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2 Easy Ways to Customize the Safari Homepage Background

Last Updated: April 19, 2023 Fact Checked

Using iPhone or iPad

This article was written by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . 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 fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 37,571 times.

Do you want to customize your Safari start page? Whether you're using the Safari app on iOS or the desktop version on Mac, you'll be able to change Safari's background image in a few simple steps. You can use Apple's default backgrounds or one of your own saved photos. If you're trying to change your Safari theme from white to black (or vice versa), you'll need to configure your Light/Dark display in the Settings app. This wikiHow will show you how to change the background image on Safari using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Things You Should Know

• On iOS, open a new start page. Tap "Edit," toggle on "Background Image," and then select a photo.
• On Mac, open Safari, click "Settings," and check the "Background Image" box. Select a photo and then click "Choose."

• Changing the Safari background is different from enabling Dark Mode .
• To enable or disable Dark Mode, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → select Light or Dark .

• If you have a lot of Favorites on your start page, you may need to scroll down to see this button.

• When it's toggled on, a collection of background images will appear. If you want to use one of Apple's provided backgrounds in Safari, tap it to apply it immediately.
• To use your own image as the background, continue to the next step.

• The Photos app will open.

• If you have a photo on your computer you'd like to use, you can transfer it to your iPhone or iPad using AirDrop.
• Tap X to close the page.
• If you want to remove the background image, return to the "Edit" menu and toggle off "Background Image".

• Be sure to update your Mac .

• A pop-up menu will open.

• When the box is checked, two tiles will appear. You can scroll towards the right to see more. If you want to use one of Apple's provided background images, click it to change your background immediately.
• To use your own image, continue to the next step.

• The Finder will open to your photos. Navigate through your folders to find a picture.

• If you want to remove the background image, return to the "Settings" menu and uncheck "Background Image".

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• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/customize-a-start-page-ibrw01514823/mac

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iPhone: How to set a custom Safari background in iOS 15

One of the notable changes  with iOS 15  is a totally redesigned Safari. The all-new browser aims to make it easier to use with one hand and offers more customizability. Follow along for how to set a custom iPhone Safari background in iOS 15.

There are quite a few changes with Safari on iPhone in iOS 15. For an in-depth look at all the changes, check out our guide as well as all the best new extensions for Safari:

• Hands-on: Here’s how the all-new Safari in iOS 15 works
• Here are the best new Safari extensions to download for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15

As for setting a custom iPhone Safari background, it’s a quick and easy change and you can use any of your own images or the new included background wallpapers from Apple.

How to set a custom iPhone Safari background in iOS 15

• Open an empty Safari page (tap the two square icon > tap the + icon in bottom corner)
• Swipe to the very bottom and tap  Edit
• Tap the toggle next to Background Image
• Tap the + to use your own image or choose from one of the included background wallpapers

Here’s how the process looks:

You can also reorder the sections of the start page or turn them on/off to further customize your setup.

More on Safari in iOS 15

For a closer look at how the new tabs and tab groups work and everything else new in iOS 15’s Safari, check out our full walkthrough in the video and post below:

Read more 9to5Mac tutorials:

• Hands-on: Here’s how Background Sounds work in iOS 15
• iPhone: How to enable and disable iCloud Private Relay in iOS 15
• iOS 15 brings new Announce Notifications feature for Siri, here’s how it works

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How to set a custom background in Safari browser tabs on your iPhone

• You can set your Safari background with a custom image on new tab pages starting with iOS 15.
• To select a custom background image, open a new tab in Safari, tap the Edit button at the bottom of the page, and enable the Background Image button.
• You can choose one of several preset images or pick a photo from your phone's photo library.   

Apple made some significant updates to the default Safari web browser for the iPhone in iOS 15 , including tab groups and a movable address bar. But one of the most interesting updates is the ability to set a custom background for new browser tabs. Not only does it add a much-needed visual update, but it's easy to configure, and you can change it as often as you like. 

How to set a custom background in Safari for iPhone

You can only set a custom background in Safari for your iPhone if you are running iOS 15 or later. To check, start the Settings app and tap General . Tap Software Update and check your current version. If necessary, install the update.

When you're ready to set the custom background:

1. Start the Safari app. 

2. If you're not already on a new, empty tab, tap the Tabs icon at the bottom (it looks like two overlapping squares) and then tap the Plus sign at the bottom left.  

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Edit . 

4. Turn on Background Image by swiping the button to the right.

5. Choose the background image you want to use for new tabs from one of the presets, or tap the Plus and select an image from your photo gallery. 

6. Tap the X to close Customize Start Page . 

You should now see your selected background image on all new tabs. You can return to the same menu to change your selection at any time. 

• Main content

How to add a background to Safari in iOS 15

Create a colorful background for your iphone.

By Barbara Krasnoff , a reviews editor who manages how-tos. She’s worked as an editor and writer for almost 40 years. Previously, she was a senior reviews editor for Computerworld.

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iOS 15 has brought with it a number of features that don’t affect your privacy, your efficiency, or your fitness. They’re — well, just nice. One of them is the new ability to change the background of the mobile version of Safari so that when you open a new page, you’re looking at something beautiful or wildly colorful. Or just nice.

The process is almost ridiculously simple. Here’s how to do it:

• Once you’re in the Safari app, you’re going to open a new page. Not sure how to do that? Look for the double square in the bottom-right corner and tap on that.
• You’ll see thumbnails of all the pages currently open in Safari. (If there are loads of them, you may want to take this opportunity to get rid of a few.) Tap on the plus sign in the lower-left corner.

• You’re now on “Customize Start Page.” Look for the “Edit” button and tap on that.
• Now, you can either choose from one of the backgrounds that Apple has included or tap the square with the plus sign to select one of your own. If you chose the latter, you’ll be taken into your Photo app to make a choice.

• Tap on the image you want to use, and you’ll be brought back to “Customize Start Page.” Your new image has now replaced the square with the plus sign and is highlighted. If you’re happy with your choice, leave the page. If you want to select something else, just tap on that square again to choose something different, or tap on one of the preinstalled Apple backgrounds.
• Leave the “Customize Start Page,” and you’ll see that your new Safari page now has a cool new background.

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Apple's iOS 15 Software Update Allows You to Customize Safari With a Cool New Backdrop

If you geeked out over Apple's iOS 14 home-screen customization update , just wait until you see what's in store on iOS 15. While its new features aren't quite as creative as those in iOS 14, there is one small thing you might have missed: Safari. That's right, Apple's new and improved Safari has innovations like a rearranged search bar and easier accessibility to links and bookmarks, but one of the coolest parts is its background image. Similar to your home-screen wallpaper, you can add an image to your Safari's start page that can be synced to all your devices — talk about staying on brand! Choose a picture of your own, or scour these cozy wallpapers for a fall vibe ; the choice is yours. If the idea of this new feature intrigues you, we've put together an easy how-to.

