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How to Search for Text in Safari With iPhone Find on Page

iphone safari search for text

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What to Know

  • On a web page, tap Share (the box with the arrow coming out of it). Then tap Find on Page and enter your search term.
  • Older iOS versions: Tap Share , swipe and tap Find on Page , and then tap Find on Page again.

This article explains how to use the Find on Page function in Safari on the iPhone to search for the text you're looking for on a mobile web page. We include instructions for iOS 14 through iOS 4 .

How to Use Safari Find on Page in iOS 14 and 13

If you have an iPhone or other iOS device with iOS 14 or 13, follow these steps to use Safari Find on Page:

Begin by opening Safari and browsing to a website.

Tap the action box at the bottom center of the screen (the box with the arrow coming out of it).

Swipe up on the pop-up sheet.

Tap Find on Page .

In the search bar, type the text you want to find.

  • If the text you entered is on the page, the first use of it is highlighted.
  • Use the arrow keys above the keyboard to move forward and backward through every instance of your search term on the page.

Tap the X in the search bar to search for a new word or phrase.

Tap Done when you're finished.

How to Use Safari Find on Page in iOS 9 - iOS 12

For an iPhone or other iOS device running iOS 9 through iOS 12, follow these steps:

Open Safari and browse to a website.

Swipe through the second row of icons. Tap  Find on Page .

Type the text you want to find in the search bar.

If the text you searched for is found, its first use is highlighted.

Use the arrow keys next to the search box to move through every use of the search term on the page.

Tap the X in the search bar to enter a new word or phrase.

How to Use Safari Find on Page in iOS 7 and 8

The following steps work are the only way to use Safari's Find on Page feature on iOS 7 and 8 :

Begin by opening the Safari app and browsing to a website

Once the site is loaded in Safari, tap the address bar at the top of the Safari window.

In that address bar, type the text you want to search for on the page.

When you do that, a number of things happen:

  • In the address bar, URLs may be suggested based on your browsing history .
  • Beneath that, the Top Hits section offers additional suggestions.
  • The Suggested Website is delivered by Apple based on your Safari settings (you can tweak these in Settings > Safari > Search ).
  • After that are a set of suggested searches from Google (or your default search engine), followed by matching sites from your bookmarks and search history.

But where's Find on Page? In most cases, it's hidden off the bottom of the screen, either by the onscreen keyboard or by the list of suggested results and searches. Swipe all the way to the end of the screen and you'll see a section titled On This Page . The number next to the header indicates how many times the text you searched for appears on this page.

Tap Find to see all uses of your search word on the page.

The arrow keys move you through the uses of the word on the page. The X icon lets you clear the current search and perform a new one.

Tap Done when you're finished searching.

How to Use Safari Find on Page in iOS 4-6

In these earlier versions of the iOS, the process is a bit different:

Use Safari to browse to a website.

Tap the search bar in the top right-hand corner of the Safari window (if Google is your default search engine, the window will read Google  until you tap it).

Type in the text you're trying to find on the page.

In the list of search results, you'll first see suggested search terms from Google. In a grouping below that, you'll see On This Page . Tap that to find the text you want on the page.

You'll see the text you searched for highlighted on the page. Move between instances of the text you searched for with the Previous and Next buttons.

When visiting a web page in the Safari app, select the Share button (it looks like a square with an upward-facing arrow in it). Scroll through the Share menu and select Find on Page, then type in the word or phrase you want to search for and select Search .

Navigate to the web page in the Chrome app and select More ... > Find in Page . Enter your search word or phrase in the text field in the top-left, and Chrome will highlight matching words or phrases in yellow on the web page.

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How to Search a Webpage for Specific Text in Safari on iPhone and iPad

ios7 safari icon

On iPhone and iPad , the way you search within a webpage in Safari isn't so obvious. There are two different methods you can use in Apple's browser, both of which are described below. Once you've given them a shot, they'll become second nature.

How to Search Within a Webpage Using Safari's Smart Search Bar

  • Launch Safari browser on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌
  • Navigate to the page that you want to search.

safari

  • Scroll down the Smart Search results for the section called On This Page . Alongside it you'll see the number of matches for your search term. Tap the Find [your search term] option below it.
  • Safari will jump to the first instance of the word or phrase you search for on the webpage and highlight it in yellow. You will also see the matching result above the onscreen keyboard. Use the up/down arrow buttons to jump to each successive instance of your search term on the current page.

How to Search Within a Webpage Using Safari's Share Sheet

  • Launch Safari browser on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.

safari

  • Scroll past the Share options to the Action menu and select Find on Page .
  • Type the word or phrase you're looking for in the search field and tap Search . Safari will jump to the first instance of your search term on the webpage and highlight it in yellow. You will also see the matching result above the onscreen keyboard. Use the up/down arrow buttons to jump to each successive instance of your search term on the current page.

Did you know that Safari can intelligently use a website's own search bar to help you find what you're looking for? For more details, check out our article on how to perform a quick website search in Safari .

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How to search for text on Safari webpage from iPhone

What to know about Safari search text on iPhone

  • Method I : Tap the Safari share button on a webpage → Find on Page → type your search word.
  • Method II : Tap the Safari search address bar → type your search word → scroll down the suggestions, and tap Find ‘search word.’

To search the exact word on a lyrics site or find the precise keyword on a webpage, you have to rely on Safari’s search text feature. On Mac, Command + F does the job. But for Safari on iPhone or iPad, the steps are different. Here are two quick ways to search text on a website page in Safari’s mobile version.

How to find text in iPhone Safari using the iOS Share Sheet

Search within the safari webpage on iphone using smart search bar.

  • When you are on a webpage in iPhone Safari, tap the share icon .
  • Scroll down, and tap Find on Page .
  • Type the word you wish to search.
  • Use the two arrows to see where that word is on the webpage.

How to search text on iPhone Safari using iOS Share Sheet

Tip : If you wish to edit the search term, you may do so by tapping the existing word on the search screen.

Tap existing search term to edit and make a new search

  • Tap the search bar and type your desired search term. Make sure not to hit enter/go key on the iPhone keyboard.
  • Scroll down the suggestions to see On This Page (number matches). Tap Find ‘search term.’
  • Use the two arrows to navigate.

How to search text on iPhone Safari using Safari smart search bar

This is how you can search for any word or phrase on a webpage inside Safari on iPhone and iPad. I hope this brief guide was helpful. If you have other questions, kindly ask me via the comments section below.

Other helpful Safari posts:

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🗣️ Readers like you help support iGeeksBlog. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  Read Disclaimer .

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Safari 101 : How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in Webpages on Your iPhone

How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in Webpages on Your iPhone

Apple's default browser for iOS, Safari , has a ton of useful features, and there's so many that it's impossible to know everything you can do to browse the web more efficiently. One you may not know about brings the Command + F keyboard shortcut right to your mobile browser so you can search for words or phrases directly on any webpage you're viewing.

Apple added this "Find on Page" feature way back in iOS 4.2, but at that time, Safari had an independent search bar next to the URL bar. Safari was then upgraded with a unified search bar in iOS 7, but the method for finding text on a webpage remained basically the same, and it still is to this day.

However, iOS 9 brought on a second, more convenient way to find terms on webpages in Safari, and we'll show you how both of these methods work right now in the latest version of iOS for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

  • UPDATE: iOS 16 has another way to search for words and other text on a webpage in Safari!

Method 1: Use the Share Sheet in Safari

Go to Safari, then tap on the share sheet icon (it looks like a piece of paper with an arrow pointing up) in the menu at the bottom of the webpage (or top, if you're in landscape view). If you don't see the menu, swipe down on the screen or tap at the very bottom of your screen (or top, if in landscape view) to bring it up.

  • Don't Miss: How to Request Desktop Sites in Safari on Your iPhone

On the bottom row of activities, the one below the row of applications, swipe left until you see the "Find on Page" icon with a magnifying glass. Tap on it, then type in whatever term you need to hunt for on the webpage. When you're done typing, the first occurrence of the term will appear highlighted in yellow on the page. Then just use the down and up arrows to navigate through the results.

To see how many results are on the page, hit the "Search" button, which will collapse the keyboard and show you number indicators for what word is currently highlighted out of how many. To search for a new word, simply tap the search bar and type a new word or phrase in. When you are finished with your search, tap "Done" to quit the search tool.

Safari 101: How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in Webpages on Your iPhone

Making 'Find on Page' Easier to Access in the Share Sheet

If you're doing a lot of searching, you aren't going to want to scroll through the share sheet to tap "Find on Page" again and again. What you need is for "Find on Page" to be readily available when you tap the "Share" button. Luckily, Apple lets you customize the share sheet to do just that.

There are two ways to get this done. First, simply tap and hold on "Find on Page" in the share sheet. The icon will lift above the others, which is your cue to drag it to a new location. I prefer it to be the first function in the list for easy access, but as long as it appears on the share sheet without you needing to scroll, you should save the same amount of time.

The second way to relocate "Find on Page" is to scroll to the end of the share sheet. Tap "More," then tap-and-hold the three lines next to "Find on Page." Drag the section to the location on the list you would like it to appear, then release. When you tap "Done," you will see your new "Find on Page" placement.

Safari 101: How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in Webpages on Your iPhone

Method 2: Use the URL Bar in Safari Instead

For some of you, the share sheet method above will be more convenient, but it may feel more natural to use this method instead since it's the old-school way that's been around in iOS for generations.

  • Don't Miss: How to Close All Your Open Safari Tabs at the Same Time

Simply tap on the URL of the webpage you are on, then type out the term you want to search for. Scroll down to On This Page , and tap on "Find [your term here]." Your query will now appear in the search bar at the bottom of the webpage, with the keyboard already collapsed and the number indicators in full force. Use the arrows next to the search bar to jump between the found terms. And just like before, tap on the search bar to change terms or hit "Done" when you're finished.

Safari 101: How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in Webpages on Your iPhone

That's all there is to it. Now you know how to find any word on any page via Safari's share sheet or the URL bar. Apple may have buried this feature pretty deep, but it's good to see that there is a way to "Find on Page" for every iPhone user.

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The mobile web browsing experience has become the de facto standard for many smartphone-toting folks. According to Pew Research , one in 10 American adults is a smartphone-only internet user, without traditional broadband access.

With mobile browsing, the browser itself is often modified to make it more conducive to use on a smartphone. Unfortunately, this often makes it difficult to find certain features or tools that one may use when browsing on a desktop.

One such feature is the ability to find text on a webpage. On a standard keyboard, a user can simply type Control + F (Windows) or Command + F (Mac) to find what they’re looking for. On a smartphone, though, it’s not that simple.

SEE: How to improve the security and privacy of your iPhone: 5 steps

Thankfully, the process for finding text on a Safari webpage on an iPhone isn’t terribly complicated. Here’s how to do it on iOS 10.3.2.

