delete history safari on iphone

How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

Clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad in a few simple steps

iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center

You'll definitely want to know how to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad . Know how to delete browsing history is part of basic user operation on all your devices, and is especially if you share devices with others.

Luckily, deleting browsing history on Safari is easy and can be done in just a few taps, and is the same on iOS and iPadOS, so whether you're using an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad Air , these steps will apply.

Remember, though, that deleting your browsing history only stops your activity being visible on that device. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will still be able to see the webpages you have visited. If you want to stop that, for ultimate privacy, you'll need to use one of the best VPN services .

The following screenshots were taken on an iPhone running iOS 17 . If you aren't running the latest version of your device's OS, we can show you how to update an iPhone or how to update an iPad .

In Safari, tap the book icon
Go to the history tab (clock)
Select how far back to clear

Read on to see full illustrated instructions.

1. In Safari, tap the book icon

A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar.

2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear

Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear at the bottom.

3. Select how far back to clear and tap Delete

Now choose how far back you'd like to delete : last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

If you like, you can toggle on Close All Tabs , which will close every open tab that isn't in a tab group (we can show you how to use tab groups if you aren't sure).

Finally, when you're happy, hit Delete .

A screenshot showing empty browsing history on Safari for iPhone

As you can see in the screenshot above, if you now go back to the history tab, your history will have been deleted.

For more iPhone tutorials, check out our guides on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone , how to clear RAM on iPhone , how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone and how to rearrange the iOS 17 Messages '+' menu .

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How to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

Easily wipe your browsing history in Apple's Safari web browser in seconds.

How to find your web-browsing history

How to clear your web browsing history.

Clearing your browsing history on iPhone and iPad in Safari has been a straightforward affair for years now.

Sometimes, you may want a fresh start with your web browsing — perhaps to get rid of some history that may bring up a memory you'd rather forget as you type in a website URL in the address bar.

Apple makes this feature very easy to access on both the iPhone and iPad by offering two ways to clear your history. So with this in mind, here's how you can do just that and make a fresh start in Safari .

Viewing your web history in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is very easy to do — and it's all done from Safari.

In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar that's below the address bar.
Tap the History icon in the upper right corner. Here, you can view your entire web history.

To search for bookmarks, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar at the bottom of the app, then select the Bookmark icon.

Use the History search bar to find previously viewed pages.

To find History, tap the History menu. Then use the search to find previously viewed information.

If the time calls to wipe most or all of your web browsing history in Safari, here's how to do it on both iPhone and iPad.

To note, the below steps will be the same if you attempt to wipe your web browsing history on an iPhone 15 Pro Max , and an iPad Mini 6 for example.

In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button.
Select the History icon in the upper right corner.
Tap Clear and select how much history you'd like to clear: the last hour, the last day, 48 hours' worth, or all recorded history.

One more thing… A feature no one talks about

Privacy on the web matters more than ever in these modern times. Websites store the pages you click on, especially when you sign into a page that can contain personal information about you.

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

It's great to have a feature like this in Safari — but it would be good to have this automated. To tell Apple's web browser to automatically clear history after 24 hours would be very useful, as you wouldn't leave a trail behind.

Regardless, it's still a good feature, and one you should use every week.

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider ', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

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How to clear browsing history on Safari on iPhone or Mac

You can clear your Safari browsing history on both iOS and Mac

As tracking goes, Safari keeping your browsing history is less about privacy-busting security and more about just being useful. It's your history that means Safari remembers where to go to when you choose forward and back within a site, for instance.

It's also how Safari is able to offer you a list of sites that you regularly go to, on account of how handy it is to be able to back to them with a click. History also does keep things you may not expect, though, such as a list of items you've downloaded.

If you don't want that, though, or you're just fed up of Safari going to site addresses you haven't looked at in years, you can wipe the whole browsing history.

On a Mac, you can also wipe, for instance, just the last hour's browsing history. So if you share Safari and it's someone's special birthday coming up, you can avoid them inadvertently finding out you plan to surprise them with dance lessons.

Go to History, Clear History, and then choose how far back you want your browsing cleared

How to clear search history on Safari on Mac

In Safari, choose the History menu
Select Clear History from the very bottom of the menu
In the dialog box that appears, choose from clearing the last hour , today , today and yesterday , or all history
Click on Clear History

Alternatively, within Safari you can press Command-Y and the current page will be replaced by a history list. There's a Clear History... button toward the top right.

Clicking on that gives you exactly the same dialog about choosing how far back you want to clear your browsing history. But this page does also give you one extra option — the ability to delete one specific item.

How to clear one item from Safari search history on Mac

In Safari, press Command-Y
From the long list, click once on a history item to select it
Right-click to bring up a menu, then choose Delete

Alternatively, if you select one, two, or more items in the history list, you can then press the Delete key to remove them all.

You can remove your takeaway habits from Safari, we're not judging you.

That kind of precision removal is only possible on your Mac, not on iOS . However, whether it's precision or wholesale clearing of your history, though, there is a way to replicate it on iOS.