How to Change Your Safari Background on Your iPhone

• Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
• Hit the tabs button in the bottom right corner.
• Select the Start Page.
• Scroll down, and tap Edit.
• Turn on the Background Image option, and select a Wallpaper.
• Exit the Edit page once you're done.
• Digital Life

How To : Change Safari's Background Image on Your iPhone for a More Customized Start Page

One of the biggest grievances with Safari on iPhone was always its lack of customization, and iOS 15's browser upgrades tackle that problem head-on. Apple added many great features, including Safari extensions , Tab Bar, and Tab Groups , but the most prominent feature caters to those obsessed with finding the perfect Home and Lock Screen look.

Safari's redesigned start page, also called the new tab screen, lets you pick and choose what appears on it, and you can even customize its background. It first appeared on macOS Mojave and Catalina in September 2020, then in Big Sur two months later, and now it's finally available for iPhone and iPad in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, respectively.

• Don't Miss: You're Searching Your Safari Tabs Wrong — Use This Hidden iPhone Trick to Find Them Faster

The older Safari start page for iPhone, which appeared alongside iOS 13 in September 2019, added more sections below your favorites. Those included frequently and most recently visited sites, as well as Siri suggestions, the latter of which would show links from your messages, Reading List, browsing history, and more. That all still exists, only you can hide the things you don't want to see.

Customizing Your Safari Start Page

To get to the customizable start page in Safari, long-press the tabs icon in the toolbar and tap "New Tab." You can also tap the tabs icon, then the plus (+) sign. From there, scroll to the bottom of the new tab screen and tap "Edit." (Note: you can also customize and view your start page from Private Browsing mode.)

• Don't Miss: How to Move Safari's Search Bar to the Top of the Screen in iOS 15

After tapping "Edit," you will see all the start page features you can change. The most notable feature for those who like customization over all else would be choosing a "Background Image," which is just like changing the wallpaper on your Home or Lock Screen. The other settings you can toggle include:

• Use Start Page on All Devices

Frequently Visited

Shared with you, privacy report.

• Siri Suggestions

Reading List

Icloud tabs, syncing your safari start page across iphone, ipad, mac.

With "Use Start Page on All Devices" toggled on, Safari will synchronize all your start page settings — including the background image — across your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Just make sure you:

• Are signed in with the same Apple ID.
• Are running the latest software (macOS Big Sur or later, iOS 15 or later, iPadOS 15 or later).
• Have two-factor authentication turned on for iCloud.
• Have Safari toggled on in your iCloud preferences.

Changing Your Safari Start Page Background

By default, Apple provides nine different wallpaper options. Tap one to set it as your background. Alternatively, you can use an image from your iPhone's Photos app. Tap the plus (+) button, then choose from recent photos or specific albums. You can also pick Safari start page backgrounds from your other devices.

Unfortunately, you cannot use any of the iOS default Home and Lock Screen wallpapers, but you can save them (links: iOS and macOS wallpapers) to your device and add them from Photos. You can use macOS wallpapers from your computer, which Apple stores in one of the following directories:

This wallpaper will appear across all your devices if you have syncing enabled.

Choosing a Good Safari Start Page Background

Only specific types of images look best on your iPhone. If you want to synchronize your start page background image across your devices — like your iPad or Mac — opt for a landscape-oriented rectangular one. Safari on iOS will display the middle third of the picture. Also, when syncing your background image, use a high-quality image so it can display well on your other devices.

Disabling Your Safari Start Page Background

To disable the background image and return to the default dark gray background, go back to the "Background Image" section in your start page settings. From there, tap on the X in the corner of the custom or Apple-created wallpaper.

Automating Your Safari Start Page Background

At this time, you cannot automate your background with the stock Shortcuts app. However, you can install third-party Safari extensions that give you a completely new start page. While they don't modify Apple's default start page, opening a new tab will send you directly to the extension's custom start page with its own custom settings. Examples include:

• Startpage.ai
• Mindful Tab

Customizing the Other Safari Start Page Features

As mentioned above, there are other start page features to customize in Safari, including start page syncing, favorites, frequently visited webpages, links shared with you, privacy reports, Siri suggestions, your reading list, and tabs from your other devices.

With "Favorites" — Safari's oldest feature here — you'll see your bookmarked favorites as icons on your start page. To bookmark webpages, tap the share icon in the Safari toolbar, then "Add to Favorites." You can also find favorited webpages from the book icon in Safari's toolbar, in the "Favorites" tab, and you can tap "Edit" to organize them and add new folders.

If you decide to reveal your "Frequently Visited" sites, it will show websites you visit often. However, if you've recently transferred to iOS from Android, restored your iPhone, or cleared your Safari's browsing history, it will take a while for your device to optimize this setting for your start page.

"Shared with You" is a prominent feature that Apple introduced in iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15. On the Safari start page, you'll see links sent to you through the Messages app.

Apple introduced "Privacy Report" for Safari in September 2020 with iOS 14 , and now you can see it on your start page. The feature allows you to see which websites are trying to use ad-tracking. It also shows how many trackers Safari blocked and what percentage of websites you visit use trackers.

The "Reading List" has been in Safari since iOS 5 was introduced in October 2011. While it's an old feature, it's valuable for creating a list to read later when you have time. Like bookmarks, you can tap the share icon in the Safari toolbar, then "Add to Reading List." You can also find your list from the book icon in Safari's toolbar, in the "Reading List" tab, and you can tap "Edit" to delete or save offline versions of pages.

Apple introduced "iCloud Tabs" in iOS 13, and the feature allows you to quickly open links that you currently have open in Safari on another device. Now, you can access them from your Safari start page. Previously, you could only access them from the bottom of the tabs view.

• Don't Miss: Group Your Safari Tabs into Collections in iOS 15

Rearranging Your Safari Start Page Options

Lastly, you can reorder how most of these options appear on your Safari start page. To do so, tap and hold the three bars to the right of a setting, then move the selection to where you would like to see it.

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new features for Podcasts, News, Books, and TV, as well as important security improvements and fresh wallpapers. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.5 update.

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Here's How To Change Your iPhone's Safari Background

Safari received some updates with iOS 15 , including the ability to customize its start screen. This is the page that appears when you open Safari and have no other tabs open. On this screen, you have your bookmarked pages, and with the new update, there are some more features available to populate this screen. One of these is the ability to change the background of Safari. Before, there was simply a black or white background (depending on if you use dark or light mode), but now you can choose from multiple different pre-set backgrounds or even your own image from your camera roll.

