOS, click the plus (+) sign at the top of Safari's window, press Command-T , or go to File –> New Tab in the menu bar to open a new tab for the start page. You can also press Command-N or go to File –> New Window in the menu bar to open a new window to the start page.

You may have Safari set up to open new tabs or windows to a specific website or blank page if you don't see the start page appear. Press Command-, or go to Safari –> Preferences in the menu bar, then set new tabs and/or windows to "Start Page."

If you don't want to set the start page to open with new tabs and/or windows, you can also go to Bookmarks –> Show Start Page in the menu bar to replace your current tab with the start page.

Instead of an "Edit" button on the start page, click the preferences icon and uncheck "Show Frequently Visited."

Alternatively, right-click anywhere in the blank area of the start page to uncheck it.

Turning on the " Use Start Page on All Devices " switch in the start page customization options will sync your start page settings across all your iCloud-connected Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac computers). For your start page preferences to sync, you must be signed in with the same Apple ID, be running the latest software, have "Safari" enabled in your iCloud preferences, and have 2FA enabled. ( Find out more. )

Method 2: Clear 'Frequently Visited' from Safari's History

The problem with Method 1 is that it only hides your list of frequently visited websites — it doesn't get rid of it. So if your goal is to stop other people with access to your Safari browser from seeing these sites, you'll want to eliminate your browsing history instead.

Open Safari on your iPhone, tap the book icon, then the clock, and hit "Clear." On iPad, tap the sidebar icon, then "History," and hit "Clear." A quick actions menu will appear with a message warning you that clearing your history on your iPhone or iPad will also erase it across all your iCloud-connected devices. Clearing it will also remove cookies and other browsing data on your current device only.

Tap "All time" to delete all browsing data and remove the "Frequently Visited" section from your Safari start page.

You can also go to Settings –> Safari –> Clear History and Website Data to achieve the same effect. After you go back to your Safari start page, you'll notice the "Frequently Visited" section is no longer there.

On macOS, go to History –> Clear History or Safari –> Clear History in the menu bar, choose "all history" from the drop-down menu, and hit "Clear History" to wipe the slate clean, effectively removing the Frequently Visited section from your Safari start page. If you still see the Frequently Visited area, close and reopen Safari.

Alternatively, you can go to History –> Show All History in the menu bar, click "Clear History" on the page, choose "all history" from the drop-down menu, and hit "Clear History."

Those options for macOS will also remove cookies and other browsing data on your current computer as it does on iOS and iPadOS. If you want to clear your history across all your iCloud-connected devices but keep your cookies and other browsing data on your Mac, hold down the Option key to turn "Clear History" in the menu bar to "Clear History and Keep Website Data," and click on that.

If you want Safari to stop showing your frequently visited websites altogether in the future, it's a good idea to combine the two methods above — hide the section from your start page and clear your browsing history.

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new emoji, enhanced security, podcast transcripts, Apple Cash virtual numbers, and other useful features. There are even new additions hidden within Safari. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.4 update.

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Safari has a category named Frequently Visited on its main screen just below Favorites. This has the icons for web pages you visit most frequently. It is handy as it lets you access these websites with a single tap.

However, if you want, you have the option to delete frequently visited sites from Safari on your iPhone. Additionally, you can even remove the frequently visited section from the Safari home page altogether. Let me walk you through both methods.

How to delete websites from Frequently Visited section in Safari on iPhone

If you find the Frequently Visited section helpful and just want to delete one or two sites from the list, that is possible. Here’s how:

• Tap and hold a website thumbnail you want to delete.
• Move the contextual menu up to see all the options.

This site will be immediately removed from the Frequently Visited section.

Further, if you want a more personalized Safari start page, I’d recommend our complete guide on how to customize your Start Page in Safari .

When planning a clandestine escape with your loved one or meticulously selecting the perfect gift for them, the last thing you want is for your iPhone or iPad to inadvertently divulge your plans by displaying the websites you’ve been visiting frequently. Such a slip-up could completely spoil the surprise you’ve been carefully planning. 

An easy solution to prevent this is to get rid of frequently visited sites on Safari.

How to remove Frequently Visited section in Safari on iPhone

• Launch  Safari .
• Open a new tab in Safari by tapping the  Tabs icon  at the bottom right of the screen.

• Scroll down and tap  Edit → Toggle off Frequently Visited

Now, open Safari, you won’t find the section named Frequently Visited.

