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How to Fix Safari’s Clear History, Website Data Grayed Out Issue
Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.
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 all types of gadgets and devices ensures he provides top-notch guidance, tips, and recommendations to his readers. When away from the desk, you will find him traveling, playing FIFA, or hunting for a good movie.
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content Restrictions > Store, Web, Siri… and select Unrestricted. This should help you fix the grayed-out clear history/data button on Safari.
- If this doesn’t work, try restarting your iPhone or factory reset all settings.
All You Need to Do: Disable Content Restrictions
To put any concerns to rest, there’s nothing wrong with your iPhone or iPad. It happens due to a content restriction imposed on Safari that blocks adult-related content and certain specific websites. Chances are that you set it up and forgot about the whole thing later on.
Step 1: Open the Settings app > go to Screen Time .
Step 2: Now, select Content & Privacy Restrictions > Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content .
![iphone safari clear history disabled Screen Time](https://www.guidingtech.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Time.jpg)
Step 2: Select Web Content > check the Unrestricted option. You may have to enter your Screen Time Passcode to make changes.
If you can’t remember the passcode, learn how to remove or reset a forgotten screen time passcode .
![iphone safari clear history disabled Tap on Web Content](https://www.guidingtech.com/wp-content/uploads/Tap-on-Web-Content.jpg)
Once you turn off the restrictions, you should be able to easily clear Safari data and history . If this doesn’t work, restart your iPhone or perform a factory reset to fix any misconfigured settings you can’t find.
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Last updated on 10 July, 2024
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Fixed: Can’t Clear History in Safari on iPhone & iPad
![title= iphone safari clear history disabled](https://www.iphonelife.com/sites/iphonelife.com/files/styles/promo_in_content_breakpoints_theme_newmango_mobile_2x/public/safarihistory.jpg?itok=O2G0Vupm)
Clearing your browsing history in Safari has many benefits, such as protecting your personal information and freeing up space to keep the browser running smoothly. However, you might have noticed that the Clear History and Website Data button is grayed out or that some websites are still there after your attempt. If you are wondering why you can't delete your Safari history, don't worry! We will explain why and provide solutions to fix the problem.
Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions
Unsync safari over icloud, delete all items in safari reading list, block cookies, restart, reset, or restore.
Content & Privacy Restrictions is a feature that sets up age limits and protects children from inappropriate content. This feature can prevent you from deleting your browsing data in Safari. Please read our article about Content & Privacy Restrictions .
With iCloud, your browsing history is synced across all your Apple devices. As a result, it can occasionally lead to items reappearing in the browsing history of your iPhone or iPad. Here's how to stop Safari from syncing over iCloud.
![iphone safari clear history disabled iPhone Life](https://www.iphonelife.com/dailytips/img/inline_offer_bg.jpg)
If the tips mentioned above don't solve the issue, you will need to use basic troubleshooting solutions. First, restart your device. If that fails, reset your settings, and if that also fails, restore the device to factory settings. For reference, read our article that will guide you on how to do these basic troubleshooting solutions .
If you found this article helpful, you may enjoy other troubleshooting articles, like what to do if your Apple Watch steps are not accurate , and what to do when iPhone calls are going straight to voicemail .
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Technology Simplified.
Clear History & Data Grayed Out in Safari on iPhone
By: Sam Patwegar | Filed Under: iOS
It can be perplexing not being able to clear browsing history on iPhone due to “Clear History and Website Data” option being grayed-out on iPhone.
When this issue was reported by a user in a popular forum, some people responded by asking “What were you browsing last night”?
I spent over 2 hrs. last night trying to delete my browser history in safari, how can I delete it?? The clear history option in settings is grayed out and will not function, anyone? Help? – David126 on Macrumours
The frustration expressed by this user is understandable, considering the fact that in certain cases the solution to this issue lies in the most unlikely place.
