safari browser history delete

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How to clear browsing history on Safari on iPhone or Mac

You can clear your Safari browsing history on both iOS and Mac

As tracking goes, Safari keeping your browsing history is less about privacy-busting security and more about just being useful. It's your history that means Safari remembers where to go to when you choose forward and back within a site, for instance.

It's also how Safari is able to offer you a list of sites that you regularly go to, on account of how handy it is to be able to back to them with a click. History also does keep things you may not expect, though, such as a list of items you've downloaded.

If you don't want that, though, or you're just fed up of Safari going to site addresses you haven't looked at in years, you can wipe the whole browsing history.

On a Mac, you can also wipe, for instance, just the last hour's browsing history. So if you share Safari and it's someone's special birthday coming up, you can avoid them inadvertently finding out you plan to surprise them with dance lessons.

How to clear search history on Safari on Mac

• In Safari, choose the History menu
• Select Clear History from the very bottom of the menu
• In the dialog box that appears, choose from clearing the last hour , today , today and yesterday , or all history
• Click on Clear History

Alternatively, within Safari you can press Command-Y and the current page will be replaced by a history list. There's a Clear History... button toward the top right.

Clicking on that gives you exactly the same dialog about choosing how far back you want to clear your browsing history. But this page does also give you one extra option — the ability to delete one specific item.

How to clear one item from Safari search history on Mac

• In Safari, press Command-Y
• From the long list, click once on a history item to select it
• Right-click to bring up a menu, then choose Delete

Alternatively, if you select one, two, or more items in the history list, you can then press the Delete key to remove them all.

That kind of precision removal is only possible on your Mac, not on iOS . However, whether it's precision or wholesale clearing of your history, though, there is a way to replicate it on iOS.

If you have set iCloud to share your Safari history, then just doing this on your Mac also removes the history from your iPhone, and iPad.

Otherwise, you're stuck with going to your iOS device. And then with clearing the entire history.

How to clear search history on iPhone

• Go to Settings on your iOS device
• Tap on Safari
• Scroll down to Clear History and Website Data
• Tap that, then tap Clear History and Data to confirm

One important thing to note is that you can't selectively remove, say, today's browsing history on the iPhone or iPad . It's all or nothing, with iOS.

What you leave behind

Clearing your history like this does remove the list of sites and pages you've visited. It does mean you can't go back to that site you read last Tuesday, not without remembering what it was and going there yourself.

What it doesn't remove, though, is the information that gets used by something like AutoFill. If you have your address, for instance, and you're used to online forms being filled out with it, you've still got that feature.

You've also still got anything you downloaded. It's purely that Safari won't keep the list of downloads.

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Clear the history, cache and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Find out how to delete your history, cookies and cache in Settings.

Delete your history, cache and cookies

Clear your cookies and the cache, but keep your history

Delete a website from your history, block cookies, use content blockers, delete history, cache and cookies.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Clearing your history, cookies and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information.

When there’s no history or website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

To visit sites without leaving history, turn Private Browsing on .

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.

Tap Remove All Website Data.

When there’s no website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

Open the Safari app.

Tap the Edit button, then select the website(s) that you want to delete from your history.

Tap the Delete button.

A cookie is a piece of data that a site puts on your device so that site can remember you when you visit again.

To block cookies:

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on Block All Cookies.

If you block cookies, some web pages may not work. Here are some examples:

You'll likely not be able to sign in to a site even when using your correct user name and password.

You may see a message that cookies are required or that your browser's cookies are turned off.

Some features on a site may not work.

Content blockers are third-party apps and extensions that let Safari block cookies, images, resources, pop-ups and other content.

To get a content blocker:

Download a content blocking app from the App Store.

Tap Settings > Safari > Extensions.

Tap to turn on a listed content blocker.

You can use more than one content blocker. If you need help, contact the app developer .

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Related topics

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Clear your browsing history

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

Open Safari for me

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

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

History of webpages you visited

The back and forward list for open webpages

Top Sites that aren’t marked as permanent

Frequently visited site list

Cookies and website data saved while visiting webpages

Recent searches

Icons for open webpages

Snapshots saved for open webpages

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

Websites added for Quick Website Search

Websites that asked to use your location

Websites that asked to send you notifications

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

Responses to requests to let websites use WebGL

Pocket-lint

How to quickly delete your safari history on mac, iphone, or ipad.

Instant Google regret? Here's how to delete your history in the Safari browser, whether you're using it to surf the web on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Key Takeaways

• Clearing your Safari history removes cookies and reduces online tracking.
• The process for deleting web history is different for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
• You can use Private Browsing Mode to prevent web history from being saved.

From accessing your bank account on a shared computer to Googling embarrassing queries, there are a number of reasons to want to clear out your search history. Deleting your history on Safari removes your trail of web browsing, but the process also does more than clear out potentially embarrassing websites.

Clearing your history will also remove associated cookies from the web browser, reducing the number of ways you are being tracked online. While clearing your web history only removes cookies from Safari and not third-party websites that already have your data, it can still be helpful to reduce online tracking. Clearing the related cache can also sometimes fix bugs.

Deleting a web history from Safari isn't a terribly complicated process, but the steps are a bit different if you are using a MacBook , iPad , or iPhone . The steps for clearing several web pages and a single website are also different. Some privacy settings can also prevent you from deleting any web history, leaving the buttons you need grayed out.

Too many Safari tabs open on your iPhone? Close them all with this trick

There are also a few tricks that can make the process simpler. For example, if you turn on iCloud for Safari, when you delete the history from your Mac, it will automatically be deleted from your phone and tablet too. If you know you want to delete your web history before you make a single click, you can use Private Browsing Mode instead.

Whether you are a murder mystery writer looking to eliminate search queries that would raise the eyebrows of any detective, or you want to reduce the number of cookies tracking you, this guide will tell you how to delete Safari history in a few simple steps.