Start by opening the Safari application. Look for the icon with a blue compass and tap on it.

iphone safari search for text

Once you have the application open, tap into the grey URL bar at the top of the screen and type in the URL of the website you want to visit. For this example, we’re going to use our favorite website, techrepublic.com. After you’ve entered the URL, tap on the blue Go button at the bottom right corner of the screen.

iphone safari search for text

Once you’ve made it to the website, navigate to the webpage that you want to search. Once there, tap on the share button at the bottom of the screen that looks like a box with an arrow coming out of it. If the button isn’t there, it could be because you’ve scrolled down. Try scrolling back up to the top of the page, and it should show back up.

iphone safari search for text

From here, you should see three rows of icons. On the bottom row of icons (the white and grey ones), swipe to the left until you see the Find on Page icon and tap it.

iphone safari search for text

At this point a grey keyboard with a search bar built into it should appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap in the search bar and then type the word or phrase that you want to search. The tool should then highlight all the instances of it on the page in yellow.

To navigate among the highlighted instances on the page tap the up and down arrows immediately to the left of the search bar.

When you’re finished searching, simply tap the grey Done button to the right of the search bar and the Find on Page tool will disappear.

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Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to control+f search on iphone & ipad in safari.

Control F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari

Many computer users associate Control+F with searching for text on a web page, and if you’re coming to the iPhone or iPad from the Windows world, you may be wondering how you can use the equivalent to the Control+F search in the Safari browser on iPhone and iPad.

The Safari web browser on iPhone and iPad has a built in Find On Page search feature that easily allows you to search for matched text on a webpage, mimicking the behavior of Control+F search for users who are coming to the platform from Windows. And arguably, the iPhone and iPad method is even easier to search matched text for than using Ctrl+F, as you’ll see in this walkthrough.

How to Use the Control+F Equivalent in Safari for iPhone & iPad

Ready to search for matching text on a web page in Safari? Here’s all you need to do:

  • Open the Safari browser if you haven’t done so and visit the web page you want to search for matched text on
  • Tap the arrow button flying out of the box in the Safari toolbar

Use Control F equivalent to find text on page on iPhone

  • Scroll down and tap on “Find On Page”, this is the Control+F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari

Using Control F equivalent to find text on page on iPhone

  • Enter the text you want to find on the web page

Using the Control F equivalent to find matched text on page on iPhone

  • Use the arrows to navigate to the next or prior instance of the matched text if desired, when finished tap “Done”

There you go, is that easy or what?

This works exactly the same on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Depending on which versions of iOS or iPadOS are in use, the Find On Page option in the menu may appear as a line option or a button , but it’s always available in Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Bonus Trick: Command+F is Control+F equivalent for iPad Safari Users

One added trick is available for iPad users that have an external keyboard or keyboard case connected to their device, like the Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard.

  • From Safari on iPad, hit Command+F on the keyboard to bring up Find On Page instantly
  • Type the text you want to search for on page and hit return to find the matching text on the web page

The Command+F for Find On Page keystroke on iPad with keyboard is also the same for using Find On Page in Safari for Mac, and even Chrome for Mac.

Command+F as Control+F replacement should be extra simple for iPad users to remember, since the keystrokes are so similar.

What do you think? Do you find selecting the Find On Page item easier than using the Ctrl-F keyboard shortcut? Do you think the Command-F keyboard shortcut for iPad is simpler or the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Related articles:

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  • How to Turn Off Split Screen in Safari for iPad? Exiting Safari Split Screen in iPadOS
  • How to Change the Search Engine in Safari for Mac OS X
  • How to Use Search on iPhone & iPad with Spotlight

» Comments RSS Feed

On Macs, the correct keys are Command-F. What, are you on Windows or something?

Correct, Command+F is Find on Page on the Mac. This is aimed at people coming to iPhone or iPad from a Windows background and who are used to Control+F to search things on webpages.

On my iPhone, using Safari, I don’t have anything like what you’re showing. There are no windows in which to type

You have to follow the steps to access the Find On Page feature

Good tip. Easier still: just type your search keywords in the Safari address bar, then tap “Find ” from the list. Saves a few steps, no need to use the Share dialog.

thanks for this, anyway you don’t need to use the share sheet, just write in the search bar and it expands to down, and that’s it, one of the options is “find on page”

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iOS 7: How to Search for Text on a Page in Safari

iphone safari search for text

___________________________

The first place to look is Apple's own iPad User Guide for iOS 7 which explains the new search method, both for the Internet and on the page being viewed. Here's an excerpt from page 46.

iphone safari search for text

What happens in iOS 7, when you tap the integrated URL/Search bar at the top, is that you're instantly taken to a Favorites page. That shift in context, away from the page you're viewing, is what may cause confusion. In this example, I am visiting www.macobserver.com, and after tapping the search field, Safari looks like this:

iphone safari search for text

How is that Favorites page defined? Apple's User Guide explains: "Have your favorites top the list. Select them at Settings -> Safari -> Favorites. 

iphone safari search for text

It does not appear that there is any way to stay on the page being searched because, apparently, with an integrated URL/Search field, Apple has to assume that you're searching the Internet, not the page. In my case, here are my (only) options:

iphone safari search for text

Just tap on the search field and start typing the search term. For example, even though it isn't being displayed, I'm searching the home page of The Mac Observer for the term "Gamet."  At the bottom of this list is a gray bar with the notation: "On this page." If you tap the search term below, Safari will search for the first occurrence of that term on the page you were viewing.

iphone safari search for text

In my example here, it found Jeff Gamet's name highlighted in yellow below. At last, Safari is back to the page you're searching.

iphone safari search for text

Finally, at the bottom of the page being searched, there is a search bar that allows you to step through the next/previous occurrences or change the search term.

iphone safari search for text

You can change the search term here.

Apple could have chosen to do this in several different ways, but taking the user away from the page being searched before the user expresses the search intention is what's apparently causing confusion. As with many new features in iOS 7, a little bit of practice and familiarity really helps.

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How to do a Control-F search on an iPhone to find specific words or phrases in 3 different apps

How to do a Control-F search on an iPhone to find specific words or phrases in 3 different apps

  • You can do a Control-F search on an iPhone 's browser by using the "On This Page," "Find in Page," or Share features.
  • Control-F is a computer shortcut that locates specific words or phrases on a webpage or document.
  • You can search for specific words or phrases in Safari , Google Chrome , and Messages .

Control-F is a handy computer shortcut for quickly locating specific words or phrases in a text-filled word document or a webpage.

If you've wanted to use this search function while browsing the web on your smartphone, great news - you can.

In this article, we walk you through how to use the search command on your iPhone in both Safari and Chrome browsers, and how to search through the Messages app.

iphone safari search for text

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Safari

1. Open a webpage on the Safari app.

2. Type the word or phrase you want to find in the address bar (where the url is located).

How to do a Control-F search on an iPhone to find specific words or phrases in 3 different apps

4. Tap the up and down arrows at the bottom of the screen to see every instance of the word or phrase you're looking for. It will be highlighted in yellow.

5. When you're finished, tap Done at the bottom of the screen.

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Chrome

1. Open a webpage on the Chrome app .

2. Tap the icon with three dots (...) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Find in Page…

3. Type in the word or phrase you want to find in the search bar at the top of the screen.

4. Tap the up and down arrows to see every instance of the word or phrase you're looking for. It will be highlighted in yellow.

5. When you're finished, tap Done at the top right of the screen.

How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using the Share button

1. Open a webpage on the Safari or Chrome app.

2. Tap the Share icon. It looks like a box with an arrow pointing up.

3. Scroll down, then tap Find on Page (Safari) or Find in Page (Chrome).

4. Type in the word or phrase you want to find in the search bar. Use the up and down arrows to see every instance of the word or phrase, highlighted in yellow.

5. When you're finished, tap Done .

How to Control-F on an iPhone in Messages

The iPhone also has two built-in features that allow you to search for words or phrases within the Messages app . You can use either the search bar in the Messages app or the iOS Spotlight search function to search across your text message conversations for specific words.

iphone safari search for text

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CitizenSide

How To Search For Text In Safari With IPhone Find On Page

Published: July 29, 2023

how-to-search-for-text-in-safari-with-iphone-find-on-page

How to Search for Text in Safari With iPhone Find on Page

Searching for specific text within a large webpage can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially when using a mobile device like the iPhone. However, Safari comes equipped with a useful feature called “Find on Page” that allows you to quickly search for and locate specific words or phrases within a webpage. Here’s how you can use the iPhone Find on Page feature in Safari to make your browsing experience more efficient.

To enable the Find on Page feature in Safari, follow these steps:

  • Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
  • Navigate to the webpage where you want to search for text.
  • Tap on the address bar at the top of the screen to bring up the keyboard.
  • Type in the word or phrase you want to search for.
  • Scroll down until you see “On This Page” with the number of matches found.
  • Tap on it to start the search.

Once you have enabled the Find on Page feature, you can start searching for specific text within the webpage. There are multiple ways to use this feature:

1. Using the Search Bar to Find Specific Text:

If you have a specific word or phrase in mind, you can simply type it into the search bar at the top of the screen and Safari will highlight all the instances of that word or phrase on the webpage. You can then navigate through the results by using the navigation arrows provided.

2. Using the Keyboard Shortcut to Find on Page:

An even quicker way to access the Find on Page feature is by using the keyboard shortcut. Simply start typing the word or phrase you want to search for, and Safari will automatically scroll down to the first matching result while highlighting it. You can then scroll through the other matches using the navigation arrows.

3. Finding Text in a Long Webpage:

If you’re browsing a lengthy webpage and want to search for text further down the page, simply scroll to the desired section and then follow the same steps mentioned above to search for specific text within that section.

4. Using Find on Page with In-page Links:

When a webpage contains in-page links or anchor links, you can still use the Find on Page feature to search for text within those linked sections. Once you tap on “On This Page” and enter the desired search term, Safari will display the number of matches found both on the current page and within the linked sections. You can then navigate to the desired section by tapping on the relevant link.

By utilizing the Find on Page feature in Safari, finding specific text within a webpage on your iPhone becomes much easier and more efficient. Whether you’re researching information or looking for a specific reference, this feature saves you time and frustration.

Now that you know how to use the iPhone Find on Page feature in Safari, you can enhance your browsing experience and quickly find the information you need with ease.

Enabling Find on Page in Safari

In order to utilize the Find on Page feature in Safari on your iPhone, you first need to enable it. By following these simple steps, you can activate this useful feature that allows you to search for specific text within a webpage.

To enable Find on Page in Safari, follow these instructions:

Once you have completed these steps, the Find on Page feature in Safari will be activated, and you can begin searching for specific text within the webpage you are viewing.

Enabling Find on Page allows you to easily locate relevant information and find specific words or phrases within a large webpage. Whether you are conducting research, looking for a specific quote, or trying to find a particular section within an article, Find on Page makes the process much more efficient and convenient.

With Find on Page enabled, you can save time and effort by quickly locating the information you need without manually scanning the entire webpage. This feature is particularly helpful when browsing lengthy articles, blog posts, or research papers, as it allows you to focus on the specific content you are interested in.

By following the steps outlined above, you can easily enable the Find on Page feature in Safari on your iPhone. This powerful tool will enhance your web browsing experience and make it easier for you to find and access the specific information you are looking for.

Using the Find on Page Feature in Safari

Once you have enabled the Find on Page feature in Safari on your iPhone, you can start utilizing this powerful tool to search for specific text within a webpage. With a few simple steps, you can easily find and locate the exact word or phrase you are looking for.

