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How to Control iPhone Safari Settings and Security

Control your settings and security in the iPhone browser

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How to Change the Default iPhone Browser Search Engine

How to use safari autofill to fill out forms faster, how to view saved passwords in safari, control how links open in iphone safari, how to cover your online tracks using private browsing, how to clear your iphone browser history and cookies, prevent advertisers from tracking you on your iphone, how to get warnings about potentially malicious websites, how to block websites, ads, cookies, and pop-ups using safari, how to use apple pay for online purchases.

• Take Control of Your iPhone Security and Privacy Settings

What to Know

• To change search engine, go to Settings > Safari > Search Engine . To control links, go to Safari > Open Links .
• To use AutoFill, go to Settings > Safari > AutoFill > turn on Use Contact Info .
• To view saved passwords, go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords .

This article explains how to adjust Safari settings and security on your iPhone or iPad.

Searching for content in Safari is simple; tap the menu bar at the top of the browser and enter your search terms. By default, all iOS devices use Google for web searches, but you can select a different search engine by following these steps:

Open the Settings app.

Select Safari > Search Engine .

Select the search engine you would like to use as the default. Options include  Google , Yahoo , Bing , and DuckDuckGo . The setting is automatically saved, so you can search using the new default search engine right away.

Similar to a desktop browser , Safari automatically fills in forms by grabbing information from your address book. This saves time because you don't need to fill out the same forms over and over again. To use this feature, follow these steps:

Select Safari > AutoFill .

Toggle the Use Contact Info switch to on/green.

Your information appears in the My Info field. If it does not, select the field and browse your address book to find your contact information.

Older versions of iOS allowed you to change your username and password info here. If you want to save, edit, or delete usernames and passwords in iOS 13 or later, go to the Passwords & Accounts settings page (select Settings > Passwords & Accounts ).

To save frequently used credit cards to make online purchases quicker, move the Credit Cards switch to on/green. If you don't have a credit card saved on your iPhone, select Saved Credit Cards , and add a card.

Saving usernames and passwords in Safari means you're not forced to memorize login credentials to access a website. As this data is sensitive, iOS takes measures to protect it. If you need to look up a username or password, you can do so by following these steps:

Select Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords .

You are asked to authorize access to this information using Touch ID , Face ID , or your passcode.

A list details all the websites for which iOS has saved login data. Select a site to view the corresponding username and password.

You can choose where new links open by default—in a new window that appears either in front of or behind the page you are currently viewing. Follow these steps to adjust this setting:

Select Safari > Open Links .

Select In New Tab to open links in a new window in Safari and to have that window appear in front of the current tab. Select In Background to open links in a new window that appears behind the page you are currently viewing.

Browsing the web leaves digital footprints. Between browsing history, cookies, and other usage data, you may prefer to cover some of those tracks. The Safari Private Browsing feature prevents Safari from saving information about your behavior—including browsing history, cookies, and other files—while it is turned on.

When you want to delete your browsing history or cookies manually, follow these steps:

Select Safari > Clear History and Website Data .

A menu appears asking if you would like to clear the browsing data. Select Clear History and Data .

Cookies allow advertisers to track you across the web. This lets them build a profile of your behavior and interests to target you with ads better. Here's how to opt-out of some of that tracking data:

Select Safari .

Move the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking switch to on/green.

Older versions of iOS included a Do Not Track feature that asked websites not to track your browsing data. Apple removed this feature, as the request was never mandatory and did not do much to limit the tracking of user data.

Setting up fake websites that look like ones you normally use is a common method of stealing data from users. Safari has a feature to help avoid these sites. Here's how to enable it:

Move the Fraudulent Website Warning switch to on/green.

You can speed up your browsing, maintain privacy, and avoid certain ads and websites by blocking cookies. Here's how:

Move the Block All Cookies switch to on/green, then select Block All to confirm the action.

If you set up Apple Pay , you can use it at any participating retailer to complete purchases. To make sure you can use it at those stores, enable Apple Pay for the web. Here's how:

Move the Check for Apple Pay switch to on/green.

Take Control of Your iPhone Security and Privacy Settings

While this article focuses on privacy and security settings for the Safari web browser, the iPhone has other security and privacy settings. These settings can be used with other apps and features to protect private info stored on your iPhone .

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Simple Steps to Change Your General Preferences on Safari

Last Updated: May 22, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 230,295 times. Learn more...

Do you want to increase your privacy on Safari or maybe make it more useful for you? To change your Safari preferences on an iOS device, you'll need to use your device's Settings app instead of the Safari app. On macOS computers, you can change the settings from Safari's Preferences menu. Both the mobile and the desktop share some similar settings, but the desktop version has many more options available.

Changing Safari Preferences

While Safari is open, click or tap on the word Safari in the top left corner to display a menu. Settings will be the third choice. Click or tap that to bring up Safari preferences. On an iPhone, look for Safari in the list of apps in the Settings app on your phone.

• This method works for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
• Forgot your iPhone's password? You can reset it in 2 ways !

• The "Search Engine Suggestions" toggle will provide search suggestions from your default search engine as you type.
• The "Safari Suggestions" toggle provides search suggestions curated by Apple.

• Use the Safari app instead of Settings to change how your Home page behaves .

• You can enable or disable various search preferences underneath this menu, including using Safari Suggestions.

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• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/customize-your-safari-settings-iphb3100d149/ios
• ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2042451/exploring-safaris-preferences.html

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Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for June 17 (#372)

Today's nyt connections hints and answer for june 18 (#373), you can now listen to websites using chrome, quick links, search settings, general settings, privacy & security, reading list, advanced options.

If you use Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then there are quite a few settings you can adjust to make the experience more suited to you liking. Today, we will show you how to adjust your Safari settings on your iOS device.