How to delete Safari history on a Mac

Safari allows you to delete a lot of web history from a Mac or MacBook at once by allowing you to choose the dates for which you would like to erase. If you want to clear websites from the last hour, last day, last two days or all of your web history, this is the process to use.

• Open Safari
• From the top toolbar, click on History , then click Clear History.
• In the pop-up window, use the drop-down menu to select the time period you want to clear from your history.
• Click Clear History .

How to delete Safari history on an iPhone or iPad

The steps for clearing out your Safari history on an iPhone is quite different from using a Safari browser on a Mac. But, the process is the same across both iPhones and iPads, so these steps below work for both your phone and tablet.

• Open the Settings app.
• Select Safari.
• Scroll down to the Privacy & Security section and select Clear History and Website Data.
• On the next page, tap the time frame that you would like to delete the history for.
• Optional: If you also want to close out of all open websites, tap the toggle for Close All Tabs.
• Tap Clear History.

How to delete a single website from Safari history

Safari allows you to easily delete websites from the last hour, day, two days, or your entire web history easily. But, if you only want to remove a single website, you'll instead have to access your history, and then select the individual page to remove.

• Open a Safari browser.
• From the top toolbar, select History > Show All History. Or, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command + Y.
• Select the website entry that you wish to delete. If that site was not visited today, you will need to tap on the date that you visited the website to find it or use the search bar at the top.
• Right-click on the website entry and select delete.

On an iPhone or iPad:

• Tap the Bookmark icon on the bottom (it looks like an open book).
• Tap the Clock or History icon at the top of the page.
• Locate the website that you wish to delete from your history -- your history is organized by the date you visited.
• On the website you wish to delete, swipe left, then tap on the red trash icon.

How to use Bing Chat on Safari

How to use private mode in safari.

If you know that you'll want to delete the website that you are about to visit from your history, try using Private Browsing Mode instead. This mode does not save any website history, including search history and autofill information. That means you can do your online banking without going back and deleting your web history when you are done.

To use Private Browsing Mode on a Mac:

• Open Safari.
• On the top toolbar, go to File > New Private Window.
• Use this new private window for browsing. You can quickly see if a Safari browser is Private because the field to type in the URL is dark gray instead of white.

To use Private Browsing Mode on iOS:

• Tap the tab icon in the bottom left corner.
• At the bottom of the screen, tap Private (swipe to see all the toppings in this toolbar if you do not see the Private option.)
• Private browsing will have a dark gray URL field instead of white. To return to regular browsing, repeat the steps but this time swipe back to your open tabs.

How to use picture-in-picture mode in Safari on Mac

How to instantly clear your web history from multiple devices.

With iCloud , Safari can save your web browsing across all the devices that you use with your Apple ID. While that's helpful for quickly recalling a website no matter what device you first opened it with, it also syncs any deletions to the web history across your devices . That means if you delete a web page from your history on a Mac, it will automatically be deleted from your iPhone too -- as long as both devices are logged into the same Apple ID and iCloud for Safari is enabled.

iCloud for Safari can be enabled during the setup process for a new device, but it can also be turned on and off from the Settings app:

• Tap on your Apple ID or name at the top.
• Tap on iCloud.
• Under Apps Using iCloud, select Show All . (If you are running iOS 15 or earlier, you may not see the full list already instead of the Show All option, in which case you can jump to the next step.)
• Toggle on Safari from the list.

Why can't I clear my Safari history?

In some cases, the buttons that you need to tap to clear your Safari history are gray. But why can't you delete your Safari history, and how do you fix it? Here are a few common reasons why the Safari history options are grayed out:

• You've already deleted your history and there are no more websites to clear out.
• Web content restrictions are turned on. Some parental control settings prevent kids and teens from deleting their web history, while other content restrictions can also prevent you from deleting. To access the content restriction options, open the Settings app and go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• You are using Private Browsing Mode. This mode does not save your web history, so you have nothing to delete.

14 Safari tips and tricks you absolutely need to know

Can you permanently delete safari history.

Deleting your Safari history makes it difficult for the average person to recover the past websites that you have visited. However, if you are connected to your work or school network, in some cases the network administrator can still see your website access. Deleting your website history also may not fool a trained digital forensics expert during an investigation.

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How to Clear Safari Browsing History and Cache

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

If a site you regularly frequent has elements that have stopped working, or if a site has stopped loading completely, there may be a conflict between an older version of it that Safari has cached and a newer one.

Or perhaps you simply want to protect your privacy by wiping the slate clean and removing all the data associated with websites you've visited. Either way, here's how it's done on macOS and iOS.

How to Clear Safari's Cache on Mac

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

• Launch Safari browser on your Mac.

How to Clear Safari's Cache on iPhone and iPad

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

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

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

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How to Clear Safari Browsing History on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

While Safari is a great web browser , the design language is unlike the other web browsers such as Chrome. So, if you are new to the Apple ecosystem, you may have a tricky time figuring out the basics. One such basic tool we all use is to clear our browsing history. In this article, we will clear your confusion regarding how to clear Safari history on your iPhone and Mac.

Many of you mostly want to clear your browsing history to erase your online activity. However, there is much more to it. After extended periods of usage, your browsing data on Safari takes up quite some space on your device. So, clearing it can help you gain some additional storage as well.

Further, clearing your browsing history can erase junk from your browser and improve its performance as well. Hence, let’s understand how to do it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Delete Safari Browsing History on iPhone and iPad

There are two ways in which you can do it. You can either clear websites individually from your recorded history or clear them all at once. Here’s the step-by-step procedure for both of them.

1. Clear Individual Website History on Safari on iPhone and iPad

Step 1: Open Safari on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on the book icon.

Step 3: Select the History tab. You will be able to see your browsing history. Once you see the items you want to delete, long tap on them.

Step 4: Tap on Delete from the list of options.

There you go. You’ve deleted items from your Safari browsing history. However, if you feel this is not feasible, you can clear all your Safari browsing history at once. Read the next section to know more.