You can also change a variety of other features in Safari, including which of them are on the start page and the order they appear in. If you've ever wanted full control over the customization of your Safari start page, now is the time to do it. You can customize Safari directly within the app, and you can always change things around again whenever you want. 

How to change Safari's background

The following steps will show you how to change your background in Safari, either to a pre-set image or your own. You can also turn off the background image feature altogether (via Apple ).

1. Open the Safari app.

2. Make sure your tabs are closed or open to a new one to get to your start page. 

3. Scroll down to the very bottom and tap "Edit." 

4. Now you're on the "Customize Start Page" screen. From here, scroll down to "Background Image."

5. Tap on one of the pre-set images to set it as your Safari background.

6. To use your own image, tap on the plus icon and then the image you want to use as a background. 

7. To remove a background image you previously chose, tap the "X" in the corner of the uploaded image. 

8. To turn off the background images feature, tap the slider to the off position, turning it gray. 

Now you can use the Safari start page with an image of your choice for a customized experience.

Changing other Safari features

There are a few other settings you can change in Safari to customize your start page. This includes a few different sections: Favorites, where the bookmarks you have filed as Favorites are stored; Frequently visited, which is a list of web pages you visit the most; Privacy Report, showing you how many trackers Safari has protected you from ; Siri Suggestions, giving you suggestions based on Siri usage; Reading List, which is where pages you have saved to your Reading List are visible; and iCloud Tabs, to share tabs over multiple devices via iCloud. 

On the "Customize Start Page" screen, you can turn all of these features on or off and change the position in which they appear. To turn them on or off, simply tap the slider either to the green "on" position or the gray "off" position. To change their placement, tap and hold the three lines next to the feature you want to move, then drag it up or down. These changes are saved automatically, so when you're done you can tap on the "X" in the top right corner to close the customization page and see your alterations. 

5 Ways You Can Customize Safari on iPhone to Give It a New Look

Thanks to iOS 15, Safari is now more customizable than ever. Learn the different ways to personalize the look and feel of Safari on your iPhone.

Safari is usually one of the most used apps on one's device. Luckily for us, recent iOS updates have increasingly allowed us to make multiple edits to Safari's physical appearance.

You can change your background, enable website tinting, change the position of the address bar, and access websites in different layouts. You can easily make all of these changes in your iPhone's Settings app.

Here, we'll look at some of the different ways you can give Safari a whole new look on your iPhone.

1. Change Your Background for Safari's Start Page

You can use any image from the stock Photos app to change your Safari background. Some pre-set wallpapers are also available for you to choose from. Follow these steps to customize your Safari's background :

• Open a new Safari tab by pressing the Tabs button. Then, tap on the plus ( + ) icon.
• Swipe to the bottom of your new tab and tap on Edit .
• You will see the Background Image toggle at the very bottom. Enable it.
• Choose from any of the options present on your screen. Tap on the plus ( + ) icon to open your gallery and select a photo from any album. You can also use a Live Photo, but keep in mind that it will remain a still background in Safari.

The Edit button lets you customize your Safari start page in several ways. Besides changing the background, you can use the toggles to choose what sections appear on your start page.

2. Shift the Position of the Address Bar

Apple's iOS 15 software update brought the address bar to the bottom of the screen by default as a part of the Safari revamp. However, if you want to switch back and put it at the top, you can do so in your iPhone's settings. Here's what you need to do:

• Open Settings and go to Safari .
• Scroll down to the section labeled Tabs . You will see multiple tab options here, including Tab Bar and Single Tab . As the icons depict, opt for Tab Bar to keep the address bar at the bottom of your screen or select Single Tab to shift it to the top.

3. Enable or Disable Website Tinting

Website Tinting is a feature that allows the layout of your Safari page (the address bar) to change according to the website you have open. If the website's theme is black, your address bar will also turn black to match the layout when Website Tinting is enabled in Settings.

To turn website tinting on or off in Safari , follow these steps:

• Scroll down to the section labeled Tabs , and turn the toggle on or off for Website Tinting .

If you haven't updated to iOS 15 yet, you can still find a similar feature in the Settings app under Accessibility with the name Show Color in Tab Bar .

4. Switch On Reader View and Make Edits to Text

Reader View tends to rework your webpage into a perfectly organized, ad-free layout to help you focus better on reading the content. The feature also allows you to do multiple things , like editing a webpage, changing font style, font size, and color. Here's how to switch on Reader's view in Safari:

• After you open the webpage you'd like to read on Safari, tap on the Reader View icon in the corner of the address bar. The icon has an upper case and lower case alphabet paired together.
• From the dropdown menu, select Show Reader View . Your webpage will appear ad-free and organized automatically. If the option is grayed out, Reader View is unavailable for that particular website.

If you want to make Reader View your default browsing method for a particular website, you won't have to repeat the above steps every time you open it. Follow these steps to make Reader View your go-to method for a particular URL:

• Tap on the Reader View icon.
• Choose Website Settings from the dropdown menu.
• Turn on the toggle for Use Reader Automatically and press Done . The web page will now automatically switch to Reader View every time you open it.

To change the font style, size, and color once you're in Reader View, here's what you need to do:

• Enable Reader View by tapping on it and selecting Show Reader View . Once turned on, tap on the Reader View icon again.
• A new pop-up will appear, displaying multiple options for font color and style. To change font size, tap on the upper case alphabet repeatedly to increase and lower case to decrease as much as you like.

5. Switch to Desktop Website

Today, most websites offer a mobile version and desktop version to support various devices people use. This increases efficiency and makes the browsing experience more convenient for the user. Both versions usually tend to differ in layout and functionality.

If you prefer to use the desktop version of a website on your mobile device, you can request to do so in Safari. Follow these simple instructions:

• Tap on the Reader View icon in the address bar
• From the context menu that pops up, tap on Request Desktop Website . The webpage will reload automatically to show the desktop version of the site.

If you want to make the desktop version of a website the default option on Safari, you can do so with these steps:

• Open the website you want to change the feature for, tap on the Reader View icon, and a pop-up will appear. Tap on Website Settings .
• Now, simply turn on the toggle for Request Desktop Website .

That's it. From now on, every time you visit this particular website, it will automatically load the desktop version of the site.

Give Your Safari a Whole New Look With These Tricks

The iOS 15 software update brought a ton of new features that let you change the physical appearance of your Safari to give you a more personalized browsing experience. From colors and fonts to backgrounds and layouts, you can apply a wide range of edits. So, update your iPhone to ensure all these features are available to use.