Safari on iOS has quite a few settings you will want to peruse. Many of these may never need adjusting, but it is still nice to know what they all do in case you ever need to change anything.

Today we want to go through each of Safari's settings on iOS and explain briefly what they all do. Hopefully by the time we're done, you'll have a more complete understanding of them.

The first thing you will need to do is tap open the Settings on your iPhone or iPad and then tap "Safari". The topmost Safari setting you will see are the Search settings.

At the top is the "Search Engine" setting. By default, it is set to use Google, but you can change it to Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo.

Next, you can turn off any search engine suggestions you might see, which means you won't see suggestions as you type in search terms. Also, if you don't want Safari to make website suggestions, then turn off the Safari Suggestions feature.

The Quick Website Search option will display the top website suggestion as you type, and if you leave "Preload Top Hit" enabled, then Safari will automatically preload the first result in your search suggestions.

Let's next take a look at the General settings. The first option at the very top is "Passwords". We've explained in the past how to use the passwords manager on Safari for iOS , so we suggest looking to that article if you want more information.

In the AutoFill settings, you can have Safari automatically fill in forms with your personal information, which you can edit by tapping on "My Info".

You also have the option of automatically using a saved credit card, such as the one you might use for Apple Pay .

Looking through the General options further, you can choose whether you want frequently visited sites to appear on a new tab page.

Under the favorites option, you can choose which folder appears when you access your favorites.

Finally, rounding out the General settings, there is an option to open links in a new tab or in the background. The last option, which you will most likely want to leave enabled, is to block pop-ups.

We next find ourselves on the Privacy & Security options. These are fairly simple and should be pretty easy to explain. The first item is the "Do Not Track" option, which means that websites with tracking cookies will be limited in how much they can track your browsing habits.

Under the "Block Cookies" options, you can decide how strict your cookies policy is. By default, it is set to "Allow from Websites I Visit", which is probably the highest you want to go if you want to retain a vast majority of functionality as you surf the Internet.

The "Fraudulent Website Warning" will pop up when Safari suspects you've encountered a phishing website, so you definitely want to leave that enabled.

Finally, if you want to clear out your history, cookies, and other browsing data, then that option is available under "Clear History and Website Data" at the very bottom of the list.

If you want more information on this last option, we suggest you r ead our article , which will explain it in more detail.

The Reading List option is pretty easy to understand. Normally, if you want to save items to read later, you can shoot them over to your Reading List, which means they'll be saved for later offline reading.

If you don't want to do this using your cellular data, such as if you have a data cap, then you can turn this option off.

Finally, let's end today's discussion by talking about the Advanced options. For the most part, you're never going to need to adjust these and it's unlikely you'll ever want to turn off JavaScript because it will break a great deal of websites.

The Website Data option will allow you to see how much data websites store on your device and if desired, clear it. This is no different from the "Clear History and Data" option described earlier except here you only clear website data, leaving your history intact.

That's it for Safari's settings on iOS. As you can see, there's quite a bit to them but for the most part, you can probably leave the majority of them as their defaults and you will be just fine.

If you have any questions or comments you would care to add, please leave your feedback in our discussion forum.

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The Safari Settings You Should Tweak Right Now

Your browser is your window onto the world, the app you rely on most during the day. You want to wring every last drop of usefulness out of it. It definitely pays to know all of the features and tricks your daily browser is capable of. For iOS users, that means mastering Safari: how to stay safe online, how to get stuff done faster, and more.

For a smoother online experience, take a few minutes to run through these Safari tweaks to make your life online a little smoother.

Safari is very concerned about the strength of your passwords—perhaps even more so than you are. To see whether you're using any weak passwords, or duplicating passwords across accounts, open the Safari menu and choose Preferences then Passwords . A yellow exclamation mark indicates a potential problem with one of your listed passwords.

You'll often want to carry on watching a video while doing something else, and Safari can help—with a video playing, click and hold the audio icon in the address bar, then choose Enter Picture in Picture . The pop-out video player can be repositioned and resized as needed, but keep the original tab open in the background while you work on other tasks.

Websites want a lot these days: access to your webcam, your mic, your location , and more. To check what a site does and does not have access to, click Safari then Settings for This Website . You can revoke any permissions you've previously given, stop content from auto-playing, and limit the number of pop-up windows that the website can show.

It's taken a long time for Safari to support favicons (the little icons that represent websites), so you might as well take advantage; they also help you identify open tabs more easily as well. From the Safari menu, choose Preferences then Tabs , and then tick the checkbox labeled Show website icons in tabs to apply the change to the browser.

Having access to your recent browsing history can be useful for retracing your online steps, but you don't need it to follow you around for years. Open Safari then Preferences , switch to the General tab, then open Remove history items —you can delete browsing logs automatically after a day, week, fortnight, month, or year.

By default Safari just shows the domain name of the site you're visiting in the address bar, but this can make it tricky to work out exactly where you are on the web. To see the full URL instead, you need to open up the Safari menu, then the Preferences dialog, then switch to the Advanced tab—make sure the Show full website address box is ticked.

No productivity hack is ever going to beat an intuitive keyboard shortcut or two. You'll find a full list for Safari here and here , but some of our favorites include Space (and Shift+Space ) to scroll, Cmd+W to close a tab, Ctrl+Tab (and Shift+Ctrl+Tab ) to scroll through open tabs, and Cmd+L to jump straight to the Safari address bar at the top.

Safari, like every other Apple app, can be fully controlled with your voice in macOS Catalina. To enable the feature, open the Apple menu then choose System Preferences , Accessibility , Voice Control , and Enable Voice Control . It lets you speak out numbers for menus and links, zoom in and out, and much more—there's a full list of commands here .

Safari has an entire Develop menu that's not displayed by default but which is very handy for power users. To show it, open the Safari menu then choose Preferences , then Advanced , then tick the box marked Show Develop menu in menu bar. The new menu then appears, enabling you to access options such as disabling images or extensions.