Reason for Clear History & Website Data Being Grayed Out on iPhone
While it is possible for Clear History Option on iPhone to be greyed out due to a bug in Safari browser or other reasons, the most common reason for this issue is due to certain Web content being restricted on your iPhone.
Yes you heard it right, the mind boggling reason for iPhone preventing you from clearing your browsing history is due to certain type of web content being bocked on your device.
Who would assume, guess or imagine that blocking Adult Content or blocking certain websites could make the option to “Delete Website History and Data” greyed out or inaccessible on your iPhone?
Hence, disabling Web Content Restrictions should fix the problem in most cases. If this does not help, you can move to the next step as provided below.
1. Disable Web Content Restrictions on iPhone
In most cases, all that is required to enable the option to Clear History and Website Data on iPhone is to remove the restrictions placed on Adult Content or certain websites on your iPhone.
1. Open Settings > scroll down a bit and tap on Screen Time .
2. Enter Password (if prompted) > On the next screen, scroll down and tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions .
![Content & Privacy Restrictions Option on iPhone Content & Privacy Restrictions Option on iPhone](https://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/content-and-privacy-restrictions-settings-option-on-iphone.png)
3. From the Restrictions screen, go to Content Restrictions > Web Content > select Unrestricted Access option on the next screen.
![Enable Unrestricted Access for Web Content on iPhone Enable Unrestricted Access for Web Content on iPhone](https://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/provide-unrestricted-web-access-on-iphone.png)
After this, go back to Settings > Safari > scroll down to to end of “Privacy & Security” section and you will find “ Clear History and Website Data ” option enabled back on your device.
![Clear History And Website Data Option in Safari on iPhone Clear History And Website Data Option in Safari on iPhone](https://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/clear-history-option-in-dafari-iphone.png)
Once the option to Clear History & Website Data is available, you will be able to Clear your browsing history at any time on your device by tapping on this option.
After clearing browsing history, you can go back and enable the restrictions on Adult Content and block websites on your device (as it was before).
2. Reset All Settings
If the above method did not help, Reset all the Settings on your device to Factory Default Settings and this should fix the problem.
1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > select the Reset option.
![Reset Option on iPhone Reset Option on iPhone](https://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/reset-option-on-iphone.png)
2. On the pop-up, select Reset All Settings option.
![Reset All Settings Option on iPhone Reset All Settings Option on iPhone](https://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/reset-all-settings-option-on-iphone.png)
3. Patiently wait for the Reset process to be completed.
Note: The Reset process does not delete any data from your device, it removes all the current Settings on your device.
- How to Delete “Documents and Data” on iPhone and iPad
- How to Automatically Clear History in Safari on Mac
How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad
Clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad in a few simple steps
![iphone safari clear history disabled iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gvdmm9HZT4DwWH6WPi4FW8-320-80.jpg)
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.
![](http://playon.fun/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
1. In Safari, tap the book icon
![iphone safari clear history disabled A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ccNaydtFAQyY9u3CYb4D7F-320-80.jpg)
Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar.
2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear
![iphone safari clear history disabled A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/84rxZVmhQb4eMdrUS5iQEF-320-80.jpg)
Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear at the bottom.
3. Select how far back to clear and tap Delete
![iphone safari clear history disabled A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2Z4PUaot5CF7HQmymX3qMF-320-80.jpg)
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 .
![iphone safari clear history disabled A screenshot showing empty browsing history on Safari for iPhone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bw6rfLRwVx8Vt2GuAJa2VF-320-80.jpg)
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 Reviews Editor 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, riding his motorcycle, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots.
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Why Can’t I Clear My History on Safari? Solutions and Answers
- Safari allows you to clear your history for a certain length of time, or you can clear the whole thing.
- You may just need to restart your device to clear your history.
- Remember that the steps for iPhone and iPad will be roughly the same.
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear Safari History November 2023 Featured](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Clear-Safari-History-November-2023-Featured.png)
If you’re having issues because you can’t clear your Safari history, know that a solution isn’t too far behind. I love using Safari for a great browsing experience, but I was recently unable to clear my history, which was giving me some problems. Fortunately, I discovered a solution to my problem. Let’s take a look at some troubleshooting steps and solutions.