Even if you delete frequently visited sites from Safari, the browser still remembers your history of visiting it. To delete this too, you can clear Safari history and website data.

Clear Safari history to get rid of frequently visited sites

• Launch  Safari  and tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen.
• Select the clock tab at the top right.

Wrapping up…

While Safari’s Frequently Visited section provides convenient access to the sites you’ve recently browsed, its prominent display may not be ideal if you’re trying to keep your online activities private, especially when others might have access to your device.

Its visibility can inadvertently reveal your browsing habits, which is not always desirable, especially when planning surprises or conducting sensitive searches.

Which option did you prefer? Did you turn the feature off, or did you decide to delete your entire Safari history? Share it below!

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How to Delete Frequently Visited Sites From Safari's Start Page in iOS

Your Frequently Visited sites appear immediately below your Favorite sites. If there's a site showing up in Frequently Visited that you'd like to delete, no problem. Simply touch and hold the site in question to reveal the start page's preview mode and contextual menu.

If you don't want any Frequently Visited sites to appear on Safari's start page at all, you can turn them off completely. Here's how.

• Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
• Scroll down and tap Safari .
• Under the General section, tap the switch next to Frequently Visited Sites to turn it off.

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How to Remove "Frequently Visited" on Safari (iPhone and Mac)

• iPhone, iPad, and Mac users have a total of three ways to get rid of Safari's "Frequently Visited" section.
• Choose between hiding the entire section or deleting specific sites if you wish to keep using the feature but want to clear certain websites.
• Deleting your Safari history is a better option to ensure complete privacy and prevent others from seeing your web history and top-searched sites.

The "Frequently Visited" section on Safari's start page makes it easy to access top-searched websites quickly. However, someone who borrows your device for a moment can easily see what these sites are. So, here's how to remove "Frequently Visited" from Safari.

How to Remove Safari's Frequently Visited Section on an iPhone

First, let's look at removing the Frequently Visited section from the Safari start page. Follow the steps below to learn what you need to do:

• Launch Safari. If there's already a webpage loaded, tap the Tabs icon (two squares, overlapped) in the toolbar.
• Then, tap the Add (+) icon in the bottom-left corner to open a new tab and access the start page.
• On the start page, scroll down to the bottom and tap Edit .
• Now, toggle off Frequently Visited . Close

That's it. After toggling off Frequently Visited , you can also opt to toggle on Use Start Page on All Devices as an additional setting to improve your Safari experience . This will remove the Frequently Visited section from Safari across your other Apple devices, as long as you're signed in to them with the same Apple ID.

How to Get Rid of Frequently Visited Sites in Safari on an iPhone

If you want to continue using the Frequently Visited section but wish to clear one or more of the existing sites listed there, you have two options: delete a specific site or delete your Safari history.

To remove a specific site, long-press on the website icon under the Frequently Visited section and tap Delete from the context.

Deleting your Safari history is the better option if you want to ensure that people won't find out which websites you've visited. That's because removing the Frequently Visited section and deleting specific sites only hides them from view. Those sites still remain in your Safari history.

So, if someone types certain letters or keywords into the search field, the website link will naturally appear as part of your web history.

To delete your Safari history and get rid of all frequently visited sites at once, tap the Bookmark icon in the toolbar, head to the History tab (clock icon), and tap Clear > All History > Clear History .

How to Remove Safari's Frequently Visited Section on a Mac

Let's move on to the instructions for Mac. First, open Safari to view the start page. If you're already on a webpage in Safari, you can access the start page by clicking Bookmarks > Show Start Page from the menu bar.

To customize the Safari start page on your Mac , click Options (icon shows three sliders) at the bottom and uncheck Frequently Visited . This section will now disappear from the start page in Safari.

How to Get Rid of Frequently Visited Sites in Safari on a Mac

Like on an iPhone, you can choose to keep the Frequently Visited section but delete a specific site from the list. In Safari, Control -click on the website under Frequently Visited and choose Delete .

To get rid of frequently visited websites from your web history and prevent them from showing up at the top of your search suggestions, you'll need to delete your Safari history on macOS.

With the browser open, click Safari in the menu bar and choose Clear History . Click the dropdown arrow in the pop-up menu and select All History . Then, click Clear History to confirm your action.

Safari's Frequently Visited Section Doesn't Have to Compromise Your Privacy

As you can see, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users have three options if they wish to remove frequently visited sites from Safari.