2. Clear All Browsing History on Safari on iPhone and iPad

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on Safari.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap on ‘Clear History and Data’.

Step 4: Tap on ‘Clear History and Data’ to confirm.

Once you do this, you will be able to delete the browsing history on your device. Next, let us take a look at how to do the same on your macOS devices.

How to Delete Safari Browsing History on Mac

Here’s how to clear the Safari history on your macOS devices. Similar to iPhone, you can delete individual site history and all website history on Safari for Mac as well. Let’s show you how.

1. Remove Individual Website History on Mac

Step 1: Open Safari and click on the History button on the Safari toolbar on Mac.

Step 2: Click on ‘Show all History’.

Step 3: Expand your history and click on the item you want to delete.

Step 4: Click on Delete.

There you go – this is how you can delete individual items from your browsing history on Mac.

2. Clear All Browsing History on Safari on Mac

Step 1: Open Safari and click on the History option on the Safari toolbar.

Step 2: Click on Clear History.

Step 3: Select ‘all history’ in the dropdown menu and click on Clear History. Once you do this, all your browsing history will be cleared on Safari.

There you go. That is everything you need to do if you want to clear Safari history on iPhone and Mac. However, if you have any further questions, look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Safari Browsing History

Yes. Safari has an incognito mode called Private Tabs.

You can go to Settings -> Safari -> Delete Website Data to clear cookies and cache on Safari on iPhone.

Safari isn’t ideally expected to slow down if you do not clear history. However, a lot of website data and history can accumulate to form a cache and slow it down eventually.

There is no official way to retrieve deleted history on Safari.

Don’t Leave a Trace

We hope this article helped you clear your browsing history in Safari. So, the next time you are looking to erase a trace of your browsing activity on Safari, keep this article handy! However, we feel that browsers like Chrome and Firefox do a better job at letting you control the browsing history, at least on the mobile versions. We hope Apple updates Safari with such changes soon.

Last updated on 27 April, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

DID YOU KNOW

Supreeth Koundinya

Supreeth is passionate about technology and dedicates himself to helping people figure it out. An engineer by education, his understanding of the inner workings of each device is what ensures he provides top-quality assistance, tips, and recommendations. When away from the desk, you will find him traveling, playing FIFA, or hunting for a good movie.

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How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

Clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad in a few simple steps

You'll definitely want to know how to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad . Know how to delete browsing history is part of basic user operation on all your devices, and is especially if you share devices with others. 

Luckily, deleting browsing history on Safari is easy and can be done in just a few taps, and is the same on iOS and iPadOS, so whether you're using an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad Air , these steps will apply.

Remember, though, that deleting your browsing history only stops your activity being visible on that device. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will still be able to see the webpages you have visited. If you want to stop that, for ultimate privacy, you'll need to use one of the best VPN services .

The following screenshots were taken on an iPhone running iOS 17 . If you aren't running the latest version of your device's OS, we can show you how to update an iPhone or how to update an iPad .

• In Safari, tap the book icon
• Go to the history tab (clock)
• Select how far back to clear

Read on to see full illustrated instructions.

1. In Safari, tap the book icon

Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar.

2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear

Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear at the bottom.

3. Select how far back to clear and tap Delete

Now choose how far back you'd like to delete : last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

If you like, you can toggle on Close All Tabs , which will close every open tab that isn't in a tab group (we can show you how to use tab groups if you aren't sure).

Finally, when you're happy, hit Delete .

As you can see in the screenshot above, if you now go back to the history tab, your history will have been deleted.

For more iPhone tutorials, check out our guides on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone , how to clear RAM on iPhone , how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone and how to rearrange the iOS 17 Messages '+' menu .

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Peter is Editor of the How To and Camera sections at Tom's Guide. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, obsessively detailing his car, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots. 

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How to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

Easily wipe your browsing history in Apple's Safari web browser in seconds.

How to find your web-browsing history

How to clear your web browsing history.

Clearing your browsing history on iPhone and iPad in Safari has been a straightforward affair for years now.

Sometimes, you may want a fresh start with your web browsing — perhaps to get rid of some history that may bring up a memory you'd rather forget as you type in a website URL in the address bar.

Apple makes this feature very easy to access on both the iPhone and iPad by offering two ways to clear your history. So with this in mind, here's how you can do just that and make a fresh start in Safari .

Viewing your web history in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is very easy to do — and it's all done from Safari.

• In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar that's below the address bar.
• Tap the History icon in the upper right corner. Here, you can view your entire web history.

• Use the History search bar to find previously viewed pages.

If the time calls to wipe most or all of your web browsing history in Safari, here's how to do it on both iPhone and iPad.

To note, the below steps will be the same if you attempt to wipe your web browsing history on an iPhone 15 Pro Max , and an iPad Mini 6 for example.

• In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button.
• Select the History icon in the upper right corner.
• Tap Clear and select how much history you'd like to clear: the last hour, the last day, 48 hours' worth, or all recorded history.

One more thing… A feature no one talks about

Privacy on the web matters more than ever in these modern times. Websites store the pages you click on, especially when you sign into a page that can contain personal information about you.

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!

It's great to have a feature like this in Safari — but it would be good to have this automated. To tell Apple's web browser to automatically clear history after 24 hours would be very useful, as you wouldn't leave a trail behind.

Regardless, it's still a good feature, and one you should use every week.

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider ', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

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How to Clear Safari's Browsing History on an iPhone or Mac

Browsing data reveals your browsing habits, and can be accessed by sites you visit. If you're concerned about your privacy, you can manage and delete your browsing history.

Navigating the digital world creates a footprint similar to how our steps leave marks in real life. These digital traces, from sites visited to search queries, can pose privacy risks. So, it's essential to know how to clear your browsing history.

