Here's how to view your past browsing history (and clear your cookies and website data).

Over the course of browsing the web, you may want to find a website you visited in the past to revisit. (You may also want to clear your browsing history of any past websites, tracking cookies, or other website data.) Safari for iPhone and iPad makes it easy: Here's how to view your recent history, search your full history, and clear your website data.

How to view your tab's recent history

If you just 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.)

How to search your full 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.
  2. Select the Bookmarks icon in the upper left corner.

  3. Make sure you've returned to the top-level menu by tapping on any back arrows in the upper left corner.

  4. Tap the History menu. This displays your full search history from all tabs.
  5. Pull down on the list to reveal the Search bar and enter your query.

How to clear your browser history, tracking cookies, and website data

If your iPhone's running slow or you simply 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 Bookmarks icon in the upper left corner.

  3. Make sure you've returned to the top-level menu by tapping on any back arrows in the upper left corner.

  4. Tap the History menu.
  5. 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.

Questions?

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