Clearing out a browser's cache can often improve performance in the long term, even if it takes a short-term hit while local files are refreshed and reset. To do this in Safari, you first need to enable the Develop menu (see the step above), then you can open it and choose Empty Caches . This wipes all of Safari's temporary files and data off the local disk.

Safari has borrowed a very useful feature from Windows: the ability to "snap" open tabs to the left or right of the screen, so you can compare two side-by-side. Open up the Window menu, then choose Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen to do just that—your other windows are then automatically docked on the opposite side.

Apple devices all play wonderfully well together, as long as you're signed in on the same Apple ID, and jumping between open tabs on different devices is a breeze. To do this on Safari on macOS, you need to click on the Show tab overview button in the top right corner; you'll then see Safari tabs from your other devices listed lower down.

Who has time to read everything during the working day? No one! So make use of Safari's built-in Reading List tool. Use the Plus button on the left side of the address bar to add articles to the Reading List, then click the Show sidebar button (or View and Show Reading List Sidebar ) to bring up the list of all the posts you've saved during the day.

Safari gives you more control than you might have realized over the buttons and options that appear on the toolbar—having the tools you use most often in easy reach can make a big difference to your online productivity. To make changes, select View then Customize Toolbar , then just drag and drop the icons you need most often into the toolbar.

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Tell websites to stop tracking you

Change your search engine to duckduckgo.

• Hide your IP address 

Stop using location services

Disable autofill, clear your browsing history, block your cookies, 7 settings you should change in safari to enhance your privacy.

• If you use Safari on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can enable settings to enhance your privacy while web browsing.
• You can easily disable cookies, change your search engine to DuckDuckGo, hide your IP address, and more.
• Here are seven of the top ways to make your online activity more private.

While Apple has allowed alternative browsers on the iPhone and iPad for quite some time, odds are good that if you have one of those devices (or a Mac computer, of course) you frequently use Safari to browse the web. It's relatively safe and private, but you can do much better by tweaking a few settings. Here are seven Safari settings that'll enhance your privacy when you're online.

Almost every step you take online is tracked by websites to target you for ads and to customize your experience. But you can shut most of that down by telling Safari to stop tracking you. On your iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, enable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking by swiping the button to the right. 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab and then click the checkbox for Prevent Cross-Site Tracking .

Google is most people's default, but that search engine fundamentally lacks privacy. If you don't want a large corporation to know your browsing history, switch to DuckDuckGo. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Search section, tap Search Engine and choose DuckDuckGo from the options.

If you're using a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Search tab. Finally, to the right of Search Engine , click the dropdown menu and switch from Google to DuckDuckGo .

Hide your IP address 

By default, websites can see your IP address, which can reveal personal details about you including your location. If you prefer, you can hide this from online trackers. On your iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, tap Hide IP Address and choose From Trackers .

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab and then click the checkbox for Hide IP address from trackers . 

A lot of your mobile device's secret sauce is based on location services — your iPhone and iPad need to know where you are to make smart suggestions and offer location-based features. But if you don't want Safari to know where you are, it's easy to turn off. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Settings for Websites section, tap Location and change the setting to Deny (or, if you want to be asked every time, choose Ask ). 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Websites tab. Choose Location in the pane on the left. At the bottom of the window, configure When visiting other sites by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Ask or Deny . 

Autofill is a great feature if you don't like to enter basic personal information into web forms over and over again, but for that to work, Safari has to record private data. Don't want that? On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the General section, tap Autofill and turn off Use Contact Info and Credit Cards by swiping the buttons to the left. 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the AutoFill tab. You can disable autofill data in four categories by clearing the checkboxes.

This one is the traditional, go-to way to enhance your privacy — you can clear your browsing history from time to time to erase records on your device about where you've been online, along with your saved website passwords. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . Then scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data . Conform you want to do that in the popup window.

On a Mac, start Safari and then click History in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Clear History in the dropdown menu, choose the timeframe you want from the dropdown menu, and click Clear History .

If you prevent cross-site tracking (see the earlier tip in this article), Safari prevents some third-party cookies. But you can disable all cookies if you want to amp up your privacy — just be aware that your online experience will be less convenient, and some sites won't work properly. To try it on an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, enable Block All Cookies by swiping the button to the right.  

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab. Beside Cookies and website data , click the checkbox for Block all cookies .

• Main content

How to Sync Website Settings between Devices in Safari in iOS 16

One useful new Safari features in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura (coming this fall and available as beta software now) is the ability to have the browser remember your settings for specific websites even when you open the site on another device, as long as you're logged into the same Apple ID. This includes your Reader Mode settings, content blockers, whether you prefer to view the desktop site on mobile, and more. We'll show you how to turn syncing on and off and where to find these settings to adjust them.

• How to Sync Website Settings on iPhone in  iOS 16
• How to Sync Website Settings on iPad in iPadOS 16
• How to Sync Website Settings in macOS Ventura

How to Sync Website Settings in iOS 16

Before you sync your custom Safari settings, you'll need to have some customized website settings already enabled. Check out our guide on customizing individual websites in Safari  to learn how to, and be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter for more information on new iPhone features.

How to Sync Website Settings in iPadOS 16

How to Adjust Synced Website Settings in macOS Ventura

That's it, now you know how to enable, or turn off, the syncing of website settings across your devices in Safari 16, and some basics on the different settings you can customize for specific sites.

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How To Find Settings In Safari

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Introduction

Safari, Apple's sleek and intuitive web browser, offers a plethora of features and settings to enhance your browsing experience. Whether you're using Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, understanding how to navigate its settings can significantly improve your browsing efficiency and security. From basic preferences to advanced configurations, Safari's settings allow you to customize your browsing experience to suit your specific needs.