If you have set iCloud to share your Safari history, then just doing this on your Mac also removes the history from your iPhone, and iPad.

Otherwise, you're stuck with going to your iOS device. And then with clearing the entire history.

How to clear search history on iPhone

Go to Settings on your iOS device
Tap on Safari
Scroll down to Clear History and Website Data
Tap that, then tap Clear History and Data to confirm

One important thing to note is that you can't selectively remove, say, today's browsing history on the iPhone or iPad . It's all or nothing, with iOS.

Clearing your Safari history is all or nothing on iOS

What you leave behind

Clearing your history like this does remove the list of sites and pages you've visited. It does mean you can't go back to that site you read last Tuesday, not without remembering what it was and going there yourself.

What it doesn't remove, though, is the information that gets used by something like AutoFill. If you have your address, for instance, and you're used to online forms being filled out with it, you've still got that feature.

You've also still got anything you downloaded. It's purely that Safari won't keep the list of downloads.

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How-To Geek

How to delete specific website history from safari on iphone or ipad.

Forgot to enable Private Browsing mode on Safari? Don't nuke your entire history, prune specific sites instead.

Quick Links

How to remove websites from safari history, how to delete specific website data, don't forget about private browsing mode.

It's not always convenient to delete your entire history, but you can instead choose to delete specific websites from your history (and the data they leave behind on your device). Here's how to do it in Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Safari will record any websites you visit unless you use Private Browsing . Once a website is in your history it will appear in the URL bar when you start typing a related term. There are all sorts of reasons you may want to prune specific websites, and it's easy to do so.

Open Safari and tap on the "Bookmarks" icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like an open book).

A pop-up will appear with three tabs for your Bookmarks, Reading List , and History. Tap on the clock icon to see your history.

You can now swipe left on any entry in your history and tap "Delete" to remove it for good.

Rather than scrolling through your entire history of visited websites, you can also search for specific terms or URLs using the on-screen search box . But that's not the only evidence a website may have left behind on your device.

Related: How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone or iPad

Websites leave all sorts of data on your device including cached images and cookies . If you want to remove all signs of a website, it's important to remove website data as well.

Launch Settings and tap on Safari > Advanced > Website Data. This menu may take a little while to load as Safari fetches a full list of website data and estimates how much storage each entry takes up on your device.

You can now follow the same procedure as above by swiping left on any websites you would like to forget about and tapping the "Delete" button that appears.

You can also search for specific websites using the search bar at the top of the screen, or nuke everything using the "Remove All Website Data" button at the bottom of the list.

Note that if you do remove website data (or wipe everything) that there may be some drawbacks like having to log in again or having your shopping cart emptied.

Related: Clearing Your Cookies All the Time Makes the Web More Annoying

You can use Private Browsing mode in Safari at any point to visit a website without it being recorded to your device. To do this, tap on the tab icon in the lower right corner of the screen followed by the number of tabs you have open at the bottom of the screen. From here tap "Private" to switch to a private browsing session.

Note that all tabs in your private browsing session will remain open until you close them , so make sure you close anything that may compromise your privacy.

To get a better handle on your iPhone or iPad's privacy settings, we recommend a periodic iOS privacy check-up .

Related: How to Check and Tighten All Your iPhone's Privacy Settings

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How to delete browsing history on iPhone & iPad

Whether you’ve been searching for an anniversary present or looking at dodgy websites, it’s easy to clear your internet browsing history in Safari on the iPhone and iPad. This option was moved in iOS 11 , however, so you may have lost your bearings since updating .

For lots more tips on protecting your secrets, see How to use private browsing on iPhone and How to delete call history on iPhone . And for similar privacy advice applicable to your desktop and laptop computing, see How to delete browsing history on Mac .

How to selectively delete browsing history

Assuming your iPhone or iPad is up to date and running the latest version of iOS, you clear browsing history by doing the following:

Open Safari, and tap the bookmarks icon (the open book). On iPhone this is at the bottom of the screen; on iPad it’s at the top left.
At the top of the Bookmarks pane you’ll see three icons. Tap the clock icon on the right to open History.
At the bottom of the History pane, tap Clear, then select ‘The last hour’, ‘Today’, ‘Today and yesterday’ or ‘All time’.
You can also delete individual entries: swipe to the left across a URL until it turns red and says Delete.

In the older iOS 10 software, the process is almost the same, but you access the History pane in a slightly different way.

Open Safari and tap the bookmarks icon at the bottom (iPhone) or top (iPad) of the screen.
Tap History, near the top of your list of bookmarks.
Tap Clear at the bottom and select how far back you want to delete the history, or swipe left across an entry to delete that.

How to delete all browsing history

The above method is essential if you just want to clear specific entries from your history, or for deleting only the past hour or day of websites. But if you want to clear your history completely, you can also do this from Settings.

Open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Safari. Scroll down again and tap Clear History and Website Data, then tap Clear History & Data when iOS asks for confirmation.

