clear safari history disabled

Safari Clear History and Data grayed out on iPhone? 4 Fixes!

You’ve been surfing Safari for a while, and you want to clear your history. In many cases, clearing your history data helps fix loading issues with certain websites.

But if the option “Clear History and Website Data” is grayed out in Safari, here are a few quick solutions to the problem.

Before you begin: Note that this option will be gray if there’s no current browsing history or web data. After you visit a site, the option will become blue and usable. If you regularly use Safari and still find the delete history option unusable, on the other hand, take a look at the solutions in this guide.

Why is Clear History grayed out on my iPhone?

There are a number of reasons this option may be grayed out for you. As we previously mentioned, if you haven’t browsed any sites yet, or recently cleared your data and forgot, the option will be gray.

The culprit can also be hidden somewhere in your settings, like Screen Time Restrictions. If this sounds like it may apply to you, read on for the solution.

Safari’s Clear History and Website Data may also simply be grayed out due to a bug. Go through the other main solutions first; if they don’t yield any results, it’s likely a software hiccup. If that’s the case, we have a fix ready and waiting.

Now, let’s get into the solutions.

• Disable Screen Time Restrictions
• Restart your iPhone

Other workarounds to fix Safari Clear History option grayed out

• Reset All Settings on iPhone

1. Disable Screen Time Restrictions

If you use Screen Time to enable limited web access, the option for Clear History and Website Data will be grayed out. Here’s how to disable it.

• Open Settings and tap Screen Time . Enter your passcode if asked.

• Or tap Content Restrictions .

Now, go back to the first Settings screen, tap Safari , and you will find that Clear History and Website Data is no longer grayed out. It’ll be blue, and you can tap it.

2. Restart your iPhone

The above solution fixes this issue in almost all cases. But in the rare situation, it doesn’t, and Safari’s clear history button is still grayed out (or if you didn’t have Screen Time enabled in the first place), restarting your iPhone or iPad is the next go-to fix.

Use the physical buttons on your device to turn it off. You can also do the same via Settings → General → Shut Down . After a few seconds, turn your iPhone back on.

Note : If a simple restart fails, consider force restarting the device .

Is Clear History and Website Data still grayed out? Time to move on to other workarounds.

Apart from the above two sure-fire fixes, some additional tips have worked for a small subset of iPhone users. Let’s look over them briefly, then, check if Clear History and Website Data is still grayed out. Once you’re done, you can re-enable these options.

• Turn off Safari iCloud Sync : Open Settings → your name from the top → iCloud → switch off the toggle for Safari.
• Clear Safari Reading List : We’ve covered how to clear your Safari Reading List here .
• Block Cookies : Inside Settings, tap Safari and turn on the toggle for Block All Cookies. Note : Many websites won’t work as intended when this is enabled. Make sure to turn it back off after you check the clear history button.
• Delete Website Data from Advanced pane : You can also choose to delete website history by launching Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website Data → Remove All Website Data. (Or, tap Edit and delete the data for any desired websites.)

If nothing has worked so far, it’s time to move to more involved measures.

4. Reset All Settings on iPhone

This will erase all the settings you have altered or added. This includes Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth devices, Keyboard settings, VPN configurations, etc.

However, personal data like applications, music, images, videos, etc., will remain as is. Still, it’s always wise to back up your iPhone first before a reset of this nature.

Open Settings → General → Reset → Reset All Settings → enter your iPhone passcode if asked and confirm. To read a more involved guide, see our article on the topic .

After the process completes, there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to clear your Safari history and web data.

These are the most effective ways to clear Safari History and Website Data successfully. Did any of the solutions work for you? Let us know in the comments.

In case you’re interested, we’ve put together a list of some other third-party browsers that you may want to use in place of Safari. Or, you can even look into changing the default browser on iPhone and iPad .

• How to Add Credit Cards to Safari AutoFill on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Safari Slow on iPhone and iPad? Here are 8 Solutions to Fix It
• How to Close All Safari Tabs at Once on iPhone and iPad
• Disappearing Safari tabs on iPhone and iPad? 10 Working fixes

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Technology Simplified.

Clear History & Data Grayed Out in Safari on iPhone

By: Waseem Patwegar | Filed Under: iOS

It can be perplexing not being able to clear browsing history on iPhone due to “Clear History and Website Data” option being grayed-out on iPhone.