There are multiple ways to use the Find on Page feature in Safari:

If you have a particular word or phrase in mind, you can simply type it into the search bar at the top of the screen. Safari will immediately highlight all instances of that word or phrase on the webpage. You can then navigate through the results by using the provided navigation arrows. This method allows you to quickly pinpoint specific information within the webpage.

An even quicker way to access the Find on Page feature is by utilizing the keyboard shortcut. Start typing the word or phrase you want to search for, and Safari will automatically scroll down to the first matching result while highlighting it. From there, you can scroll through the other matches using the navigation arrows. This method is efficient for those who prefer using shortcuts to streamline their browsing experience.

If you are browsing a lengthy webpage and want to search for text further down the page, simply scroll to the desired section. Then, follow the same steps mentioned above to search for specific text within that particular section. This method allows you to narrow down your search and focus on the relevant content.

In-page links or anchor links are commonly found within webpages. Even if a webpage contains these links, you can still use the Find on Page feature to search for text within those linked sections. After tapping on “On This Page” and entering your desired search term, Safari will display the number of matches found on the current page and within the linked sections. You can then tap on the relevant link to navigate to the desired section. This method is useful when dealing with webpages that have multiple sections or subsections.

By utilizing the Find on Page feature in Safari, you can swiftly locate specific text within a webpage on your iPhone. Whether you are searching for important information or trying to find a specific reference, this feature saves you valuable time and ensures a more efficient browsing experience.

Now that you know how to use the Find on Page feature in Safari, you can easily find the information you need with just a few taps and keystrokes.

Using the Search Bar to Find Specific Text

One of the simplest and most straightforward ways to utilize the Find on Page feature in Safari is by using the search bar to find specific text within a webpage. When you have a particular word or phrase in mind, this method allows you to quickly locate all instances of that text on the page.

To use the search bar to find specific text, follow these steps:

  • As you type, Safari will immediately highlight all instances of the text on the webpage.
  • Use the navigation arrows provided to move between the highlighted results.

Using the search bar to find specific text is a quick and efficient method. It allows you to focus on the exact word or phrase you are looking for, saving you time and effort in scanning through the entire webpage. This is particularly useful when searching for a specific piece of information within a lengthy article or blog post.

Through the search bar, Safari highlights each instance of the text, making it easy for you to spot and navigate between the results. The navigation arrows provided at the bottom of the screen allow you to seamlessly move from one highlighted result to another, ensuring a smooth and convenient browsing experience.

Whether you’re conducting research, looking for a specific quote, or trying to find a particular section within a webpage, using the search bar to find specific text in Safari is an invaluable feature. It helps you locate the information you need, enabling you to get the most out of your browsing experience.

By following the steps outlined above, you can effortlessly find and access specific text within a webpage using the search bar in Safari on your iPhone. By harnessing the power of this feature, you can streamline your search process and efficiently find the information you are looking for.

Using the Keyboard Shortcut to Find on Page

If you prefer quick and seamless navigation while searching for specific text within a webpage in Safari, you can take advantage of the keyboard shortcut. By utilizing this feature, you can find and highlight matching text on the page with just a few keystrokes, saving you time and effort.

To use the keyboard shortcut to find on page, follow these steps:

  • Start typing the word or phrase you want to search for.
  • As you type, Safari will automatically scroll down to the first matching result, highlighting it on the page.
  • Continue typing to refine your search if necessary.

Using the keyboard shortcut to find on page is a convenient option for those who prefer to use shortcuts to navigate through webpages efficiently. The moment you start typing, Safari instantly highlights the first matching result and scrolls directly to it, ensuring that you are brought directly to the relevant section.

As you continue typing, the search results update in real-time, allowing you to refine your search and find the exact word or phrase you are looking for. The navigation arrows provided at the bottom of the screen enable you to move seamlessly between the highlighted results, making it easy to scan and locate the desired information.

Whether you are researching a topic, looking for specific terms, or trying to find a particular reference, using the keyboard shortcut to find on page in Safari enhances your browsing experience. It enables you to swiftly locate the information you need without interrupting your reading flow.

By following the steps outlined above, you can utilize the keyboard shortcut to effortlessly find and navigate through specific text within a webpage in Safari on your iPhone. This feature ensures a smooth and efficient browsing experience, allowing you to focus on the content that matters most to you.

Finding Text in a Long Webpage

When browsing a lengthy webpage, searching for specific text can become challenging and time-consuming. Luckily, Safari’s Find on Page feature provides a simple and effective solution to help you find and locate text within long webpages quickly and efficiently. By following a few steps, you can easily narrow down your search and focus on the desired content.

To find text within a long webpage using Safari, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to the webpage you want to search for text within.
  • Scroll to the section of the webpage where you want to begin your search.
  • Safari will highlight the first matching result on the current section of the webpage.
  • Continue using the navigation arrows to move between the highlighted results within that section.

When faced with a long webpage, finding text within specific sections can save you time and effort. By scrolling to the desired section before initiating the search, you bypass searching through the entire webpage and focus solely on the relevant content. This technique is especially useful when you have a good idea of where the information you need is located.

As you type in the word or phrase you are searching for, Safari will highlight the first matching result within the specific section you scrolled to. By using the navigation arrows, you can easily move between the highlighted results within that section, allowing you to quickly scan and locate the desired information without the need to navigate the entire webpage.

Whether you’re reading an extensive article, going through a research paper, or exploring a lengthy blog post, utilizing the Find on Page feature to find text within a long webpage helps you efficiently locate key information. It saves you valuable time and allows you to focus on the most relevant parts of the webpage.

By following the steps outlined above, you can easily find and navigate through specific text within long webpages using Safari on your iPhone. This method ensures a streamlined and efficient browsing experience, enabling you to locate the information you need quickly and effortlessly.

Using Find on Page with In-page Links

Webpages often include in-page links, also known as anchor links, to help users navigate to different sections of the page. If a webpage contains these links, you can still use Safari’s Find on Page feature to search for specific text within those linked sections. This allows for a more comprehensive search and makes it easier to locate relevant information.

Here’s how you can use Find on Page with in-page links in Safari:

  • Tapping on the address bar brings up the keyboard; here, you can type in the word or phrase you want to search for.
  • Safari will display the number of matches found, both on the current page and within the linked sections.
  • Tap on “On This Page” to view the search results.
  • If there are matches within linked sections, Safari will show a separate list for those matches.
  • You can tap on the relevant link to navigate to the desired section and view the text within that linked section.
  • Use the navigation arrows to move between the highlighted search results.

Using Find on Page with in-page links allows you to search for text not only within the main body of a webpage but also within specific linked sections. This feature is particularly useful when browsing webpages with multiple sections or subsections, such as articles or guides with a table of contents.

By tapping on “On This Page” after entering your search term, Safari provides a comprehensive list of matches found on the current page, as well as a separate list for matches within linked sections. This allows you to easily navigate to the desired section by tapping on the relevant link, making it a convenient way to find specific information within specific sections of a webpage.

Whether you’re searching for specific details within linked subsections or exploring different sections of a lengthy webpage, using Find on Page with in-page links in Safari enhances your ability to locate relevant information and provides a more efficient browsing experience.

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively use Find on Page with in-page links in Safari on your iPhone. This feature enables you to search for specific text within linked sections, making it easier to find the information you’re looking for, even within complex webpages.

Tips and Tricks for Using Find on Page in Safari

While the Find on Page feature in Safari on your iPhone is designed to make searching for specific text within a webpage quick and easy, there are a few tips and tricks you can employ to further enhance your experience. These tips will help you optimize your search and maximize the effectiveness of Find on Page.

Here are some useful tips and tricks for using Find on Page in Safari:

  • Be specific with your search terms: To narrow down the search results and find the exact information you’re looking for, try to be as specific as possible when entering your search terms. Using unique or precise keywords will increase the chances of finding the desired text.
  • Use case sensitivity: By default, Find on Page in Safari is case insensitive, meaning it will match both uppercase and lowercase letters. However, if you need to perform a case-sensitive search, ensure that you have the “Match Case” option selected in the Find on Page menu.
  • Utilize the previous and next buttons: When you have multiple matches for your search term on a webpage, use the previous and next buttons in the Find on Page menu to navigate between the results easily. This allows you to quickly review and locate the desired information without scrolling through the entire page.
  • Try alternate terms or variations: If your initial search term does not yield the desired results, consider using alternate terms or variations. Sometimes different phrasing or synonyms may help you find the specific text you’re looking for.
  • Use gestures to access Find on Page: In addition to tapping on the address bar to access Find on Page, you can also use the “pull-down” or swipe-down gesture on the webpage to instantly activate the search feature. This gesture saves you a few taps and makes the search process more seamless.
  • Be mindful of in-page content loading: If you are searching for text on a webpage that dynamically loads content as you scroll, be aware that the Find on Page feature may not highlight the newly loaded content immediately. In such cases, scroll a little further to ensure that all relevant content is loaded and included in the search results.

By keeping these tips and tricks in mind, you can improve your search efficiency and effectively utilize the Find on Page feature in Safari. Whether you’re conducting research, reviewing lengthy articles, or searching for specific information within a webpage, these strategies will help you locate the desired text more quickly and with greater accuracy.

By following these suggestions, you can enhance your browsing experience and make the most out of Find on Page in Safari on your iPhone.

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Jump to navigation

How can I search for or find text within a web page on the iPhone?

Update: iOS 9 has added a dedicated search function to Safari that allows you to search web pages for specific text.

Surprisingly, there is no native "find" function in the version of Safari that comes with the iPhone.

If you are browsing a large piece of content, and need to find a particular word or section of the page quickly, this can present a serious problem.

Refer to this post for more information about bookmarklets and how to add them to your iPhone.

Newest iPhone FAQs

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VIEW ALL FAQS

If you already know how to add bookmarklets to your iPhone, you can use the bookmarklet below to find text within any page on your iPhone.

Search/Find Text Bookmarklet

More Like This

  • Does the iPhone support Javascript?
  • Does the iPhone support Java?
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  • Does the iPhone support bookmarklets?
  • How can I scroll in a text box on the iPhone?

Josh replied on July 30, 2012 - 4:04pm Permalink

You should add the JavaScript code so that we can add this bookmarklet right from our phones. That would be very helpful. Thanks.

Lion replied on October 22, 2012 - 7:56pm Permalink

There is a way to find key words in an iPod/iPhone. You could download the free Google app (its a blue app square with a white lowercase g) and when u are surfing the web and/or you are in a written document, there is a little magnifying glass logo at the bottom right corner just tap it and type the word you want to find. Its accurate, cool and precise. i use it a lot

Jurriaan Plesman replied on July 28, 2016 - 5:08pm Permalink

Finding a word in an article in iPhone Double press URL The alphabet will appear Type the word Go to the bottom of page and tap "Find on this page"

iphonaphob replied on June 29, 2013 - 3:08pm Permalink

don't listen to this clown. there is a way.

use the Search field on the top right of the Safari page where you want to search for text. tap the field, then type the text you're looking for. as you're typing, the auto-find feature will start listing instances of the text, putting the results in a wide gray box below your typing to indicate how many instances of that word are on that Safari page. It will say "On this page ('x' instances)", where 'x' is the number of times the text appears.

me replied on July 4, 2013 - 4:26am Permalink

Text-field search Spotlight in iOS employs a basic "starts-with" search on certain text fields in the content of your device. It does not search the middle of words.