If your aim is to simply remove the whole list of sites from plain view, you can hide the entire Frequently Visited section. However, if you want to continue using the feature for convenience, you can either delete specific sites or clear your Safari history completely.

How to Remove Frequently Visited on iPhone

Are you wondering how to remove the ‘Frequently Visited’ section from Safari on your iPhone? Follow these straightforward steps for a clutter-free browsing experience:

• Start by launching the Safari app on your iPhone.
• Open a new tab to access the Start Page.
• Now, scroll down until you find the ‘Edit’ button and tap on it.
• Look for the ‘Frequently Visited’ toggle switch and turn it off.

By following these steps, you can easily hide the ‘Frequently Visited’ sites from your Safari Start Page, making your browsing experience more tailored to your preferences.

Our guide continues below with additional information on how to remove frequently visited on iPhone, including pictures of these steps.

You can also check out our video about how to get rid of frequently visited in Safari for more on this topic.

If you want to put your favorite or most-used apps in the dock on your iPad, then our iPad icons at bottom of screen tutorial will show you how to do it.

How to Disable Frequently Visited Sites in Safari on iPhone (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this section were performed on an iPhone 13 in the iOS 16 operating system.

Step 1: Open the Safari Web browser on your iPhone.

Step 2: Create a new tab.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the screen and touch the Edit button.

Step 4: Tap the button to the right of Frequently Visited to turn it off.

Now that you have completed our how to remove frequently visited on iPhone steps, those sites should no longer show up on the new tab page in the browser.

If you don’t see the option described above, then you may be using an older version of iOS. The next section will discuss a different way to make this change using older versions of the operating system.

One other setting you might want to adjust involves the automatic removal of some apps. Our how to stop deleting apps on iPhone article discusses this further.

Old Method – How to Stop Frequently Visited Sites from Appearing on New iPhone Safari Tabs (Guide with Pictures)

The steps below were performed on an iPhone 6 Plus, in iOS 9.3. If you are using a newer version of iOS, like iOS 15, then you can use the steps above to remove the Frequently Visited section from your Safari new tab page.

Note that these steps were performed specifically in the default Safari Web browser, and may be different if you are using a different version of iOS, or if you are using a different browser, such as Chrome or Dolphin.

Don’t want to see your favorites on your MacBook either? Our how to remove favorites on Mac tutorial will show you how to get rid of them.

Step 1: Tap the Settings icon.

Step 2: Scroll down and select the Safari option.

Step 3: Tap the button to the right of Frequently Visited Sites to turn it off.

You will know that you have disabled the feature when there is no green shading around the button. It is turned off in the picture below.

Now that you know how to remove frequently visited on iPhone, you will be able to customize the appearance of your new tab screen by removing those sites from view.

If you would like to keep the Frequently Visited Sites feature, but you want to remove one specific site that keeps appearing there, then you can open a new tab in Safari to display the screen where the frequently visited sites are shown, then you can tap and hold on the site you wish to delete, then select the Delete option.

You can click here to see more specific directions for removing individual frequently visited sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i get rid of frequently visited on iphone 2022.

If you are using a newer iPhone model like the iPhone 13 or the iPhone 14, or if your iPhone is running the iOS 16 operating system, and you want to remove the Frequently Visited section, then you can follow these steps:

1. Open Safari . 2. Open a new tab. 3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit . 4. Turn off the Frequently Visited setting.

Now you should be able to go back to the Safari Start page, and you shouldn’t see your frequently visited Web pages anymore.

How do I stop Safari from showing frequently visited sites?

The section on the Safari new tab page that shows your Frequently Visited Web pages can be removed from the browser.

You simply need to go to Safari > Open a new tab > Scroll down and touch Edit > turn off Frequently Visited .

If you discover later that you were using this option more than you though, and that you want it back, you can restore the iPhone Frequently Visited section by going back to the same menu and re-enabling the Frequently Visited section.

Why can’t I delete frequently visited sites on iPhone?

If you have scrolled down on the new tab, or start page, in Safari and you aren’t able to open the Edit menu or turn off this setting, then it may be due to Screen Time.

Try going to Settings > Screen Time and turning off the passcode, then going back and trying to turn off the Frequently Visited section from the edit menu.

If that still doesn’t work, then you can try restarting your iPhone by holding down the Volume Up and Power buttons, then dragging the slider to the right.

What other things can I remove from the Safari Start page?