Whether you aim to clear search history on your iPhone or Mac, delete history from a specific timeframe in Safari, or fully clear your browsing history, Apple offers streamlined solutions. Let's take a look.

How to Delete Your Safari Browsing History on an iPhone or iPad

If you're looking to clear Safari's browsing history from within the Safari app on the iPhone or iPad, you're looking in the wrong place. Apple puts such options in the Settings app, and this is how to find them:

• Open the Settings app. Then, scroll down and tap on Safari .
• Scroll down to the Privacy & Security section and tap Clear History and Website Data .
• When a sub-window pops up, choose a timeframe and tap Clear History .

If you find yourself needing to delete your history in short timeframes, consider using private browsing (or incognito mode) in Safari instead of heading to the Settings app to do this often.

How to Clear Your Browsing History in Safari on a Mac

Unlike on an iPhone or iPad, you'll find all you need to clear Safari's history within the app. There's no need to open System Settings. Here's how to do it:

• Launch Safari using Spotlight search ( Command + Space ) or any other desired method.

There are still a few other things you would have to do if you want to reset Safari to default settings . But this method is all you need to delete your Safari browsing history on a Mac.

Safari Keeps Your History Private

Do not be worried if you suspect Apple is selling your browsing data; that is far from the truth. Apple has built a reputation for prioritizing privacy and security and even goes the extra mile to protect you from advertisers and third parties.

In fact, Safari might be safer to use than Google Chrome since Google doesn't offer the same commitment to privacy as Safari does. Use Private Browsing if necessary or delete your history if you still want to keep it from prying eyes.

How to Clear Safari History, Cache, and Cookies on your iPhone

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Safari stores your browsing history as well as cached files and cookies from every website you visit. Clearing Safari history, cookies, and cached data on your iPhone can be beneficial for various reasons, including performance improvement, privacy, troubleshooting, and general maintenance.

Sometimes, you also may simply want a fresh start and prefer to clear your history regularly to minimize your digital footprint.

Clearing your history ensures others can’t see which websites you’ve visited or what information you’ve searched for. This is mostly applicable if you share your iPhone with others or search for sensitive information.

Over time, cached files and cookies from sites you visit can accumulate and take up a significant amount of storage space on your iPhone. Clearing them will free up storage capacity. Excessive data accumulation, including history, cookies, and cache, can slow down Safari’s performance. Clearing this data could speed up your browsing experience.

Also, if a website isn’t loading properly, clearing your browsing history, cache, and cookies will force Safari to download fresh data and could help resolve the issue.

How to Clear Safari History

To clear your Safari history and website data such as cookies and caches, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
• Find Clear History and Website Data and tap it.
• On the next screen, you’ll have the option to clear history from the Last Hour , Today , Today and Yesterday , or All history. Select whichever one you prefer.

How to Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

The steps above will clear all of your browsing history, plus cookies, cache, and other browsing data (this is what “website data” refers to). However, you can preserve the history of the sites you’ve visited while clearing out only your cookies and other stored browsing data such as caches and stored preferences for individual websites.

Here’s how to clear your Safari cache and cookies, but keep your history:

• Open the Settings app.
• Scroll all the way down to Advanced and tap it.
• Tap Website Data . Depending on how much data is stored, this screen might take a few seconds to load.
• To flush the data for an individual site, locate it in the list and swipe right-to-left to delete it. You can also select Show All Sites to expand the list.
• To delete all cookies and caches, select Remove All Website Data at the bottom of your screen and then tap Remove Now to confirm.

Clearing Safari’s history and website data is a straightforward process that can protect privacy, improve performance, and help manage valuable storage space effectively. Whether or not you’ve been thinking about it, give it a try to see if you notice a difference.

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• Clear Safari cache on Mac
• Clear Safari cache on iPhone or iPad
• How to save passwords when clearing your cache

How to clear your Safari browser cache on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad

• You can clear your cache on Safari in just a few steps on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
• Clearing your cache, as well as history and cookies, can help resolve your device's performance issues.
• Clearing your cookies will clear your passwords as well, unless you save them with keychain.

A cache is a store of data. When you visit a website on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, the Safari browser keeps a snapshot of the pages you view.

If you go back to that website, Safari loads the cached page in an instant, instead of taking the time to retrieve the page from the internet again.

But an overloaded cache can take up storage space and cause your device to run inefficiently — and it could use a periodic clearing.

Here's what you need to know to clear your cache on Safari, as well as your cookies and browsing history.

How to clear Safari cache on Mac

You can either clear just your cache or your cache, history, and cookies. 

Clear your cache

1. Click on the Safari tab at the top left of your screen and choose Preferences from the dropdown menu.

2.  Click the Advanced tab of the menu that pops up.

3.  At the end of the tab, select the Show Develop menu in menu bar box and close the Preferences menu.

4. Click the Develop tab from the Safari menu at the top of the page.

5. Click Empty Caches from the dropdown menu.

Clear your cache, history, and cookies

You may also want to clear your browsing history and cookies in addition to emptying your cache. Here's how to do that.

1. Choose the History tab at the top of your screen.

2. At the very bottom of the dropdown menu, choose Clear History.

3.  A box pops up with a choice to clear the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history. Choose your time frame and click the Clear History button.  

Once you clear the history, it will also clear the cache and cookies associated with that time period.

How to clear Safari cache on iPhone or iPad

To clear your cache and browsing history:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Safari .

3. Tap Clear History and Website Data .

4. On the screen that pops up, choose Clear History and Data .

To clear your cache but not your browsing history:

3. Tap Advanced .

4. Tap Website Data .

5. Choose Remove All Website Data .

What happens to saved passwords when you clear your cache

When you clear your cache, history, and cookies, you may discover that Safari has logged you out of your favorite websites.

While clearing Safari's cache alone will not delete your passwords, clearing your history and cookies can. That's because when you empty your cookies, you will lose their password data saved in Safari as well. And keep in mind that clearing your history also clears its associated cookies.