If Spotlight does not return expected results:

Ensure the text you entered in the search is correct. Try searching using the first few characters of the words you are trying to find. Review your Search Results settings to see if you excluded any searchable content by tapping General > Spotlight Search. Note: for iPhone 3G and iPod touch (2nd generation), tap Settings > General > Home > Search Results. Spotlight is not case sensitive, so you can search using uppercase or lowercase letters and get the same results. Note: Words without a space between them will be counted as separate words if each word starts with an uppercase letter. For example: Searching for "two" will be successful in "OneTwoThree", but not in "onetwothree".

Mail search

Anonymous replied on July 26, 2013 - 8:43am Permalink

Yes it says how many times the text appears but I want to see where it is on the page.

Anonymous replied on July 31, 2013 - 6:05am Permalink

Great!!! I was thinking their had to be a way easier than this! Awesome advise! https://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971141

Anonymous replied on January 5, 2014 - 4:00pm Permalink

Thanks very much boss. You saved me a lot of time

penvmbra replied on October 29, 2014 - 3:28pm Permalink

Whoa I had no clue this feature existed! This would've saved me so much time in the past. Thanks for the tip!

Me replied on January 8, 2016 - 7:58pm Permalink

javascript:void%28s%3Dprompt%28%27Find%20text%3A%27%2C%27%27%29%29%3Bs%3D%27%28%27+s+%27%29%27%3Bx%3Dnew%20RegExp%28s%2C%27gi%27%29%3Brn%3DMath.floor%28Math.random%28%29*100%29%3Brid%3D%27z%27%20+%20rn%3Bb%20%3D%20document.body.innerHTML%3Bb%3Db.replace%28x%2C%27%3Cspan%20name%3D%27%20+%20rid%20+%20%27%20id%3D%27%20+%20rid%20+%20%27%20style%3D%5C%27color%3A%23000%3Bbackground-color%3Ayellow%3B%20font-weight%3Abold%3B%5C%27%3E%241%3C/span%3E%27%29%3Bvoid%28document.body.innerHTML%3Db%29%3Balert%28%27Found%20%27%20+%20document.getElementsByName%28rid%29.length%20+%20%27%20matches.%27%29%3Bwindow.scrollTo%280%2Cdocument.getElementsByName%28rid%29%5B0%5D.offsetTop%29%3B

Kay replied on August 21, 2013 - 6:13pm Permalink

To search on a page, just type quotation marks first

Anonymous replied on August 29, 2014 - 5:04pm Permalink

Yeah, so you don't need to download anything to search a page. Here's a short video link showing how to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7JjcZZa2oc&list=UU9CQOdT1A9JlAks0-PF5vvw

Essentially you just go to the URL/OMNIBAR like you're going to do a google search (or type in a website address) and type what you want to find; before you hit enter though, you scroll down with your finger and click "find on this page".

Pretty simple, yet somewhat hidden. :P

Chairman Joe replied on November 20, 2014 - 11:09pm Permalink

That's the only method I could get to work. Thanks

blogs replied on August 2, 2015 - 3:19pm Permalink

Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice procedures and we are looking to trade techniques with other folks, why not shoot me an email if interested.

JP replied on February 13, 2016 - 6:03pm Permalink

Thanks. So handy. I was getting cranky thinking apple had decided in their wisdom that we didn't need it.

Me replied on January 8, 2016 - 8:01pm Permalink

How-To Geek

How to search within text messages on iphone or ipad.

Struggling to remember a message or link someone sent you long ago in a text?

Quick Links

Search limitations, how to search for text messages with the messages app, how to search your text messages with spotlight, key takeaways.

  • You can only search through text messages saved within the Messages app, so deleted or cleared conversations won't be searchable.
  • In the Messages app, tap on the search bar to enter what you want to search for and view a list of top conversations that match your search.
  • To search with Spotlight, swipe downward on the Home screen and type in the search bar. Scroll down to find the Messages section for relevant search results.

Text messages serve as a handy historical record of conversations we have with others, including major events, links we share, or otherwise. Few realize that you can easily search through your entire text message history on the iPhone, which may help you in a pinch. Here's how.

Before you start your search, know that you can only search through text messages saved as conversations within the Messages app on your iPhone. This applies to both messages sent over SMS and iMessage. If you have deleted or cleared conversations within Messages in the past, they will not be searchable.

If you've synced your messages to an iPad using iCloud, you can even search your message history on and iPad.

But if you have ample history available — and many people have conversations stretching back years — then you'll have plenty to search through. There are two main ways to do it.

The best way to search through your text message history is using the Messages app. You'll be able to quickly see the most results and browse through them easily.

First, open the Messages app. If you are in a Conversation view, press the back arrow until you are on the main "Messages" screen. Note the search bar at the top.

Tap on the Search bar near the top of the screen, then type what you'd like to search for. The screen will change into a list of top Conversations that match your search.

If you'd like to see more results, tap "See All." Or if you'd like to see a result closely, tap on the conversation, and you will be taken to that position in your conversation history.

At any time you can tap on the back arrow and review the other search results, or you can clear the search bar and search for something else.

You can also search through your text message history using Spotlight Search . To open Spotlight, go to the Home screen and swipe downward from the middle of the screen with one finger.

In the search bar, type what you'd like to find in your text messages.

Search results from many different apps will appear on the screen (unless you've turned them off in Settings ). Scroll through them until you find the Messages section. Below that, you will see relevant search results from your text messages. In this case, we searched for "airspeed," and had to scroll all the way to the bottom to find our conversation result.

If you'd like, you can tap on the result to be taken to the conversation in the Messages app.

If Messages do not appear on your Spotlight search results, open Settings and navigate to "Siri & Search," then scroll down to the Messages app in the list and tap on it. In the section labeled "In Search," tap on the "Show In Search" option until the switch is turned on.

After that, your Messages results should show up in Spotlight Search again. Have fun combing through history!

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Home Mobile iPhone How To Search for Text on the iPhone in Chrome or Safari

How To Search for Text on the iPhone in Chrome or Safari

How To Search for Text on the iPhone in Chrome or Safari

While some people might not ever have a need for this feature and will never ever use it, others are likely jumping for joy after figuring out this existed. Some people scour through page after page of content in hopes of finding a specific phrase or keyword, only to never find it or give up once they’ve spent too long. Well now, you can find it with ease thanks to the Find on Page feature included in the iPhone.

The feature has been around for quite a while, but for some reason, many people don’t know about it. As mentioned earlier, everyone knew about the command on desktop and laptop computers (ctrl+f), but very few knew about this one. But not only is it included in the iPhone, it is also incredibly easy to find and use.

iphone safari search for text

The two most popular browsers that people use on the iPhone are without a doubt Safari and Chrome. Because of that, we will show you how to use this cool feature on both of the browsers so no matter which one you prefer to use, you can still search through the text.

Searching Text in Safari on the iPhone

Because Safari is the default browser on the iPhone, there is a good chance that well over half of all iPhone users use it, so we will begin with it. All you have to do is load up the web page or site that you want to search, then hit the button on the middle-bottom of the screen (the one that has an arrow coming out of a box). Once there, simply scroll through the various options until you get to Find on Page. Click on it, and it will let you enter any word or phrase and show you all the places it appears (by highlighting them).

Searching Text  in Chrome on the iPhone

This is similar to searching on Safari, but just a little different. Once you load up the web page that you want to search, look up in the top right corner of the screen and hit the icon with the three vertically stacked buttons. Near the bottom of the drop-down menu is where you will see the Find in Page button. Once you click it, you will be able to search any word or term and Chrome will search the entire text of the page for that word or term.

So now you know something about the iPhone that not many people do, how to search text on the internet. It is incredibly easy to do (as you can see) and only takes you a few seconds, much better than scouring through each article word by word. Even if you don’t plan on using this feature, it is still something good to know.

How to Cut, Copy and Paste on iPhone X

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Kale Havervold

Nov 3, 2017

I have been a writer for a few years now and look to inform, educate and entertain with my writing.

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dumonde

Trouble deselecting text in Safari search/URL bar

I just upgraded my 6S to iOS 13. Now if I tap in the Safari search bar to edit my search text or a URL that’s there, the entire text/URL is selected. No amount of tapping, holding, or 3D touching will deselect the text/URL or allow me to make an insertion point. I’m forced to delete the text/URL and re-enter it. Any workaround?

Posted on Sep 23, 2019 3:57 PM

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The Degausser

Nov 4, 2019 12:49 PM in response to dumonde

I had the same dilemma (and happened upon this thread in a quest for a solution) but just discovered a slightly less inconvenient workaround than dragging the selection handle. On my 6s, I can use 3D Touch to simultaneously clear the selection and move the cursor over from the left. Voila.

On a separate note, this is just the latest example of the increasingly annoying “discover it as you go” approach Apple seems to be taking with their UI design. I miss the days when complex products would come with a detailed manual so you could actually make full use of the gadget.

Oct 15, 2019 8:15 PM in response to MoonJ.

Having the exact same problem, thought I'd provide more info and answer your questions.

When I first click on the URL, it highlights everything. The second time I click it, those blue "brackets" on either end of the selected text used to adjust how much of the text is highlighted appear, along with "Cut/Copy" options. The third time I click, the brackets and "Cut/Copy" options disappear and all the text remains highlighted. And back and forth no matter how many times I click. As opposed to prior iOS, where clicking highlighted text would deselect it and drop an insertion point where I clicked.

Every once in a blue moon I apparently tap on what must be a magic pixel because it unselects the URL and creates an insertion point where I clicked on the URL. I'm unable to reliably replicate this.

It's the biggest problem with URLs that fill the whole bar, yes. If the URL is short I can tap all the way to the right to put an insertion point at the end and then relocate it where needed. If it's long I can tap all the way to the left.

I've tested it in other apps (Chrome browser URL and a note in Notes)—no, I can't create an insertion point in any other highlighted text, either. I have to click outside the highlighted text or at the beginning/end to force it to unhighlight first before it will let me add an insertion point in the middle.

If I press and hold the keyboard (on the space bar or otherwise), it deselects the text and moves the insertion point to the beginning of the previously-selected text, at which point it can be moved around via swiping the keyboard as per prior iOS.

That gets around the worst of the problem—the complete inability to alter the URL without deleting it completely—but it would be very convenient to be able to use one tap to the URL to deselect with the insertion point dropped where it needs to be, as used to be the case.

Oct 16, 2019 7:39 AM in response to lemaxon

lemaxon, thanks for the detailed description of the behavior.

I have since found out that when the URL is highlighted by the blue brackets I can easily tap on the left bracket and swipe left to expose the beginning part of the URL. From there I can tap an insertion point as normal. Right now the behavior requires a user to tap, tap, swipe, and tap just to make an insertion point in the URL.