Note that this also deletes cookies and other browsing data. If you would prefer to keep them, it’s better to delete history within Safari as described above – use the ‘All time’ option to wipe the lot.

You may also be interested in How to delete Facebook

Author: David Price , Editor

David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.

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2 Simple Ways to Clear History in Safari

Last Updated: January 4, 2024

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 124,735 times.

You can delete all of your web browsing history or specific entries on both the OS X and the iOS versions of Safari. This can come in handy if you're on a public computer, or need to remove a certain website from your browsing history. No matter what system you're using, it will only take a few moments.

OS X (All History)

If you're using an older version of Safari, click the "History" menu instead and select "Clear History".

Step 3 Use the pop-up menu to select the range of history you want to delete.

Note that this will delete history across all devices connected to your iCloud account.

OS X (Single Entries)

iOS (All History)

If you want to delete a single entry, click here .

iOS (Single Entries)

Step 1 Open the Safari app on your device.

Expert Q&A

↑ http://osxdaily.com/2014/11/28/clear-recent-web-history-safari-mac-os-x/
↑ http://osxdaily.com/2014/11/21/delete-specific-history-safari-ios/

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How to clear Safari history on iPhone

How to clear chrome history on iphone, how to clear firefox history on iphone, how to clear siri history on iphone.

How to browse privately

How to clear the search history on your iPhone

To clear the browsing history on your iPhone, delete it directly from the browser you use.
You can also delete your Siri search history and data.
Browsing the web in private mode can eliminate the need for clearing your iPhone's history.

The reason for wanting to clear the search history on your iPhone is your business.

But the fact is, browsers keep a running log of all the sites you visit. And if you're curious about how to delete your browsing history, know that browsers aren't the only thing on your phone being tracked. If you normally use Siri to search for things on the web, it might be worth deleting your Siri data, too.

Here's how to clear the history on your iPhone, whether you use Safari, Siri, Chrome, or Firefox.

You can clear your search history in Safari in several ways, removing individual pages, deleting by batches, or clearing all search history at once.

Clearing all history on Safari

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and select Safari .

2. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data .

3. Confirm by clicking Clear History and Data .

Clearing Safari history based on time periods

1. Open Safari and tap the Bookmarks icon at the bottom of your screen. The icon looks like an open book.

2. Tap on the History icon on the upper-right hand corner of your screen. The icon looks like a clock.

3. Tap Clear at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.

4. Select the time range you want to clear, from The last hour to Today to Today and yesterday to All time .

Deleting individual sites from Safari history

1. Open Safari and tap the Bookmarks icon at the bottom of your screen.

2. Tap on the History icon on the upper-right hand corner of your screen.

3. Swipe left on the website, then tap Delete . You can also swipe all the way left.

Like Safari, you can clear your search history in Chrome in several ways. Note that deleting your entire history in Chrome will clear synced data from your other Google accounts.

Clearing all history on Chrome

1. On your iPhone, open Chrome and tap the Menu icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The icon looks like three dots.

2. Tap History .

3. At the bottom of your screen, tap Clear Browsing Data.

4. Select a time range and the information you want to delete. In this instance, check Browsing History and uncheck items you do not want to delete.

5. At the bottom of your screen, tap Clear Browsing Data . Confirm the action in the pop-up box that appears.

Deleting individual sites from Chrome history

1. On your iPhone, open Chrome and tap the Menu icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.

3. At the bottom of your screen, tap Edit.

4. Select the sites you want to delete, and then tap Delete .

The searches you perform on Firefox are logged. And like Safari and Chrome, you can choose different ways to clear your browsing history.

Clearing all history on Firefox

1. On your iPhone, open Firefox and tap the Menu icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The icon looks like three horizontal lines.

2. Tap History .

3. Select Clear Recent History, and then tap Everything.

Deleting individual sites from Firefox history

1. On your iPhone, open Firefox and tap the Menu icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.

4. In History, you will see a list of recently visited sites. Swipe left on the website, then tap Delete . You can also swipe all the way left.

If you normally use Siri, it's worth noting that Apple saves the history of your Siri interactions. If you're concerned about privacy, you can delete your Siri search history .

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and select Siri & Search.

2. Select Siri & Dictionary History .

3. Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History .

How to browse privately

If you want to browse freely without needing to delete your history later, you should use private browsing mode. To learn how to do that, check out our guide on how to turn on private browsing mode for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and more.

Main content

Clear the history, cache and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Find out how to delete your history, cookies and cache in Settings.

Delete your history, cache and cookies

Clear your cookies and the cache, but keep your history

Delete a website from your history, block cookies, use content blockers, delete history, cache and cookies.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-safari-clear-history-and-website-data

Clearing your history, cookies and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information.

When there’s no history or website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

To visit sites without leaving history, turn Private Browsing on .

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.

Tap Remove All Website Data.

When there’s no website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

Open the Safari app.

Tap the Edit button, then select the website(s) that you want to delete from your history.

Tap the Delete button.

A cookie is a piece of data that a site puts on your device so that site can remember you when you visit again.