Why Is My Clear History Button Grey?
If your Clear History button is grey, the most likely reason is that you do not have any History to clear. However, you may also be experiencing a grey Clear History button due to certain Content & Privacy Restrictions within Screen Time being enabled. You can check on iPhone via Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and ensure that Safari is enabled. Note, however, that this will require your password.
On Mac, you can disable Screen Time via System Settings > Screen Time> Content & Privacy > Content Restrictions . Ensure Access to Web Content is set to Unrestricted. Of course, if you didn’t set up Screen Time in the first place, this likely isn’t your issue. Keep reading for further solutions.
How Do I Clear My Safari History and Cache?
1. how to clear your safari browser history.
If you need to clear your Safari history, you can check out our full guide here . However, note that on iOS, clearing your history is as easy as going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data . For Mac, all you need to do is open Safari and select History > Clear History from the menu bar. With both Mac and iOS you are able to choose how much of your history you delete based on time.
2. Disable iCloud Sync for Safari
If you’re still having issues clearing your Safari browsing history, it may just be that you need to disable iCloud sync for Safari. This default option shares your history and your reading lists across all your Apple devices. It may be the case that some history or content did not sync properly.
Disable iCloud Sync iOS
Time needed: 2 minutes
If you need to disable iCloud Sync on iOS, follow these steps.
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear Safari History Tap Your Name](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Cleat-Safari-History-Tap-Your-Name.jpg)
Disable iCloud Sync macOS
- From the Apple Menu, go to System Settings .
- Select [Your Name] .
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear History Safari Select iCloud](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Clear-History-Safari-Select-iCloud.jpg)
3. Reset Network Settings (iOS Only)
If you are still looking for an effective solution to your clear history issue, you may want to consider resetting your network settings.
- Go to the Settings app.
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear History Safari Tap General](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Clear-History-Safari-Tap-General.jpg)
4. Delete History Manually (Mac Only)
If you need to clear your Safari history on Mac and are having problems, remember you can delete your history manually.
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear History Safari Tap Go To Folder](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Clear-History-Safari-Tap-Go-To-Folder.jpg)
- While holding down the Command key, select the following items: History.db , History.db-lock , History.db.shm and History.db.wal .
![iphone safari clear history disabled Cant Clear History Safari Select Move to Trash](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cant-Clear-History-Safari-Select-Move-to-Trash.jpg)
- Empty your Trash.
Why Can’t I Clear History in Safari?
The most likely reason that you’re unable to clear your Safari history is that there is no history left to clear. However, if you’re having issues, look at basic things, such as restarting your Apple device or ensuring that Screen Time restrictions are not preventing you from clearing your history. You may also want to consider that iCloud Sync may prevent you from properly clearing your history.
Being able to clear your entire history from Safari is incredibly useful. However, it’s only useful if it’s working correctly. Fortunately, solutions for your history clearing problems are rather easy, so there’s little to worry about. Not clearing your history can be a common issue for many users. However, a comprehensive solution is available.
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How to clear Safari cache, history and cookies on iPhone or iPad
Updated on:
It’s easy to clear Safari cache, history and cookies on your iPhone and iPad. This comes in handy when you want to delete some sensitive browsing information, in case you did not use Private Mode. Moreover, it can also help free up some space to keep your browser running efficiently. If Safari is being slow or behaving erratically, you can get rid of data to clear out the load. So let’s see what’s involved.
Why should you clear Safari cache?
- Cookies can store a range of data, from your login details to your shopping preferences. If they become corrupted or get shared with perpetrators, they can put your information at risk.
- Clearing the Safari cache will prevent anyone else from seeing the websites you’ve been visiting and the searches you’ve been performing. If you’re utilizing a shared device or a public Wi-Fi network, this is extremely crucial.
