clear safari history in ios

How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

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

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

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 .

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.

What you'll need

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 want to clear your history to get rid of bloat and streamline your browsing experience. Other times, you're trying to hide a gift purchase from a loved one.

Apple makes it very easy to clear your browsing history on both the iPhone and iPad and we're here to show you how. Here's how you can make a fresh start in Safari and debloat your web browsing experience.

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Viewing your web history in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is very easy to do, here's how:

• 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.

• Use the History search bar to find previously viewed pages.

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 or an iPad Mini 6 , all Apple devices require the same steps.

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• 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.

It's great to have a feature like this in Safari — but it would be good to have this automated in iOS 18 . If Apple's web browser could automatically clear history after 24 hours it 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 every day 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. His second book, ' 50 Years of Boss Fights ', came out in June 2024, and has a monthly newsletter called ' Springboard '. 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 Safari cache, history and cookies on iPhone or iPad

It’s easy to clear Safari cache, history and cookies on your iPhone and iPad. This comes in handy when you want to delete some sensitive browsing information, in case you did not use Private Mode. Moreover, it can also help free up some space to keep your browser running efficiently. If Safari is being slow or behaving erratically, you can get rid of data to clear out the load. So let’s see what’s involved.

Why should you clear Safari cache?

• Cookies can store a range of data, from your login details to your shopping preferences. If they become corrupted or get shared with perpetrators, they can put your information at risk.  
• Clearing the Safari cache will prevent anyone else from seeing the websites you’ve been visiting and the searches you’ve been performing. If you’re utilizing a shared device or a public Wi-Fi network, this is extremely crucial. 
• Overall, tips and tricks like this for Safari on your iPhone are simple but keep the data stored in your browser at a minimum and help free up space on your phone.

How to clear cache and history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

• Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and select Safari . 

This procedure will remove all cookies, cache, and history from your iPhone completely. Furthermore, you can prevent the cache from piling up by surfing in the Private Browsing Mode .  

How to delete specific website data from Safari on iPhone or iPad

• Go to the Settings app → Safari .
• Scroll down to the bottom and tap Advanced . 

• Once finalized, tap Done .

Clearing data from a particular website ensures the removal of all cookies. If you want, you can even customize Safari to your preference in a few simple steps.  

How to block cookies in Safari on iPhone

• Under Privacy & Security, toggle on Block All Cookies .

Yes. Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies will log you out of the websites you are currently logged into.

No. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will not delete your bookmarks.

Yes. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will delete any saved passwords you have for websites.

Now, you’re safe…  

Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies on iPhone can help you to secure your privacy and improve the performance of your device. It is a simple and easy process that only takes a few moments to complete.

Do let me know if you’d want me to cover more such articles. Until next time!

Read more: 

• How to clear Chrome history, cache, and cookies on iPhone and iPad  
• How to Fix A Problem Occurred with this Webpage so it was Reloaded on iPhone
• How to disable Safari on iPhone? Easy ways to do it!
• How to clear the DNS Cache on an iPhone or iPad

Mehak has a master’s degree in communication and over ten years of writing experience. Her passion for technology and Apple products led her to iGeeksBlog, where she specializes in writing product roundups and app recommendations for fellow Apple users. When not typing away on her MacBook Pro, she loves being lost in a book or out exploring the world.

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How to Clear Safari History, Cache, and Cookies on your iPhone

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Safari stores your browsing history as well as cached files and cookies from every website you visit. Clearing Safari history, cookies, and cached data on your iPhone can be beneficial for various reasons, including performance improvement, privacy, troubleshooting, and general maintenance.

Sometimes, you also may simply want a fresh start and prefer to clear your history regularly to minimize your digital footprint.

Clearing your history ensures others can’t see which websites you’ve visited or what information you’ve searched for. This is mostly applicable if you share your iPhone with others or search for sensitive information.

Over time, cached files and cookies from sites you visit can accumulate and take up a significant amount of storage space on your iPhone. Clearing them will free up storage capacity. Excessive data accumulation, including history, cookies, and cache, can slow down Safari’s performance. Clearing this data could speed up your browsing experience.

Also, if a website isn’t loading properly, clearing your browsing history, cache, and cookies will force Safari to download fresh data and could help resolve the issue.

How to Clear Safari History

To clear your Safari history and website data such as cookies and caches, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
• Find Clear History and Website Data and tap it.
• On the next screen, you’ll have the option to clear history from the Last Hour , Today , Today and Yesterday , or All history. Select whichever one you prefer.