To block cookies:

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on Block All Cookies.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-safari-block-all-cookies

If you block cookies, some web pages may not work. Here are some examples:

You'll likely not be able to sign in to a site even when using your correct user name and password.

You may see a message that cookies are required or that your browser's cookies are turned off.

Some features on a site may not work.

Content blockers are third-party apps and extensions that let Safari block cookies, images, resources, pop-ups and other content.

To get a content blocker:

Download a content blocking app from the App Store.

Tap Settings > Safari > Extensions.

Tap to turn on a listed content blocker.

You can use more than one content blocker. If you need help, contact the app developer .

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

iOS 17 – How to Clear Safari History

You can clear your iPhone Safari history in iOS 17 by going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data > Clear History .

Our guide continues below with additional information about deleting iOS 17 Safari history, including pictures of these steps.

You can also watch our video about how to delete Safari history in iOS 17 for more on this topic.

How to Delete History and Data in Safari (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 14 Plus in the iOS 17 operating system.

These steps will work for other iPhone models that have updated to iOS 17 as well.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and choose the Safari option.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap the Clear History and Website Data button.

Step 4: Choose what you wish to delete, then touch the Clear History button.

Note that you can specify the time range of data to delete, and you can also choose whether or not to close your open tabs.

ios 17 how to clear Safari history on iPhone

Now that you know how to delete your history from the iPhone Safari browser after updating to iOS 17, you will be able to manage this information in the new operating system.

Video About Clearing Data in iOS 17

Summary – How to Delete iPhone Safari History

Tap Settings .
Select Safari .
Choose Clear History and Website Data .
Adjust the settings.
Tap Clear History .

Related: How to Delete Apps on iPhone Permanently

More Information

Ah, the Safari browser! The trusty gateway to the Internet for countless iPhone users. But just as one would clear away footprints on a sandy beach, there are times when you might want to wipe clean the digital tracks you leave behind on Safari. Let’s dive into the how and why of clearing your Safari history and data from an iPhone.

First off, why might you want to clear your history? Well, think of your Safari history as a diary of all your digital wanderings. Sometimes, it’s just good to start fresh, or maybe there’s that one website you accidentally clicked on that you’d rather forget. Additionally, clearing out old data can help Safari run smoother. Just like decluttering your living room can make you feel more at ease, giving Safari a good clean-up might just speed things up a bit.

Now, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Clearing your history and website data from Safari on an iPhone is a piece of cake, and I’m here to guide you through it, step by step:

Hop into Settings : Tap on that silver cog icon commonly found on your home screen. That’s the “Settings” app. Once inside, scroll down until you see the “Safari” option, and give that a tap.
Seek out the Clearing Option : Once you’re in the Safari settings, you’ll see an option that says “Clear History and Website Data.” It’s usually highlighted in blue. Found it? Great!
Tap and Confirm : Now, simply choose your desired options, then tap on “Clear History.” A prompt will pop up, asking you if you’re sure you want to clear. It’s always good to double-check, as this action can’t be undone. If you’re ready, tap “Clear History” and watch the magic happen.
The Results? : After you’ve done this, your history, cookies, and other browsing data will be wiped from your iPhone. However, your AutoFill information will remain intact. If you’re signed into iCloud, this will also clear your history from devices synced with the same iCloud account. It’s a bit like casting a spell that works across all your magical devices!

Just a side note: If you’re looking to only delete specific sites or specific pages, then you can open a tab in Safari, tap the book icon, choose the clock tab, and then swipe to the left on each page that you wish to remove.

Another cool tip while we’re chatting about this: If you want to browse without logging history at all, consider using Private Browsing mode. When you open Safari, tap the two-square icon at the bottom, and then tap “Private” on the bottom-left. Voilà! You’re in stealth mode.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Is this truly necessary?” Well, not always. But it’s a good habit to get into, especially if you’re concerned about privacy or if you’re handing your phone over to a friend to browse. Plus, let’s be real, there’s something oddly satisfying about starting with a clean slate, digitally speaking.

So there you have it! Simple, right? The world of tech can sometimes feel like a labyrinth, but with a guide like this, you’re never lost. Here’s to more smooth sailing (or should I say, browsing?) on Safari! And remember, whether it’s digital footprints or sandy ones, you now know how to leave no trace behind. Happy browsing!

Once you are comfortable deleting your history from the Safari browser in iOS 17, it can be a good idea to do this periodically so that the Safari browser runs as well as possible.

Additionally, you may find that your suggestions prompts when you search are affected by your history, and you might be seeing options there that you aren’t going to visit again.

Hopefully, our tutorial above about how to clear your iOS 17 Safari history has provided you with the information that you need in order to be able to make this change whenever you wish.

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.

Spring Cleaning: Clear Your iPhone Cache

Give your iPhone a fresh start by clearing your browser cache.

Adam has been covering streaming services since 2013 and wants to help people navigate the subscription creep in their lives.

Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents

A clear cache keeps your browsing snappy.