In this article, we'll delve into the various methods for accessing Safari settings on both iOS devices and Mac computers. We'll also explore the common settings that can be adjusted to personalize your browsing experience, as well as the more advanced configurations available for users who seek a deeper level of control over their browsing environment.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate and customize Safari's settings, empowering you to optimize your browsing experience and make the most of this powerful web browser . Whether you're a casual user or a tech-savvy enthusiast, mastering Safari's settings will undoubtedly elevate your browsing experience to new heights.

Let's embark on this journey to uncover the hidden gems within Safari's settings, allowing you to harness the full potential of this innovative web browser . Whether you're seeking to enhance your privacy, streamline your browsing habits, or explore advanced configurations, Safari's settings hold the key to unlocking a personalized and seamless browsing experience.

Accessing Safari Settings on iOS

Accessing Safari settings on iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads, is a straightforward process that allows users to customize their browsing experience and enhance their privacy and security. To access Safari settings on iOS, follow these simple steps:

Open the Settings App : Begin by locating and tapping the "Settings" app on your iOS device's home screen. The Settings app features a gear icon and serves as the central hub for customizing various aspects of your device.

Scroll Down and Locate Safari : Once inside the Settings app, scroll down until you find the "Safari" option. Tapping on this option will open a new menu dedicated to Safari's settings and preferences.

Explore Safari Settings : Upon entering the Safari settings menu, you'll encounter a wide array of options that allow you to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences. From basic settings such as search engine selection and default browser behavior to more advanced configurations related to privacy, security, and content blockers, Safari's settings on iOS offer a wealth of customization options.

Adjust Settings According to Your Preferences : Within the Safari settings menu, you can adjust various preferences, including enabling or disabling features such as content blockers, pop-up blocking, and the ability to clear browsing data. Additionally, you can manage website settings, adjust privacy and security configurations, and explore advanced options to fine-tune your browsing experience.

Return to Safari and Enjoy Customized Browsing : After customizing your Safari settings to align with your preferences, exit the Settings app and open the Safari browser to experience your personalized browsing environment. Whether you've enhanced your privacy settings, streamlined your browsing habits, or configured advanced options, accessing Safari settings on iOS empowers you to tailor your browsing experience to suit your specific needs.

Accessing Safari settings on iOS devices provides users with the flexibility to personalize their browsing experience and take control of various aspects of the Safari browser. By navigating the settings menu, users can optimize their privacy, security, and overall browsing efficiency, ensuring a seamless and tailored experience that aligns with their preferences and requirements.

Accessing Safari Settings on Mac

Accessing Safari settings on a Mac computer is a fundamental aspect of customizing your browsing experience and optimizing the browser's functionality to suit your specific needs. Whether you're looking to enhance your privacy, streamline your browsing habits, or explore advanced configurations, Safari's settings on Mac offer a wealth of options to personalize your browsing environment.

To access Safari settings on a Mac, follow these simple steps:

Launch Safari : Begin by opening the Safari web browser on your Mac. You can typically find the Safari icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen or locate it in the Applications folder.

Access Preferences : Once Safari is open, navigate to the top-left corner of the screen and click on "Safari" in the menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear, and within this menu, select "Preferences." Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Command + ," to access the Preferences window directly.

Explore Safari Preferences : Upon accessing the Preferences window, you'll be presented with a range of tabs, each offering specific settings and configurations for Safari. These tabs include General, Tabs, Search, Privacy, Security, and more, allowing you to delve into various aspects of Safari's functionality and customize your browsing experience.

Customize Settings : Within the Preferences window, you can customize various aspects of Safari to align with your preferences. This includes setting your homepage, adjusting tab behavior, selecting your default search engine, managing website settings, enabling content blockers, and configuring privacy and security options.

Advanced Configurations : For users seeking a deeper level of control over their browsing environment, Safari's Preferences window also offers an "Advanced" tab. Here, you can explore advanced configurations related to website data, extensions, notifications, and more, allowing for a comprehensive customization of your browsing experience.

Apply and Enjoy : After customizing your Safari settings to suit your preferences, simply close the Preferences window. Your settings will be applied, and you can continue browsing with your personalized configurations in place.

Accessing Safari settings on a Mac empowers users to tailor their browsing experience, enhance their privacy and security, and optimize their efficiency when navigating the web. By familiarizing yourself with Safari's settings and preferences, you can harness the full potential of this innovative web browser, ensuring a seamless and personalized browsing experience that aligns with your specific requirements and preferences.

Common Settings in Safari

Safari, Apple's renowned web browser, offers a range of common settings that allow users to personalize their browsing experience and optimize their efficiency when navigating the web. These settings, accessible on both iOS devices and Mac computers, encompass fundamental configurations that cater to various aspects of browsing, privacy, and security.

One of the most common settings in Safari is the ability to select a default search engine. Users have the option to choose from popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo, allowing them to align their browsing experience with their preferred search provider. This simple yet impactful setting ensures that users can seamlessly conduct web searches directly from the Safari address bar using their preferred search engine.

Additionally, Safari's common settings include the ability to manage website settings, encompassing features such as content blockers, camera and microphone access, and location services. By customizing these settings, users can control how websites interact with their device, enhancing their privacy and security while browsing the web. This level of control empowers users to dictate the permissions granted to websites, ensuring a tailored and secure browsing experience.

Furthermore, Safari's common settings encompass preferences related to pop-up blocking and the ability to clear browsing data. The option to block pop-ups enhances the browsing experience by preventing intrusive pop-up windows from disrupting the user's workflow. Meanwhile, the ability to clear browsing data, including history, cookies, and cached files, enables users to maintain a clean and efficient browsing environment, promoting privacy and optimizing browser performance.