How to Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

The steps above will clear all of your browsing history, plus cookies, cache, and other browsing data (this is what “website data” refers to). However, you can preserve the history of the sites you’ve visited while clearing out only your cookies and other stored browsing data such as caches and stored preferences for individual websites.

Here’s how to clear your Safari cache and cookies, but keep your history:

• Open the Settings app.
• Scroll all the way down to Advanced and tap it.
• Tap Website Data . Depending on how much data is stored, this screen might take a few seconds to load.
• To flush the data for an individual site, locate it in the list and swipe right-to-left to delete it. You can also select Show All Sites to expand the list.
• To delete all cookies and caches, select Remove All Website Data at the bottom of your screen and then tap Remove Now to confirm.

Clearing Safari’s history and website data is a straightforward process that can protect privacy, improve performance, and help manage valuable storage space effectively. Whether or not you’ve been thinking about it, give it a try to see if you notice a difference.

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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

Last updated 3 years ago

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.

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.

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.

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

Manage your history for greater privacy

Tools and requirements

• Quick steps
• Step-by-step guide

Final thoughts

Knowing how to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on an iPhone or iPad is fundamental for privacy. After all, browsing history comes bundled with web navigation unless you're on Private browsing.  

Safari is Apple ’s proprietary web browser, and it offers a simple method to review and delete specific websites from your web history, or all of it. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to access and clear your Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad. 

Additionally, for an incredibly secure browsing experience on iPad, we recommend checking out the best iPad VPN .  

• An iPhone or iPad

Steps for how to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

• Launch Safari. 
• On an iPhone, tap the Book icon at the bottom. On an iPad, tap the 'Show Sidebar' button at the top left.
• Select the History tab (Clock icon). 
• Tap 'Clear' and select the timeframe.  
• Tap 'Clear History'. 

Step-by-step guide to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

We’ve demonstrated the steps below on an iPhone. But the process is nearly the same on the iPad, and we’ve pointed out the differences where relevant. 

1. Launch Safari and access History

Open Safari on your iPhone and tap the 'Bookmarks' button at the bottom (beside the tab switcher button). 

On iPad, tap the 'Show Sidebar' button at the top left corner.

2. Clear History

Select the History tab (clock icon) to view all your browsing history. 

Tap 'Clear' at the bottom right corner to bring up the menu and choose a duration under the 'Clear Timeframe : Last hour , Today , Today and yesterday' , and 'All history' . 

To close tabs along with clearing history, toggle on 'Close All Tabs' . 

Finally, tap 'Clear History' at the bottom to erase your browsing history. 

To delete only specific websites from history, go to the History tab , tap 'Edit' (in the bottom left corner), select the websites you wish to delete, and then tap 'Delete' (bottom right corner).

Clearing your web browsing history in Safari is a straightforward and effective way to boost privacy. But remember that deleting your history removes data that you could easily use to access previously visited websites. If you’d prefer not to save your browsing data, try the Private Browsing Mode on Safari. 

For more iPad and iPhone tips, check out our tutorials on how to use and configure a VPN on your iPhone or iPad , how to change your iPhone password or reset it , and how to save, view and manage passwords in Safari .

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How to clear your browsing history in safari for ios.

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Clearing your history from time to time shouldn't be misconstrued as sneaky. It's actually just a good practice to undertake. Over the course of time, you're going to visit hundreds or even thousands of websites on your computer or smartphone. Not all these websites will necessarily be ones you'll visit repeatedly. Some you may visit by accident or out of curiosity.

Related: How to Clear Your Browsing History in Firefox

When all is said and done however, you don't want to have these websites hanging around for the rest of eternity. If you ever share your iPhone or iPad with a friend or family member, you probably don't want them to see your browsing history. Even if you don't have anything to be ashamed of, you may just be privacy conscious.

Chances are you do a lot of browsing on your iPhone or iPad, in fact it may be your go-to device for browsing. So, it stands to reason that you may have a pretty extensive history racked up on them.

To clear your history from either of these devices, first open the Settings and tap on "Safari".

Once you're in the Safari settings, tap the link "Clear History and Website Data" at the bottom.

You'll be presented with a popup warning you that this action will clear your history, cookies, and other browsing data from this and any other devices (iPads too) signed into your iCloud account. Go ahead and tap "Clear History and Data" and everything will be erased.

That's all there is to it, all your browsing data will be swept into nothing and you can let anyone borrow your iPhone without any fear of them seeing what you've been up to.

Related: How to Clear Safari's Browsing History and Cookies on macOS

Remember also, this will extend to your other iCloud-connected devices so you'll be able to clear everything from one device in a single go.