When this issue was reported by a user in a popular forum, some people responded by asking “What were you browsing last night”?

I spent over 2 hrs. last night trying to delete my browser history in safari, how can I delete it?? The clear history option in settings is grayed out and will not function, anyone? Help? – David126 on Macrumours

The frustration expressed by this user is understandable, considering the fact that in certain cases the solution to this issue lies in the most unlikely place.

Reason for Clear History & Website Data Being Grayed Out on iPhone

While it is possible for Clear History Option on iPhone to be greyed out due to a bug in Safari browser or other reasons, the most common reason for this issue is due to certain Web content being restricted on your iPhone.

Yes you heard it right, the mind boggling reason for iPhone preventing you from clearing your browsing history is due to certain type of web content being bocked on your device.

Who would assume, guess or imagine that blocking Adult Content or blocking certain websites could make the option to “Delete Website History and Data” greyed out or inaccessible on your iPhone?

Hence, disabling Web Content Restrictions should fix the problem in most cases. If this does not help, you can move to the next step as provided below.

1. Disable Web Content Restrictions on iPhone

In most cases, all that is required to enable the option to Clear History and Website Data on iPhone is to remove the restrictions placed on Adult Content or certain websites on your iPhone.

1. Open Settings > scroll down a bit and tap on Screen Time .

2. Enter Password (if prompted) > On the next screen, scroll down and tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions .

3. From the Restrictions screen, go to Content Restrictions > Web Content > select Unrestricted Access option on the next screen.

After this, go back to Settings > Safari > scroll down to to end of “Privacy & Security” section and you will find “ Clear History and Website Data ” option enabled back on your device.

Once the option to Clear History & Website Data is available, you will be able to Clear your browsing history at any time on your device by tapping on this option.

After clearing browsing history, you can go back and enable the restrictions on Adult Content and block websites on your device (as it was before).

2. Reset All Settings

If the above method did not help, Reset all the Settings on your device to Factory Default Settings and this should fix the problem.

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > select the Reset option.

2. On the pop-up, select Reset All Settings option.

3. Patiently wait for the Reset process to be completed.

Note: The Reset process does not delete any data from your device, it removes all the current Settings on your device.

• How to Delete “Documents and Data” on iPhone and iPad
• How to Automatically Clear History in Safari on Mac

We explain and teach technology, solve tech problems and help you make gadget buying decisions.

Top 6 Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

Like any other browser, Safari gives you the option to clear your browsing history and start with a clean slate. This is helpful as it lets you to erase your online activities, free up space, and troubleshoot temporary browser-related issues. While clearing your browsing history in Safari is typically straightforward, there may be instances where you encounter difficulties along the way.

Temporary glitches, Screen Time restrictions, and persistent cookies are just a few of the reasons you may have trouble clearing your Safari history on your iPhone. Below, we share all the possible solutions for fixing the underlying issue. So, let’s take a look.

1. Restart Your iPhone

Often, temporary iOS glitches can result in Safari’s clear history option appearing grayed out on your iPhone. In most cases, you can fix such anomalies by simply restarting your iPhone. Hence, it’s the first thing you should try.

On iPhone X or newer models, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button with one of the volume buttons and then use the slider to power off your iPhone. On older iPhones, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the slider appears and use it to shut down your iPhone.

After your iPhone shuts down completely, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears. When your iPhone restarts, try to clear your Safari browsing history again.

2. Disable Web Content Restrictions

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

3. Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

Enabling iCloud sync for Safari allows you to sync your browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, and other data across all your Apple devices. This sync feature can sometimes cause conflicts with Safari and hinder your ability to clear your browsing history. You can temporarily disable iCloud sync for Safari to see if that fixes the issue.

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

Step 2: Under Apps Using iCloud, select the Show All option.

Step 3: Toggle off the switch next to Safari.

4. Clear Safari Reading List

Sometimes, webpages saved in the Safari Reading List may keep appearing in your history, even after you have cleared it. To fix this, you can try clearing your Safari Reading List by following the steps below.

Step 1: Open Safari on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the Book icon at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap the glasses icon to switch to the Reading List tab.

Step 4: Tap the Edit option in the bottom right corner, select all the entries, and then tap the Delete option.