While this guide has focused on how to remove frequently visited on iPhone, the menu that we go to in the final step of the process lets you change some other things, too. Those options include the following:

– Favorites – Frequently Visited – Shared with You – Privacy Report – Siri Suggestions – Reading List – iCloud Tabs

You can also customize the Background Image that appears on the start page.

The functionality of the Safari browser on your device is pretty extensive, and many of the features and options available in the desktop version of the browser exist in the mobile version.

Related: How to Enable Javascript on an iPhone

Video About Removing Safari Frequently Visited

Summary – How to Get Rid of the Frequently Visited Section in Safari on iPhone

• Open the Safari app.
• Open a new tab.
• Scroll down and tap the Edit button.
• Turn off the Frequently Visited option.

Related Topic: Our how to publish a Google site tutorial will walk you through the process of creating your own free website with the Google Sites application.

Having access to your favorite or most often visited Web pages can make browser navigation a little simpler.

But if you either don’t want other people that use your phone to see your frequently visited sites or if the ones that are shown aren’t beneficial to you, then you may be wondering how to get rid of them.

Luckily there is a setting on your iPhone that you can use to remove the Frequently Visited section on the Safari browser on your iPhone.

Whenever you create a new tab in the Safari Web browser on your iPhone, you are presented with a screen that contains icons for certain sites.

The icons at the top of the screen are the Favorite bookmarks that are currently selected on your iPhone, while the icons at the bottom of the screen are your frequently visited sites.

Both of the icon sets being displayed in these sections are customizable, and you can even remove the frequently visited sites entirely if you wish.

Our how to remove frequently visited on iPhone guide has hopefully shown you where to find the setting that controls whether or not those frequently visited sites are shown.

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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How to delete frequently visited websites on your iPhone in Safari, or turn off the feature entirely

• You can delete frequently visited web pages on your iPhone in the Safari browser. 
• When you open a new tab in Safari, your frequently visited sites will appear under your favorites. 
• It's easy to delete individual sites from your frequently visited tab, or hide this section entirely. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Many of our preferences are fleeting and change from week-to-week based on what's new.

Last week, you may have been checking an eBay bid over and over again.

The week before, you might have been pulling up a weather site to monitor the chance of snow.

And next week, you could be fixated on kicking your addiction to Reddit .

Safari, however, keeps your preferences rather static. Fortunately, there is a way to wipe away frequently visited web pages that no longer serve your current interests on an iPhone .

Here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Iphone 11 (from $699.99 at best buy), how to delete frequently visited web pages on an iphone.

1. Open the Safari application.

2. Tap the bottom right corner of an existing Safari page — the icon is two squares overlapping one another — and tap the "+" sign in the middle to create a new, blank Safari window.

3. Tap and hold the page you'd like to delete under "Frequently Visited."

4. On iOS 13, a preview of the page will pop up, with a window of options in the bottom left. On iOS 12 or earlier, you'll only see a black-and-white "Delete" option above the icon in Safari. Either way, tap "Delete."

You can also disable frequently visited web pages entirely by going into the Safari section of Settings and toggling off "Frequently Visited Sites." 

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

Ios 13 lets you automatically close tabs in the safari browser on an iphone after a set period of time — here's how to do it, how to stop pop-ups from appearing on your iphone's safari browser, how to add bookmarks and favorites on an iphone's safari browser for quick access to your preferred webpages, how to delete or edit the saved bookmarks on your iphone's safari browser.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

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How to Delete Frequently Visited Websites on Your iPhone

Clear the list in Safari or Chrome

• Switching from Android

What to Know

• On Safari on iPhone, under the Favorites heading you can tap and hold individual sites to delete them.
• To disable frequently visited sites in Safari on iPhone, go to Settings > Safari and toggle Frequently Visited Sites off.
• On Chrome on iPhone, open a new tab, and tap and hold the icon of the site you want to remove. Tap Remove .

When you browse the web on your iPhone, the Safari and Chrome mobile browsers keep records of websites you visit. When you visit a website regularly, the browsers recognize it as a frequently visited or favorite site. This makes the site's icon readily available to you when you open a new tab.

If your preferences change, you have privacy concerns, or you want to remove your list of frequently visited sites and start fresh, it's easy to delete your most visited sites in Safari and Chrome.

Sites you visit while browsing in Private or Incognito mode aren't saved in the Safari Frequently Visited section or the Chrome most-visited list.