Your iPhone can get cluttered, just like the rest of your home. No, I'm not talking about too many videos of your kids and pets, or too many memes saved to your camera roll. I'm talking about your browser cache.

If you're cleaning up your home for the spring, don't forget to spruce up your iPhone's cache, especially if your browsing starts to feel sluggish over time. It takes only a few seconds to keep your iPhone 15 or 15 Plus , iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max or any other model moving as fast as possible.

Browser caches are intended as a convenience, but without proper maintenance, they can turn into more of a hassle. Think of them like a table, counter or other flat surface in your home that starts as a quick place to leave and grab your keys but eventually turns into a cluttered mess where it's impossible to find anything. Your cache stores website data for faster retrieval the next time you visit, but if the design or content of that site changes, it can actually slow down your browsing or lead to bad formatting on the site. Clearing your cache is like clearing off the counter so everything is clean and easy to navigate.

Whether you use Chrome , Safari or other browsers on your iPhone, your cache builds up that digital clutter over time. Clearing your cache gives the browser a new start, which can speed up your web surfing, even on iOS 17 . (If you're trying to get your phone to run faster, try managing your iPhone's storage .)

Website cookies are similar, except they store information about user data, rather than data on the website itself. Clearing your cookies gives you a chance to reset those preferences, which could improve your browsing experience. Note that clearing your cache and cookies will log you out of sites, which means you'll have to log into them again and reset any preferences. The upfront investment of that time can lead to a smoother experience down the road, and it can be a useful fix if you've recently changed settings that aren't being applied properly.

Here are step-by-step guides on how to clear your cache on your iPhone based on the browser you use .

How to clear your iPhone cache in Safari

Safari is the default browser on iPhones, and you can clear your Safari cache in a few short steps. Starting with iOS 11, following this process will affect all devices signed in to your iCloud account . As a result, all your devices' caches will be cleared, and you'll need to sign in to everything the next time you use them. Here's what to do.

1 . Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2 . Select Safari from the list of apps.

3 . Go to Clear History and Website Data.

4 . Choose Clear History and Data in the pop-up box.

Then you're set!

Read more : Best iPhone in 2024: Which Apple Phone Should You Buy?

How to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome

It's easy to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome.

Chrome is another popular browser for iPhone users. Thankfully, Google has simplified the process for clearing your Chrome cache, making it much faster to clear your data.

1 . Open the Chrome app.

2 . Select the three dots in the bottom right to open more options.

3 . Swipe over to Settings in the top menu bar.

4 . Scroll down and tap Privacy and security .

5 . Tap Clear Browsing Data to open up another menu. Select the intended time range at the top of the menu (anywhere from Last Hour to All Time). Make sure that Cookies, Site Data is checked, along with Cached Images and Files . Finally, hit Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.

Read more : This iPhone Setting Stops Ads From Following You Across the Web

How to clear your iPhone cache in Firefox

If you're a Firefox devotee, don't worry. Clearing the cache on your iPhone is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps.

1 . Click the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner to open up options.

2 . Choose Settings at the bottom of the menu.

3 . Select Data Management in the Privacy section.

4 . You can select Website Data to clear data for individual sites, or select Clear Private Data at the bottom of the screen to clear data from all selected fields.

Read more : Experiencing Slow Wi-Fi? It Could Be Caused by Internet Throttling. Here's How to Tell

What happens when you clear the cache?

Clearing your cache removes the website data your phone stored locally to prevent having to download that data upon each new visit. The data in your cache builds over time and can end up slowing things down if it becomes too bulky or out of date. (My phone had about 150MB of data stored in Chrome when I checked.) Clearing that data gives sites a fresh start, which may fix some loading errors and speed up your browser. Clearing your cache also signs you out of pages, so be prepared to sign in to everything again.

How often do I need to clear my cache?

Most people only need to clear their caches once every month or two. That's generally the point when your browser will build up a cache large enough to start slowing things down. If you frequent a large number of sites, you should err on the side of clearing your cache more often.

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Top 6 Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

Like any other browser, Safari gives you the option to clear your browsing history and start with a clean slate. This is helpful as it lets you to erase your online activities, free up space, and troubleshoot temporary browser-related issues. While clearing your browsing history in Safari is typically straightforward, there may be instances where you encounter difficulties along the way.

Top Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

Temporary glitches, Screen Time restrictions, and persistent cookies are just a few of the reasons you may have trouble clearing your Safari history on your iPhone. Below, we share all the possible solutions for fixing the underlying issue. So, let’s take a look.

1. Restart Your iPhone

Often, temporary iOS glitches can result in Safari’s clear history option appearing grayed out on your iPhone. In most cases, you can fix such anomalies by simply restarting your iPhone. Hence, it’s the first thing you should try.

On iPhone X or newer models, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button with one of the volume buttons and then use the slider to power off your iPhone. On older iPhones, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the slider appears and use it to shut down your iPhone.

After your iPhone shuts down completely, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears. When your iPhone restarts, try to clear your Safari browsing history again.