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How to Clear Safari Profile Web History on iPhone

In iOS 17 , Apple has increased the options available for clearing Safari's web history and website data. You can even clear Safari's cache for a specific Safari profile. Keep reading to learn how it works.

If a site you regularly frequent has elements that have stopped working, or if a site has stopped loading completely, there may be a conflict between an older version of it that Safari has cached and a newer one. Or perhaps you simply want to protect your privacy by wiping the slate clean and removing all the data associated with websites you've visited.

With ‌iOS 17‌, Apple doesn't just let you clear Safari's history and website data for a specific timeframe. You can also clear the cache for a specific Safari Profile. (Profiles are is designed to help separate your browsing sessions into things like Work, School, or Personal: For more on how to use Profiles, click this link .)

How to Clear Safari Cache

Here's how to clear Safari history and website data on iPhones running ‌iOS 17‌, and iPads running iPadOS 17 .

• Open the Settings app.
• Scroll down and tap Safari .
• Tap Clear History and Website Data in blue.
• Choose a timeframe in which to clear your history: Last hour , Today , Today and yesterday , or All history .
• Choose a specific profile to clear from the list, or check All Profiles .
• To close all open tabs within your timeframe and profile(s), toggle on the switch next to Close All Tabs .
• Tap Clear History , then confirm when prompted.

That's all you need to do. The next time you open the associated profile(s), you should notice that all web history for the chosen timeframe will be gone.

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How to Clear Safari's Browsing History on an iPhone or Mac

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Navigating the digital world creates a footprint similar to how our steps leave marks in real life. These digital traces, from sites visited to search queries, can pose privacy risks. So, it's essential to know how to clear your browsing history.

Whether you aim to clear search history on your iPhone or Mac, delete history from a specific timeframe in Safari, or fully clear your browsing history, Apple offers streamlined solutions. Let's take a look.

How to Delete Your Safari Browsing History on an iPhone or iPad

If you're looking to clear Safari's browsing history from within the Safari app on the iPhone or iPad, you're looking in the wrong place. Apple puts such options in the Settings app, and this is how to find them:

• Open the Settings app. Then, scroll down and tap on Safari .
• Scroll down to the Privacy & Security section and tap Clear History and Website Data .
• When a sub-window pops up, choose a timeframe and tap Clear History .

If you find yourself needing to delete your history in short timeframes, consider using private browsing (or incognito mode) in Safari instead of heading to the Settings app to do this often.

How to Clear Your Browsing History in Safari on a Mac

Unlike on an iPhone or iPad, you'll find all you need to clear Safari's history within the app. There's no need to open System Settings. Here's how to do it:

• Launch Safari using Spotlight search ( Command + Space ) or any other desired method.

There are still a few other things you would have to do if you want to reset Safari to default settings . But this method is all you need to delete your Safari browsing history on a Mac.

Safari Keeps Your History Private

Do not be worried if you suspect Apple is selling your browsing data; that is far from the truth. Apple has built a reputation for prioritizing privacy and security and even goes the extra mile to protect you from advertisers and third parties.

In fact, Safari might be safer to use than Google Chrome since Google doesn't offer the same commitment to privacy as Safari does. Use Private Browsing if necessary or delete your history if you still want to keep it from prying eyes.

• Safari Browser

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.

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.

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.

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How to clear your browsing history in Safari on iOS

Looking to clear your iPhone’s cache in the Safari browser but not sure how? Here is the simplest way to clear your browsing history in Safari on iOS.

Clearing your browser history is important; not only does it improve the overall performance of the app, but it prevents you from filling out forms and using old information, making it a more secure way to browse the web.

Plus, there is an added layer of security, as it means that anyone who does have access to your mobile can’t see what you’ve been searching for.

If you’re looking to clear your browsing history to help the health of your mobile, make sure you keep reading.

What we used

• We used an iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 15

The Short Version

Click on the safari app, click on the bookmarks button, click on the history button, press clear.

• Choose All time

Choose all time

Troubleshooting

While it will differ from person to person depending on how often you use Safari, you should be aiming to clear your browsing history on a regular basis, since it is more secure and can provide better performance.

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• Clear Safari cache on Mac
• Clear Safari cache on iPhone or iPad
• How to save passwords when clearing your cache

How to clear your Safari browser cache on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad

• You can clear your cache on Safari in just a few steps on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
• Clearing your cache, as well as history and cookies, can help resolve your device's performance issues.
• Clearing your cookies will clear your passwords as well, unless you save them with keychain.

A cache is a store of data. When you visit a website on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, the Safari browser keeps a snapshot of the pages you view.

If you go back to that website, Safari loads the cached page in an instant, instead of taking the time to retrieve the page from the internet again.