Delete Frequently Visited Sites in Safari on an iPhone

In Safari, icons for sites you visit often appear under the Frequently Visited heading when you open a new tab. It's easy to delete these sites one at a time.

Frequently visited sites are different from Favorites. Sites that appear under the Favorites heading are sites you marked as a favorite. Frequently visited sites are automatically added unless you disable this function.

Open Safari on your iPhone and open a new tab. You'll see a Favorites heading and a Frequently Visited heading.

To remove a site from your Frequently Visited list, tap and hold the site's icon.

Tap Delete on the pop-up menu.

The site is removed from your Frequently Visited list.

How to Disable Frequently Visited Sites in Safari

Stop any new sites from appearing in your Frequently Visited list of the Safari browser by disabling the feature.

Go to Settings > Safari .

Tap the Frequently Visited Sites toggle so that it turns from green (enabled) to white (disabled).

Repeat these steps to re-enable this functionality at any time.

Delete Frequently Visited Sites in Chrome on an iPhone

On an iPhone, Chrome displays your most-visited sites below the search bar on a new tab.

Open Chrome on your iPhone and open a new tab.

Tap and hold the icon of the site you want to remove.

Select Remove .

The site's icon is removed from your most-visited sites.

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How to Remove Frequently Visited on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Removing frequently visited sites on your iPhone is simple. Just open Safari, tap the bookmarks icon, go to the ‘History’ tab, and then tap ‘Clear’ at the bottom. Choose the time range you want to clear and voilà, your frequently visited sites are gone.

After completing this action, the frequently visited sites section in Safari will be empty. Your iPhone won’t suggest these sites anymore when you open a new tab or window in Safari.

You can also check out this video about how to remove frequently visited on iPhone for more on this topic.

Introduction

Are you tired of seeing the same old sites pop up every time you open Safari on your iPhone? Maybe you’re handing your phone to a friend and don’t want them to see where you’ve been browsing. Or perhaps you just want a clean slate to start from. Whatever your reason, clearing your frequently visited sites can be a helpful trick to know.

This topic is essential for any iPhone user who values their privacy or likes to keep their device organized. It’s a simple process, but knowing how to do it can save you from some potentially awkward situations. Removing these sites can also help your browser run more smoothly, as it won’t need to load those previews every time you open a new tab. It’s a tip that’s relevant to anyone who uses Safari on their iPhone, whether you’re a tech-savvy teenager or a grandparent who’s just getting the hang of your new smartphone.

Related: iPhone 15: How to Clear Safari History in Just a Few Steps

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Remove Frequently Visited on iPhone

This tutorial will guide you through the steps to remove the frequently visited sites from Safari on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open Safari

First things first, tap on the Safari icon to open your browser.

When you open Safari, you’ll be at the start of the process to declutter your browser.

Step 2: Tap the Bookmarks Icon

Next, tap the bookmarks icon (it looks like an open book) located at the bottom of the screen.

This will take you to where Safari stores all your bookmarks, history, and frequently visited sites.

Step 3: Go to the ‘History’ Tab

Once you’re in the bookmarks menu, tap on the ‘History’ tab.

You will now see a list of all the websites you’ve visited in the past.

Step 4: Tap ‘Clear’

Scroll to the bottom of the history list, and you’ll see a ‘Clear’ button. Tap on it.

This action will prompt you to specify how much of your browsing history you want to clear.

Step 5: Choose Time Range

Decide how much history you want to clear. You can choose from the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

Be aware that whatever you choose will be permanently deleted, so make sure you won’t need any of that information later.

Video About Frequently Visited

Additional Information

When you remove frequently visited sites from your iPhone, you’re also impacting how Safari operates. The browser learns from your habits, trying to make your experience as smooth and tailored as possible. Clearing your history frequently will make Safari less personal, but it can also be a fresh start if you’re looking to change your browsing habits.

If you’re worried about privacy, using private browsing mode in Safari can prevent sites from showing up in your history in the first place. Also, consider managing your Safari Favorites, which appear when you open a new tab, to ensure quick access to your preferred sites. Another tip is to regularly clear your cache and cookies, which can also help protect your privacy and improve browser performance.

Remember, these steps only apply to Safari. If you use another browser on your iPhone, the process may be different.

• Open Safari.
• Tap the bookmarks icon.
• Go to the ‘History’ tab.
• Tap ‘Clear’.
• Choose the time range to clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if i only want to remove one site from my frequently visited list.