Another noteworthy common setting in Safari is the option to customize tab behavior, including the ability to set a homepage, manage tab preferences, and configure new tab settings. This feature allows users to streamline their browsing habits by personalizing how tabs are handled within the browser, ultimately enhancing their efficiency and organization when navigating multiple web pages simultaneously.

By familiarizing themselves with these common settings, Safari users can tailor their browsing experience to align with their preferences and requirements. Whether it's selecting a default search engine, managing website settings, controlling pop-up behavior, or customizing tab preferences, Safari's common settings empower users to personalize their browsing environment and optimize their efficiency and security when exploring the web.

Advanced Settings in Safari

Delving into the advanced settings of Safari unveils a realm of intricate configurations that cater to users seeking a deeper level of control over their browsing environment. These advanced settings, available on both iOS devices and Mac computers, empower users to fine-tune their browsing experience, enhance their privacy and security, and explore sophisticated configurations that elevate their interaction with the web.

One of the notable advanced settings in Safari is the ability to manage website data with precision. This feature allows users to view and manage the data stored by individual websites, including cookies, cached files, and more. By accessing this advanced setting, users can selectively remove website data, thereby optimizing their browsing environment, enhancing privacy, and streamlining browser performance.

Furthermore, Safari's advanced settings encompass the management of extensions, providing users with the capability to customize their browsing experience with a diverse range of add-ons and enhancements. Users can explore and install extensions from the Mac App Store or Safari Extensions Gallery, allowing them to augment Safari's functionality with tools for productivity, security, ad-blocking, and more. This level of customization empowers users to tailor their browsing experience to suit their specific needs and preferences, ensuring a personalized and efficient interaction with the web.

Another advanced setting that offers a heightened level of control is the ability to configure website notifications. Users can manage and customize the notification settings for individual websites, dictating whether they receive notifications, including alerts, banners, and sounds, from specific sites. This granular control over website notifications ensures that users can curate their browsing experience, minimizing interruptions and maintaining a focused and tailored interaction with the web.

Moreover, Safari's advanced settings encompass configurations related to privacy and security, allowing users to manage website tracking, block cross-site tracking, and customize settings for fraudulent website warnings. These advanced privacy and security features empower users to fortify their browsing environment, safeguard their personal information, and mitigate potential security risks when navigating the web.

By familiarizing themselves with Safari's advanced settings, users can unlock a wealth of customization options that cater to their specific preferences and requirements. Whether it's managing website data, exploring extensions, configuring website notifications, or enhancing privacy and security, Safari's advanced settings empower users to elevate their browsing experience, ensuring a seamless, personalized, and secure interaction with the web.

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5 Safari settings on your iPhone that you should change immediately 

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Privacy-conscious internet users might be doing whatever they can to reduce the amount of data tech companies collect about them. Complete user-tracking prevention is impossible, given the plethora of devices, websites, apps, and services we use online every day. But you can take steps to reduce the data you offer websites. With that in mind, iPhone users should ensure they enable certain Safari settings that can help improve privacy and reduce tracking.

The following tips apply to using Safari on iPhone, but the same settings are available on the iPad version of the browser. Similarly, the macOS variant of Safari will include similar privacy precautions.

Change the default Safari search engine on iPhone

Since Google is one of the main tech companies tracking you online, one way to avoid Google is to stay away from its main product. That’s Google Search, which happens to be the default search engine in Safari on the iPhone. That’s where your Safari privacy quest should start. You should change Google Search for something more privacy friendly, like DuckDuckGo .

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Tell sites to stop tracking your iPhone

It’s not enough to change search engines in Safari. You should also ask websites not to track your iPhone. To do that, head to the Settings app and look for the Safari menu. You’ll want to enable the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking option.

Block cookies in Safari

While in the menu above, you might also want to enable the Block All Cookies option. That’s how advertising firms keep track of users. Blocking cookies might impact some site functionality, however.

Finally, the menu above also lets you block the Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement if you want further peace of mind.

Hide your IP address

Your quest to improve privacy while browsing the web with Safari on iPhone isn’t done. There are a few key settings that you can still tweak. Like hiding your IP address.

Block location access

Location. Location. Location. That’s a critical privacy aspect when it comes to your iPhone experience. That includes apps and internet browsing via Safari.

You can set it to Deny if you don’t need location-related internet services. The Ask option will force websites to ask whenever they want to track your location. You might have certain favorites that you want to allow to track your location.

Bonus: Browse the web on iPhone in Safari’s private mode

You can use a combination of the features above, or all of them, to improve your internet privacy on iPhone. You can also enable the Share Across Devices option if you own multiple Apple devices, so the same settings apply to various iPhones and iPads.

This isn’t a setting, so you’ll have to open the Safari app. Look for the tabs symbol in the lower right corner and tap it.

The downside is that the sites you browse in private mode won’t remain in your history. You’ll have to balance between Private mode and regular mode depending on which websites you use.

If it’s dark, you’re in Private mode.

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Seamlessly link to content within your app or on your website in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. With universal links, you can always give users the most integrated mobile experience, even when your app isn’t installed on their device.

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Location of Safari Settings

How can I find Settings in Safari on MacBook Pro, please?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 14, 2021 3:25 PM

Posted on Feb 14, 2021 4:13 PM

According to Qwant , it is not possible to add that feature to the Safari "Search engine:" field but you can add Quant as a "Homepage."

"Click on the “Safari” tab, and then on “Preferences.”

In the top menu, click on the “General” button (it looks like a power switch!).

In the “Homepage field”, enter the URL “ https://www.qwant.com/” and close the window.

Qwant will open by default the next time you launch Safari."

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Feb 14, 2021 4:13 PM in response to deidre1150

Feb 14, 2021 3:57 PM in response to Ferd II

Thank you for responding, Ferd II!

I am trying to change my search engine (browser) and it appears that only about five are named

in the search engine dropdown box pictured below..

