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

By Bryan M Wolfe
published

iMore Open In Safari in iPone
iMore Open In Safari in iPone (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)
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You may want to find a website you previously visited or clear your browsing history. Safari for iPhone and iPad makes it easy: Here's how to view your recent history, search your entire history, and clear browsing history.

The directions work on all of the best iPhones and best iPads with iOS/iPadOS 15.

How to view your tab's recent history

If you want to view the website history of the current tab, here's how to do it.

  1. Launch the Safari app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find the page forward and page back buttons in the Safari toolbar. Tap and hold on the back button.
  3. The current tab's browsing history will appear for you to peruse. (You won't be able to delete any information here, only see what you've viewed recently).

To find tab history, open the Safari app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap and hold the back button at the bottom left. (Image credit: iMore)

How to search your entire history

Want to see more than your current tab's history? Here's how to search all past website visits.

  1. In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar at the bottom of the app.
  2. Select the Bookmarks icon in the upper left corner. Make sure you've returned to the top-level menu by tapping on any back arrows in the upper left corner.

To search for bookmarks, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar at the bottom of the app, then select the Bookmark icon. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the History menu. This displays your full search history from all tabs.
  2. Use the History search bar to find previously viewed pages.

To find History, tap the History menu. Then use the search to find previously viewed information. (Image credit: iMore)

How to clear browsing history and website data

If your iPhone's running slow or you want to get rid of your website data, here's how to do it.

  1. In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar.
  2. Select the History icon in the upper left corner.
  3. 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.

To clear History, tap the Bookmarks button, then choose the History icon. Tap Clear than select how much history you'd like to erase. (Image credit: iMore)

Keep Safari clean

As you can see, you can easily keep track of the websites you've already visited through the Safari app on iPhone and iPad. You can also delete that history at will. Doing so will remove digital clutter and make Safari run quicker.

Updated February 2022: With new steps for iOS 15.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.