After clearing Safari Reading List, check if you can clear your browsing history.

5. 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 possibility, you can temporarily block cookies in Safari .

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

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

Try to clear Safari history again after this and check if the issue is still there.

6. Reset Your iPhone

If you still can’t clear your browsing history in Safari, you can try resetting your iPhone . That will restore your iPhone’s settings to default values without affecting your personal data. Here’s how you can go about 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 on Reset and select Reset All Settings from the menu that appears.

Start With a Clean Slate

Clearing your browsing history in Safari is something you might do from time to time to maintain privacy. Occasionally, the process may not go smoothly for various reasons, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the solutions mentioned above.

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Last updated on 08 May, 2023

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The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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Pankil Shah

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer from Ahmedabad, India. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, and the Web at Guiding Tech. When time permits, he also writes at MakeUseOf and Techwiser. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and continues to plan his international travels with his wife.

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Why Can’t I Clear My History on Safari? Solutions and Answers

• Safari allows you to clear your history for a certain length of time, or you can clear the whole thing.
• You may just need to restart your device to clear your history.
• Remember that the steps for iPhone and iPad will be roughly the same. 

If you’re having issues because you can’t clear your Safari history, know that a solution isn’t too far behind. I love using Safari for a great browsing experience, but I was recently unable to clear my history, which was giving me some problems. Fortunately, I discovered a solution to my problem. Let’s take a look at some troubleshooting steps and solutions. 

Why Is My Clear History Button Grey?

If your Clear History button is grey, the most likely reason is that you do not have any History to clear. However, you may also be experiencing a grey Clear History button due to certain Content & Privacy Restrictions within Screen Time being enabled. You can check on iPhone via Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and ensure that Safari is enabled. Note, however, that this will require your password.

On Mac, you can disable Screen Time via System Settings > Screen Time>  Content & Privacy > Content Restrictions . Ensure Access to Web Content is set to  Unrestricted.  Of course, if you didn’t set up Screen Time in the first place, this likely isn’t your issue. Keep reading for further solutions.

How Do I Clear My Safari History and Cache?

1. how to clear your safari browser history.

If you need to clear your Safari history, you can check out our full guide here . However, note that on iOS, clearing your history is as easy as going to Settings >  Safari > Clear History and Website Data . For Mac, all you need to do is open Safari and select History > Clear History from the menu bar. With both Mac and iOS you are able to choose how much of your history you delete based on time. 

2. Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

If you’re still having issues clearing your Safari browsing history, it may just be that you need to disable iCloud sync for Safari. This default option shares your history and your reading lists across all your Apple devices. It may be the case that some history or content did not sync properly. 

Disable iCloud Sync iOS

Time needed:  2 minutes

If you need to disable iCloud Sync on iOS, follow these steps.

Disable iCloud Sync macOS

• From the Apple Menu, go to System Settings .
• Select [Your Name] .

3. Reset Network Settings (iOS Only)

If you are still looking for an effective solution to your clear history issue, you may want to consider resetting your network settings. 

• Go to the Settings app. 

4. Delete History Manually (Mac Only)

If you need to clear your Safari history on Mac and are having problems, remember you can delete your history manually. 

• While holding down the Command key, select the following items: History.db , History.db-lock , History.db.shm and History.db.wal . 

• Empty your Trash. 

Why Can’t I Clear History in Safari?

The most likely reason that you’re unable to clear your Safari history is that there is no history left to clear. However, if you’re having issues, look at basic things, such as restarting your Apple device or ensuring that Screen Time restrictions are not preventing you from clearing your history. You may also want to consider that iCloud Sync may prevent you from properly clearing your history. 

Being able to clear your entire history from Safari is incredibly useful. However, it’s only useful if it’s working correctly. Fortunately, solutions for your history clearing problems are rather easy, so there’s little to worry about. Not clearing your history can be a common issue for many users. However, a comprehensive solution is available.

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• Nick deCourville

Fixed: Can’t Clear History in Safari on iPhone & iPad

Clearing your browsing history in Safari has many benefits, such as protecting your personal information and freeing up space to keep the browser running smoothly. However, you might have noticed that the Clear History and Website Data button is grayed out or that some websites are still there after your attempt. If you are wondering why you can't delete your Safari history, don't worry! We will explain why and provide solutions to fix the problem.

Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions

Unsync safari over icloud, delete all items in safari reading list, block cookies, restart, reset, or restore.

Content & Privacy Restrictions is a feature that sets up age limits and protects children from inappropriate content. This feature can prevent you from deleting your browsing data in Safari. Please read our article about Content & Privacy Restrictions . 

With iCloud, your browsing history is synced across all your Apple devices. As a result, it can occasionally lead to items reappearing in the browsing history of your iPhone or iPad. Here's how to stop Safari from syncing over iCloud.

If the tips mentioned above don't solve the issue, you will need to use basic troubleshooting solutions. First, restart your device. If that fails, reset your settings, and if that also fails, restore the device to factory settings. For reference, read our article that will guide you on how to do these basic troubleshooting solutions . 

If you found this article helpful, you may enjoy other troubleshooting articles, like what to do if your Apple Watch steps are not accurate , and what to do when iPhone calls are going straight to voicemail . 

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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 Geek

How to clear recent history in safari on iphone and ipad.

Want to erase some of your iPhone's browsing history?

Quick Links

How to erase single entries in safari's history list.

Normally, Safari on iPhone and iPad keeps track of which sites you visit in a special History list. While it's possible to completely wipe your history in Settings , you can also erase only more recent history if you'd like. Here's how.

First, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad. Tap the "Bookmarks" button (which looks like an open book). On the iPad, you'll find it in the upper-left corner of the screen beside the address bar. On an iPhone, it's at the bottom of the screen.

In the pop-up that appears (on the left side of the screen on iPad and over the whole screen on iPhone), tap the History tab (which looks like a clock face), and then tap the "Clear" button.

(Don't worry. It won't clear anything yet.)

After you tap "Clear," another pop-up will give you yet another choice. You can select "All time," "Today and yesterday," "Today," or "The last hour."

Choosing one of these options will remove your browsing history, cookies, and other browsing data from the point you select until now. For example, if you click "Today," all the browsing history from sites you visited today will disappear, but everything earlier than that will remain on the list.

Tap the option you'd prefer (or you can tap outside the pop-up box to cancel).

If you made a selection from the pop-up list, your browsing history will be cleared accordingly. It's all very quick and handy.

Oh, and one more thing before you go: In Safari's History list, you can also delete individual entries by swiping to the left on them with your finger. When a red "Delete" button appears on the right, tap it.

Using this method, only the single entry you just swiped will be zapped. This can be a nice, laser-focused way of erasing certain history items without having to clear everything at once. Happy browsing!

Related: How to Clear Your Browsing History in Safari for iOS

Clear your browsing history

You can remove all records that Safari keeps of where you’ve browsed during a period of time you choose. If your Mac and your other devices have the iCloud Safari feature turned on, your browsing history is removed from all of them. Clearing your browsing history in Safari doesn’t clear any browsing histories kept independently by websites you visited.

Open Safari for me

Choose History > Clear History and Website Data, then click the pop-up menu and choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared.

When you clear your history, Safari removes data it saves as a result of your browsing, including:

History of webpages you visited

The back and forward list for open webpages

Top Sites that aren’t marked as permanent

Frequently visited site list

Cookies and website data saved while visiting webpages

Recent searches

Icons for open webpages

Snapshots saved for open webpages

List of items you downloaded (downloaded files aren’t removed)

Websites added for Quick Website Search

Websites that asked to use your location

Websites that asked to send you notifications

Websites with plug-in content you started by clicking a Safari Power Saver notice

Responses to requests to let websites use WebGL

How To Clear History On Safari With Restrictions On

Are you looking for a way to clear your Safari history with restrictions on? Whether you’re trying to protect your privacy, or just want to start fresh, it’s important to know how to wipe your browser history clean.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how to clear your Safari history and website data with restrictions. We’ll discuss what restrictions are, how they work, and why they can be useful. Plus, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to stop syncing Safari over iCloud and erase Safari history for each device.

What are Restrictions? Restrictions are settings that allow you to limit what content can be accessed on an iPhone or iPad. You can control access to websites, apps, music, and more through the Content & Privacy Restrictions section in Screen Time. By enabling these restrictions, parents can ensure their kids aren’t exposed to potentially harmful content when browsing the web.