There is a Qwant.com and a startpage.com that I am interested in making my default

but they are not listed in the drop-down box.

Do you know how I might establish a new search engine that is not listed in the preferences

section of Safari?

Feb 14, 2021 3:44 PM in response to deidre1150

Use the Safari>Preferences... Menu Bar option. You can also use the (command+,) keyboard shortcut.

Feb 14, 2021 4:46 PM in response to deidre1150

apple icon upper left> Safari > Preferences ...

Feb 14, 2021 4:19 PM in response to Ferd II

Done. Thanks so much!

Feb 14, 2021 4:20 PM in response to deidre1150

You are welcome.

iOS 18 makes iPhone more personal, capable, and intelligent than ever

New Levels of Customization and Capability

Photos Gets a Unified View, New Collections, and Customization

Powerful Ways to Stay Connected in Messages

Enhancements to Mail

Big Updates to Safari

Introducing the Passwords App

New Privacy Features Designed to Empower Users

Apple Intelligence Transforms the iPhone Experience

• In Apple Maps , users can browse thousands of hikes across national parks in the United States and easily create their own custom walking routes, which they can access offline. Maps users can also save their favorite national park hikes, custom walking routes, and locations to an all-new Places Library and add personal notes about each spot.
• Game Mode enhances the gaming experience with more consistent frame rates, especially during long play sessions, and makes wireless accessories like AirPods and game controllers incredibly responsive.
• Users get new ways to pay with Apple Pay , including the ability to redeem rewards and access installments from their eligible credit or debit cards. 5 With Tap to Cash, users can send and receive Apple Cash by simply holding two iPhone devices together. 6 Tickets in Apple Wallet bring a richer experience for fans, putting key event information like stadium details, recommended Apple Music playlists, and more at their fingertips. 7
• SharePlay with Apple Music allows even more users to share control of music playing from HomePod, Apple TV, or any Bluetooth-enabled speaker, making listening together more fun and engaging.
• The AirPods experience gets even more personal, private, and convenient with Siri Interactions, allowing AirPods Pro (2nd generation) users to simply nod their head yes or gently shake their head no to respond to Siri announcements. For even clearer call quality, Voice Isolation comes to AirPods Pro, ensuring the caller’s voice is heard in loud or windy environments. AirPods updates also provide the best wireless audio latency Apple has ever delivered for mobile gaming, and add Personalized Spatial Audio for even more immersive gameplay.
• In the Notes app , formulas and equations entered while typing are solved instantly with Math Notes. New collapsible sections and highlighting make it easier to emphasize what’s important.
• In Journal , an all-new insights view helps users keep track of their journaling goals, and the ability to search and sort entries makes it easy to enjoy past memories. Time spent journaling can be saved as mindful minutes in the Health app, and users can log their state of mind right in Journal. A Journal widget is now available for users to quickly start an entry from the Home Screen or Lock Screen, audio recordings are automatically transcribed, and users can export and print journal entries.
• Calendar becomes even more helpful by showing both events and tasks from Reminders . Users can create, edit, and complete reminders right from Calendar, and the updated month view provides an overview of events and tasks at a glance.
• In the Health app , Medical ID has been redesigned to make it even easier for first responders to find the most important information in an emergency. The Health app can help users better understand their data during pregnancy by making adjustments and recommendations to reflect changes in their physical and mental health.
• Emergency SOS Live Video allows users to share context through streaming video and recorded media. In the middle of an emergency call, participating emergency dispatchers can send a request for a user to share live video or media from the user’s camera roll over a secure connection, making it easier and faster to get help.
• The Home app introduces guest access, providing users with easy ways to grant guests control of select smart home accessories, set schedules for when guests can access the home, and more. For an effortless home entry experience, hands-free unlock with home keys leverages Ultra Wideband technology to allow users to instantly open supported entry locks as soon as they are six feet away from their door. With convenient updates to the Energy category, the Home app makes it easier for eligible users to access, understand, and make more informed decisions about their home electricity use.
• Accessibility updates include Eye Tracking, a built-in option for navigating iPhone with just eyes; Music Haptics, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music using the Taptic Engine in iPhone; and Vocal Shortcuts that enable users to perform tasks by making a custom sound.

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

The release introduces all-new customization options, the biggest-ever redesign of Photos, powerful updates for staying connected, and Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA  Apple today previewed iOS 18 , a major release that features more customization options, the biggest redesign ever of the Photos app, new ways for users to manage their inbox in Mail, Messages over satellite, and so much more. Users will be able to arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, and quickly access more controls in Control Center. Photo libraries are automatically organized in a new single view in Photos, and helpful new collections keep favorites easily accessible. Mail simplifies the inbox by sorting email into categories using on-device intelligence, and all-new text effects come to iMessage. Powered by the same groundbreaking technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, users can now communicate over satellite in the Messages app when a cellular or Wi-Fi connection isn’t available. 1

iOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. 2 Built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context, to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks.

“We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customization and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages. There are so many benefits for everyone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “This release also marks the beginning of a tremendously exciting new era of personal intelligence with Apple Intelligence delivering intuitive, powerful, and instantly useful experiences that will transform the iPhone experience, all with privacy at the core. We can’t wait for users to experience it.”

iPhone users have new ways to customize the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. Users can now arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, including placing them right above the dock for easy access or perfectly framing a wallpaper. App icons and widgets can take on a new look with a dark or tinted effect, and users can make them appear larger to create the experience that is perfect for them.

Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day, and it gets new levels of customization and flexibility. The redesign delivers quick access to new groups of a user’s most-utilized controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, as well as the ability to easily swipe between each. Users can now add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center to quickly unlock a vehicle or jump right into capturing content for social media — all from one place. The new controls gallery displays the full set of available options, and users can customize how the controls are laid out, including adjusting them to the ideal size and creating entirely new groups.

