iPhone Settings Icon
iPhone Settings Icon
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari for iPhone, like most other browsers, stores private data such as browsing history, cache, and cookies locally on your device. This data is then utilized for a variety of purposes, ranging from speeding up page load times to preserving login credentials.
Depending on your browsing habits, these components can consist of what should be considered sensitive data (banking information, etc.)
Due to the potentially secure nature of this data, it is important that you know how to manage it correctly. This tutorial details the various data components that Safari stores on your iPhone, as well as how to delete them if necessary.
Please note that the Safari application must be shut down prior to clearing any history, cache, etc. If you are unsure how to do this, visit our How to Kill iPhone Apps tutorial.
First select the Settings icon, normally located towards the top of your iPhone Home Screen.
Safari Settings
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
iPhone's various Settings menus will now be displayed, as shown in the example above. Scroll down a bit and select the menu labeled Safari.
Clear Browsing History
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Settings screen should now be displayed. Towards the bottom of the Privacy section is a button labeled Clear History, circled in the example above.
Safari for iPhone keeps a log of Web pages that you have visited in the past. From time to time you may find it useful to look back through your history in order to revisit a particular site.
You may also have the desire to clear this history for privacy purposes.
To clear Safari's browsing history, first select the Clear History button.
Clear History - Confirmation
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A confirmation message will now appear, asking if you want to continue the process. To remove all of Safari's browsing history, select Clear History (as shown in the example above).
Accept Cookies
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A cookie is essentially a message passed from a Web server to Safari, which is then stored on your iPhone in a small text file. This cookie can have many uses, the main one allowing a server to identify a user and serve up customized pages and/or login information to the user's browser when revisiting a specific page.
Safari's default behavior is to only accept cookies from sites that you have explicitly visited. However, this setting can be modified if you should so desire.
First, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. In the Privacy section, located the option labeled Accept Cookies. Notice that its value is set to the default From visited. To change its value, select this option.
Modify Cookie Behavior
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
The Accept Cookies screen should now be visible, as shown in the example above. The active setting will be displayed in blue text and will be accompanied by a check mark. The following options are available.
Clear Cookies and Cache
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Deleting all of the cookies saved on your iPhone is as easy as a few taps of the finger. To do so, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. Next, select the Clear Cookies and Data button (as shown in the example above).
Please note that doing so will also clear your Safari cache, which is temporary storage space on your device where recently viewed Web pages are held.
Cache allows Safari to quickly load a previously visited page without having to reload the entire page and its images from the Web server on subsequent visits.
Clear Cookies and Data - Confirmation
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A confirmation message will now appear, asking if you want to continue the process. To remove all of Safari's cache and cookies, select Clear Cookies and Data (as shown in the example above).
Deleting Individual Website Data
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
So far this tutorial has described the methods for deleting all of Safari's browsing history, cache, and cookies. You may not want to delete all of your private data in one fell swoop, however. Perhaps you are only interested in removing cache and cookies for About.com, for example.
Safari for iPhone offers the ability to do just that via its Advanced Settings. First, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. Next, scroll to the bottom and select the option labeled Advanced (as shown in the example above).
Website Data
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Advanced Settings screen should now be visible. Select the option labeled Website Data, as shown in the example above.
Remove Specific Data Components
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Website Data screen should now be displayed. Here you will find total size of the private data files stored on your iPhone (5.6 MB in the example above), as well as a breakdown for each individual website.
To delete cache and cookies for a particular site, first select the Edit button which is located in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
You will now notice that each site has a red and white icon next to it, containing a horizontal line. To clear data from a particular site, first select the icon next to its name. At this point the white line should become vertical, and a Delete button should appear to the right of the site name.
To delete all cache and cookies for this particular site, select the Delete button.
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari for iPhone, like most other browsers, stores private data such as browsing history, cache, and cookies locally on your device. This data is then utilized for a variety of purposes, ranging from speeding up page load times to preserving login credentials.
Depending on your browsing habits, these components can consist of what should be considered sensitive data (banking information, etc.)