Luckily, Apple has a solution to this problem. If you use iCloud, check your iCloud settings on your phone or computer.

Make sure that you've checked the box for Safari. As long as this box is checked, any passwords you save through your browser will stay safe in your keychain .

• Main content

Get Rid of Your Safari Browsing History: Quick and Easy

Many people worry a lot about their online privacy in the digital age we live in now. People need to take steps to protect their privacy while surfing the web because more and more personal information is being shared and stored online.

Safari is one of the most popular browsers. Millions of people all over the world use it. Apple made this browser, which is known for its easy-to-use interface, fast browsing speed, and security features. But, as with any browser, users still need to be aware of possible privacy threats.

This article’s goal is to teach people how important it is to protect their privacy while they are browsing, and to give them tips on how to do so when using Safari. We will talk about the different privacy settings Safari has and how users can use them to make sure their online privacy is safe.

Table of Contents

Uncovering the Secrets of Safari Browsing History

Browsing history is a list of all the websites and web pages that a person who uses a web browser has been to. This information is saved on the device that was used to browse, so the user can easily go back to websites or web pages they have already seen.

What is Stored in Safari Browsing History

Safari stores its browsing history in a database on the device. This database keeps track of the URL, title, date, and time of each site that was visited. It also has information about how often people visit each website and how long they stay there. This information can be helpful for someone who wants to quickly go back to a website they have recently visited, but it can also be a privacy concern.

How Browsing History Affects your Privacy

There are several ways that your browsing history can affect your privacy. For example, if someone uses a computer that is shared, it is easy for someone else who uses the same computer to look at their browsing history and see the websites they have visited. This can be especially scary if the person has been to websites that have private or sensitive information on them.

Some websites may also use tracking technologies like cookies to learn about how a person uses the site. This information can be used to make a profile of the person’s interests and behavior, which can then be sold to advertisers or used for targeted advertising.

Last but not least, government agencies or law enforcement can also look at your browsing history as part of an investigation. In this case, the history of what you have been looking at can be used as evidence in court or as part of an investigation into a crime.

People can protect their privacy by regularly clearing their browsing history or by using private browsing mode when they visit personal or sensitive websites. They can also use privacy-focused web browsers or add-ons that block tracking technologies and add more privacy features to their browsers.

Deleting Browsing History on Safari

Getting rid of Safari’s browsing history is an important way to protect your privacy and keep your device running smoothly. Your browsing history is a list of the websites and pages you have been to, as well as the date and time of each visit. This article will talk about two ways to delete your Safari browsing history: the Quick and Easy Method and the Advanced Method.

Quick and Easy Method

1. Clearing Recent History

This is the fastest and easiest way to get rid of your Safari browsing history. Follow these steps to do this:

• On your Mac or iOS device, open Safari.
• Select “Clear History” from the “History” menu.
• In the window that pops up, choose whether you want to clear the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all of history.
• Click the button that says “Clear History.”

This will get rid of everything you have looked at on Safari recently.

2. Clearing Specific Websites

If you want to get rid of the history of certain websites, you can do so by doing the following:

• Select “Show History” from the “History” menu.
• Find the website you want to delete in the History window and right-click on it (or hold down the Control key and click).
• Choose “Delete” from the menu that appears.
• Repeat the steps for each site you want to get rid of from your browser’s history.

Advanced Method

In this method, we will talk about how to delete your cookies, cache, and other browsing data, as well as your browsing history.

1. Clearing Cookies and Cache

Cookies are small text files that sites you visit put on your device. They are used, among other things, to remember your preferences and log-in information. Cache is the name for the temporary files that your browser stores on your device to speed up the loading of sites you visit often. Follow these steps to clear Safari’s cookies and cache:

• Select “Preferences” from the “Safari” menu (or “Settings” on iOS devices).
• Click on the “Privacy” tab in the “Preferences” (or “Settings”) window.
• Click the “Manage Website Data” or “Website Data” button on your iOS device.
• In the window that pops up, choose the cookies and cache you want to get rid of and click “Remove.”
• Repeat the steps for each site whose cookies and cache you want to get rid of.

2. Clearing Other Browsing Data

You might also want to get rid of saved passwords, form data, and your download history. Follow these steps to clear this information from Safari:

• Click the “Remove Now” button after checking the boxes next to the types of data you want to get rid of.

What Could be Preventing Me from Deleting Safari History 

You might not be able to delete Safari history on your iOS device for a number of reasons. Some of the most common ones are:

• Restrictions: If your device is set up to have restrictions, you might not be able to clear Safari’s history. To see if restrictions are on, go to “Settings” > “General” > “Restrictions” and make sure that “Safari” is not turned off. If that is the case, you will not be able to get rid of your history.
• iCloud Sync: If you have iCloud sync turned on for Safari, your browsing history may be shared across all of your devices. To see if iCloud sync is turned on, go to “Settings” > “Your Name” > “iCloud” and make sure that “Safari” is turned on. If so, you will need to delete your history on all of your devices to get rid of it completely.
• Private Browsing Mode: If you were using Private Browsing mode when you went to certain websites, those sites will not be saved in your history. Look for the “Private” icon in the top left corner of the Safari window to see if you are in Private Browsing mode.
• Third-Party Software: It is possible that some third-party software is making it hard for you to delete Safari’s history. For example, you might not be able to clear your history if you have parental control software. If you think this is the case, try turning off the software or uninstalling it, and then try to delete your history again.
• iOS Software Problem: Sometimes, you might not be able to delete your Safari history because of a problem with your iOS software. If you have tried all of the above steps and still can not delete your history, try restarting your device or updating to the latest version of iOS.

Tips for Maintaining Privacy while Browsing

Maintaining privacy while browsing is an important part of using the internet, especially in the modern world where personal information and online activities are valuable commodities. In this section, we will talk about three things you can do to keep your browsing private: regularly clearing your browsing history, using “incognito mode,” and installing plugins that protect your privacy.