If you want to make functional improvements to your Safari besides these physical characteristics, extensions and shortcuts are the perfect way to go.

How to change Safari background on iPhone

Add some personality to Apple's browser (thanks to iOS 15)

"How to change Safari background on iPhone " is a question many iOS users are asking to figure out how to add some flair and personality to Apple's native web browser. Why be stuck with a plain, boring background when you can add some pizazz to your internet surfing, right?

Thanks to the new iOS 15 update, you can now customize Safari's start page. This was a feature that was first available on macOS Big Sur, but now iPhone users can enjoy this new, visually pleasing perk on their iPhones. Here is a quick, easy, step-by-step guide on how to change the background on Safari.

• How to update to iOS 15
• Phones with the best battery life of 2021 (tested by us)

Make sure your phone is updated to iOS 15. Once you've got the latest iOS release installed on your phone, follow the instructions below on how to change your Safari background on iPhone.

1. Tap on the Safari icon on the bottom taskbar.

2. Close all of your tabs. To do this, tap on the Tabs icon and tap "X" on all the pages. This should bring you to your Safari homepage, which lists your Favorites and Frequently Visited websites.

3. Scroll all the way down and tap on "Edit."

4. The "Customize Start Page" window should appear. Scroll down to the Background Image section.

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5. Under Background Image, you can change your Safari background to one of the pre-selected wallpapers or you can insert your own. Follow step six and beyond for instructions on how to do this.

6. To insert your own wallpaper, tap on the plus sign. This will prompt your photos to appear. Tap on your desired photo. For this tutorial, I selected a pepperoni pizza background because, well, who doesn't love pizza?

7. After exiting the Customize Start Page window, you should see your new, customized background on Safari.

Keep an eye out for more how-to guides that help you navigate iOS 15's newest, coolest features.

Kimberly Gedeon, holding a Master's degree in International Journalism, launched her career as a journalist for MadameNoire's business beat in 2013. She loved translating stuffy stories about the economy, personal finance and investing into digestible, easy-to-understand, entertaining stories for young women of color. During her time on the business beat, she discovered her passion for tech as she dove into articles about tech entrepreneurship, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the latest tablets. After eight years of freelancing, dabbling in a myriad of beats, she's finally found a home at Laptop Mag that accepts her as the crypto-addicted, virtual reality-loving, investing-focused, tech-fascinated nerd she is. Woot!

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How to add a background to your Safari homepage on iPhone and Mac

Bet you didn’t know you could customize your Safari homepage’s background. The more you know. Here’s how to spruce up it up.

With all of the features introduced with the release of iOS 15 and macOS Monterey , one of the most underrated changes was the redesign of Safari . Apple’s default browser is in second place to Google Chrome in terms of browser popularity, but recent additions added several features that might push it over the top, like the VPN-like Private Relay tool and Hide My Email compatibility.

One of our favorite parts of using Safari is the customization options available on its homepage. On the start-up page, you can display all your bookmarks, view links shared in your Messages app , browse your Safari reading list of saved articles, and more.

You can also customize the look of your homepage by adding a custom background. Who wants to look at a boring solid-color background when you could pick a cute animal theme or upload photos of your friends and family.? With this custom option available, there’s no reason to not add a bit of personality to your Safari experience.

How to change your Safari background on iPhone

The option to add a background to the Safari homepage is only available on iOS 15, so make sure your iPhone is updated before you jump into the steps below.

• Open the Safari app and open a new tab.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the tab — past your favorites, shared articles, reading list — and tap on the “Edit” button centered at the bottom of the screen.
• At the bottom of the customizations list, tap the “Background Image” slider to enable it. If “Background Image” is turned on, the slider will be moved to the right, the slider background will turn green, and you’ll see a collection of background previews below the slider.
• Safari has nine built-in backgrounds for you to choose from. You can also upload your own background by tapping the plus symbol box in the top left-hand corner of the background options. Your camera roll will open up and you can select a photo or saved image from your phone to apply to Safari. If you choose a custom image but want to change it, just tap the “X” on your custom image preview to erase it.
• Once you’ve picked a background image, just tap the “X” in the upper right-hand corner of the customization screen to return to your Safari tab.

How to change your Safari background on Mac

To change your Safari background on Mac, your computer needs to be running macOS Big Sur (or later). Big Sur was first released in 2020 — if you’re running an older macOS, you’ll need to update your operating system.

• Open Safari and open a new tab.
• Click on the hamburger icon in the lower right-hand corner of the Safari window.
• At the very bottom of the pop-up menu, make sure the box next to “Background Image” is checked off.
• You can preview all nine backgrounds by clicking on the first one and then using the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate back and forth. To upload a custom image, just click on the box with the plus symbol to search your Mac for an image to upload.

How to Change Safari Background on iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 has a lot of different ways that you can customize the device.

Some of these options are pretty unusual and can involve parts of the iPhone that you might not have thought were customizable.

One such location is the start page you see in Safari when creating a new tab.

The iPhone lets you pick a custom background for this location, and you can choose from a selection of default wallpapers, or you can use a picture from your own camera roll.

You can change the Safari background on your iPhone by opening Safari , touching the Tabs button, creating a new tab, selecting the Edit option, then enabling Background Image , and choosing a wallpaper.

How to Use a Different Background in the Safari iPhone App

• Open Safari .
• Touch the Tabs icon.
• Tap the + button.
• Select Edit .
• Turn on Background Image.
• Choose a wallpaper.

Our guide continues below with additional information about how to change the Safari background on an iPhone 13, including pictures of these steps.

Last update on 2024-06-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API | As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Related: You can read our iPhone cookies guide if you would like to know more about clearing your history and other website data from your device.

As your ownership period with the iPhone grows, you will inevitably make some changes to the way the device operates, as well as the way it looks.

These changes can involve things like the ringtone or the lock screen background, but they can also involve some other areas that are less commonly modified.

One such location is the Safari start page.

This is the screen that you see when you open the Tabs menu in the browser and then touch the plus icon to create a new tab.

Not only can you turn on and turn off the various sections on this menu, you can also pick a background to replace the standard solid color one.

Our tutorial below will show you how to change Safari background on iPhone 13 so that you can add some color to the new tab page in Safari.

Video About Changing the iPhone Safari Background

How to Switch the Background for the Safari Start Page

The steps in this section were performed on an iPhone 13 in the iOS 16 operating system. These steps will work for other iPhone models such as the :

• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max

As well as most other iPhone models using the iOS 16 operating system.

Step 1: Find the Safari icon and tap it to open the browser.

Step 2: Touch the Tabs button at the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Tap the + button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Step 4: Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the Edit option.