You can remove individual sites by pressing and holding on the site icon until a menu pops up, then tapping ‘Delete’.

Will clearing my history log me out of websites?

Yes, if you clear all history and website data, you will be logged out of most sites.

Can I recover my history after I clear it?

No, once your history is cleared, it cannot be recovered.

Will this affect my bookmarks?

No, clearing history will not affect your saved bookmarks.

Is there a way to stop sites from appearing in frequently visited without clearing my history?

Yes, you can use private browsing mode to prevent sites from being recorded in your history.

Removing frequently visited sites on your iPhone is more than just a quick fix for decluttering your browser or keeping your surfing habits private. It’s about taking control of what you see and how your device works for you. Cleaning up your digital space can be just as satisfying as tidying your physical one, and it’s a task that anybody can tackle.

So, next time you’re handing your phone to someone else or just want to start fresh, remember that it’s just a few taps away. Keep your browsing experience tailored to your needs and remember, your digital privacy is in your hands.

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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How to stop seeing Frequently Visited websites in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Safari Start Page, which is the first screen you see when you open Apple’s web browser, has a section called Frequently Visited . Under this, you’ll see websites you often open on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, for privacy and other reasons, you may want to avoid seeing a list of frequently visited websites every time you open Safari or tap the address field.

In this quick tutorial, we’ll show you how to stop frequently visited sites from showing up in Safari.

How to hide Frequently Visited sites in Safari

On iphone or ipad.

• Open the Safari browser and make sure you’re on the Start Page. If not, open a new tab to see the Start Page.
• Tap Edit . You may have to scroll down to see the Edit button.
• Turn off the switch for Frequently Visited .
• Finally, touch the close button (X) to exit this screen.

Once you return to the Start Page, you’ll notice the absence of the Frequently Visited section. Plus, now, when you tap the URL bar, frequently visited sites won’t appear as a suggestion.

Here’s how the interface looks like with frequently visited sites enabled (left screenshot) and turned off (right screenshot):

Note: On older versions of iOS, you had to go to the Settings app > Safari to turn off the switch for Frequently Visited Sites .

• Open Safari and be on the Start Page.
• Click the settings icon from the bottom right of the screen.
• Uncheck the box for Frequently Visited .

Use Start Page on All Devices

Start Page appearance can sync via iCloud to all your Apple devices. As a result, when you show or hide Frequently Visited or other sections on your iPhone, the same settings will also reflect on your iPad, Mac, or other iPhone. This ensures you have a uniform Safari Start Page on all your Apple devices.

However, if you don’t want that and wish to have distinct Safari Start Pages, turn off the switch for Use Start Page on All Devices on iPhone or iPad. On Mac, uncheck the box for Use Start Page on All Devices .

Useful Safari tips:

• 11 tips to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
• How to change your Safari Homepage on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
• How to add Favorites in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

How to Turn off Frequently Visited Sites in Safari

When you open a new tab in Safari, it gives you suggestions for frequently visited websites. This feature can be turned off in Settings.

Open Settings and tap Safari.

Top Image Credit: ymgerman / Shutterstock.com

Author Details

Conner Carey

Conner Carey's writing can be found at  conpoet.com . She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via  @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country. 

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How to remove and delete frequently visited on Safari iPhone

Published on December 14, 2023

Safari is a popular web browser for iPhone users with many useful features (including a dark mode), and like most browsers, it keeps track of your frequently visited sites. This can be useful if you want to quickly access your favorite pages, but it can also be annoying if you want to keep your browsing history private.

In this article, we will show you how to delete frequently visited sites on the Safari browser in a few simple steps. You will also learn how to remove this section altogether if you prefer.

QUICK ANSWER

You can remove the Frequently Visited section entirely from your Safari homepage by tapping Edit and turning the Frequently Visited toggle off. Alternatively, you can also remove individual sites from the section by tapping and holding them, then tapping Delete . You can also delete all sites from the section by clearing your browsing history.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

How to remove the frequently visited section from the iPhone Safari start page

How to delete frequently visited sites from the iphone safari app.

The Safari web browser has many features to help make your browsing experience more comfortable. One of them is the Frequently Visited section on the default homepage. But you may not like having your frequent websites displayed like that because of privacy concerns. Follow the steps below to remove the Frequently Deleted section from the Safari home page:

• Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
• Tap Edit , and turn the Frequently Visited toggle off.