But an overloaded cache can take up storage space and cause your device to run inefficiently — and it could use a periodic clearing.

Here's what you need to know to clear your cache on Safari, as well as your cookies and browsing history.

How to clear Safari cache on Mac

You can either clear just your cache or your cache, history, and cookies. 

Clear your cache

1. Click on the Safari tab at the top left of your screen and choose Preferences from the dropdown menu.

2.  Click the Advanced tab of the menu that pops up.

3.  At the end of the tab, select the Show Develop menu in menu bar box and close the Preferences menu.

4. Click the Develop tab from the Safari menu at the top of the page.

5. Click Empty Caches from the dropdown menu.

Clear your cache, history, and cookies

You may also want to clear your browsing history and cookies in addition to emptying your cache. Here's how to do that.

1. Choose the History tab at the top of your screen.

2. At the very bottom of the dropdown menu, choose Clear History.

3.  A box pops up with a choice to clear the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history. Choose your time frame and click the Clear History button.  

Once you clear the history, it will also clear the cache and cookies associated with that time period.

How to clear Safari cache on iPhone or iPad

To clear your cache and browsing history:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Safari .

3. Tap Clear History and Website Data .

4. On the screen that pops up, choose Clear History and Data .

To clear your cache but not your browsing history:

3. Tap Advanced .

4. Tap Website Data .

5. Choose Remove All Website Data .

What happens to saved passwords when you clear your cache

When you clear your cache, history, and cookies, you may discover that Safari has logged you out of your favorite websites.

While clearing Safari's cache alone will not delete your passwords, clearing your history and cookies can. That's because when you empty your cookies, you will lose their password data saved in Safari as well. And keep in mind that clearing your history also clears its associated cookies.

Luckily, Apple has a solution to this problem. If you use iCloud, check your iCloud settings on your phone or computer.

Make sure that you've checked the box for Safari. As long as this box is checked, any passwords you save through your browser will stay safe in your keychain .

• Main content

iOS 17: How to Clear Safari History on iPhone – A Step-by-Step Guide

Clearing your Safari history on your iPhone is a simple process that can help improve your device’s performance and protect your privacy. In just a few taps, you can erase your browsing history, cookies, and other data. Ready to learn how? Let’s dive in!

You can also watch this video about how to clear Safari history on an iPhone for additional info.

How to Clear Safari History on iPhone

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of clearing your Safari history, it’s important to understand what this will do. Clearing your history will remove a record of the websites you’ve visited, your search history, and your AutoFill information. It’s a good way to keep your browsing private and ensure your iPhone runs smoothly.

Step 1: Open Safari Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to find Safari.

In the Settings app, Safari is usually located after the settings for the apps that came pre-installed on your iPhone, like Messages and Mail.

Step 2: Scroll to ‘Clear History and Website Data’

Once you’re in the Safari settings, scroll down to find the ‘Clear History and Website Data’ option.

This option is usually located towards the bottom of the Safari settings, so you might need to scroll for a bit.

Step 3: Tap ‘Clear History and Website Data’

Tap on ‘Clear History and Website Data’ to clear your history.

When you tap on this option, a confirmation pop-up will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to clear your history.

Step 4: Confirm Your Action

Confirm that you want to clear your history by tapping ‘Clear History and Data’ in the pop-up.

After you confirm, your Safari history will be cleared, and you’ll be all set!

After completing these steps, your Safari history, cookies, and other browsing data will be erased. Your iPhone will no longer have a record of the websites you’ve visited in Safari, and you’ll have a fresh start for your browsing activities.

Tips for Clearing Safari History on iPhone

• Clearing your history regularly can help your iPhone run faster and protect your privacy.
• Remember that clearing your history will also log you out of any websites you were signed into.
• Don’t forget to clear your history on all devices that are synced with your iCloud account.
• If you only want to delete specific items from your history, you can do so by opening Safari, tapping the book icon, and then editing your history.
• Consider using Private Browsing mode in Safari if you don’t want your history to be saved in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my safari history also clear my bookmarks.

No, clearing your Safari history will not affect your bookmarks. Your bookmarks will remain intact.

Can I clear my history for a specific time period?

Yes, you can choose to clear your history for a specific time period by going to Safari, tapping the book icon, selecting ‘History,’ and then tapping ‘Clear’ at the bottom.

Will clearing my history also clear my saved passwords?

Clearing your history will not remove your saved passwords. However, it will clear your AutoFill information.

What happens to my browsing history on other devices when I clear it on my iPhone?

If you’re using iCloud to sync your Safari data, clearing your history on your iPhone will also clear it on other devices signed into the same iCloud account.