2. Disable Web Content Restrictions

The Screen Time feature on your iPhone lets you apply content restrictions to block inappropriate websites . If you’ve previously enabled this feature, you are likely to run into problems while clearing your Safari history. So, it’s best to remove any web content restrictions on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on Screen Time.

Step 2: Tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ and select Content Restrictions from the following menu.

Content and Privacy Restrictions on iPhone

Step 3: Tap on Web Content and select the Unrestricted option.

3. Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

Enabling iCloud sync for Safari allows you to sync your browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, and other data across all your Apple devices. This sync feature can sometimes cause conflicts with Safari and hinder your ability to clear your browsing history. You can temporarily disable iCloud sync for Safari to see if that fixes the issue.

Step 1: Open the Settings app, tap your Apple ID at the top, and select iCloud from the following menu.

Step 2: Under Apps Using iCloud, select the Show All option.

Step 3: Toggle off the switch next to Safari.

4. Clear Safari Reading List

Sometimes, webpages saved in the Safari Reading List may keep appearing in your history, even after you have cleared it. To fix this, you can try clearing your Safari Reading List by following the steps below.

Step 1: Open Safari on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the Book icon at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap the glasses icon to switch to the Reading List tab.

Step 4: Tap the Edit option in the bottom right corner, select all the entries, and then tap the Delete option.

After clearing Safari Reading List, check if you can clear your browsing history.

5. Temporarily Block Cookies in Safari

Safari saves cookies to remember your preferences, keep you logged in to websites, and improve your browsing experience. However, certain persistent cookies, specifically designed to remain on your device, may interfere with clearing your browsing data. To check for this possibility, you can temporarily block cookies in Safari .

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap on Safari.

Step 2: Under Privacy & Security, toggle on the switch next to Block All Cookies. Select Block All to confirm.

Try to clear Safari history again after this and check if the issue is still there.

6. Reset Your iPhone

If you still can’t clear your browsing history in Safari, you can try resetting your iPhone . That will restore your iPhone’s settings to default values without affecting your personal data. Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General.

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone.’

Step 3: Tap on Reset and select Reset All Settings from the menu that appears.

Start With a Clean Slate

Clearing your browsing history in Safari is something you might do from time to time to maintain privacy. Occasionally, the process may not go smoothly for various reasons, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the solutions mentioned above.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 08 May, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

DID YOU KNOW

Pankil Shah

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer from Ahmedabad, India. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, and the Web at Guiding Tech. When time permits, he also writes at MakeUseOf and Techwiser. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and continues to plan his international travels with his wife.

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

Clearing the history from your Safari browser on an iPhone 15 is a straightforward process. Simply go to the settings app, select Safari, scroll down to the ‘Clear History and Website Data’ option and tap it. A confirmation pop-up will appear; confirm your choice and your Safari browsing history will be erased.

When you clear the Safari history on your iPhone 15, all records of your web browsing activity, including your search history, websites visited, and AutoFill information will be deleted. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you want to clear this data before you proceed.

You can also check out this video about how to clear Safari history on iPhone 15 for more information.

Introduction

In a world where our phones are essentially extensions of ourselves, privacy is paramount. For iPhone 15 users, Safari is the gateway to the internet, and like any other browser, it keeps a record of your online activities. Whether you’re shopping for a surprise gift, planning a surprise party, or simply want to keep your browsing habits private, knowing how to clear your Safari history is a useful skill.

This article is particularly relevant for anyone who shares their device with others or is concerned about their online privacy. Let’s dive into why clearing your history can be beneficial and how to do it effectively.

Related: How to Clear Browsing History on iPhone 14

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Clear Safari History

Before we begin, understand that doing these steps will remove your browsing history from Safari on your iPhone 15. This means your past web activity will no longer be accessible through your browser.

Step 1: Open Settings

Firstly, open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone 15. This is where most of your phone’s configurations are managed.

The Settings app is the grey gear icon typically found on your home screen. If you can’t find it, you can also swipe down on your home screen and search for ‘Settings’.

Step 2: Scroll to Safari

In the Settings menu, scroll down until you see ‘Safari’ and select it. This will take you to the settings specific to your Safari web browser.

You may need to scroll a bit to find Safari, as it’s usually nestled among the apps in alphabetical order in your settings.

Step 3: Clear History and Website Data

Next, scroll down in the Safari settings until you see the ‘Clear History and Website Data’ option. Tap on this to proceed with clearing your history.

This option is typically towards the bottom of the Safari settings menu. If it is greyed out, it may mean there’s already no history to clear, or your device is in a restricted mode that doesn’t allow clearing history.

Step 4: Confirm Your Action

Finally, a pop-up window will ask you to confirm that you want to clear your history. Tap ‘Clear History and Data’ to confirm.

Be certain before you tap as this action cannot be undone. Once you clear your history, it’s gone for good.