Step 5: Tap the button to the right of Background Image to enable it.

Once you have turned it on, you should see a selection of image icons below it.

Step 6: Touch the wallpaper that you want to use as your Safari background.

You can also tap the + button if you would like to select a picture from your camera roll to use as the Safari background image instead.

Now that you know how to change Safari background on iPhone 13, you can make this adjustment whenever you want to see something new on your screen as you create a new tab in the Safari web browser.

Continue Reading

• How to Remove the Picture from an iPhone Lock Screen

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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Customize Your Background on Safari With the iOS 15 Update

Sep. 24 2021, Published 7:54 p.m. ET

In recent updates, Apple has been rolling out more customizable content for iPhone and Mac users, and the update for iOS 15 is no exception. In addition to the 100 new emojis added to the keyboard with the new update, there are also new ways to share your screen with users and even FaceTime Android users , thanks to the changes Apple made.

The iOS 14 update allowed users to customize their home screens with new widgets, and thanks to the countless third-party apps on the market, iPhone users could add images, custom calendars, and more to their home screens to make their phone layouts more unique. There are even ways to replace the icons for your favorite apps to fit a theme with iOS 14.

And iOS 15 gives users even more customization options, with one of them being the option to customize your Safari background. Here's how to do it.

How to customize your Safari background in iOS 15.

A new and exciting feature in iOS 15 is the option to add a background to your Safari homepage. Gone are the days of staring at a boring grey screen with some links you've saved; now you can further use your phone as a part of your personal aesthetic by giving your Safari app its own custom background.

To add an image to your Safari background, first, make sure you have the image you want saved to your camera roll.

Didn’t know you could change your safari background on iOS 15 pic.twitter.com/OiGO4e0Ehp — Biscotti (@fuck_codiene) September 23, 2021

Then, open a new tab in Safari. Scroll all the way to the bottom of your Safari home page and select "Edit." Here, you'll be able to customize your Safari start page, including what suggestions will pop up when you open a new tab.

Scroll to the bottom and make sure the tab for "background image" is turned on. Apple provides a small handful of background options for you, but you can also add your own.

To import your own photo to your Safari start page, select the "+" button and scroll through your camera roll until you find the image you want. Select it to import it.

Once you've selected it, exit out of the editing screen to see your newly customized home page for Safari.

How to change the Safari search bar back in iOS 15.

Another big change Apple made to Safari with this update is the location of the search bar. Now, the search bar is located at the bottom of the screen and just above the keyboard when you're typing.

While this was originally meant to provide a better ease of access for users, many find it annoying and wish they could revert it back to the original layout.

To change it back to the original layout, all you have to do is open your Settings app, then select "Safari." Go to "Tabs," and select "Single Tab." This will change your layout in Safari so that the search bar is at the top of the page again. If you ever decide to change it back, all you need to do is follow the same steps and select "Tab Bar" instead.

There Are Over 100 New Emojis Coming Out for iOS 15

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Apple's Latest Update Brings FaceTime to Android, and People Are Thrilled

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How to Change Safari Background Image in iOS 15 on iPhone

Customize safari browser start screen with custom wallpaper on iphone and ipad..

At the WWDC21, Apple announced the latest version of iOS, iOS 15 with a host of new and interesting features. The developer beta of iOS 15 is currently available and the final release will happen in the fall. The iOS 15 update brings significant changes for Facetime calls, tools to focus and reduce distraction, new notifications experience, Live Text, redesigned Safari, new privacy features, and a lot more.

Coming to  Safari , it now features a new design that moves the tab bar to the bottom of the screen. This makes it easier to reach the address bar with one hand and users can swipe between tabs. Tab Groups further let you create a group of open tabs that you can access across other devices. Users can now search the web by voice and web extensions on iOS are supported for the first time.

Custom Start Page in Safari on iOS 15

Safari in iOS 15 packs other enhancements that are small yet handy. These include the ability to customize the start page, refresh a webpage using pull to refresh (like Chrome) and see open tabs in a grid view.

Just like Safari on macOS Big Sur, users can now change the background image in Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Moreover, you can select sections to display on the start page such as Favourites, Frequently Visited, Privacy Report, Siri Suggestions, and Reading List. Safari even syncs your customizations through iCloud so that your start page appearance remains the same everywhere.

Now let’s see how you can set a background image in Safari on iPhone running iOS 15.

How to change Safari browser background on iPhone

• Make sure your iPhone or iPad is updated to iOS 15 or later.

• Select one of the pre-included backgrounds such as butterfly or bear wallpaper.

• Close the customization page.

ALSO READ: [FAQ] Safari in iOS 15: Top 15 Queries Answered

That’s it. The new background wallpaper will now appear every time you open a new tab in Safari.

In a similar way, you can change your Safari background on the iPad running iPadOS 15.

RELATED :  How to Open a Private Browsing Window in Safari on iOS 15

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How to open a private tab in safari on ios 15 & ipados 15, mayur agarwal.

Mayur Agarwal, the founder and editor of WebTrickz, is a tech enthusiast with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications and over a decade of writing experience. His passion for technology and gadgets inspires him to create insightful How To's and troubleshooting guides.

How to Open a Private Tab in Safari on iOS 15 & iPadOS 15

Awesome thank you. When using my own pics, what resolution/pixels would you recommend for Safari on iPhone x?

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How-To Geek

How to change the safari background image on mac.

Bored of the same old gray background in Safari's start page on Mac? Spice things up by adding your own background image. Here's how it works!

You might have spent years looking at the same bland gray background in Safari's start page on Mac, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can spice things up by adding a custom background. Here's how!

Mac users who are running Safari 14.0 or higher have access to the customizable start page. Here, you can easily add or remove different sections and change the background image. The Safari 14.0 (or newer) update will be automatically installed if you are running the latest version of macOS Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur , or higher.

To get started, open the Safari browser on your Mac.

From the start page, click the Menu button from the bottom-right corner of the screen. Now, check the box next to the "Background Image" option.

Here, you can scroll horizontally to see bundled background images. Click an image to instantly turn it into the start page's background image.

However, if you want to add your own image as the background instead, click the "+" button.

Now, select your image from the file picker and click the "Choose" button.

You'll see the image as the new start-page background.

If you want to remove this image or switch to a different photo, go back to the "Background Image" section in the customization menu. Then, click the "X" button to remove the current background image. Repeat the above process to change the background.

Want to directly open a specific web page every time you open Safari? Here's how to change the default Safari home page on Mac .

Related: How to Change the Safari Home Page on a Mac

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How To Change Safari Background Image On iPhone Or iPad

The redesigned Safari in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 finally allows users to change Safari background image on iPhone and iPad.