For the first time, users can now switch the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen, including choosing from options available in the controls gallery or removing them entirely. With the Action button available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can quickly invoke controls available in the gallery.

Photos receives its biggest-ever redesign to help users easily find and relive special moments. A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums. Plus, collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings libraries to life, so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing. Because each user’s photo library is unique, the app is customizable, so users can organize collections, pin collections to access frequently, and include what’s most important to them in the carousel view.

iMessage receives all-new text effects that bring conversations to life by amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearances. Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough. Tapbacks expand to include any emoji or sticker, and now users can compose a message and schedule to send it at a later time.

When messaging contacts who do not have an Apple device, the Messages app now supports RCS for richer media and more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS.

iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite for the times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available. Powered by the same groundbreaking technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, Messages via satellite automatically prompts users to connect to their nearest satellite right from the Messages app to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. 3 With Dynamic Island, users always know when they are connected to a satellite. Because iMessage was built to protect user privacy, iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.

Later this year, Mail will introduce new ways for users to manage their inbox and stay up to date. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming email into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for what’s important in the moment.

Safari, the world’s fastest browser, 4 now offers an even easier way to discover information on the web with Highlights and a redesigned Reader experience. Using machine learning, Safari can surface key information about a webpage. For example, users can review a summary to get the gist of an article; quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album. Reader has been redesigned to offer even more ways to enjoy articles without distraction, with a summary and table of contents included for longer articles.

Building on the foundation of Keychain, which was first introduced more than 25 years ago, the new Passwords app makes it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. The app also includes alerts for users regarding common weaknesses, such as passwords that are easily guessed or used multiple times and those that appear in known data leaks.

iOS 18 gives users even more control with tools to manage who can see their apps, how contacts are shared, and how their iPhone connects to accessories.

Locked and hidden apps offer users peace of mind that information they want to keep private, such as app notifications and content, will not inadvertently be seen by others. Users can now lock an app; and for additional privacy, they can hide an app, moving it to a locked, hidden apps folder. When an app is locked or hidden, content like messages or emails inside the app are hidden from search, notifications, and other places across the system.

iOS 18 puts users in control by letting them choose to share only specific contacts with an app. In addition, developers now have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhone without letting an app see all the other devices on a user’s network, keeping a user’s devices private and making pairing seamless.

Deeply integrated into iOS 18 and built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

New image capabilities make communication and self-expression even more fun. With Image Playground, users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use, built right into apps like Messages, and also available in a dedicated app.

Memories in Photos lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. In addition, a new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a major step forward, becoming even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal. Users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing, and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple and is only used to fulfill the user’s requests, and independent experts can verify this privacy.

Additionally, access to ChatGPT is integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apple’s platforms, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Additional features in iOS 18 include: 

Availability

The developer beta of iOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com . iOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-18-preview and apple.com/apple-intelligence . Features are subject to change. Some features are not available in all regions, all languages, or on all devices. For more information about availability, visit apple.com .

• Messages via satellite will be available in iOS 18 along with Apple’s existing satellite features in the U.S. on iPhone 14 and later.
• Users with an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and Siri and device language set to English (U.S.) can sign up this fall to access the Apple Intelligence beta.
• SMS availability will depend on carrier. Carrier fees may apply. Users should check with their carrier for details.
• Testing was conducted by Apple in May 2023. See apple.com/safari  for more information.
• The new Apple Pay features are available on cards from participating banks and card providers in certain markets. Subject to eligibility and approval.
• Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, and only available in the U.S. on eligible devices. Learn more about the terms and conditions . To send and receive money with an Apple Cash account, users must be 18 and a U.S. resident, or if under 18, part of an Apple Cash Family account. Tap to Cash transaction limits are subject to change, including lowering limits, at any time during the developer or public betas without notice.
• Ticket enhancements in Apple Wallet are available for events from participating ticket issuers.

Press Contacts

Nadine Haija

[email protected]

Tania Olkhovaya

[email protected]