Video About Clearing Safari History

Additional Information

Now that you know how to clear your Safari history on your iPhone 15, here are a few extra nudges to enhance your understanding. Remember, when you clear your history, you’re also saying goodbye to your cookies and cache. These are little pieces of data that websites store on your device to remember your preferences and speed up your browsing experience. While clearing them can help with privacy and performance, it can also mean you’ll lose some personalized settings on websites you visit frequently.

Another important tip is to consider using Private Browsing mode in Safari when you don’t want your history to be saved. This feature allows you to browse without Safari keeping track of the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information. It’s the incognito mode of iPhones and can be accessed from the tabs screen in Safari.

Lastly, if you’re looking to clear history for specific sites rather than all your browsing data, Safari allows you to do this too. Just go to the Safari settings, tap on ‘Advanced’, choose ‘Website Data’, and then you can remove data for individual websites.

Open Settings
Scroll to Safari
Clear History and Website Data
Confirm Your Action

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my safari history log me out of websites.

Yes, when you clear your history, cookies and other site data are also erased, which means you’ll be logged out of most websites.

How often should I clear my Safari history?

It depends on your personal preference and browsing habits. Some people clear it daily, while others do so weekly or monthly.

Is there a way to automatically clear my history?

No, as of now, there’s no setting to automatically clear Safari history on iPhone 15. It must be done manually.

Can I recover my Safari history after clearing it?

No, once the Safari history is cleared, it cannot be recovered.

Will clearing Safari history delete my bookmarks?

No, clearing your history does not delete your bookmarks or reading list items.

Your online privacy is crucial, and clearing your Safari history on your iPhone 15 is a simple but effective way to maintain it. Whether you’re doing it for performance reasons, to free up space, or to keep your browsing private, it’s a good habit to adopt.

Remember, technology is here to serve us and our needs for convenience and security. Keep exploring, but do it wisely—your Safari journey is yours to command.

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 Clear Cookies On Your iPhone (and Why You Should)

T his is a complete guide on how to clear cookies on iPhone . It covers the most popular mobile browsers, such as Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

When you delete cookies, you free up space on your iPhone and stop websites from following you around the web. Therefore, you protect your personal information and privacy online.

Let's jump right to it.

What Are Cookies on My iPhone?

Cookies are small encrypted pieces of information that websites store on your iPhone to remember information about you and your visit.

A typical example would be when you visit an online store and add a product to your shopping cart but don't complete the order.

So next time you visit the same website, you'll find your item right where you left it, in the shopping cart. That's the power of cookies.

Should I Clear Cookies on My iPhone?

Besides personalizing your experience and making surfing the web a pleasant adventure, cookies can sometimes become a serious problem. At some point, you may need to delete them from your browser.

Even though they're tiny, they can take up space over time, which may affect your device's performance speed.

Speaking of performance, please read this helpful article for an in-depth guide on how to speed up your iPhone .

Sometimes, cookies get obsolete, which can create vulnerability so hackers can steal your information. You sure don't want any of that.

That's why you need to clear cookies on your iPhone because it can protect your phone from hackers . So enough with the waffling; we've got a lot to cover in this guide. Let’s get started.

How to Clear Cookies in Safari on an iPhone

While cookies may pose a problem in certain circumstances, we don't recommend you block them altogether.

This will lead to bad user experiences. Instead, delete them periodically. Without further ado, let's get started.

Step 1 . To clear cookies on your iPhone, open the Settings app, scroll down until you find the Safari app, and tap on it.

Step 2 . Under the "Privacy & Security" section of the Safari screen, tap Clear History and Website Data .

A prompt window will show up asking for your confirmation

Step 3 . Select the time period for which you want to delete cookies (e.g., last hour, today, today and yesterday, all history). Then, tap Clear History to remove your browsing history, cookies, and other website data from Safari.

This method will delete all cookies stored in Safari and also erase all cache, browsing history, and other data.

Delete Cookies for Specific Sites on Safari

If you only want to delete cookies for certain websites, proceed this way.

Step 1 . From the Home screen, open Settings and select Safari .

Step 2 . Tap Advanced at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3 . On the next screen, select Website Data .

Step 4 . You should see a list of all cookies saved on your iPhone for every website you've visited. Tap Remove All Website Data at the end of the screen to delete every single cookie saved on your browser.

Step 5 . A prompt will appear on the screen to confirm your decision. Just tap Remove Now . This will prevent websites from tracking what you do on the web.

If you want to delete cookies for a particular website, tap the Edit button on the upper right of the screen, then tap the red minus icon next to the website name.

To delete cookies for a specific website, swipe left on that website's entry.

As mentioned earlier, we don't recommend blocking cookies as some websites require them to function properly.

However, if you still wish to proceed, here's how to block all cookies on an iPhone.

Open the Settings app from the Home screen.
Scroll down and tap Safari .
Tap Advanced .
Turn on Block All Cookies by sliding the toggle to the right.
Then, tap Block All to confirm your action.

Not everyone is a fan of Safari. If you happen to use other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera to surf the web on your iPhone, here's how to delete cookies stored by them.