Users get 9 Background Images in Safari while they can also use a custom background.

Having the ability to change background image in Safari for iPhone and iPad is undoubtedly our favorite Safari feature.

This new feature gives users the ability to customize the look and feel of the browser and give it a personal touch by using a custom image.

Safari backgrounds are synced across iCloud devices, which means if you set an image as your iPhone’s Safari background, it will also become your iPad’s Safari background and vice versa.

How To Change Background Image In Safari For iPhone

Here’s how you can easily add a background image in Safari for iPhone.

• Launch Safari browser on your iPhone and open a new tab.
• When on the new tab Start Page screen scroll all the way down and tap on the ‘Edit’ button.
• Enable the toggle for Background Image and choose any default image to set it as Safari background.
• If you want to use a customm background, then tap on the ‘+’ button and choose any suitable image from your image library.

How To Change Background Image in Safari For iPad

Follow these steps to change background image in iPad Safari on a device running iOS 15 or later.

• Open Safari on your iPad and open a new tab.
• When on the new tab Start Page screen scroll down and tap on the ‘Edit’ button.
• If you want to use a custom image as your background, then tap on the ‘+’ button and choose any suitable image from your image library.

There you go folks, this is how you can add a background image to Safari on iPhone and iPad. Using the steps outlined in this guide you can also add a custom background to Safari by using any image in your iPhone or iPad’s Photos library.

What do you think about this new Safari feature? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How to Change Safari Background on Mac

Changing your background on your desktop might be common knowledge, but did you know you can also change your background in Safari? 

So, how do you do it? Fortunately, changing your Safari background is quick and easy. Let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Steps to change safari background on mac, customizing your images further, final thoughts.

• Safari offers loads of neat customization options, one of which is the ability to set your own custom background.
• To set a background, launch Safari or open a new tab , and use the settings button on the lower right-hand corner of the Safari screen to change your background to pre-created images or select your own image.
• Changing your background in Safari is easy and only takes a few seconds, unless, of course, you want to while away the hours editing your photos with an AI photo editing software like Luminar Neo , to make sure your background photo is just right.

Apple, with the release of macOS Big Sur in 2020, allowed for some additional fun customization options in Safari. The most popular of which is the ability to change your background. You are able to choose from a pre-created background for Safari, or you can even choose a custom background. 

To get started, take the following steps:

Step 1 : You’ll need to Open Safari from your Dock or Applications folder.

Step 2: Click on the settings icon in the right-hand corner.

Step 3: Next, Scroll to the right to choose a pre-selected background image or click the ‘+’ to choose your own custom background. 

When you first open the custom folder, you will be presented with desktop images to choose from. These are the pictures that come preinstalled with macOS.

Step 4: You can also navigate to your Photos Folder on the left to choose a custom photo, such as mine from Fenway Park. 

That’s all there is to it! You now have a custom background to enjoy every time you land on your new tab page.

If you know you’ll be looking at this background image every time you open Safari, you’ll want it to be something memorable and unique. This is where I suggest an AI photo editor like Luminar Neo or Canva . More expensive tools like Photoshop are always an option, but most of us don’t want to invest that much in editing our wallpaper.

I used Luminar Neo , which is a relatively inexpensive application available on the App Store .

If you want to get lost for hours editing and customizing the perfect picture, this is the coolest tool for the job. One neat trick is changing the sky out from something bland and boring, to something a little more interesting. Take this image with a cloudy background, for example. 

You can select the sky and apply an “enhancement” to it to turn it into a galaxy. You can also choose from dozens of other scenes and effects.

Overall, it’s a handy program to have around. And, of course, you can use the images for plenty of other things besides your Safari background!

This article walked you through how to change your background image on Safari to either a pre-created image or to one in your own library. As you can see, it is very quick and easy to change your background via the new tab page. 

If you want to spend some time customizing your image and creating the perfect Safari background, you can peruse AI photo editing apps and let your creativity soar. 

How did this work for you? Were you able to change your background? What images did you choose? Let us know in the comments!

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Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

SAFARI: running in the background:

When I access a website there is an automatic refresh of the content. When I open a different webpage with Safari, then the automatic refresh on the first page stopps! How can I have a webpage be refreshed in background?

Does Safari download content when it is minimized / not visible?

When I go back to the first page, then the automatic refresh is not there any more. The function has been de-activated by Safari on Ipad. (On a Firefox on windows there is no such problem). How can I get the same webpage behaviour than before. (I know that reloading the page does the job. But this should be automatic and not from the user)

iPad, iOS 4.3.2

Posted on May 26, 2011 2:38 AM

Posted on May 26, 2011 8:19 AM

The ipad like a lot of other mobile devices use a type of multitasking that differs from multitasking you would find on Mac OS X, Windows or Linux. Apple chooses to put most background apps on iOS devices in a suspended mode which allows the application to be paused in the background and then respond quickly when brought to the foreground. Some application functions can continue to run in the background.

Features that are allowed to run in the background are music, location services, airplay, VoIP, push notifications, but it is still up to the developers to make use of this functionality.

I don't believe Safari is one of the applications that will continue to run in the background.

Why does Apple choose to do this? Short answer: Battery life and performance. If app developers were allowed to choose whether or not to have their application to run in the background, bad programmers would quickly kill the performance and battery on the iOS device.

Some devices such as andriod phones and the blackberry playbook allow broader multi-tasking. The trade off? Andriod phones have task killers, which forces the user to manage their performance and battery life. The playbook comes shipped with a default of using suspended multi-tasking on vs. full multi-tasking - since full multi-tasking would again affect performance and battery life.

I agree it would be nice if webpages continued to load if Safari is in the background, and maybe this will be added / enabled in the future. I think Apples design provides a better user experience and still allows most of the functions to run in the background that need to. (I don't need a movie to play in the background or game).

My guess would be Safari doesn't allow background use right not because of issues like auto-refresh pages, which again would affect performance and battery.

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May 26, 2011 8:19 AM in response to thomas-Emrj

May 26, 2011 11:24 AM in response to Mark Shykula

Hello Mark,

thanks for the answer. That is what I guessed so far. I could log the http traffic and found the Safari session suspended in backgound (traffic stops).

It becomes a problem, when the page is pulled to the foreground again. It looks the same, but the behavior of the page is changed after "revival". The http traffic does not restart after the page comes back from suspension. So I assume that the OS stops scripts and does not restart them. One has to reload the page to get the same behaviour as before. But this is not transparent to the user.

I need this to keep a VPN tunnel open. The tunnel will collapse without regular http traffic. Any Idea how one can achieve this?