Can I undo clearing my Safari history?

Once you clear your Safari history, it cannot be undone. Make sure you want to erase everything before confirming your action.

• Open Safari Settings
• Scroll to ‘Clear History and Website Data’
• Tap ‘Clear History and Website Data’
• Confirm Your Action

Clearing your Safari history on your iPhone is a straightforward task that can be done in a matter of seconds. Whether you’re looking to protect your privacy, free up some space, or simply give your iPhone a little performance boost, it’s a good habit to get into. Remember, though, once you clear your history, there’s no going back—so be sure you’re ready to let go of those browsing records before you hit confirm. Beyond the practical aspects, regularly clearing your Safari history can also give you peace of mind, knowing that your online activities are kept private. With ios 17, the process remains user-friendly and easily accessible, ensuring that anyone can manage their digital footprint with ease. Keep these tips and FAQs in mind as you navigate your iPhone’s Safari browser, and you’ll be mastering your online history in no time.

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 History in Safari on iPhone in iOS 17

The Safari web browser on iPhone is one of the best mobile browsers out there, allowing users to smoothly browse the internet and offering a host of other useful features to enhance that browsing experience. And much like other web browsers, Safari also allows users to delete their browsing history on their iPhones.

So, if you were looking for an in-depth guide on how to clear browsing history in Safari on your iPhone, you have come to the right place. In this article, we have listed various ways that you can use to clear the browsing history in the Safari app on iPhone in iOS 17.

We have also provided step-by-step guides on how to delete Safari history for specific hours and for different profiles on iPhone in this guide. So, be sure to check it out till the end!

Clear Safari History on iPhone in iOS 17

Now, as aforementioned, there are multiple ways to clear or delete browsing history in Safari on iPhone in iOS 17. You can do it via the Safari browser itself or via the Settings app on your iPhone.

With that said, let’s dive into the list of the different ways to clear history in Safari on iPhone in iOS 17.

Clear Safari History via Safari on iPhone in iOS 17

You can use the Safari app on your iPhone to easily clear your browsing history. One of the advantages of clearing Safari history via the mobile browser itself is that you will be able to delete specific web pages from your history list in a specific Safari profile.

On that note, let’s take a look at how to clear history in Safari on iPhone in iOS 17 via the browser itself:

1. Launch the Safari browser on your iPhone.

2. If the app opens on the Tab-View page, open a new tab using the + button at the bottom left to open a new tab or open any of the previously opened tabs from the list. If the browser opens on a web page, on the other hand, you can skip this step.

3. Next, tap the Bookmarks button on the bottom navigation bar.

4. On the following pop-up UI, tap the History tab (clock glyph) on the above navigation bar to open it.

Now, at this stage, you can do either of two things – Delete specific web pages for the opened Safari profile in the app or use the Clear History UI to customize your Safari history deletion. We have discussed more about these methods in the following sub-categories.

Delete Specific Web Pages in Safari History on iPhone in iOS 17

Once you are in the History tab in the Safari app on your iPhone in iOS 17, follow the steps right below to delete specific web pages from your Safari browsing history:

1. In the History tab, tap the listed time periods to reveal the web pages that you visited during that timeframe.

2. Now, you can either swipe a specific web page from right to left to delete it instantly.

3. Alternatively, you can tap the Edit button in the lower left corner.

4. Then select the web pages that you want to delete and tap the Delete button to delete multiple web pages simultaneously.

Clear Safari History of Specific Duration on iPhone in iOS 17

Now, if you want to delete your Safari history of the last hour or the last day on your iPhone in iOS 17, you can do so using the Clear History UI. For that, follow the steps right below:

1. While in the History tab in Safari, tap the Clear button at the bottom-right corner of the screen.

2. On the following UI, select your preferred Timeframe from the Clear Timeframe section. For this demonstration, we have chosen the Last hour option. This will clear the Safari history of the last hour for all your Safari profiles. However, you can select the Today or Today and Yesterday options, based on your preference.

3. Additionally, you can enable the toggle for the Close All Tabs option to let Safari close the tabs that you opened in the last hour or the selected timeframe.

4. Once you select the timeframe, scroll down a bit and tap the red-colored Clear History button.

Clear Safari History for Specific Profiles on iPhone in iOS 17

With iOS 17, Apple added the ability to create different profiles in Safari to help users better manage their web browsing experience on iPhones. And with that, the Cupertino giant also added the ability to clear the Safari history for specific profiles without affecting the other ones on iPhone.