Regularly Clearing Browsing History

Your browsing history is a list of the websites you visit, the pages you look at, and the links you click on while using the internet. A good way to protect your privacy is to clear your browsing history often. When you clear your browsing history, you get rid of all the evidence of what you did online and stop other people from seeing what you did. By clearing your browsing history, you can also free up space on your device and make your web browser run better.

To clear your browsing history, you need to go to your web browser’s settings or options. Different browsers have slightly different steps, but the main steps are the same. For example, in Google Chrome, you can click on the three dots in the upper right corner, choose “History,” and then click on “Clear browsing data.” In Mozilla Firefox, you can click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner, choose “History,” and then click on “Clear Recent History.”

Using Incognito Mode

Incognito mode, which is also called “private browsing,” is another way to keep your browsing private. When you use “incognito mode,” your web browser does not keep track of what you do online. This means that your browsing history, cookies, and cache will not be saved, and other people will not be able to see them.

Incognito mode is helpful when you want to keep your online activities private, like when you are shopping for gifts or researching sensitive topics. To use incognito mode, you have to go to your web browser’s settings or options and choose the incognito mode option. If you click on the three dots in the upper right corner of Google Chrome, you can choose “New Incognito Window.” If you click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of Mozilla Firefox, you can choose “New Private Window.”

Installing Privacy-Focused Plugins

Plugins that focus on privacy are software tools that make your web browser’s privacy features better. To protect your privacy, they can block trackers, stop data collection, and encrypt your data. There are a lot of privacy-focused plugins for different web browsers, and they are easy to install from the store for that browser.

For instance, the Privacy Badger plugin stops third-party trackers from getting your information without your permission. The HTTPS Everywhere plugin encrypts your information so that it can not be read by others. The uBlock Origin plugin blocks ads and trackers, making your online experience and privacy better.

Final Notes

Getting rid of your Safari browsing history is easy and quick, and it can help you keep your privacy and safety online. If you follow the steps above, you will be able to get rid of all traces of your online activity, keeping your sensitive information safe. Clearing your Safari browsing history is an important part of managing your online presence, whether you are worried about privacy, want to free up space on your computer, or just want to start over.

People Also Asked

A lot of our readers have been worried about privacy and the need to clear their Safari browsing history. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we have gotten about this subject:

Can I delete specific items from my history instead of clearing everything?

Yes, you can choose what to delete from your history in Safari instead of deleting everything. To do this, go to the “History” menu, find the item you want to delete, and click “Remove” or “Delete.”

Is there a way to prevent Safari from keeping a record of my browsing history?

Use “Private Browsing” to stop Safari from keeping track of what you have been looking at. When you turn on Private Browsing, Safari will not remember the websites you visit, your search history, or any AutoFill information. To use Private Browsing, click “File” and choose “New Private Window” from the menu.

What happens to my saved passwords and autofill information when I clear my history?

When you clear your history in Safari, you will also lose any saved passwords and autofill information. But you can still find your saved passwords in the “Passwords” section of the “Settings” app, and you can get your autofill information back by putting it in again in Safari.

Elliot Victor King is a Tech Enthusiast from Salt Lake City with years of experience in building websites. Having been involved with Mobile Technology and Computers from an early age, Elliot's Mission at MacCrunch.com is to evolve the Website to new levels by contributing helpful content for our readers to enjoy and learn from. To contact Elliot send an email to [email protected]

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2 Easy Ways to Check Your Safari Search History

Last Updated: January 17, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 150,814 times. Learn more...

Do you need to check your Safari browser history? In a few simple steps, you can easily view all the websites you accessed in the past. You can also search for specific websites in your history and clear any website data you don't want. This wikiHow will teach you how to view and delete your Safari history on iPhone, iPad, and macOS.

Things You Should Know

• On iPhone and iPad, you can click the book icon, then the clock icon to find your Safari history.
• On macOS, you can click the "History" tab, then "Show History".
• You can search for specific websites and clear your history data.

Using iPhone and iPad

• If needed, you can change your General Settings .

• If you're signed in with the same Apple ID to you use to log into your Mac, your Mac's Safari history will appear in this list as well.

• You may have to swipe down on the History page to find it.
• The results will load as you type.

• Tap a time period to delete the history from just that time period. To delete the entire log, select All time .
• You can also swipe left on individual websites in your history, then click Delete .

Using macOS

• Be sure to update Safari.

• If you're logged into the computer with the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone or iPad, you'll also see sites you've visited on those devices.

• A list of matching results from your history will appear. Click a site to load it in Safari.

• Select a time frame from the drop-down menu, then click Clear History .
• You can also delete cookies from Safari .

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/search-your-browsing-history-ibrw1114/mac
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265

About This Article

iPhone/iPad: 1. Open Safari . 2. Tap the book icon. 3. Tap the clock button. macOS: 1. Open Safari . 2. Click History . 3. Click Show All History . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to clear Browser History in Safari

The browser history, or the overview of the websites opened with the browser , contains a lot of information about your private interests and preferences. Combined with saved logins, it also gives you the fastest way to log on to your accounts for web services like online stores, cloud storage, online banking portals or social networks.

As practical as this may seem, it is equally problematic if third parties get their hands on your personal information . Now that we are using mobile devices constantly, taking them with us almost everywhere and connecting to many different public networks (and leaving them lying around in a worst case scenario), this is not that unlikely – and that holds true for users of the Apple’s Safari browser, too. That is why the following guide tells you how to clear the history in Safari to keep you on the safe side.

Quick guide to clearing history in Safari

A step-by-step guide on how to clear the history in safari (desktop), clearing your safari browsing history in the mobile version.