May 26, 2011 1:29 PM in response to thomas-Emrj

I understand what you are trying to accomplish. I assume your vpn is being established only over http/ssl and not through the network setting on the ipad. Is it possible for you to establish a vpn connection over IPSec or PPTP? My understanding is that if you can connect using the vpn functionality in the network settings and use a connection other than ssl, then connection will be maintained. That probably is a discussion with your IT staff/vendors if another method can be used to establish the connection.

May 28, 2011 10:56 PM in response to Mark Shykula

the VPN is established in the Network Settings of the Ipad (Ipsec). The session is using http (not ssl).

The VPN tunnel will stay open when there is repeated traffic. The tunnel will collapse after some time without traffic. The time to collapse varies broadly (seems to depend on 3G network coverage and other factors).

One way to definetely keep the tunnel open is cyclic http traffic.

Is it possible to write an app which produces http traffic in the background?

May 29, 2011 8:37 PM in response to thomas-Emrj

There are some ssh and telnet clients available for the iPad. Assuming you can perform a constant ping in the client and if those will run in the background you could maintain the tunnel. Other than that I guess you may need to see if something can be done on your network side.

Safari User Guide

• Get started
• Go to a website
• Bookmark webpages to revisit
• See your favorite websites
• Use tabs for webpages
• Import bookmarks and passwords
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• View links from friends
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading
• Translate a webpage
• Download items from the web
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
• Interact with text in a picture
• Change your homepage
• Customize a start page
• Create a profile
• Block pop-ups
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Hide your email address
• Manage cookies
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• See who tried to track you
• Change Safari settings
• Keyboard and other shortcuts

Save part or all of a webpage in Safari on Mac

You can save an entire webpage, including all its graphics and links, or just parts of it.

Open Safari for me

Save text from a webpage

Save an image from a webpage.

Choose Save Image to “Downloads,” Save Image As, or Add Image to Photos.

Some images, such as background images, can’t be saved.

Tip: With some images, you can drag the image directly to a document or your desktop.

Save a link from a webpage

Save an entire webpage.

Choose Format > Web Archive or Format > Page Source.

Web archive: Saves all graphics, and links work as long as the destination webpages are available. Web archives are useful for temporary pages, such as receipts.

Page source: Saves only the HTML source code. This is useful if you want to use the HTML source in a webpage of your own.

Note: Some webpages may prevent you from saving items that appear on the webpage.

Six Ways to Speed Up Your iPhone

I t’s hard to be patient with a slow iPhone , especially when using it for everything, from the calculator to getting directions on Maps. No one likes dealing with lag, buffering, or app freezing. Fortunately, there are a few ways you could speed up your iPhone.

Restart your iPhone

Let’s start with the classic “Did you try turning it off and on again?” It’s a classic for a reason, not just another tech myth. On a technical level, it helps refresh your iPhone’s RAM or working memory, which optimizes its overall performance. Since it’s probably the most straightforward hack, I’d recommend starting with this one.

There are slightly different ways to restart an iPhone based on its model. If you can’t get yours to restart, you might want to do a quick “how to restart [your iPhone model]” search. In case you’re unsure about your iPhone’s model, we have a guide for that , too.

Clear Safari Data

I’m sure we have encountered an ‘Accept Cookies’ popup. Even if you have no idea what that does, you’ve probably accepted tons of cookies by now. Refer to this helpful guide for a detailed and easy lesson on internet cookies. For the scope of this piece, all you need to know is that every time you click on ‘Accept Cookies’ on your browser, you’re putting a bunch of files on your device. These files pile up over time and end up slowing your phone.

If you frequently use Safari on your iPhone, you probably have a lot of passwords, cookies, tabs, and other login info in your Safari cache. It’s a good habit to clear that from time to time. Note that this will require re-entering login credentials or other personal info on some sites since clearing your cache will make your Safari brand new again.

To clear all Safari data, go to Settings on your iPhone and look up ‘Safari.’ Once in the Safari menu, scroll down until you see ‘Clear History and Website Data.’ It will ask you to pick a timeframe. Select ‘All history’ and then hit the red button at the bottom that says ‘Clear History.’

Free Up Space

Full storage is one of the leading causes of a sluggish iPhone. Go to Settings , scroll to General , and click on iPhone Storage from the menu. Doing so will present you with a stacked bar chart and an ordered list of your iPhone’s storage situation, clearly labeling how much space is occupied by which app.

It will also provide you with recommendations on how to free up space. Under Recommendations , click on Review Large Attachments to see the photos, videos, and attachments that are taking up the most space. When you see something you want to delete, swipe left and hit Delete .

There are other ways to free up space on your iPhone, but it ultimately depends on your priorities and your phone use. If you don’t always need all your photos and videos on your phone, you can back them up on iCloud and delete them from your iPhone. However, this would mean you would no longer be able to access them without the internet.

Similarly, if you don’t need all your iMessages, you can mass-delete them. I’ll review all the ways to clear storage on your iPhone in a separate, dedicated guide.

iOS updates often bring bug fixes that help improve your iPhone’s efficiency, so it’s a good idea to always be on the latest software update. You can do that by turning automatic updates on. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and turn on the toggle switch for all three options on the page. This will automatically download and install iOS software updates when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, charging, and locked.

You can also manually update your iOS. A ‘Software Update Available’ notice on your Settings app under your Apple ID will tell you there’s a newer version you haven’t yet updated to. If you see that, scroll down to General > Software Update and click Download and Install to begin the update. If you don’t see that notice, you’re on the latest version.

Replace Battery

Another possible reason for a slow phone is a battery overused to the point of dysfunction. If your iPhone is old, its battery’s health may not be ideal. To see if that’s the case, go to Settings, look up Battery Health, and click on Battery Health & Charging from the open menu. Anything 80% and above is good, but Apple recommends replacing your battery when its health falls below that mark.

Turn Off Automatic Downloads and Background App Refresh

Apps on your iPhone tend to auto-update. While this is helpful, it could become overwhelming for your phone, especially if you have many apps on it. Multiple background app refreshes also take place without you knowing. Again, this is a helpful feature, but it could lead to a considerable drop in your phone’s efficiency if you have many apps that constantly refresh and update.

Go to Settings > App Store and turn off all three toggle switches under ‘Automatic Downloads.’ These are App Downloads, App Updates, and In-App Content. Then, go to General > Background App Refresh > Background App Refresh (again) and choose Off . Doing both will ensure no power-hungry apps are running in the background. If you’d like an app updated, you can constantly manually update it in the App Store.

No, closing your background apps won’t help.