I still consider this behavior a bug (or at least a major departure from prior behavior) and hope Apple offers a solution.

nwebbcouk

Nov 15, 2019 11:17 PM in response to nwebbcouk

Just to add to my last post and clarify for anyone else experiencing the same issue:

1) when I say I use the keyboard’s space bar to deselect the text, I’m referring to the ability to long-press the space bar, which turns the keyboard area into a virtual trackpad. As soon as I do that the text is deselected and I can position the cursor via the trackpad

2) I have been experimenting a bit more - usually no amount of tapping (including 2 and 3 finger taps, 3D taps, double taps etc) deselects the url. However on the odd occasion, after numerous double-taps it will reduce the selection to a single word - which I believe is still not the intended functionality, but it may be helpful info.

MoonJ.

Sep 25, 2019 11:51 AM in response to dumonde

Hi dumonde,

Thank you for posting. If I understand correctly, when you tap/press in the Safari search bar, it highlights all of the text.

Does this happen only with longer URLs that fill the entire bar? Are you able to tap to the right of the selected text?

Also, you mentioned trying to make an insertion point. If you press and hold on your space bar and then swipe to the left and right, are you able to move the insertion point? As a test, are you able to make an insertion point using those steps in any other apps?

If you haven't already, you might Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and test again.

Updating to iOS 13.1 may also be helpful: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and  Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

I hope this helps get you started. Take care.

Nov 15, 2019 11:00 PM in response to dumonde

I’ve been encountering the same issue ever since upgrading to iOS13 and had been hoping it was an early bug but it still exists in 13.2.2 on my iPhone X - the only workaround I’ve found is to use the keyboard’s space bar, which deselects the text.

The problems I’m experiencing have been extensively detailed by others so I won’t repeat, other than to say clicking in the address bar selects the entire url and I can’t find any way to deselect it other than the about workaround - once the text is deselected everything works as expected.

Nov 25, 2019 7:44 AM in response to nwebbcouk

Upvote. This is either a bug or designed to slowly make us go blind with rage to tackle overpopulation with murder-sprees. All the auto-BS is terrible. Simplicity without automation apple! Don’t assume to know what I’m trying to do! You don’t know me! I’m all for simplicity but not when it’s paid for with automation. “Whoever trades simplicity for automation deserves neither” ~BFranklin (he really said some of those words)

Jan 18, 2020 12:35 AM in response to dumonde

I also found this problem extends to the Notes app

When you paste a URL into Notes it instantly makes it a clickable link - what I’m finding in this iOS is that when I try to select some normal text that is directly above or below the link, it seems to think I’ve clicked on the link and opens it.

Is this happening for anyone else with the Safari URL section issue?

Jan 4, 2020 8:15 AM in response to lemaxon

Awesome!! It worked and I shared it on Instagram and Facebook.

This quick iPhone Safari trick will help you close all tabs and master Apple's mobile browser

Take control of tabs.

Close all tabs Safari iPhone 15 Pro Max

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If you’re anything like me, Safari on your iPhone is bloated with hundreds, if not thousands, of tabs that not only slow down your web browsing but also make it difficult to find the tab you’re looking for.

This simple iPhone trick lets you close all your Safari tabs at once, allowing you to start fresh and feel like your Safari garden is nice and maintained. Here’s how to quickly close all tabs in Safari on iPhone or iPad and some other useful hidden tab management tricks.

Quickly close all tabs in Safari

Whether I’m using one of the best iPhones , my iPad, or my Mac, I constantly have far too many tabs open at once leading to slower performance and getting lost between tabs, which often leaves me feeling overwhelmed. This quick trick makes using Safari as a serial tab opener a breeze.

Simply hold down on the tab button (bottom right) in Safari and tap Close All X Tabs . In my case, I closed 229 tabs without manually scrolling through to get back to a manageable amount. 

The tab button can be used for more quick navigation tricks in Safari, too. For example, instead of tapping the button and then the + to add a new tab, you can simply hold down on the tab button and tap New Tab .

Copy all tabs as links

So you’ve got hundreds of tabs you want to close but you’ve been working on a school project and need to keep the web pages for future use? Easy, iOS 17 has a built-in way to copy all URLs to easily paste them into Notes when you want to save them for a rainy day without clogging up Safari.

Copy links Tabs Safari iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Press the tab button (bottom right)
  • Hold down on X Tabs
  • Tap Copy Links

Now you can paste all of the links to your tabs to a text app and close all tabs in Safari without losing access to some important URLs. It’s a really useful trick for when you’re working on a project or even for things like planning a vacation where you want to keep track of travel guides.

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

By combining these two quick iPhone tricks, you’ll quickly keep on top of your Safari tab management without losing important information from webpages that matter. This is an easy and sure-fire way to master Apple’s mobile browser.

John-Anthony Disotto

John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself. Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings. John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019.  John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit. 

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8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari

Bryan M. Wolfe

By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least one unique feature that distinguishes it from the others. While some web browser apps like Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo, and Microsoft Edge might already be familiar to you, others such as Aloha and Arc Search may not be.

Google Chrome

Microsoft edge, aloha browser, brave browser, opera browser, duckduckgo private browser, firefox focus, which safari alternative should you choose.

If you’re looking for a Safari alternative, here are our favorite iPhone browser apps you should consider using instead.

Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world. It stands out as offering one of the best user interfaces for newcomers. Its rapid browsing speed, integration with Google Search, and robust security measures against malware and phishing attempts contribute to its popularity.

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An essential feature of Chrome is the ability to sign in with your Google Account, which allows you to synchronize bookmarks and browsing history across devices where Chrome is active. Chrome also includes a password manager that stores website login details, simplifying the login process without the need to recall numerous credentials. Users can also leverage Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos to ensure password accessibility across these platforms for convenience.

In short, Google Chrome emerges as the choice for individuals seeking a browsing experience across their range of devices within the Google ecosystem. If you’re a big Google user, this is the way to go.

Download Google Chrome

Arc Search is the latest addition to the selection of mobile web browsers, and it evolved from its desktop version, which was initially launched in 2023. Arc is unique from other web browsers because it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to perform searches on your behalf. Although it may take some time to get used to, the result is an exciting spin on search .

By utilizing the app’s “Browse for Me” functionality, you can view a typical search page with the AI to gather information from six different sources. This will provide a personalized webpage showcasing all the essential details required to answer your search query.

If you do a traditional search, Arc makes it simple to choose your search engine among a list of choices, starting with your iPhone’s default web browser.

Spaces is an exciting feature of Arc Search that lets you organize tabs and themes for a personalized look. Perhaps best of all, Arc Search prioritizes security and privacy and doesn’t track browser activity or search history. It’s one of the more unique Safari alternatives, but if you want a wholly new web-browsing experience, it’s well worth checking out.

Download Arc Search

If you’re already using Microsoft Edge on your Mac or PC, you might find the Microsoft Edge browser helpful. It offers password monitoring, ad tracker blocking, and other features many browsers lack. You can use the InPrivate browsing feature to browse the web without saving your browsing history, cookies, or other data. Microsoft Edge also includes AI capabilities through its Copilot tool, which makes searching easier.

With Microsoft Edge, you can sync your favorites, passwords, and browsing data between your mobile device and other devices. You can also earn rewards points through the Microsoft Rewards program, which you can redeem for various benefits like Starbucks gift cards, a free month of Xbox Game Pass, and more.

Microsoft Edge, even with its AI tools, is best considered a traditional browsing tool for mobile and desktop. That alone means it’s not for everyone. Nonetheless, it’s reliable and stable and gets the job done.

Download Microsoft Edge

Aloha is a web browser that also acts as a private VPN . It comes with an Adblock Plus plug-in to block annoying ads. While it is free, it’s recommended that you purchase one of the premium options after the one-week free trial.

Aloha’s free version includes a VPN that encrypts your internet traffic, making it less likely for you to experience a data breach while browsing anonymously. The built-in ad blocker blocks ads and trackers, improving your browser speed and protecting your privacy. The incognito mode creates a private browsing session that doesn’t save cookies. In addition to its primary function as a VPN service and web browser, Aloha also offers a media player, profile manager, and a Web3 cryptocurrency wallet.

By upgrading to Aloha Premium , you can modify your VPN country selection and configure the VPN to start automatically with the browser. The premium package also extends VPN protection to all devices and includes other premium features. It also removes the occasional ad you’ll see with the free version.

If you want to use Aloha, keep in mind that it currently lacks a desktop version. This means you won’t be able to synchronize your passwords or browsing history across all your devices. If that’s not an issue for you, definitely give this one a look.

Download Aloha

AI technology has now been integrated into the Brave browser — making it one of the better Safari alternatives out there. Brave, also available for desktops, offers features similar to other options on this list — such as Adblock, a rewards system, and a crypto wallet. It also includes a built-in VPN service as a feature, with new users eligible for a free week’s trial of the VPN .

Having used Brave for quite some time, I am consistently impressed by its user interface, which stands out for its creativity. I also find that the built-in news feature enhances the overall mobile web-browsing experience.

On a less positive note, while the Brave VPN functions as expected, it is worth noting that it is priced higher than other options on the market. This aspect should be considered before deciding on an in-app purchase. Even so, Brave still stands out as a fantastic Safari replacement.

Download Brave

Opera has been around for a while and has stayed relevant by incorporating new technology as it arrives. A recent enhancement to Opera is an AI feature called Aria, which aims to assist users in navigating the internet effectively by understanding their queries and responding in natural language.

Aria is currently kept separate from the rest of the browser. This setup isn’t necessarily a drawback; it’s simply Opera’s chosen design. In addition to the AI component, Opera includes web browser functions like bookmarks, privacy mode, synchronization, and more. Opera also boasts an Opera Fast Action Button (FAB), a multi-functional tool that makes navigating and switching between recently opened tabs easier. Finally, Opera provides a VPN service that comes with privacy tools at no cost. Combine all of that with a clean and simple interface, and there’s a lot to like with this one.

Download Opera

DuckDuckGo is an exceptional web browser with a reputation for being the ultimate guardian of user privacy. With its advanced capabilities, DuckDuckGo is designed to keep your online identity under wraps and protect you from the prying eyes of third-party advertisers and data collectors. It does this by automatically blocking trackers hidden in the websites you visit, providing you with a safe and stress-free browsing experience.

DuckDuckGo’s user interface is also user-friendly and allows you to personalize your settings according to your preferences. You can turn off images, use the Fire Button to quickly clear your tabs and browsing data, and customize other settings to make your browsing experience seamless.

One of DuckDuckGo’s most remarkable features is its search engine, which doesn’t track your search history. This means you can search for anything you want without worrying about your searches being stored or used for targeted advertisements. If privacy is a top concern for you, DuckDuckGo should be at the top of your list when searching for a Safari replacement.

Download DuckDuckGo

Firefox Focus is another browser that prioritizes privacy. The browser blocks trackers and ads by default, ensuring that companies do not gather browsing data and habits. This aspect proves beneficial for users who value their privacy.

The browser accelerates page loading times by disabling trackers and data collection, resulting in a better browsing journey. Using Firefox Focus can also reduce mobile data consumption, which is advantageous for users with data plans.

Download Firefox Focus

If you’re not satisfied with the default browser on your iPhone and are looking for an alternative, it’s worth exploring some of the options available.