So, you can follow the steps right below to clear the history for specific Safari profiles on your iPhone in iOS 17:

1. While in the Clear History UI in Safari on your iPhone, tap the All history option for the Clear Timeframe setting.

2. Next, instead of the All Profiles option in the Clear for Profile section, tap the Safari profile for which you want to clear the history.

3. Additionally, you can enable the toggle for the Close All Tabs option to close all the tabs opened in the selected Safari profile.

4. Now, tap the Clear History button to clear the Safari history for your selected Safari profile.

Clear All Safari History on iPhone in iOS 17

Now, if you want to delete your entire Safari history for all your profiles and start using the browser as new on your iPhone in iOS 17, follow the steps below to do:

1. While in the Clear History UI in Safari on your iPhone, select the All History option for the Clear Timeframe section.

2. Select the All Profiles option for the Clear For Profile section.

3. Enable the Close All Tabs option.

4. Tap the Clear History button.

This will delete all your Safari history and make the web browser a clean slate on your iPhone in iOS 17.

Clear Safari History via Settings on iPhone in iOS 17

Now, as aforementioned, other than using the Safari app on your iPhone, you can clear the history in Safari via the Settings app on your device. However, do keep in mind that although you will be able to clear your entire Safari history or the browsing history of a specific time duration or a profile via the Settings app, you will not be able to delete specific web pages using this method.

With that said, let’s take a look at the steps for clearing Safari history via the Settings app on iPhone in iOS 17:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Locate the Safari option on the list and tap it to open.

3. Scroll down to find Clear History and Website Data and tap the said option .

4. This will open up the Clear History UI for Safari on your iPhone. So now, you can use the above-listed guides on clearing your entire Safari history and of specific duration and profile, based on your needs.

However, if you want to delete specific web page(s) from your Safari browsing history, you will have to use the Safari app on your iPhone in iOS 17. You cannot do that via the Settings app on your device. This is a disadvantage of using the Settings app to clear Safari history on your iPhone in iOS 17.

Why can’t I delete Safari history on my iPhone in iOS 17?

Although you can easily clear your Safari browsing history on your iPhone, one of the iOS features that might prevent you to do so is Screen Time. So, if the Clear History UI in Safari appears greyed-out on your iPhone, it is likely because of Screen Time restrictions enabled on your device.

Can I clear Safari history for specific Safari profiles on iPhone in iOS 17?

Yes, you can clear or delete the history of specific Safari profiles without affecting the browsing history of other profiles on your iPhone in iOS 17. You simply have to select the profile for which you want to clear the browsing history in the Clear History UI for Safari on your iPhone in iOS 17.

Can I delete specific web pages from my Safari browsing history on my iPhone?

Yes, you can delete specific web pages from your Safari history on your iPhone. However, this can only be done via the History tab under the Bookmarks settings in the Safari app itself. You cannot delete specific web pages from Safari history via the Settings app on your iPhone.

Can I clear Safari history of specific time periods on my iPhone?

Yes, you can clear the Safari history of specific time periods, say the last hour or the last day, on your iPhone. Simply select your preferred timeframe for the Clear Timeframe option in the Clear History UI in Safari to delete the browsing history of your selected time period.

Wrapping Up

So yeah, this was everything about how to clear history in Safari on your iPhone in iOS 17. Clearing your browsing history in Safari is not necessary on your iPhone. However, if you have more-than-enough tabs or web pages opened in the Safari app on your iPhone, it tends to slow down the app which can hinder your web browsing experience.

Moreover, clearing the browsing history in Safari can free up a bit of space on your iPhone when you really need it. Hence, we hope this in-depth guide helps you clear the browsing history in the Safari app on your iPhone in iOS 17. And if it did, let us know about it in the comments below.

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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 126,399 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".

• 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)

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• ↑ 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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4 Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

• Clearing your Safari browsing history can help erase your online activities, free up space, and troubleshoot temporary browser-related issues.
• Temporary glitches, Screen Time restrictions, and persistent cookies are among the reasons you may encounter difficulties clearing your Safari history on your iPhone.
• Consider restarting your iPhone to see if that resolves the issue.

Fix 1: Disable Web Content Restrictions

The Screen Time feature on your iPhone lets you apply content restrictions and block inappropriate websites . If you’ve previously enabled this feature, you may run into problems while clearing your Safari history. Hence, 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.

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

Fix 2: Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

Enabling iCloud sync for Safari allows you to sync your browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, and other data across your Apple devices. However, this sync feature can sometimes cause conflicts with Safari and hinder your ability to clear your browsing history.

To avoid this, temporarily disable iCloud sync for Safari using these steps:

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

Step 2: Under Apps Using iCloud, select the Show All option. Turn off the toggle for Safari .