Why Clear Your Safari History With Restrictions On? Clearing your Safari history is important for protecting your privacy online. Your web browser stores cookies from visited websites and other information about your browsing activity. This data can be used by advertisers and tech companies to target you with ads or build a profile of your online behavior. By clearing this data regularly, you can help protect yourself from potential privacy invasions.

How To Stop Syncing Safari Over iCloud And Erase History With Restrictions On: 1) Go To Settings > Apple ID Profile > iCloud > Toggle Safari Off Start by going into the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap the Apple ID Profile button at the top of the screen. From there, select iCloud and turn off the toggle switch next to Safari in order to stop it from syncing over iCloud. If necessary, turn it back on again before turning it off once more in order for changes to take effect across all connected devices. 2) Erase Safari History For Each Device: Once syncing has been stopped across all devices, return to the Settings app and go into Screen Time under Content & Privacy Restrictions. Here you will find an option labeled “Erase All Website Data” which will delete all stored cookies and website data associated with Safari on that particular device. Make sure this setting is greyed out before moving onto another device as this means there is no longer any history or website data left to clear.

By following these steps, you will be able to erase all traces of your browsing activity while still having restrictions enabled in order to safeguard against unwanted content while using Safari on iOS devices like iPhones or iPads!

Clearing Search History on Safari When It Won’t Let You

Clearing search history on Safari can sometimes be tricky, but it’s possible. First, try restarting your device. If that doesn’t work, you can try the following steps: 1. Open the Settings app and locate Safari in the list of apps. 2. Tap ‘Clear History and Website Data’. 3. Confirm by tapping ‘Clear’ when prompted. 4. Return to the Settings app and select ‘Reset Network Settings’. This will clear any stored data related to networks or websites that may be causing the issue. 5. Finally, restart your device again and launch Safari to see if this has fixed the issue with clearing the search history.

Why Is the ‘Clear History’ Option Greyed Out in Safari on iPhone?

Clear history in Safari on iPhone can become greyed out when there is no existing history or website data to clear. It can also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in the Screen Time feature.

Forcing Clear Browsing History

To force clear your browsing history, you can open Chrome on your computer. At the top right, click More and then select More tools. From there, select Clear browsing data. At the top, you can choose a time range to delete specific items or select All time to delete everything. Make sure to check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” before clicking Clear data. This will force clear your browsing history so that all of your past visits to websites are removed from your computer.

Forcing the Deletion of Search History

To force delete your search history, you’ll need to open the browser’s settings menu. In most browsers, this can be done by clicking the Menu icon in the top right corner of the window. From there, select ‘History’ or ‘Clear Browsing Data’. You will then be presented with a list of options for clearing your browsing data. Make sure to check ‘Clear Search History’ and any other data you would like to delete, then click ‘Clear Data’. Depending on your browser, you may need to confirm this action or wait a few moments for the process to complete. Once finished, your search history should have been cleared.

Turning Off Restrictions on an iPhone

To turn off restrictions on your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on General. Under General, you’ll see an option for Restrictions. Tap on this option to access the restrictions settings. Here, you can toggle off the switch beside “Enable Restrictions” to disable any restrictions you may have previously enabled. You may be asked to enter your Passcode or FaceID in order to complete this process. Once you’ve done so, any previously enabled restrictions will be disabled and you can access all of your phone’s features as normal.

Clearing Greyed Out iPhone History

If you’re using Screen Time to enable limited web access, you may find that the option for Clear History and Website Data is greyed out. To resolve this issue, there are a few steps you can take. First, try restarting your iPhone. This should fix the problem in most cases. If that doesn’t work, then you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. Keep in mind that this will erase any settings you have altered or added so make sure to back up any important information before proceeding. If neither of these solutions works, then contact Apple Support for further help.

Turning Off Web Restrictions on an iPhone

To turn off web restrictions on your iPhone, go to Settings and tap Screen Time. Enter your Screen Time passcode, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Next, tap Content Restrictions and select Web Content. Finally, choose Unrestricted Access to completely turn off web restrictions.

Safari is a great browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. It gives users access to a variety of helpful features like iCloud syncing, web content restrictions, and the ability to clear browsing history. To ensure the security and privacy of your data, it’s important to stop syncing Safari over iCloud on all devices and erase any existing Safari history for each device. By taking these steps you can be sure that your private data is secure.