To make an informed decision, download a few of these browsers and test them to see which works best for you. Consider factors such as speed, ease of use, privacy features, and level of customization. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll be better equipped to choose the browser that best suits your needs.

Happy browsing!

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  • Audio / Video

If you use the most popular live-streaming service on an iPhone or iPad, things just got even better. YouTube TV — which boasts more than 8 million subscribers — just pushed multiview live on Apple's mobile devices, as previously promised.

It works basically the same way it does on a television. YouTube TV picks the programs available in multiview, and you get them all at once, with audio coming from one of the shows. Tap another, and the audio switches. And just as before, you can get multiview for sports, news, business, or weather. (Though we definitely don't recommend watching four news channels at once in an election year.) It's just in time for March Madness, which is great, though we hope you'll be able to pick your own games instead of just sticking with the multiple viewing options YouTube TV gives. This will be great come fall, though, when the new season of NFL Sunday Ticket takes hold.

Apple is reportedly planning to further shrink bezels with the upcoming iPhone 16 series. According to Korea’s Sisa Journal, Apple is banking on a new display tech called BRS (Border Reduction Structure) that has allowed suppliers like Samsung, LG, and BOE to reduce the size of the black borders around the screen.

Notably, all four iPhone 16 trims will get the display tech upgrade, but its true benefits will be reserved for the pricier Pro models. The report, citing market research firm Omdia, notes that both the Pro models will see their screen size go up by 0.2 inches thanks to slimmer bezels.

Abe, Ann, Anne, Anna, Ana, Ave, AB’s. These words are the bane of my life, as all too often my iPhone thinks I'm typing them instead of the word “and.” It happens shockingly often, to the point where I begin to think it’s doing it deliberately to troll me.

I’m an iOS keyboard fan, but it’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to make a big change unless Apple does something about it. It’s always the word 'and'

iphone safari search for text

Mastering iPhone Gestures: A Complete Guide

T hese days we do almost everything on our smartphones, and everything we do on our smartphones, we do with gestures. In smartphone terminology, a "gesture" is anything you do with your hands, face, or body to achieve an action on your phone. That covers everything from the simple tap to generating digital effects by making shapes with your hands (more on that later). 

The iPhone has evolved considerably since the first model hit store shelves back in 2007 and the gestures we use to interact with our iPhones have evolved too. While most gestures are universal and will work regardless of your iPhone model, some are limited to recent models or require a current operating system. It's always a good idea to make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.

Most of what you'll do with gestures is totally intuitive — swiping and tapping your way through messages and apps doesn't present too many stumbling blocks. However, whether you're getting your first iPhone or you're a seasoned smartphone veteran, gestures can do more than you probably know. If you're new to the iPhone game, we'll walk you through the basics of how to communicate with your phone, then stick around to learn some more advanced gestures, tips, and tricks.

Read more: The 10 Worst Smartphones Of All Time

Basic Gestures And How To Use Them

Even the most hidden features on your iPhone are achieved through some combination of gestures. Some are complicated and situation-specific and some are nearly universal. When it comes to gestures, there is nothing more useful than the humble tap. It is the foundation upon which all other gestures are built. Everything from opening apps to selecting contacts and changing settings is achieved by quickly tapping a finger in the right place.

Sometimes two taps are better than one. When reading through text, you can tap to place your cursor in a specific place. Tap again and you'll open a menu of additional options. If you've opened that menu by accident, tapping outside of it will close it. Likewise, tapping outside of an open keyboard will move it out of the way.

Let that tap linger and give it some quick motion in one direction or another and you've got a swipe. If you need to look through your photo library one picture at a time, you'll do it by swiping your finger quickly in one direction or the other. Scrolling works similarly, but with a more controlled motion. Slowly slide your finger across the screen in the direction you want to shift the text while reading an article or a social network timeline, and things will move accordingly.

Multi-Step And Two Finger Gestures

Once you've mastered tapping, swiping, and scrolling, you're ready to level up. These more complex gestures open up additional functions inside applications and let you manipulate in-app content more easily.

You might have noticed that your iPhone keyboard is too small to have all of the same options as a computer keyboard — space is limited when your screen ranges from just over 5 inches to just under 7 inches diagonally, after all. If you need an accented letter, you'll find it by pressing and holding the letter you want to modify. The press-and-hold gesture also comes in handy on Safari. If you want to preview a website turned up from a search engine, just press and hold on the link to open a preview window before you launch.

Adding an additional finger into the mix lets you manipulate content inside apps. Pressing two fingers to the screen and spreading them out will zoom in on content while pressing two fingers and moving them together will zoom out. Zooming is useful when reading text or searching your photo library for specific images. You can even zoom in on videos that you've recorded using your iPhone so you can finally figure out who was crashing the family picnic. Back in Safari, you can use the pinch maneuver from an active tab to "zoom out" and see all of your open tabs.

Advanced Gestures

These gestures will save you a bunch of time and effort when you need to copy and paste things. Select the content you want, tap or press and hold to open the options menu, then select copy. Move to the destination app, tap the open field, and select paste. Alternatively for photos, you could go to the destination app, select insert, open the photo gallery, and select the image you want. Or you could avoid all of that with a couple of gestures.

For photos, open the gallery in grid mode then press and hold the photo you want until it starts floating. At this point, you can add additional photos by tapping them with a separate finger. While holding your photo stack, use another finger to swipe to the home screen and open the destination app. You'll notice that your images are staying with you and you can drop them in their new home.

You can also copy, cut, and paste using three-fingered gestures. Once you've selected the content you want to move, copy it with a three-finger pinch or cut by doing a three-finger pinch twice in quick succession. When you're ready to paste, release your digital captive by reversing the motion and spreading three fingers on the screen. Best of all, you can copy, cut, and paste across Apple devices using the built-in universal clipboard function.

Making The Most Of Swipes

Swiping is an old standby, one of the basic gestures you'll use to do just about anything on your phone, but it has some lesser-known abilities you might not be aware of. You can use many of them without even unlocking your phone.

From the lock screen, swipe left and you'll open the camera app. That's especially handy if you catch sight of that elusive bird you've been tracking and don't have time to flip through menus. Of course, it also means strangers can take selfies if you leave your phone lying around. Swiping down from the lock screen opens Siri Suggestions, a collection of apps or processes Siri thinks you may need. Swiping up opens the notification center and swiping right opens the control center.

In the calculator app, you can delete numbers by swiping right or left, making up for the lack of a delete key. Switch between open apps by swiping side to side at the very bottom of your screen, and drag open windows down by pulling down at the bottom of the screen, using the iPhone's Reachability function. With effective use of swipes, you can do anything you want with one hand tied behind your back.

Shake It Up To Undo Or Redo

One of the best things about working digitally instead of in hard space is that things are impermanent. If you put an image in the wrong place or need to rewrite a paragraph, you don't have to start back at the beginning. On a computer, undoing a mistake is as easy as hitting Control-Z (or Command-Z, as the case may be), but there's no comparable combination of key presses on an iPhone. Instead, you have to give your phone a shake.

Jiggling your phone back and forth a few times triggers a popup window allowing you to undo whatever you've just done. You can use it to delete recently typed text without having to hold down the delete key, but it's not limited only to text. You can also use it to remove an accidental attachment in a text or recover an accidentally deleted email.

This is admittedly not the most elegant solution but it is effective, and there's something satisfying about shaking your phone like an Etch A Sketch to erase your mistakes. And if you decide that undoing your work was a mistake and you want it all back, just shake your phone again and it will reappear as quickly as it vanished.

Side Button Gestures

There aren't many physical buttons on modern iPhones but the ones they do have do some pretty heavy lifting. The side button, found toward the top of the phone's right edge is typically used to wake your phone or put it to sleep. The two buttons on the opposite edge are volume buttons, but they do so much more.

Double-clicking the side button will open your Apple Wallet. You'll get access to Apple Pay if you have it set up , allowing you to purchase goods and services, as well as anything else in your wallet. Everything from parking passes to concert tickets are at your fingertips with a couple of clicks. Hold down that same button to activate Siri and get directions or dictate a message.

The volume buttons have some hidden functions in certain apps or situations. You can use them to take a photo or video from the camera app, snooze or turn off an alarm, or silence the ringing of an incoming call. If you press the side button and the volume up button at the same time, you'll take a screenshot of whatever's on your screen. If you press and hold the side button and either volume button, you'll activate the SOS mode, where you can also force a restart of your phone. The side button gestures are humble but mighty.

Multiselect

Who among us hasn't found themselves buried beneath an email inbox thousands of messages deep, at least once or twice? If you've got a browser and a mouse handy you can trash the backlog pretty quickly but there isn't always an intuitive way to select multiple messages (or anything else for that matter) on an iPhone. The solution is a gesture.

On devices running iOS 13 or later you can select multiple items by dragging two fingers at the same time. Any app where items are presented in a list or a grid should be subject to this gesture, provided the developers took advantage of it. You can select multiple contacts to send a group message or snag all those old emails at once. Best of all, the multiselect gesture can be paused and begun again. Drag two fingers to select a group of items, lift your fingers to stop, and then drag two fingers to start again at a new spot.

Dealing With Text

It's less about the gesture itself and more about how you use it. Sometimes even simple gestures have more complex capabilities in the right situations. If you want to do anything with words in Messages, Notes, webpages, ebooks, or anywhere else, you can select and manipulate the text with a series of well-placed taps.

Move your cursor to a precise location by holding down the spacebar and moving your finger as if on a trackpad. Once your cursor is in position, you can select text by double-tapping on a word. Select an entire paragraph by triple-tapping with a single finger. To make more precise text selections, double-tap on a word and then move the grab points to exactly where you want them.

Tap again to open the editing options. From there you can cut, copy, paste, select all, replace, format, and more. When it comes to text, there's nothing you can't do or undo with the right tap at the right time.

Safari Gestures

Tapping and swiping are how you'll type in search terms, select URLs, and respond to messages online. They are also the gestures you'll use to pull off some of Safari's fancier moves . If you want to move from one active tab to another, there are a couple of gestural ways to do that. The first is to drag the address bar into the window. As you do, all of your active tabs will become visible and drop into a grid view. Alternatively, if you drag the address bar left or right, you'll slide from the active tab to its next-door neighbor.

While you're at the address bar, press and hold to bring up a menu of additional options like copying the URL or adding the tab to a group. In the tab grid view, pressing and holding a tab opens a menu with even more options like bookmarking or pinning the tab. Swipe right to left to delete tabs or drag and drop them to change their order.

If you're in an active window and want to go back to your previous page, just slide left to right. If you want to return to the first page later, swipe in the other direction. If you're looking for a page you were on a while back, press and hold the back arrow to see the tab's history. Tapping is all you need to browse, but with the right gestures, you can browse better.

FaceTime Gestures

Most iPhone gestures are about directly selecting what you want and placing it on the screen. You're tapping letters one at a time or dragging photos from one app to another. FaceTime gestures are the rare exception that translate your movements into visual expressions of love, sadness, or celebration.

With iOS 17, Apple added visual effects to FaceTime which are triggered by physical gestures. Creating a heart shape with both hands will light up the screen with a digital heart symbol, as if by magic. Giving a thumbs up results in a cartoon hand giving a thumbs up, the now-famous "like" symbol. Presenting a thumbs down does the opposite. Two thumbs up triggers a fireworks show; two thumbs down, a rain storm.