Apple Media Helpline

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• Set up HomeKit Secure Video
• What you can do with iCloud+ and Custom Email Domain
• Set up a custom email domain
• Apple ID and iCloud
• Set up iCloud on your devices
• Manage your iCloud+ subscription
• Check your iCloud storage on any device
• Use iCloud+ with your family
• What you can do with iCloud and Books
• Set up Books
• What you can do with iCloud and Calendar
• Set up Calendar
• Send and receive invitations for iCloud Calendar
• What you can do with iCloud and Contacts
• Set up Contacts
• Intro to Find My
• Set up Find My
• Remove devices and items from Find My
• Use Find My on each device
• What you can do with iCloud and Freeform
• Set up Freeform
• What you can do with iCloud and Home
• Set up Home
• What is iCloud Backup?
• Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
• View and manage backups
• What you can do with iCloud Drive
• Set up iCloud Drive
• What you can do with iCloud Mail
• Create a primary @icloud.com email address
• Set up iCloud Mail
• What you can do with iCloud and Keynote
• Set up Keynote
• What you can do with iCloud and Messages
• Set up Messages
• What you can do with iCloud and Notes
• Set up Notes
• What you can do with iCloud and Numbers
• Set up Numbers
• What you can do with iCloud and Pages
• Set up Pages
• What you can do with iCloud Keychain and iCloud Passwords
• Set up iCloud Keychain and iCloud Passwords
• What you can do with iCloud and Photos
• Set up iCloud Photos
• Set up iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Set up Shared Albums
• What you can do with iCloud and Reminders
• Set up Reminders
• What you can do with iCloud and Safari
• Set up Safari
• What you can do with iCloud and third-party apps
• Set up third-party apps
• Sign in and use iCloud.com
• Customize and use the homepage
• iCloud Settings on iCloud.com overview
• Change your photo
• Receive notifications for iCloud apps
• Prevent apps from showing your name
• Check your iCloud plan
• Check your iCloud storage online
• Manage iCloud+ features
• Use Calendar on iCloud.com
• Create and edit a calendar
• Customize the calendar view
• Change the time zone
• Delete a calendar
• Create and edit an event
• Invite people to an event
• Receive and reply to invitations
• Delete or hide an event
• Set an alert
• Restore your calendars and events
• Share a calendar
• Stop sharing a calendar
• Accept a shared calendar invitation
• Receive emails for updates to shared calendars
• Contacts on iCloud.com overview
• View contacts
• Create or edit contacts
• Create and manage lists
• Search contacts
• Delete contacts
• Restore contacts
• Import, export, and print contacts
• If you can’t create, import, edit, or delete contacts
• Add a domain you own
• Purchase a domain
• Add or remove people
• Transfer custom email domain addresses
• Allow all incoming emails
• Import existing emails
• Create and delete email addresses
• Stop using a domain
• Find Devices on iCloud.com overview
• Locate a device
• Play a sound on a device
• Use Lost Mode
• Erase a device
• Remove a device
• Create and edit addresses
• Stop using or reactivate addresses
• iCloud Drive on iCloud.com overview
• Upload and download files
• View files and folders
• Organize files and folders
• Rename and duplicate files
• Share files and folders
• Add or remove shared files and folders
• Delete shared files or folders
• Email files
• Delete files
• Recover deleted files
• Permanently remove deleted files
• Mail on iCloud.com overview
• Add and manage email aliases
• Use a custom email domain with Mail
• Choose a default email address
• Use Hide My Email in Mail
• Write and send email
• Save and view email drafts
• Reply to or forward an email
• Receive a reminder to reply
• Add an attachment
• Create an email signature
• Save and find email addresses
• Set up an automatic reply
• View all email headers
• Download attachments
• Automatically forward email
• Manage junk mail
• Delete email
• Organize email with folders
• Search, filter, and flag email
• Set up filtering rules
• Archive email
• Make a sender a VIP
• Use Mail Privacy Protection
• Print an email
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Notes on iCloud.com overview
• Create notes
• Add links to notes
• Add or edit lists
• Add or edit tables
• Organize notes in folders
• Organize notes with tags
• View notes and locked notes
• View or download attachments
• Delete and recover notes
• Search notes
• Share notes
• Edit shared notes
• Delete shared notes
• Share folders
• Make updates to shared folders
• Delete shared folders
• Photos on iCloud.com overview
• View your photos and videos
• Hide your photos and videos
• Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Upload and download photos
• Add a title or caption
• Organize photos and videos
• Add photos and videos to Favorites
• Play a slideshow of photos
• Delete and recover photos and videos
• Share photos and videos
• Reminders on iCloud.com overview
• Create and delete reminders
• Add and delete reminder lists
• Move a reminder to another list
• Mark a reminder as completed or not completed
• Search for reminders
• Restore your reminders
• Share a reminder list
• Reply to a shared reminder list invitation
• Leave a shared reminder list
• Recover files and information
• Use iCloud on your Windows computer
• Get more help with iCloud
• Legal notices and acknowledgements

Sign in to iCloud on all your devices

To set up iCloud on your devices, sign in to each of them with the same Apple ID and password. You can choose which apps store information in iCloud and which iCloud features you’re using separately on each device. Learn more about how each app or feature uses iCloud .

Note: When you turn off iCloud for an app or feature on a device, information stored in iCloud for that app or feature is no longer available on that device. However, it’s still available on other devices where iCloud is turned on for the app or feature. See How iCloud keeps information up to date across all your devices .

Set up iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [ your name ].

If you don’t see your name, tap “Sign in to your [ device ],” enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file ), then enter your password.

Do one of the following:

iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later: Tap iCloud, then turn on each app or feature you want to use. Tap Show All to see more apps.

iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or earlier: Tap iCloud, then turn on each app or feature you want to use.

Set up iCloud on your Mac

On your Mac, do one of the following:

If you don’t see your name, click “Sign in with your Apple ID,” enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file ), enter your password, then click iCloud.

If you don’t see Apple ID, click Sign In, enter your Apple ID and password, then click iCloud.

Turn on or select each app or feature.

Set up iCloud on your Apple Watch

For an Apple Watch you pair with your iPhone: If you turn on iCloud for an app or feature on your iPhone, you can see information from that app or feature on your Apple Watch (if available). You can choose what information appears on your Apple Watch by changing settings in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. See The Apple Watch app in the Apple Watch User Guide.

For an Apple Watch set up by a family member: You can use the Settings app on the Apple Watch to turn iCloud on or off for an app or feature.

Set up iCloud on your Apple TV

On your Apple TV, open the Settings app.

Choose Users and Accounts, then select your account.

If you haven’t signed in with your Apple ID for iCloud, choose iCloud > Sign In, then enter your Apple ID and password.

In the iCloud section, choose an app or feature, then turn it on or off.

Set up iCloud on your Windows computer

To use iCloud for Windows, you must set up iCloud on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, then follow these steps.

If you don’t already have it, download iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store. See the Apple Support article Download iCloud for Windows .

Open iCloud for Windows .

If you’re asked to sign in, enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file ) and password.

For each app or feature, click Sync [ app or feature ] or Not Now in the bottom-right corner.

For certain apps and features, you can also adjust Advanced Settings or install extensions during the setup process.

Choose whether to share iCloud analytics, then click Finish Setup.

For more information, see the iCloud for Windows User Guide .

If you have trouble setting up iCloud, see the Apple Support article If you can’t connect or sign in to iCloud .

Note: Some iCloud features have minimum system requirements. iCloud may not be available in all areas, and iCloud features may vary by area. See the Apple Support article System requirements for iCloud . For information about features, go to apple.com/icloud/ .