How to Clear Browsing History on iPhone? 2024 Update

Clearing your iPhone's browsing history is more than just housekeeping. It's about:

Protecting your privacy.
Freeing up storage space.
Removing specific sites you'd rather forget.

Plus, it can help your browser run smoother.

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to clear browsing history on iPhone. We'll not only cover Safari but also popular alternatives like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and even DuckDuckGo.

What Data Does Your iPhone Browser Store?

Your iPhone browser (Safari or any other web browser) keeps track of:

Visited websites
Search queries
Cookies
Cached images and files
Autofill data (like saved usernames and passwords)
Download history

How to Delete Browsing History on iPhone?

We'll show the complete steps to delete browsing history iPhone for five of the most widely used web browsers out there. All the methods shown below apply to iOS 18 devices, but the process is almost identical for older versions.

Let's first begin with the most popular one—Safari:

1Clear the Cache and Cookies in Safari

Here's how to clear the cache and cookies in Safari:

Step 1. Open "Settings". Tap on "Apps", then scroll down and tap "Safari."

Step 2. Tap "Clear History and Website Data."

Step 3. Confirm by tapping "Clear History."

💡This method works for iPads too!

If you only want to delete a specific website from Safari history, follow these steps instead:

Step 1. Tap the "double-square icon (Tabs)" at the bottom right.

Step 2. Tap the "clock icon (History)."

Step 3. "Swipe left"on the site you want to delete.

Step 4. Tap the "Delete" icon.

To block all cookies in Safari, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Safari" > "Advanced."

Step 2. Under "Privacy & Security," toggle "Block All Cookies."

Step 3. Tap on "Block All."

Tip 1: If you can't delete Safari search history or there seems to be an error, force close the app and restart your iPhone. Also, check whether you're updated to the latest iOS version available.

Tip 2: To clear cookies and cache but keep browsing history, go to "Settings" > "Safari" > "Advanced" > "Website Data," then tap "Remove All Website Data."

2Clear Cache and Cookies in Chrome

Here's how to clear cache and cookies in Chrome:

Step 1. Tap the "three dots (...)" in the bottom right.

Step 2. Tap "Settings" > "Privacy and Security."

Step 3. Tap "Delete Browsing Data."

Step 4. Choose what to clear and tap "Delete Browsing Data."

3Clear Cache and Cookies in Firefox

Here's how to clear cache and cookies in Firefox:

Step 1. Tap the "three lines (☰)" at the bottom right.

Step 2. Go to "Settings" > "Data Management."

Step 3. Choose what to clear.

Step 4. Tap "Clear Private Data."

4Clear Cache and Cookies in Microsoft Edge

If you use Microsoft Edge, then here's how to clear browsing history on iPhone:

Step 1. Tap the "three lines (☰)" at the bottom.

Step 2. Tap "Settings" > "Privacy and Security."

Step 3. Tap "Clear Browsing Data."

Step 4. Choose what to clear and tap "Clear Now."

5Clear Cache and Cookies in DuckDuckGo

Here's how to clear browsing history on iPhone in the DuckDuckGo browser:

Step 1. Tap the "fire icon" at the bottom.

Step 2. Tap "Clear All Tabs and Data" and confirm.

How to Turn Off Private Browsing on iPhone?

Ways to Manage Kids Browsing Activities on iPhone

As a parent, keeping your kids safe online is always a top priority.

Clearing browsing history is a good step to begin with, but proactively managing your child's online activities is even better.

Below are some effective ways to do that.

Use Built-in iOS Features

All iPhones come with a built-in Screen Time feature. It offers basic controls for managing browsing activities, such as:

Content & Privacy Restrictions: Block inappropriate content, purchases, and downloads.
Downtime: Schedule periods when apps and websites are blocked.
App Limits: Set daily time limits for different apps, including web browsers.
Communication Limits: Control who your children can communicate with during allowed screen time and downtime.

You can also enable "Safe Search" from the Screen Time settings itself. Doing so will make search engines like Google and Bing filter out explicit content from search results.

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content.
Choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only for stricter control.

Use Kid-Safe Browse

Although not a must, you can consider alternative web browsers for kids that block ads and harmful content.

There are child-friendly browsers like Kiddle or KidzSearch, which are designed to provide a safer browsing experience for children.

Implement AirDroid Parental Control

No matter what steps you take or which browser you use, there's always a risk associated with online activities.

To prevent exposure to harmful content online, you need a more comprehensive monitoring method.

For parents, AirDroid Parental Control offers advanced features that make it easy to stay informed about their children's online activities and protect them from potential online threats.

Try It Free

AirDroid Parental Control can help you with:

Monitor Real-time Browsing History: Keep track of the websites your kids visit in real-time.
Website Blocking: Easily block inappropriate or distracting websites.
Receive Alerts: Receive alerts immediately when children try to access restricted sites.

AirDroid Parental Control works seamlessly across iOS and Android devices. It's an ideal solution for families with multiple device types.

Conclusion

Now you know how to delete browsing history on iPhone on any web browser. Regularly clearing your browsing history on your iPhone is easy and important for privacy and performance.

No matter what you use—Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or another browser, the process is similar and straightforward.

Apart from clearing your history, cache, and cookies periodically, consider using parental controls for kids' devices to enjoy a safe browsing experience!

FAQs About Clear Browsing History on iPhone

Is It Possible to Recover Deleted Safari History on iPhone?

Elsa

If you're wondering how to recover deleted history on iPhone, unfortunately, you're out of luck!

Once you delete Safari history, you can't generally recover it through normal means. However, if you have an iCloud backup from before the deletion, you might be able to restore it. But this will overwrite all current data on your device.

How Often Should You Clear Cache and Cookies?

Elsa

For most users, you should clear cache and cookies once or twice a month. But that's not a hard and fast rule, and the frequency can depend on your usage or privacy concerns.

For example, clean up more frequently if you're accessing sensitive information, running low on storage, or notice your browser acting sluggish.