There are additional gestures too — a peace sign will fill the screen with balloons, two peace signs will fill the screen with confetti, and two "rock on" gestures (pinky and forefinger extended with the rest of the fingers curled) will set off a laser show. 

The vast majority of iPhone gestures happen on your phone's front side which makes sense, that's where the touchscreen is, after all. However, it turns out that your phone's back half is also sensitive to touch and you can use it to pull off a wide range of activities with two simple gestures.

In your iPhone's Settings apps, open the Accessibility menu and select Touch, then Back tap. Once activated, you can double-tap or triple-tap the back of your phone to trigger actions of your choosing. You can set each of those gestures to open the camera app, turn on the flashlight, lock screen rotation, adjust the volume, and more.

It's worth noting that you'll probably do these gestures accidentally every now and again, just fumbling your phone in or out of your pocket. Choose your back-tap actions wisely, otherwise you'll end up confused when your screen rotation keeps locking for seemingly no reason.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

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Apple and Google Are Discussing a Deal to Bring Generative A.I. to iPhones

A partnership would extend the long relationship between the companies that has helped deliver everything from maps to search on Apple’s devices.

  • Share full article

A display of iPhones sits on an oak table.

By Tripp Mickle ,  Nico Grant and Brian X. Chen

Reporting from San Francisco

Apple is in discussions with Google about using the search giant’s generative artificial intelligence model called Gemini for its next iPhone, as the company races to embrace a technology that has upended the tech industry.

The talks are preliminary and the exact scope of a potential deal hasn’t been defined, three people with knowledge of the discussions said. Apple has also held discussions with other A.I. companies, one of these people said, as it looks to tap into the power of a large language model capable of analyzing vast amounts of data and generating text on its own.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has promised investors that the company will introduce new generative A.I. capabilities this year. The company’s smartphone rivals, Samsung and Google, have already added Gemini to their newest devices to edit videos and summarize audio recordings.

Apple and Google declined to comment. Bloomberg reported earlier on their talks.

An Apple-Google deal on generative A.I. would extend one of technology’s most longstanding partnerships. Since Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, Google has been a critical contributor to the device’s success. It initially provided Google Maps for navigation and the default search engine on the iPhone’s Safari browser, now a lucrative agreement for which Google pays Apple more than $18 billion a year .

Google’s discussions to provide generative A.I. capabilities for the iPhone would be the latest example of its filling a gap in Apple’s products. Apple’s effort to develop its own large language model, the technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, has been running behind, two people familiar with its development said.

Apple’s delay in releasing an A.I. product has been costly. After a decade-long run as the world’s most valuable public company, it was dethroned this year by Microsoft , which has aggressively pursued A.I. The technology has been heralded for its potential to disrupt businesses and create trillions of dollars in economic value.

Despite its delays, Apple has the potential to be a big player in A.I. The company has more than two billion devices actively in use, making it an attractive partner for Google and others. Its reputation for protecting customers’ private information could also be helpful in a future where A.I. services help manage people’s calendars or health data.

A deal could bring the Gemini model to iPhones around the world, giving Google access to a massive user base and making generative A.I. even more mainstream. Virtually overnight, Google could have more consumers using its A.I. than its chief rival, OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT — making a pact with Apple a tantalizing prospect.

(The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in December for copyright infringement of news content related to A.I. systems.)

Apple’s selecting Google as an A.I. supplier would be a crucial vote of confidence in the search giant after a number of setbacks to its A.I. ambitions. The company’s first A.I. chatbot, Bard, debuted to middling reviews last March and struggled to attract as many users as ChatGPT.

In February, Google debuted a new chatbot, Gemini. The chatbot ran into problems last month when users found that its image generator produced illustrations of historical figures that were not racially accurate and refused in most instances to generate images of white people, leading to accusations of bias. Google disabled the ability to create images of people and vowed to fix the problem.

In a note on Tuesday, a Bernstein Research analyst, Toni Sacconaghi, called an Apple-Google deal a “win-win,” giving Apple generative A.I. for iPhones and validating Google’s work on Gemini. He also said Apple didn’t have to own an A.I. model on iPhones to profit from it and could instead take a commission from Google, which currently charges $19.99 per month for its Gemini Advanced app.

Companies haven’t yet cashed in on generative A.I. The costs associated with running large language models in the cloud are staggering, and consumers and business customers are only starting to pay for the emerging technology. But they are optimistic that profits will increase as the capabilities of A.I. systems improve and the costs decline for building the data centers to power the systems.

A new deal between Apple and Google could draw scrutiny from U.S. regulators. The Justice Department is in the final stages of a lawsuit against Google for harming competition by paying Apple to be the default search engine on the iPhone and other services. Judge Amit P. Mehta of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who is presiding over the nonjury trial, is expected to deliver a verdict this year.

An earlier version of this article misstated when Apple agreed to use Google as the default search engine of the Safari browser. It was 2002, not after the iPhone’s introduction in 2007.

How we handle corrections

Tripp Mickle reports on Apple and Silicon Valley for The Times and is based in San Francisco. His focus on Apple includes product launches, manufacturing issues and political challenges. He also writes about trends across the tech industry, including layoffs, generative A.I. and robot taxis. More about Tripp Mickle

Nico Grant is a technology reporter covering Google from San Francisco. Previously, he spent five years at Bloomberg News, where he focused on Google and cloud computing. More about Nico Grant

Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer for The Times. He reviews products and writes Tech Fix , a column about the social implications of the tech we use. More about Brian X. Chen

Explore Our Coverage of Artificial Intelligence

News  and Analysis

Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee signed a bill  to prevent the use of A.I. to copy a performer’s voice. It is the first such measure in the United States.

French regulators said Google failed to notify news publishers  that it was using their articles to train its A.I. algorithms, part of a wider ruling against the company for its negotiating practices with media outlets.

Apple is in discussions with Google  about using Google’s generative A.I. model called Gemini for its next iPhone.

The Age of A.I.

When it comes to the A.I. that powers chatbots like ChatGPT, China lags behind the United States. But when it comes to producing the scientists behind a new generation of humanoid technologies, China is pulling ahead .

By interacting with data about genes and cells, A.I. models have made some surprising discoveries and are learning what it means to be alive. What could they teach us someday ?

Covariant, a robotics start-up, is using the technology behind chatbots  to build robots that learn skills much like ChatGPT does.

When Google released Gemini, a new chatbot, the company quickly faced a backlash. The episode unleashed a fierce debate  about whether A.I. should be guided by social values.

Use parental controls on your child's iPhone and iPad

With Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time, you can block or limit specific apps and features on your child's device. You can also restrict the settings on your iPhone and iPad for explicit content, purchases and downloads, and privacy.

Set Content & Privacy Restrictions

Prevent itunes & app store purchases, allow built-in apps and features, prevent explicit content and content ratings, prevent web content, restrict siri web search, restrict game center, allow changes to privacy settings, allow changes to other settings and features, make changes to health and safety features.

To make sure that your parental control settings sync across devices, update all of the devices in your Family Sharing group to the latest software version before turning on parental controls or changing your parental controls settings.

Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.

Tap Turn on Screen Time, then tap it again. Choose "This is My [Device]" or "This is My Child's [Device]."

If you're the parent or guardian of your device and want to prevent another family member from changing your settings, tap Use Screen Time Passcode to create a passcode, then re-enter the passcode to confirm. After you confirm your passcode you'll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.

If you're setting up Screen Time on your child's device, follow the prompts until you get to Screen Time Passcode and enter a passcode. Re-enter the passcode to confirm. After you confirm your passcode you'll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Make sure to choose a passcode that's different from the passcode that you use to unlock your device. To change or turn off the passcode on your child's device, tap Settings > Screen Time > [your child's name]. Then tap Change Screen Time Passcode or Turn Off Screen Time Passcode, and authenticate the change with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.

Learn what to do if you forgot your Screen Time passcode

With iOS 16 or later, while you're setting up Screen Time for a child's device, you can set age-related restrictions for content in apps, books, TV shows, and movies. Just follow the onscreen instructions during setup.

You can also prevent your child from being able to install or delete apps, make in-app purchases , and more. To prevent iTunes & App Store purchases or downloads:

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode.

Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.

Choose a setting and set to Don't Allow.

No alt supplied for Image

You can also change your password settings for additional purchases from the iTunes & App Store or Book Store. Follow steps 1-3, then choose Always Require or Don't Require.

You can restrict the use of built-in apps or features. If you turn off an app or feature, the app or feature won't be deleted, it's just temporarily hidden from your Home Screen. For example, if you turn off Mail, the Mail app won't appear on your Home Screen until you turn it back on.

To change your Allowed Apps:

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Enter your Screen Time passcode.

Tap Allowed Apps.

Select the apps that you want to allow.

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You can also prevent the playback of music with explicit content and movies or TV shows with specific ratings. Apps also have ratings that can be configured using content restrictions.

To restrict explicit content and content ratings:

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Content Restrictions.

Choose the settings that you want for each feature or setting under Allowed Store Content.

No alt supplied for Image

Here are the types of content that you can restrict:

Music, Podcasts, News, Fitness: Prevent the playback of music, music videos, podcasts, news, and workouts containing explicit content

Music Videos: Prevent finding and viewing music videos

Music Profiles: Prevent sharing what you're listening to with friends and seeing what they're listening to

Movies: Prevent movies with specific ratings

TV Shows: Prevent TV shows with specific ratings

Books: Prevent content with specific ratings

Apps: Prevent apps with specific ratings

App Clips: Prevent app clips with specific ratings

iOS and iPadOS can automatically filter website content to limit access to adult content in Safari and other apps on your device. You can also add specific websites to an approved or blocked list, or you can limit access to only approved websites. Follow these steps:

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode.

Tap Content Restrictions, then tap Web Content.

Choose Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites.

No alt supplied for Image

Depending on the access you allow, you might need to add information, like the website that you want to restrict.

Each time your child updates a device signed in with their Apple ID to iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, or macOS Sonoma for the first time, Web Content Restrictions is reset to Limit Adult Websites for all their devices.

To restrict Siri features:

Scroll down to Siri, then choose your settings.

You can restrict these Siri features:

Web Search Content: Prevent Siri from searching the web when you ask a question

Explicit Language: Prevent Siri from displaying explicit language

To restrict Game Center features:

Scroll down to Game Center, then choose your settings.

No alt supplied for Image

You can restrict these Game Center features:

Multiplayer Games: Prevent the ability to play multiplayer games with everyone, allow with friends only, or allow with anyone

Adding Friends: Prevent the ability to add friends to Game Center

Connect with Friends: Prevent the ability to share a Game Center friend list with third-party games

Screen Recording: Prevent the ability to capture the screen and sound

Nearby Multiplayer: Prevent the ability to enable the nearby setting

Private Messaging: Prevent the ability to voice chat or send or receive custom messages with game and friend invitations

Profile Privacy Changes: Prevent the ability to change profile privacy settings

Avatar & Nickname Changes: Prevent the ability to change Game Center avatars and nicknames

The privacy settings on your device give you control over which apps have access to information stored on your device or the hardware features. For example, you can allow a social-networking app to request access to use the camera, which allows you to take and upload pictures.