Fix 3: 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, temporarily block cookies in Safari.

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

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

Fix 4: Reset Your iPhone

If you still can’t clear your browsing history in Safari, try resetting your iPhone . This will restore your iPhone’s settings to default without affecting your personal data. Here’s how to do 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 Reset and select Reset All Settings from the menu. Enter your iPhone’s passcode when prompted and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Last updated on 30 April, 2024

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How to Use Shortcut to Quickly Delete Safari Browsing History and Data

Your iPhone does a great job of preventing online trackers from tracking you across websites and creating a digital profile. Still, websites save cache on your phone that can be used to track you online, and deleting Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad takes several steps, which can be cumbersome. In this article, I will show you how you can create a shortcut that will let you delete Safari Browsing History and Data with just a tap.

How to delete Safari browsing history and data on iPhone and iPad

Before we begin creating our shortcut, let’s check out how you can manually delete Safari browsing history and data on your iPhone and iPad.

How to manually delete Safari browsing history and data on iPhone and iPad

Create siri shortcut to quickly delete safari browsing history and data.

• Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Scroll down to find Safari and tap on it.

3. Scroll down to find Clear History and Website Data settings, and tap on It.

4. On the splash screen, tap on the Clear History and Data option to confirm the action.

Now that you know how the manual steps work, let’s create a Siri shortcut that will help you delete Safari browsing history and data with just a tap.

In iOS and iPadOS, when a URL is run on Safari in a certain format, it executes the corresponding preference settings on the device. Thanks to OJISAN SEIUCHI , we know which URL to run to delete Safari browsing history and data. Here are the steps to create the shortcut.

• Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and click on the + button at the top-right to start creating the shortcut.

2. Tap on the Add Action button and search for the URL action. Tap on the URL action to add to the shortcut.

3. In the URL section, copy and paste the below URL.

prefs:root=SAFARI&path=CLEAR_HISTORY_AND_DATA

4. If you see the Open URLs option in the Next Actions Suggestions tap on it. Otherwise, tap on the search bar at the bottom and search for the Open URLs action and tap to add it.

5. Tap on the top of the shortcut to give it a name. Let’s name it Clear Safari Data.

6. Your shortcut is now ready. If you want to add it to your Home Screen, tap on the settings menu at the top-right and then tap on Add to Home Screen. Tap on the App icon to set a custom icon if you want. Finally, tap on the Add button at the top.

7. To clear Safari history and data, either tap on the Home Screen icon for the shortcut or launch the app and tap on the shortcut. You can even ask Siri to Clear Safari Data (or whatever name you have given to your shortcut), and it will run the shortcut. Confirm to delete Safari History and Data.

Clear Safari history and data with Siri Shortcut

The easiest way to use this shortcut is to ask Siri to run the shortcut and then tap once to confirm the deletion of Safari browsing history and data. If you liked this shortcut, check out our list of best Siri Shortcuts , along with our shortcuts for announcing when the battery is fully charged , generating gradient wallpaper , combining images , and more. If you had issues following this tutorial or have any feedback for us, don’t forget to reach us on Twitter .

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Clearing Safari history on Childs iPhone/iPad

How do I clear history and website data in Safari settings on my child's iPhone/iPad? I have taken off content restrictions as described in several Apple support posts. Clear history is still greyed out. There is a big data usage number for Safari due to this and I can't clear it out. I don't really want to do a reset when this appears to be a simple solution, I just don't know what the solution is! I put restrictions on my my kids' phone and iPads so that they wouldn't look or see inappropriate websites, know this is crippling their device because the storage is full and I can't clear the Safari history.

Posted on Jan 25, 2022 9:21 PM

Posted on Jan 27, 2022 7:11 AM

Hi nicki271,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you're having an issue with clearing Safari history on a device with restrictions enabled. We're happy to provide some information to assist.

As you mentions and it states in the article here: Clear the history and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch "When there's no history or website data to clear, the setting turns gray. The setting might also be gray if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time."

We'd also recommend attempting to clear history and storage from the iPhone storage page and the help of the steps here: How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

You can also check Settings > Safari > Advanced to check and clear data. How to See and Remove All The Data Websites Have Saved on Your iPhone or iPad

Similar questions

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Jan 27, 2022 7:11 AM in response to nicki271

How to clear the cache on your iPhone (and why you should)

How many tabs are open on your mobile browser right now? Go ahead, check -- you might be surprised by what you find.

Americans spend over five hours a day on their smartphones. That's over five hours of your phone potentially accessing, retrieving, and saving cache and cookies, which can negatively impact your iPhone's storage space .