Users of the Safari browser can delete their browsing history at any time, either deleting the list of pages they visited in a specific period or their entire history. If you use the web client on multiple devices and have activated iCloud synchronization, your history is cleared on all of these devices. To delete your Safari history , which takes just a few seconds, you generally complete the following steps:

• Launch Safari using the Finder, the Spotlight search, or the symbol in the Dock or on the desktop.
• Click the History menu item.
• Select “ Clear History ”.
• In the “Clear” line, select whether you want to delete the history for the last hour, the last 24 or 48 hours, or the entire Safari history.
• Then click the “ Clear History ” button.

Unlike other browsers like Chrome or Firefox, Safari does not offer additional options for clearing cookies, webpage data and passwords in the Clear history dialog. You have to do that separately under the client settings, which can be found under “Safari” “Preferences”. The relevant categories are “ Privacy ” (“Manage Website Data”) or “ Passwords” .

The security aspect is not the only reason to clear your browser history regularly : Over time, the list of websites visited takes up more and more storage space , and can have a noticeable effect on devices with limited storage space. Old entries can also prevent updated websites being shown in their new form, or being displayed at all.

The above instructions were a quick guide to clearing your Safari history. Now we will go into more detail on the individual steps in the process.

The first step is to start the web client. To do so, click the symbol in the Dock or search for the start file in the Spotlight search or Finder :

After launching the browser, click “ History ” in the menu bar at the top to open the History menu. Among other things, you can click the item of the same name to display the entire history or open the start page you defined. The button you need to clear the Safari history, “ Clear History ”, is at the very bottom of the drop-down menu:

Beside the “Clear” item, select the period for which you want to clear your history. For example, if you choose the “ Last Hour” option, Safari only deletes the history of the past 60 minutes, i.e. only the pages you accessed or visited in this period. To perform a complete reset , check the “ All History ” option. To start the process, click the “ Clear History ” button:

If you use Safari on a mobile device, you can also clear your history there, though the procedure is different. In iOS, you do not clear your Safari browsing history in the app itself, but in the “ Settings ” menu, which you can open by tapping the button of the same name. Then proceed as follows:

Scroll down to “ Safari ” and tap it:

Select the “ Clear History and Website Data ” item:

Finally, confirm the clearing process by tapping the “ Clear History and Data ” button. Unlike the desktop version, cookies and other search data are also deleted automatically:

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How to clear the Firefox history

Sites you’ve visited, active logins, individual website settings – Firefox provides you with the option of saving any user data in the browser-specific history, but this practical feature always comes with the risk that such information could end up in the wrong hands. We’ll show you how to counter this risk, and clear your Firefox history.

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There are several good reasons to clear your browsing history in Internet Explorer: Your browsing history can quickly take up a lot of room on your device, and you can free up space by deleting it. Clearing your history also prevents others from seeing what you’ve been doing on the web. In this article, you’ll learn how to clear your history in Internet Explorer so you can benefit from these…

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Introduction

Safari, Apple's native web browser, is a powerful tool for accessing the internet on Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices. As you navigate through various websites, Safari diligently keeps track of your browsing history, creating a record of the sites you've visited. While this feature can be incredibly useful for revisiting previously viewed pages, there are times when you may want to clear this history for privacy or performance reasons.

Whether you're looking to remove traces of a surprise gift purchase from a shared device or simply aiming to declutter your browsing experience, knowing how to delete your Safari history is a valuable skill. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your browsing activities remain private and your browser functions optimally.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of deleting your Safari history, providing clear and easy-to-follow instructions for both Mac and iOS devices. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to manage your browsing history effectively, allowing you to maintain a clean and secure digital footprint. Let's dive in and take control of your Safari browsing history!

Step 1: Open Safari and Access History

To begin the process of deleting your Safari browsing history, you'll first need to open the Safari web browser on your Mac or iOS device. Once Safari is launched, accessing your browsing history is a straightforward task, allowing you to review and manage the list of websites you've visited.

Launch Safari : Click on the Safari icon in your Mac's dock or navigate to the Applications folder and open Safari from there.

Access History : Once Safari is open, you can access your browsing history by clicking on the "History" tab located in the top menu bar. A dropdown menu will appear, displaying various options including "Show All History." Click on "Show All History" to reveal a comprehensive list of websites you've visited, organized by date.

Review and Navigate : Upon accessing your browsing history, you can scroll through the list to review the websites you've visited. Safari conveniently categorizes the history by date, making it easy to locate specific entries based on when they were accessed.

Open Safari App : Tap on the Safari app icon on your iOS device's home screen to launch the browser.

Access History : Once Safari is open, tap and hold the back arrow icon located in the bottom toolbar. This action will reveal your browsing history, allowing you to view the websites you've visited.

Navigate History : You can now scroll through the list of visited websites, organized by date, and tap on any entry to revisit the respective site.

By following these simple steps, you can effortlessly access your browsing history on both Mac and iOS devices, setting the stage for the next phase of clearing your Safari history. Now that you've successfully accessed your browsing history, let's move on to the next step and learn how to clear this data from your Safari browser.

Step 2: Clear Browsing History

Now that you've accessed your browsing history on Safari, it's time to take control of this data by clearing the records of your online activities. Whether you're looking to maintain privacy, free up storage space, or optimize your browser's performance, clearing your browsing history is a simple yet impactful task. Below, you'll find detailed instructions for clearing your Safari history on both Mac and iOS devices.

Navigate to History : After accessing your browsing history as outlined in Step 1, click on the "History" tab in the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu, select "Clear History" to proceed.

Choose Time Range : A dialog box will appear, offering options to clear your browsing history from the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history. Select the desired time range based on the data you wish to remove.

Confirm Clearing : Once you've chosen the time range, click on the "Clear History" button to initiate the deletion process. Safari will promptly remove the selected browsing history from your Mac, ensuring that your past online activities are no longer accessible.

Access Settings : Open the "Settings" app on your iOS device and scroll down to find "Safari" in the list of installed apps.

Clear History and Website Data : Within the Safari settings, tap on "Clear History and Website Data." A confirmation prompt will appear, asking if you want to clear your browsing history and cookies. Tap "Clear History and Data" to proceed.