To allow changes to privacy settings:

Under Privacy, tap the setting that you want to change.

Here are the things you can restrict:

Location Services: Lock the settings to allow apps and websites to use location

Contacts: Prevent apps from accessing your Contacts

Calendars: Prevent apps from accessing your Calendar

Reminders: Prevent apps from accessing your Reminders

Photos: Prevent apps from requesting access to your photos

Share My Location: Lock the settings for location sharing in Messages and Find My Friends

Bluetooth sharing: Prevent devices and apps from sharing data through Bluetooth

Microphone: Prevent apps from requesting access to your microphone

Speech Recognition: Prevent apps from accessing Speech Recognition or Dictation

Apple Advertising: Prevent changes to advertising settings

Allow Apps to Request to Track: Prevent tracking activity by apps that you've denied access to

Media & Apple Music: Prevent apps from accessing your photos, videos, or music library

You can allow changes to other settings and features, the same way you can allow changes to privacy settings.

Under Allow Changes, select the features or settings that you want to allow changes to and choose Allow or Don't Allow.

Here are some features and settings that you can allow changes for:

Passcode Changes: Prevent changes to your passcode

Account Changes: Prevent account changes in Accounts & Passwords

Cellular Data Changes: Prevent changes to cellular data settings

Reduce Loud Sounds: Prevent changes to volume settings for safe listening

Driving Focus: Prevent changes to the Driving Focus

TV Provider: Prevent changes to TV provider settings

Background App Activities: Prevent changes to whether or not apps run in the background

Some Screen Time features may be turned on by default for children in a Family Sharing group.

Learn about Communication Safety on your child's iPhone or iPad

Learn about Screen Distance

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.

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Google must be thrilled that the DOJ zeroed in on Apple's janky green text bubbles

  • The DOJ is suing Apple, accusing the tech giant of anticompetitive and monopolistic practices.
  • The suit accuses Apple of making iPhone users' texting experience with Android users worse.
  • Google has railed against the green message bubbles for years.

Insider Today

Google could score a major win out of the Justice Department's sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple: getting rid of those janky green messages from Android users.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland explained in a news conference Thursday that when an iPhone user messaged a non-iPhone user, the non-iPhone user's texts showed up as green bubbles in Apple Messages. In addition to that, he said, the non-iPhone users' videos become pixelated and grainy, their messages are not encrypted, and they cannot edit messages or see typing bubbles.

"As a result, iPhone users perceive rival smartphones as being lower quality because the experience of messaging friends and family who do not own iPhones is worse, even though Apple is the one responsible for breaking cross-platform messaging," Garland said in the news conference. "And it does so intentionally."

In a statement, Apple told Business Insider it would "vigorously defend" against the lawsuit, which it said was "wrong on the facts and the law."

"At Apple, we innovate every day to make technology people love — designing products that work seamlessly together, protect people's privacy and security, and create a magical experience for our users," Apple said in the statement. "This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets. If successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple — where hardware, software, and services intersect. It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people's technology."

Related stories

Google previously accused Apple of exploiting "peer pressure and bullying" for profit by singling out Android users with the green bubbles.

And last year, when developers launched an app that allowed Android users to send blue-bubble messages to iPhone users, Apple shut it down within a week .

Google asked European regulators in November to require Apple to make its messaging app compatible with third-party devices. And there's even a landing page set up by Android urging customers to tell Apple to get rid of the dreaded green bubbles.

The Justice Department's lawsuit accuses Apple of building a monopolistic ecosystem with anticompetitive practices that stifle users' ability to cross between platforms.

The lawsuit alleges Apple intentionally makes devices that run on competing operating systems such as Android look bad. And how messages are sent is one example, it says.

"Apple makes third-party messaging apps on the iPhone worse generally and relative to Apple Messages, Apple's own messaging app, by prohibiting third-party apps from sending or receiving carrier-based messages," the lawsuit says. "By doing so, Apple is knowingly and deliberately degrading quality, privacy, and security for its users and others who do not have iPhones."

The department's lawsuit wants Apple to stop what it says are its anticompetitive practices — meaning the green bubbles may be gone for good if the feds win in court.

That'd be a boon for Android users — and Google — because it would remove a stigma that the department says keeps iPhone customers locked in to Apple's ecosystem.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Watch: OPINION: Media activist shares how Musk could change Twitter

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  4. How to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad

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  6. How to Find Text on Web Page in Safari on iPhone & iPad

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  6. iPhone Tip--Search Any Safari Page

COMMENTS

  1. How to Search for Text in Safari With iPhone Find on Page

    Open Safari and browse to a website. Tap the action box at the bottom center of the screen (the box with the arrow coming out of it). Swipe through the second row of icons. Tap Find on Page . Tap Find on Page . Type the text you want to find in the search bar.

  2. How to Find Text on a Web Page in Safari on iPhone and iPad

    If you have a keyboard connected to your iPhone or iPad, you can use a quick keyboard shortcut to search within a web page. Press Command+F and a search bar will appear across the bottom of the screen. Once you see the search bar, click in the text input field and type in a word or phrase. The browser will highlight all occurrences of what you ...

  3. How to Search a Webpage for Specific Text in Safari on iPhone and iPad

    Launch Safari browser on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌. Navigate to the page that you want to search. Tap the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing out) at the bottom of the screen ...

  4. How to search for text on Safari webpage from iPhone

    What to know about Safari search text on iPhone. Method I: Tap the Safari share button on a webpage → Find on Page → type your search word. Method II: Tap the Safari search address bar → type your search word → scroll down the suggestions, and tap Find 'search word.'. To search the exact word on a lyrics site or find the precise ...

  5. How to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad

    How to search the web using the Smart Search bar on iPhone and iPad. Launch Safari from the Home screen. Tap in the Smart Search bar at the top or bottom of your browser. Navigating to Search bar in Safari on iPhone: Open Safari, tap Smart Search button (Image credit: iMore) Type in some keywords or a phrase you would like to search for.

  6. Safari 101: How to Find Specific Words or Phrases in ...

    Safari was then upgraded with a unified search bar in iOS 7, but the method for finding text on a webpage remained basically the same, and it still is to this day. However, iOS 9 brought on a second, more convenient way to find terms on webpages in Safari, and we'll show you how both of these methods work right now in the latest version of iOS ...

  7. Search for websites in Safari on iPhone

    Search the web. Enter a search term, phrase, or URL in the search field. Tap a search suggestion, or tap Go on the keyboard. If you don't want to see suggested search terms, go to Settings > Safari, then turn off Search Engine Suggestions.

  8. iPhone 13/13 Pro: How to Search For Text In a Webpage In Safari

    Learn how you can search for text in a webpage in Safari on the iPhone 13 / iPhone 13 Pro/Mini.Gears I use:iPhone 13 Pro: https://amzn.to/3i454lHVelbon Sherp...

  9. How to find text on a Safari webpage from your iPhone

    From here, you should see three rows of icons. On the bottom row of icons (the white and grey ones), swipe to the left until you see the Find on Page icon and tap it. At this point a grey keyboard ...

  10. How to Use Control-F Search on iPhone or iPad

    How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Safari. 1. Open a webpage on the Safari app. 2. Type the word or phrase you want to find in the address bar (where the url is located). 3. Scroll down ...

  11. How to Search Anything Using Control F on iPhone

    That said, here's how to use the Search feature in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad. 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. 2. Tap the Search icon located at the bottom right corner. 3 ...

  12. How to Search Text in Safari for iPhone (Easy)

    How to find text within the Safari Internet browser pages for iPhone 13 or any other iPhone running iOS 15.

  13. How to Control+F Search on iPhone & iPad in Safari

    Tap the arrow button flying out of the box in the Safari toolbar. Scroll down and tap on "Find On Page", this is the Control+F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari. Enter the text you want to find on the web page. Use the arrows to navigate to the next or prior instance of the matched text if desired, when finished tap "Done".

  14. iOS 7: How to Search for Text on a Page in Safari

    At the bottom of this list is a gray bar with the notation: "On this page." If you tap the search term below, Safari will search for the first occurrence of that term on the page you were viewing ...

  15. How to Control-F on an iPhone webpage using Safari

    4. Type in the word or phrase you want to find in the search bar. Use the up and down arrows to see every instance of the word or phrase, highlighted in yellow.. 5. When you're finished, tap Done ...

  16. How To Search For Text In Safari With IPhone Find On Page

    How to Search for Text in Safari With iPhone Find on Page. Searching for specific text within a large webpage can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially when using a mobile device like the iPhone. However, Safari comes equipped with a useful feature called "Find on Page" that allows you to quickly search for and locate specific words ...

  17. How can I search for or find text within a web page on the iPhone

    Internet and Browsing. Update: iOS 9 has added a dedicated search function to Safari that allows you to search web pages for specific text. Surprisingly, there is no native "find" function in the version of Safari that comes with the iPhone. If you are browsing a large piece of content, and need to find a particular word or section of the page ...

  18. How to Search Within Text Messages on iPhone or iPad

    If Messages do not appear on your Spotlight search results, open Settings and navigate to "Siri & Search," then scroll down to the Messages app in the list and tap on it. In the section labeled "In Search," tap on the "Show In Search" option until the switch is turned on. After that, your Messages results should show up in Spotlight Search again.

  19. How To Search for Text on the iPhone in Chrome or Safari

    Once you load up the web page that you want to search, look up in the top right corner of the screen and hit the icon with the three vertically stacked buttons. Near the bottom of the drop-down menu is where you will see the Find in Page button. Once you click it, you will be able to search any word or term and Chrome will search the entire ...

  20. Trouble deselecting text in Safari search…

    Trouble deselecting text in Safari search/URL bar. I just upgraded my 6S to iOS 13. Now if I tap in the Safari search bar to edit my search text or a URL that's there, the entire text/URL is selected. No amount of tapping, holding, or 3D touching will deselect the text/URL or allow me to make an insertion point.

  21. Browse the web using Safari on iPhone

    Add Safari back to your Home Screen. If you don't see Safari on your Home Screen, you can find it in App Library and add it back. On the Home Screen, swipe left until you see the App Library. Enter "Safari" in the search field. Press and hold , then tap Add to Home Screen. See also Search for websites Change the layout in Safari Clear ...

  22. This quick iPhone Safari trick will help you close all tabs and ...

    Here's how to quickly close all tabs in Safari on iPhone or iPad and some other useful hidden tab management tricks. Quickly close all tabs in Safari Whether I'm using one of the best iPhones , my iPad, or my Mac, I constantly have far too many tabs open at once leading to slower performance and getting lost between tabs, which often leaves ...

  23. Customize your Safari settings on iPhone

    You can hide the search field, switch to Reader, and more. Open the Safari app on your iPhone. Tap , then do any of the following: Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the bottom of the screen to get it back). See a streamlined view of the webpage: Tap Show Reader (if available). To return to the normal view, tap Hide Reader.

  24. 8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari

    By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least ...

  25. Search within your text messages on iPhone

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  26. Mastering iPhone Gestures: A Complete Guide

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