How to Clear Cookies in Chrome on Your iPhone

Follow the steps below to clear cookies in Chrome on your iPhone.

1. Launch the Chrome app, then tap the ... menu icon in the lower-right corner.

2. On the next screen, select Settings from the menu tab.

3. Swipe up, then select Privacy . You may not need to swipe if you have an iPhone with a large display.

4. On the next screen, tap Clear Browsing Data to delete all the data Chrome has stored when visiting web sites over time.

5. From the list, choose what you want to delete. To clear only cookies on your iPhone, select " Cookies , Site Data. " You can also specify a time range if needed.

6. Choose Clear Browsing Data , then tap Clear Browsing Data again to confirm your decision.

How to Clear Cookies in Firefox on Your iPhone

Follow the instructions below to clear cookies in Firefox on your iPhone.

1. From your home screen, open the Firefox app, then tap the hamburger menu icon in the lower right corner of the screen.

2. Tap Settings right at the bottom.

3. Scroll down and select Data Management .

4. Tap Clear Private Data at the bottom of the page and confirm your decision by tapping OK in the confirmation window.

How to Clear Cookies on Opera on Your iPhone

Now that we've covered Chrome and Firefox let's see how to clear cookies on Opera on your iPhone. The steps are pretty similar.

1. Open the Opera app and tap the vertical three-dots Menu button at the top right corner of the screen.

2. Then, tap on Settings from the drop-down menu.

3. In the Browser section, tap Clear Browser Data .

4. Select Cookies and Site Data from the list. Note that this will sign you out of most sites.

5. Then, tap the Clear button at the top right corner of the screen.

After following the steps, a "Data Cleared" message will appear, confirming that all cookies stored by Opera have been deleted and reset.

Final Thoughts on Clearing Cookies on iPhone

Clearing cookies periodically on your iPhone can protect your online privacy and make your device run faster by freeing up storage space and removing website data that may contain personal information.

Let us know if this helped you clear cookies on your iPhone. If you have any feedback or questions, please don't hesitate to comment below.

FAQs on Clearing Cookies on iPhone

Should I clear cookies on my iPhone?

Although not essential, periodically clearing the cookies on your iPhone can free up storage space and resolve certain browsing problems.

What happens when I delete iPhone cookies?

When you delete your iPhone cookies, it removes all the data from the built-in browser.

Is there a downside to deleting cookies?

Clearing cookies can enhance your internet speed, but it may result in slower access to frequently visited websites.

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Apple to Allow Used Parts for Repairs, Starting With iPhone 15 Lineup

Apple today announced that customers and independent repair shops will be able to utilize used genuine Apple parts in repairs starting later this year.

Apple Self Service Repair Program iPhone

In the fall, Apple says calibration for both new and used genuine Apple parts will happen on device after the part is installed. If an iPhone has been repaired, a "Parts and Service History" section appears in the Settings app under General → About, and Apple says it will be expanding this section to show whether a genuine part is new or used.

Apple also announced that customers and service providers will no longer need to provide a device's serial number when ordering parts from its self-service repair store for repairs not involving replacement of the logic board.

To deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for parts, Apple said it will be extending its Activation Lock security feature to iPhone parts:

Apple will also extend its popular Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts in order to deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for parts. Requested by customers and law enforcement officials, the feature was designed to limit iPhone theft by blocking a lost or stolen iPhone from being reactivated. If a device under repair detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted.

Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus said the new policy will be more environmentally friendly by extending the lifespan of parts:

For the last two years, teams across Apple have been innovating on product design and manufacturing to support repairs with used Apple parts that won't compromise users' safety, security, or privacy. With this latest expansion to our repair program, we're excited to be adding even more choice and convenience for our customers, while helping to extend the life of our products and their parts.

Apple said the policy will apply to future iPhone models.

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Top Rated Comments

To make sure an owner with two broken iPhone can't end up with a working iPhone... FTFY

Because the parts are still LOCKED. Apple's not going through the trouble of determining WHO owns the lock.

If you own both phones, then why would activation lock have any impact on you?

I love Activation Lock on paper, but in practice it seems like would-be thieves haven't gotten the memo yet.

Making iphones stolen or maybe simply lost, unusable, will be more environmentally friendly ? Truth is icloud block is only apple's another greedy way to make money, masked by the best antitheft system ever. A thief will get a sitting phone on a table regardless if its an cheap android or an iphone 15. It's an occasion to get it so he will get it! What then? He will sell it anyway, even for few bucks. BUT when it will realize that its worth 0, he will throw it. No money for thief, no phone for the victim, who will buy another one. One iphone stolen = one more iphone sold by apple. Yeahthe victim may have the satisfaction that damn thief doesnt earned a buck, however another big thief earned a lot more... Another example not involving thiefs. My friend works in a big company, where workers are given phones, some iphones some androids. When they stops working there, they obviously return those phones. Well, no one checks the state of those phones and most of them are given back locked. While u can unlock androids, iphones are unusable. My friend sent my once a photo of a box full of locked iphones... Again apple earns, my friend's company loses...