This will ensure the next time you open Safari, your frequently visited websites will not be displayed on the homepage. This is a great option for people who don’t like their most visited websites displayed on the homepage, where it is exposed for everyone to see.

There are different ways to delete frequently visited sites from the iPhone Safari app, depending on whether you want to remove individual sites or clear your browsing history altogether. Follow the steps below to remove individual sites from the homepage:

• Under the Frequently Visited section, tap and hold the thumbnail of the website you want to delete.
• Tap Delete . Repeat the steps for each website you want to remove.

Another way you can get rid of all frequently deleted sites in one go is by clearing your browsing history. Follow the steps below to learn how to do so:

• Tap the Bookmarks icon (it is an open book) on the bar at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap the History icon (it is a clock), then tap Clear .
• Now, you can choose the timeframe for which you want to clear your browsing history. Options include Last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, and All history .
• After selecting the timeframe, tap Clear History .

The browsing history for the selected timeframe will be cleared. To completely erase all data for frequently visited sites, we recommend selecting All history as the timeframe.

Your Guide to Private Browsing in Safari

Private browsing is often misunderstood, but it can be a helpful feature if you know what’s what.

Quick Links

What private browsing does in safari, how to use safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to use safari private browsing on a mac, how to disable safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to disable safari private browsing on a mac, key takeaways.

• Private Browsing in Safari hides browsing history, autofill details, downloads, and locks tabs after inactivity.
• Safari on Mac groups private and non-private tabs, while on iPhone it shows all tabs regardless of mode.
• To use Private Browsing in Safari, identify it by a dark address bar, "Private" indicator, or "Private" next to the site URL.

Most browsers offer a private browsing mode that aims to keep the websites you view off the record. But what exactly does it do in Safari and how do you get the best out of it?

First and foremost, Private Browsing keeps the website pages you visit out of your History . The aim is to prevent someone else from seeing which pages you have visited if they have access to your phone or computer.

In Safari, Private Browsing does a lot more than just hide URLs. It also:

• Prevents recent searches from showing up in your history.
• Stops remembering details you enter in forms for autofill.
• Keeps downloaded items from appearing in your Downloads list.
• Locks private tabs after a period of inactivity.
• Adds tracking and fingerprinting protection.

However, it’s important to note that Private Browsing does not stop you from being tracked altogether. Websites you visit will still be able to use various methods to track you, and will still have access to all data that you send them.

On macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Safari groups private tabs together, and separates them from non-private tabs. On Mac, each Safari window is either private or non-private, and can have as many tabs as you want.

On iPhone, you can switch between private and non-private modes, each of which shows all tabs belonging to that mode.

You can spot when you’re viewing a private tab with these signs:

• The address bar has a dark background. This may be less noticeable if you’re using Dark Mode .
• On Mac, you’ll see a prominent Private indicator in the title bar.
• On iPhone, you’ll see Private alongside the site URL at the bottom of your screen.

The steps to enter Private Browsing mode are nearly identical on an iPhone and iPad. The only difference is that the tab icon is at the bottom of the screen on iOS and the top on iPadOS.

• Long-press the tab icon (two overlapping pages) on the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (iPad) of your screen.
• Tap the New Private Tab menu item.
• If locked, enter your passcode to unlock Private Browsing.

You can enter Private Browsing mode on macOS using either a menu item or a keyboard shortcut:

• Open the File menu and choose New Private Window .
• Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd + n .
• Use the browser as you normally would. Any tabs you open from this window will open in the same window, in private mode.

You may want to prevent users of an iPhone or iPad from using Private Browsing mode at all. To do so:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Screen Time .
• Under RESTRICTIONS , click on Content & Privacy Restrictions .
• If not already enabled, press the toggle next to Content & Privacy Restrictions to enable.
• Tap Content Restrictions .
• Change the Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

The option to enter private mode will now be gone.

On macOS, the wording of certain options differs slightly, but the overall process is near-identical to iOS:

• Open System Settings via the Apple menu.
• Click on Screen Time in the left panel.
• Under the Restrictions section, click on Content & Privacy .
• Click Content Restrictions .
• Change the Access to Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

Private Browsing will now be unavailable in Safari, although any existing private windows will stay open.

Of course, anyone can re-enable Private Browsing using the same process, in reverse. However, you can use Screen Time’s Lock Screen Time Settings option to set a passcode and enforce the setting permanently.