Delete your Safari history in three steps
Open Safari, tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap the clock icon labeled "History". Scroll to the bottom and tap "Clear History and Website Data". Choose how far back you want to delete — the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time — then tap "Clear History and Website Data" again to confirm.
That's the full process. The data disappears immediately. Safari also stores website data separately (cookies, cached images, login information), and the same menu clears that too when you follow these steps.
Key Takeaways
- The book icon at the bottom of Safari opens your history, bookmarks, and reading list all in one place.
- You can delete history from just the last hour or go back to the beginning of time on your device.
- Clearing history also removes cookies and cached website data by default on iOS.
- If you want to keep some sites private without deleting history, use Private Browsing mode instead.
What gets deleted when you clear history
Clearing history removes three things at once: the list of websites you visited, cookies that websites stored on your device, and cached data like images and scripts that Safari saved to load pages faster. You cannot delete just one of these — the "Clear History and Website Data" option removes all three together.
Website data includes login cookies, so you may find yourself logged out of accounts after clearing. Passwords themselves stay in your keychain and are not deleted. If you use iCloud to sync Safari across devices, clearing history on one device clears it on all of them.
The difference between time ranges
When you tap "Clear History and Website Data", iOS gives you four choices for how far back to delete. "The last hour" removes only the past 60 minutes. "Today" removes everything from midnight to now. "Today and yesterday" removes the past two calendar days. "All time" removes every page you have visited since you set up Safari on that device.
Choose based on what you need. If you just want to hide the last few sites you visited, pick "the last hour". If you are handing your device to someone else or selling it, pick "all time". The choice applies to history, cookies, and cached data all at once.
Using Private Browsing to avoid history in the first place
If you want to browse without creating a history record, use Private Browsing mode. Tap the tabs icon (two overlapping squares) at the bottom right of Safari, then tap "Private" at the bottom left. Safari switches to a dark theme and stops recording your activity. When you close a private tab, Safari deletes its data immediately.
Private Browsing does not hide your activity from your internet provider or network administrator — it only stops Safari from storing it locally. Websites can still see you visited them. When you close all private tabs, Safari forgets them, but if you keep a private tab open, it stays in your tab list.
Why you might want to clear history regularly
Clearing history frees up storage space, though the amount is usually small unless you have years of browsing data. More commonly, people clear history for privacy — to remove a record of where they have been online, especially if they share a device or hand it to someone else.
If you are concerned about someone with physical access to your device seeing your browsing, clearing history is one layer of protection. It is not a complete privacy solution — someone with your passcode can still see your iCloud activity, location history, and search history in Spotlight. For stronger privacy, consider using a separate user account or enabling a device passcode if you have not already.
Clearing history does not stop Safari from tracking you
Deleting your history stops Safari from showing you a list of where you have been, but it does not stop websites from tracking you while you browse. Websites use cookies, pixels, and other methods to follow your activity across the internet and build a profile of your interests.
To reduce tracking, turn on "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" in Safari settings. Go to Settings > Safari and toggle on "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking". This tells websites not to follow you across other sites, though many ignore the request. You can also enable "Hide IP Address" under the same menu to mask your location from some trackers, though this feature works only with iCloud+ subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately in your keychain and are not affected by clearing history. You will stay logged out of websites because their login cookies are deleted, but your saved passwords remain and you can log back in by tapping the password field.
Can I undo a history deletion?
No. Once you confirm the deletion, it is permanent. Safari does not have an undo option for cleared history. If you need to remember a site you visited, try searching your email for confirmation messages or checking your iCloud activity if you use iCloud sync.
Will clearing history on my iPhone clear it on my iPad too?
Yes, if you use the same iCloud account on both devices and have Safari syncing turned on. To check, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Safari is toggled on. If you want to clear history on only one device, turn off iCloud sync first, clear the history, then turn sync back on.
What is the difference between clearing history and using Private Browsing?
Clearing history removes past activity after the fact. Private Browsing prevents Safari from recording activity in the first place. Private Browsing is better if you know in advance you do not want a record; clearing history is better if you want to remove something you already browsed.
Does Safari delete history automatically?
No. Safari keeps your history indefinitely unless you delete it manually. Some browsers offer automatic deletion options, but Safari does not have a built-in setting to clear history on a schedule. You have to do it yourself each time.