Due to the potentially secure nature of this data, it is important that you know how to manage it correctly. This tutorial details the various data components that Safari stores on your iPhone, as well as how to delete them if necessary.
Please note that the Safari application must be shut down prior to clearing any history, cache, etc. If you are unsure how to do this, visit our How to Kill iPhone Apps tutorial.
First select the Settings icon, normally located towards the top of your iPhone Home Screen.
Safari Settings
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
iPhone's various Settings menus will now be displayed, as shown in the example above. Scroll down a bit and select the menu labeled Safari.
Clear Browsing History
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Settings screen should now be displayed. Towards the bottom of the Privacy section is a button labeled Clear History, circled in the example above.
Safari for iPhone keeps a log of Web pages that you have visited in the past. From time to time you may find it useful to look back through your history in order to revisit a particular site.
You may also have the desire to clear this history for privacy purposes.
To clear Safari's browsing history, first select the Clear History button.
Clear History - Confirmation
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A confirmation message will now appear, asking if you want to continue the process. To remove all of Safari's browsing history, select Clear History (as shown in the example above).
Accept Cookies
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A cookie is essentially a message passed from a Web server to Safari, which is then stored on your iPhone in a small text file. This cookie can have many uses, the main one allowing a server to identify a user and serve up customized pages and/or login information to the user's browser when revisiting a specific page.
Safari's default behavior is to only accept cookies from sites that you have explicitly visited. However, this setting can be modified if you should so desire.
First, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. In the Privacy section, located the option labeled Accept Cookies. Notice that its value is set to the default From visited. To change its value, select this option.
Modify Cookie Behavior
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
The Accept Cookies screen should now be visible, as shown in the example above. The active setting will be displayed in blue text and will be accompanied by a check mark. The following options are available.
- Never: Safari will not save cookies on your iPhone, no matter the situation.
- From visited: This is the default setting, which tells Safari to only accept cookies from websites that you explicitly visit.
- Always: Safari will accept and save cookies in all circumstances, even from sites that you have not intentionally visited (i.e., from in-page ads). This setting is not recommended, as it can pose an inherent security risk.
Clear Cookies and Cache
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Deleting all of the cookies saved on your iPhone is as easy as a few taps of the finger. To do so, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. Next, select the Clear Cookies and Data button (as shown in the example above).
Please note that doing so will also clear your Safari cache, which is temporary storage space on your device where recently viewed Web pages are held.
Cache allows Safari to quickly load a previously visited page without having to reload the entire page and its images from the Web server on subsequent visits.
Clear Cookies and Data - Confirmation
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
A confirmation message will now appear, asking if you want to continue the process. To remove all of Safari's cache and cookies, select Clear Cookies and Data (as shown in the example above).
Deleting Individual Website Data
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
So far this tutorial has described the methods for deleting all of Safari's browsing history, cache, and cookies. You may not want to delete all of your private data in one fell swoop, however. Perhaps you are only interested in removing cache and cookies for About.com, for example.
Safari for iPhone offers the ability to do just that via its Advanced Settings. First, return to Safari's Settings screen by repeating Steps 1-2 of this tutorial. Next, scroll to the bottom and select the option labeled Advanced (as shown in the example above).
Website Data
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Advanced Settings screen should now be visible. Select the option labeled Website Data, as shown in the example above.
Remove Specific Data Components
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
Safari's Website Data screen should now be displayed. Here you will find total size of the private data files stored on your iPhone (5.6 MB in the example above), as well as a breakdown for each individual website.
To delete cache and cookies for a particular site, first select the Edit button which is located in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
This tutorial was last updated on September 23, 2013 and was created on iOS 5.1. iPhone users running iOS 7 should refer to our updated tutorial.
You will now notice that each site has a red and white icon next to it, containing a horizontal line. To clear data from a particular site, first select the icon next to its name. At this point the white line should become vertical, and a Delete button should appear to the right of the site name.
To delete all cache and cookies for this particular site, select the Delete button.