I know; I felt as deceived as you did when Gizmodo Maxwell Zeff told us that closing background apps doesn’t do anything and that I have been making my poor little thumb do all that labor for years for nothing. It’s just a tech myth that originated years ago on Apple’s community forum and Stack Overflow and has been perpetuated ever since (because it sounds like it should work!). But yeah, doing that won’t affect either performance or battery.

Are some of your apps still running slow?

Are you sure it’s your phone and not your network? People often mistake a slow connection for a slow phone. Especially if you’re experiencing lag on apps that require an internet connection, it might just be your internet that needs fixing.

To quickly check this, look up ‘speed test’ on your browser. You’ll see an ‘Internet speed test’ pop-up. Hit the blue button that says ‘run speed test.’ In around 30 seconds, you’ll get precise stats on your download and upload speeds and a comment on your internet performance.

I just ran mine, and it said, “Your Internet connection is very fast. It should be able to handle multiple devices streaming HD videos, video conferencing, and gaming at the same time.” So, if my iPhone starts acting up, I’d know it’s not my internet.

For the latest news, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Fix: iPhone Lagging and Freezing iOS 17/17.5.1

iOS updates bring in new features, enhance the security of the iPhone, and also optimize it to perform better. Sadly, multiple users have reported that ever since they updated to iOS 17.5.1, their iPhones have been lagging. Moreover, there are constant frame drops while scrolling, keyboard freezing when typing and even the browsing experience on Safari has deteriorated. If you’re facing similar problems, here are ten fixes to try.

How To Fix iPhone Lagging and Freezing After iOS 17.5.1 Update

1. change keyboard settings.

With iOS 17, Apple updated the Auto-Correction feature with a transformer language model which also improves the Predictive Text feature. The keyboard has inline predictive text recommendations too. While this is a step in the right direction, it consumes a huge chunk of resources, especially if you have an older iPhone. 

Therefore, we suggest disabling the Auto-Correction and Predictive Text feature on your iPhone as it might help fix your iPhone lagging. Especially because other users have reported that doing so helps resolve the issue.

Time needed:  2 minutes

Steps to disable Auto-Correction and Predictive Text in Keyboard settings.

2. Remove Dictionary and Add It Back

The Dictionary feature helps you “Look Up” the meaning of words on your iPhone. You can add dictionaries of several different languages. But for some reason, these dictionaries might be the reason your iPhone is lagging. 

Yes, it does not make a lot of sense, but a user on the Apple Discussion Community has reported that removing all the dictionaries and then adding back only the ones you use helps fix iPhone lagging issues. Therefore, we suggest you do the same. 

• Open Settings on your iPhone and head to General . 
• Tap the Dictionary option. 

• Restart your iPhone. If you’re unaware of the steps to do so, ask Siri to restart your iPhone . 
• After your iPhone restarts, head back to Settings > General > Dictionary . 

3. Disable Siri Contact Suggestions

Since Siri won’t be actively analyzing your contacts for suggestions, you’ll free up some processing power.

• Open Settings on your iPhone and head to the Contacts option.
• Tap the Siri & Search option. 
• On the next screen, disable the Learn from this App toggle. 
• Disable the Show Contact Suggestions toggle too. 

4. Change Your Wallpaper

Although Apple removed Live Wallpapers on iOS 16, you can still set various still images as your background. Unfortunately, those with too many elements (e.g., Weather & Astronomy, Live Photos, and Kaleidoscope) can cause some lagging. It’s best to opt for simpler options.

• Go to Settings > Wallpaper .

5. Clear Safari History and Data

If Safari is lagging, freezing, or crashing on your iPhone running on iOS 17.5.1, the first thing you must do is to clear Safari’s History and Website Data.

• Open Settings on your iPhone and navigate to Safari .
• Scroll down and tap the Clear History and Website Data button. 
• Select the All History option from the Clear Timeframe menu. 
• You can also enable the Close All Tabs toggle. It won’t delete any tabs that are in a Tab Group. 
• Finally, tap the Clear History button. 
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap the Advanced button. 
• Tap the Website Data button. 
• On the Website Data page, tap the Remove All Website Data button. 
• Tap the Remove Now button to confirm your selection. 

If the aforementioned steps don’t fix the freezing issues on your iPhone, please refer to our detailed guide on how to fix Safari Freezing on your iPhone . 

6. Clear Background Apps

Apps running in the background can also be the reason why your iPhone is lagging. Please clear all the background apps and it might free up the RAM and fix lagging issues. 

• For iPhone with Face ID: Swipe up and hold on to the Home Screen .  For iPhone with Touch ID: Double tap the Home Button .
• Swipe up on all the app s in the Recent Apps tray. 

7. Force Restart iPhone

Temporary bugs and glitches in the software, apps, or services can also cause the iPhone to lag. Force restarting your iPhone can help get rid of these bugs and fix the lagging issues. 

Steps to Force Restart iPhone (iPhone 8, iPhone SE 2nd Gen and above) 

• Press and release the volume up button .
• Press and release the volume down button .
• Next, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. 
• As soon as you see the Apple logo, release the Side button . Please do not release the Side button before the Apple logo appears on the screen. 

Steps to Force Restart iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus

Press and hold the Volume down and Side buttons simultaneously. Release the buttons once the Apple logo appears. 

Steps to Force Restart iPhone 6s or below 

Press and hold the Side and Home buttons simultaneously. Release the buttons once the Apple logo appears. 

8. Update All Apps

Outdated apps on your iPhone might be causing some lagging.

• Open the App Store on your iPhone.
• Tap on your Profile at the top right corner. 
• Scroll down to the Available Updates section and tap the Update All button. 

9. Check Storage Space

Most of us are aware that iPhones tend to lag when running extremely low on storage space. If you haven’t already, please check the free storage space on your iPhone. If it is low, we suggest uninstalling apps or unused media files to free up storage space as it might help fix the lag or stutters on your iPhone. 

• Open Settings on your iPhone and head to the General option.

• The next screen will display the amount of occupied and total storage space on your iPhone. You can delete apps that you don’t use often to free up storage space on your iPhone. 
• Tap on any app you want to delete.

Also, in case your iPhone displays a “Recommendations” option, tap on it and follow the recommended actions to free up storage space. The quickest way to empty storage space is to use a maintenance tool. One of the most popular apps is the Intego Washing Machine because it fully declutters your iPhone and increases its health significantly.

10. Factory Reset iPhone

If none of the aforementioned methods help resolve the issue, the last option you’re left with is to factory reset your iPhone. Please refer to our guide on How to Factory Reset Your iPhone for detailed instructions. 

We hope this guide helps fix your iPhone lagging after the iOS 17.5.1 update. If you have any doubts, please let us know in the comments below. 

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