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James Walker

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.

Related topics

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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 124,811 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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How to Clear Safari Browsing History and Cache

Whenever you browse the web in Safari, the browser stores website data so that it doesn't have to download it again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone , and iPad .

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. Either way, here's how it's done on macOS and iOS.

How to Clear Safari's Cache on Mac

There are two ways to clear Safari's cache on a Mac. The first method outlined below deletes everything relating to a website you've visited, including not only the cached versions of the site, but also cookies and any other related data. The second method described offers a more targeted approach and clears only Safari's cache, but it does involve enabling a hidden menu.

• Launch Safari browser on your Mac.

How to Clear Safari's Cache on iPhone and iPad

Note that the following steps clear all history, cookies and website data on your device, regardless of when the sites were accessed.

• Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
• Scroll down and select Safari .
• Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data .
• Choose the timeframe to clear ( Last hour , Today , Today and yesterday , or All history ), choose the profile or select All Profiles , then tap Clear History .

For another way to protect your privacy while browsing the web, be sure to check out our guide on how to use Safari's Private Browsing Mode .

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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.

Also: Apple releases iOS 17.4 with podcast transcripts, new emojis, and EU app store changes

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.

Also: Apple warns: Don't put your wet iPhone in rice. Do this instead

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. 

Also: Apple secures iMessage against threats from the future

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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How to disable clearing history on safari when screen time is turned on.

Previously clearing safari browsing history would be disabled when screen time was turned on. Now screen time is still turned on but you are able to clear the safari browsing history. Can this be made an option in screen time? To allow or not allow the clearing of Safari browsing history? I noticed this on iOS 16.6

Posted on Jul 31, 2023 11:59 AM

Posted on Oct 8, 2023 10:02 AM

Same for me: swipe to delete still working with content restrictions on. So the clear button is grayed out, and history can’t be deleted wholesale from settings, but individual websites (and whole days) can be deleted with a swipe. This seems contradictory to using content controls to help a teen learn to use responsibly. Am I missing something?

Similar questions

• Delete Safari history with restrictions Please could someone help. My son has an iPad with restrictions, I would like to view and delete Safari History, the only way I have found is to turn off screen time but don’t seem to be able to just turn it back on after deleting the history. You get taken to the whole set up screen time again. Is there another way? 3083 3
• Certain screen time settings not coming into affect I’m trying to remove clear safari history and the screen time setting that would normally block is web content under the content restriction tab, I turn it off with the certain sites being available now but I still can’t clear history 886 3
• How to set limit on Safari I have screen time set up on my son's iPad. Most of apps are blocked until 8.30 in the morning except Safari. How can I block Safari? I also set time limit on Safari for 2 hours but this doesn't seem working at all. He has average of 5 hours on safari each day since lockdown. 4102 1

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Oct 8, 2023 10:02 AM in response to Melmel2016

Oct 14, 2023 11:27 PM in response to -NANA-

I’m also having this issue. PLEASE HELP

Jul 31, 2023 3:40 PM in response to Pacific2023

You can certainly let Apple know what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Oct 1, 2023 12:15 AM in response to Pacific2023

I tried do this and it still has the delete swipe option

This is for iOS 16.6

Jul 31, 2023 3:40 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thank you, and I think it was maybe just a glitch. I restarted the phone, then turned off screen time and turned it back on and then the option to clear history disabled again.

Oct 9, 2023 11:16 AM in response to another_apple_user18

I went to the Genius Bar and geek squad none were able to help. They said to reach apple and let them know what’s going on to see if it’s something they need to fix in the software

Oct 10, 2023 3:39 AM in response to Melmel2016

I guess that’s my next option. It works as expected on my teen’s phone, with parent controls turned on but not on a shared iPad (my Apple ID) with content restrictions only. Hmm. Thanks Melmel.

Oct 10, 2023 10:36 PM in response to Pacific2023

Was this on iOS 16 by chance or had you already update to 17? I know this is a loophole with 17 but wondering if it was also a glitch with 16.

Oct 11, 2023 1:08 PM in response to rachellewillhoit

Yes. It’s updated to the latest iOS.

Oct 14, 2023 5:46 AM in response to Melmel2016

Were you able to get any help on this issue?