How to use Bookmarks and Reading List in Safari on iPhone and iPad

How to use Bookmarks and Reading List in Safari on iPhone and iPad
How to use Bookmarks and Reading List in Safari on iPhone and iPad (Image credit: iMore)

Your favorite iPhone can make browsing the web much easier by utilizing Bookmarks to get to your favorite webpages quicker, and using the Reading List to save articles you want to read later. In iOS 15, it's built right into Safari, allowing you to save articles and other web items for later perusal on your iPhone or iPad.

Both Reading List and Bookmarks sync via iCloud, so your links and stories are available no matter which device you have with you, whether you're taking a quick break from work on your Mac, relaxing with your iPad, or commuting with your best iPhone. Here's how to use Bookmarks and the Reading List in Safari in iOS 15.

How to add a bookmark in Safari

  1. Launch Safari from your Home screen.
  2. Navigate to the website you want to bookmark.
  3. Long press the bookmark button. It's the icon that looks like a book.
  4. Tap Add Bookmark

How To Add Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Launc hSafari, navigate to the websire you want to bookmark, long press the bookmark button, and then tap add bookmark. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the name to rename your bookmark.
  2. Tap the location you want the bookmark. The default is Favorites.

How To Add Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Tap the name to change it and then tpa the location you want to save it. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap a new location if you want.
  2. Tap Save.

How To Add Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Tap a new location if you want and then tap save. (Image credit: iMore)

How to search for a bookmark in Safari

If you're having trouble finding a particular bookmark, you can always search for it.

  1. Launch Safari from your home screen.
  2. Tap the Bookmark button at the bottom of your screen.
  3. Swipe down on the Bookmark list to bring up the search bar.

How To Search Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Launch Safari, tap the bookmark button, and then swipe down on the bookmark list to reveal the search bar. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the search bar
  2. Type in your search query.

How To Search Bookmark In Safari on IPhone: Tap the search bar and then type in your search query. (Image credit: iMore)

How to edit a bookmark in Safari

If you ever want to change the name or location of a bookmark you've already created, you can do so by editing the bookmark right in Safari.

  1. Launch Safari from your home screen.
  2. Tap the Bookmark button at the bottom of your screen.
  3. Long press the bookmark you want to edit.
  4. Tap edit from the pop-up menu.

How To Edit Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Launch Safari, tap the bookmark button, long bress the bookmark you want to edit, and then edit the pop-up menu. (Image credit: iMore)

Here's where you can rename or change the location of a bookmark.

How to remove a bookmark in Safari

  1. Launch Safari from your home screen.
  2. Tap the Bookmark button at the bottom of your screen.
  3. Long press the bookmark you want to edit.
  4. Tap delete from the pop-up menu.

How To Remove Bookmark In Safari on iPhone: Launch Safari, tap the bookmark button, long bress the bookmark you want to edit, and then remove the pop-up menu. (Image credit: iMore)

How to add an article to your Reading List in Safari

Not every website supports reading lists, but a lot do, so if you come across an article you want to read later, here's how.

  1. Long press the bookmark button when you're on the page or article you want to add.
  2. Tap Add to Reading List.

How To Add An Article To Reading List In Safari on iPhone: Long press the bookmark button and then tap add to reading list. (Image credit: iMore)

How to view your Reading List in Safari

Getting to all of those articles you've added to your Reading List is just a matter of a couple of taps.

  1. Launch Safari from your Home screen.
  2. Tap the bookmark button.
  3. Tap the Reading List. It's the icon that looks like glasses.

How To View Your Reading List In Safari on iPhone: Launch Safari, tap the bookmark button, and then tap the reading list. (Image credit: iMore)

How to delete an article from your Reading List in Safari

After you've read an article, you can easily remove it from your Reading List.

  1. Launch Safari from your Home screen.
  2. Tap the bookmark button.
  3. Tap the Reading List. It's the icon that looks like glasses.

How To View Your Reading List In Safari on iPhone: Launch Safari, tap the bookmark button, and then tap the reading list. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Swipe left on the article you want to delete.
  2. Tap delete.

How To Delete An Article On Your Reading List In Safari on iPhone: Swipe left on the article you want to delete and then tap delete. (Image credit: iMore)

You can do this on your Mac too!

Now that you've mastered Bookmarks and the Reading List on your iPhone and iPad, check out how to use Bookmarks and the Reading List on your Mac!

Updated February 2022: Added new steps for iOS 15.

Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.