What is cache?

Cache is the temporary storage of some data, like parts of a website from the last time you visited it, for example. Browser cache is content from a website that is stored on your phone during a browser session to help the browser execute faster the next time you visit that page.

Also:  How to clear Google search cache on Android

Cache data can slow down your phone's overall browsing performance, however, since it takes up storage space on your device, so it's good to clear it out regularly. In this article, we mainly focus on clearing web browser cache on an iPhone, but you should know that other types of cache include mobile app cache and CPU cache.

How to clear cache on iPhone

What you'll need: Everything you need to clear your browser cache is within the iPhone's settings app or the Safari app, so grab your iPhone to get started.

Keep in mind that clearing the cache can clear private data, which can close all open tabs in Safari. This is also likely to log you out of all your websites, prompting you to sign in again the next time you open them. 

How do I clear the cache from Chrome on iPhone?

If Google Chrome is your preferred browser, it may have a substantial amount of data stored on your device, which could also slow down performance. 

To clear the cache in Chrome, open the Google Chrome app and follow these steps:

• Tap  Settings .
• Go to  Privacy and Security .
• Select  Clear Browsing Data .
• Select the time from which to delete the data (if you want to delete all your browsing history, choose All Time ).
• Go through the items you'd like to delete, like your Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, Cached Images and Files, Saved Passwords , and Autofill Data.
• Confirm by tapping  Clear Browsing Data  at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap Done when you've deleted the Chrome cache.

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Clearing the browsing and cache data in Google Chrome doesn't close all open tabs, but it will refresh each tab and log you out of websites. Once you tap on one of the tabs you want to access, you'll have to log back in.

How can I browse on Safari without history?

If you're learning how to clear cache on an iPhone, you may also be wondering if there's a way to use Safari without saving any browsing history. You can turn on Private Browsing by following these steps:

• Open  Safari .
• Tap on  Tabs .
• Choose Private .

You can also enable private browsing by going to your iPhone Settings, finding Safari, and toggling on the private option. 

How do I clear my app cache on my iPhone?

To clear the app cache from your iPhone Settings app, you can either delete the app and reinstall it, offload it, or try to clear the cache from within the app. Unfortunately, iOS apps don't have consistent settings across the board that would allow you to clear the cache of every app.

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Apps like TikTok and CapCut, for example, have options to Clear Cache within their respective settings. Amazon lets users delete their browsing history, while the Reddit app can clear local history. It all depends on what the app's settings let you do. 

Is "clear cache" the same as offloading?

Not exactly, though app offloading can help if your phone is slowed down by low storage. To offload an app  means to uninstall an app without deleting any documents or data associated with it. 

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To offload an app, go to  Settings , then  General , choose  iPhone Storage  and select the app to offload, then tap  Offload App . If you ever download it again, you'll pick up where you left off for that app.

Are cookies and cache the same thing?

Cookies and cache are not the same. Cookies are data files that websites send to your phone, including things like saved passwords to keep you logged into an account or even the website preferences from the previous time you visited. 

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Though they do sound harmless, cookies can also track how you browse the internet. They monitor patterns in your browsing and search history, even seeing what you clicked on or what your mouse hovered over. Ever made an innocuous search on Amazon only to find ads for it on all the apps you use? Cookies likely made that possible.

Can I block cookies on my iPhone?

While you can block cookies on Safari, the ranks are divided on whether you should. Blocking cookies entirely means that websites won't be able to get information from you, but it also means that some websites may not even work correctly on your browser. A lot of users actually enjoy a more personalized browsing experience, so cookies are a good thing for them.

 If you'd like to block cookies in Safari, follow these steps:

• Go to  Settings  and select  Safari .
• Tap on the toggle next to  Block All Cookies .

There are also third-party extensions that help you block cookies and trackers in Google Chrome, like Ghostery and Disconnect .

How do I check iPhone storage?

On an iPhone, Settings can show you what's taking up most of your media storage, like photos, videos, and music. You can also see what each particular app's storage consumption is, which includes temporary data. To view the details of your iPhone's storage space, follow these steps:

• Go to the iPhone Settings .
• Tap on General .
• Select iPhone Storage .
• Scroll through to find the app you're looking for.
• Tap on the app to view storage status and options.

Unfortunately, you can't clear your iPhone cache for third-party apps by going into your Settings app, but this gives you a visual of your iPhone's storage and the option to delete or offload apps.

Also: Here's the fastest way to declutter your iPhone and free up Gigabytes of space

When you look at your device's storage space, you'll probably see recommended steps you can take to optimize your iPhone's storage, like offloading unused apps.

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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.

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.

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