By following these straightforward steps, you can effectively clear your Safari browsing history, safeguarding your privacy and optimizing your browsing experience. With your browsing history successfully cleared, let's move on to the final step to ensure that the deletion process is confirmed and your Safari browser is ready for continued use.

Step 3: Confirm Deletion

After clearing your Safari browsing history on Mac or iOS, it's essential to confirm that the deletion process was successful. Verifying that your browsing history has been effectively removed provides peace of mind and ensures that your privacy is upheld. Additionally, confirming the deletion allows you to proceed with your browsing activities on Safari with a clean slate, free from the remnants of past visits.

Verify History Removal : To confirm that your browsing history has been deleted on Safari for Mac, simply revisit the "Show All History" option under the "History" tab. Upon accessing your browsing history, you should notice that the previously listed websites are no longer present, indicating that the deletion process was successful.

Check Recent Searches : Another way to confirm the deletion of your browsing history is to utilize the search bar within Safari. By typing in keywords or URLs that were previously visited, you can verify that the browser no longer auto-suggests or displays these entries, reaffirming that your browsing history has been effectively cleared.

Revisit Browsing History : After clearing your browsing history and website data in Safari settings on your iOS device, you can confirm the deletion by tapping and holding the back arrow icon within the Safari app. Upon reviewing your browsing history, you should observe that the previously visited websites are no longer listed, indicating the successful removal of your browsing history.

Test Auto-Suggestions : To further confirm the deletion, you can test Safari's auto-suggestion feature by typing in keywords or URLs that were previously part of your browsing history. If the browser no longer auto-suggests or displays these entries, it serves as additional confirmation that your browsing history has been effectively cleared.

By following these confirmation steps, you can ensure that your Safari browsing history has been successfully deleted, allowing you to proceed with your online activities with confidence and privacy. With your browsing history effectively cleared and the deletion confirmed, you are now equipped to enjoy a fresh and secure browsing experience on Safari.

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How to clear your history in any browser.

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Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to clear your browsing history on a Windows PC, or press Command+Shift+Delete on a Mac. Check your browser's settings to find this option on a mobile device.

All web browsers remember a list of the web pages you've visited. You can delete this list at any time, clearing your browsing history and erasing the tracks stored on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Each browser has its own separate history, so you'll need to clear the history in multiple places if you've used more than one browser.

In the future, you can use private browsing mode to browse sensitive websites without your browser saving any history. You won't have to clear your history afterward.

To clear your browsing history in Chrome , on Windows , Mac , or Linux , click the three-dot menu icon found in the top-right corner of the browser, hover your mouse cursor over "More Tools," and choose "Clear Browsing Data." You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open this screen on Windows, or press Command+Shift+Delete on a Mac.

On a Mac, the backspace key is labeled "Delete." Pressing the Delete key beside the Home and Edit keys doesn't work.

To delete your entire browsing history, select from "the beginning of time" in the drop-down box at the top of the screen and check the "Browsing history" option. You can also choose to clear other private data from here, including your download history, cookies, and browser cache.

Related: How to Clear History in Google Chrome

To clear your browsing history in Google Chrome on Android , iPhone , or iPad , tap the three-dot menu icon > Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.

You'll need to choose a time range that you want to delete from the drop-down list at the top of the screen. Select from the "beginning of time" to clear everything.

Related: How to Clear Your Browser History on Android

Ensure the "Browsing history" option is checked here and tap the "Clear Data" or "Clear Browsing Data" button. You can also choose to clear other types of personal data from here, including cookies and cached files.

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

To clear your browsing history on Safari on an iPhone or iPad , open the Settings app and then navigate to Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Tap the "Clear History and Data" option to confirm your choice.

This button will clear all sensitive browsing data, including your cookies and cache.

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

To clear your browsing history in Firefox  on the desktop, click the three-line menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser and then navigate to History > Clear Recent History. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open this tool on Windows or press Command+Shift+Delete on a Mac.

To delete your entire browsing history, select "Everything" at the top of the window and check "Browsing & Download History" in the detailed list of items to clear. You can also choose to clear other types of private data from here, including your cookies, browser cache, offline website data, and website-specific preferences.

Related: How to Clear Your Browsing History in Firefox

To clear your browsing history in Microsoft Edge , click the Three-Dot Menu > History > Three-Dot Menu Button > Clear Browsing Data. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open these options on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac.

Ensure the "Browsing History" box is checked and click "Clear." You can also choose to clear other types of private data from here, including your download history, cached data, cookies, and tabs you've set aside . Just check the type of data you want to delete and click the "Clear" button.

Related: How to Clear Your Browsing History in Microsoft Edge

To clear your browsing history in Safari on a Mac , click History > Clear History from the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select the time period you want to clear history from and click "Clear History." To clear everything, select "all history".

Safari will delete your browsing history as well as your cookies, cached files, and other browsing-related data.

Related: How to Clear Safari's Browsing History and Cookies on macOS

To clear your browsing history in Internet Explorer , click menu > Safety > Delete Browsing History or press Ctrl+Shift+Delete.

Ensure the "History" option is checked here and click "Delete". You can also choose to delete other types of private data from here, including your temporary Internet files, download history, and cookies.

Microsoft has removed Internet Explorer and urges everyone to switch to Edge. Internet Explorer has repeatedly been used by  hackers to attack Windows users.  We recommend you immediately stop using Internet Explorer if you're still able to launch it.

By default, Internet Explorer will keep cookies and temporary Internet files for websites you've saved as favorites. Uncheck "Preserve Favorites website data" here to ensure Internet Explorer deletes everything.

If you're using another browser, you should be able to easily find a "clear browsing history" option somewhere in its menus or on its settings screen. For example, in Opera, this option is at menu > More tools > Clear browsing data.

Related: How to Clear Your Internet Explorer Browsing History