- Overall, tips and tricks like this for Safari on your iPhone are simple but keep the data stored in your browser at a minimum and help free up space on your phone.
How to clear cache and history in Safari on iPhone or iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select Safari .
![How to clear Safari cache history and cookies on iPhone or iPad Tap on Safari and select Clear History and Website Data](https://www.igeeksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Tap-on-Safari-and-select-Clear-History-and-Website-Data.jpeg)
This procedure will remove all cookies, cache, and history from your iPhone completely. Furthermore, you can prevent the cache from piling up by surfing in the Private Browsing Mode .
How to delete specific website data from Safari on iPhone or iPad
- Go to the Settings app → Safari .
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap Advanced .
![How to clear Safari cache history and cookies on iPhone or iPad Go to the Settings app tap Safari scroll down and tap Advanced select Website Data](https://www.igeeksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Go-to-the-Settings-app-tap-Safari-scroll-down-and-tap-Advanced-select-Website-Data.jpeg)
- Once finalized, tap Done .
![How to clear Safari cache history and cookies on iPhone or iPad To remove data from all websites tap Remove All Website Data Remove Now](https://www.igeeksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/To-remove-data-from-all-websites-tap-Remove-All-Website-Data-Remove-Now.jpeg)
Clearing data from a particular website ensures the removal of all cookies. If you want, you can even customize Safari to your preference in a few simple steps.
How to block cookies in Safari on iPhone
- Under Privacy & Security, toggle on Block All Cookies .
![How to clear Safari cache history and cookies on iPhone or iPad Go to the Settings app Safari Under Privacy Security toggle on Block All Cookies Tap Block All](https://www.igeeksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Go-to-the-Settings-app-Safari-Under-Privacy-Security-toggle-on-Block-All-Cookies-Tap-Block-All.jpeg)
Yes. Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies will log you out of the websites you are currently logged into.
No. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will not delete your bookmarks.
Yes. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will delete any saved passwords you have for websites.
Now, you’re safe…
Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies on iPhone can help you to secure your privacy and improve the performance of your device. It is a simple and easy process that only takes a few moments to complete.
Do let me know if you’d want me to cover more such articles. Until next time!
Read more:
- How to clear Chrome history, cache, and cookies on iPhone and iPad
- How to Fix A Problem Occurred with this Webpage so it was Reloaded on iPhone
- How to disable Safari on iPhone? Easy ways to do it!
- How to clear the DNS Cache on an iPhone or iPad
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How-To Geek
How to clear history, cache, and cookies in safari on iphone or ipad.
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We're going to assume that most How-To Geek writers know how to delete the history, cookies, and cache in Mobile Safari, but just in case you don't know, here is how to do it.
Open up the Settings app and find Safari in the left-hand list, and then scroll down the right side until you find the "Clear History and Website Data" button.
You'll be prompted to verify that you really want to do this, and it will point out that this is also going to delete the history from other devices using your iCloud account to sync Safari.
Related: How to Clear Cookies / Cache for a Single Website on iPhone or iPad
Perhaps this is a good time to point out that you should use private browsing mode if you don't want history being saved on your device!
- iPhone & iPad
Apple Personal Safety User Guide
- Use Safety Check to stop sharing
- How Safety Check works
- Additional considerations when using Safety Check
- Limit access
- Stop sharing
- Manage location
- Personal safety at a glance
- Intro to review and take action
- Secure AirDrop and NameDrop
- Securely control whom you share content with from iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
- Securely control whom you share content with from Mac
- Share or stop sharing your location
- Manage automatic ETA sharing in Maps
- Manage Location Services settings
- Stop and remove location metadata in Photos
- Detecting unwanted trackers
- Safely manage how you forward content
- Reject unknown sign-in attempts
- Record suspicious activity
- Store your data securely in iCloud
- Delete suspicious content
- Manage Family Sharing settings
- Avoid fraudulent requests to share info
- Securely control your Home accessories
- How to erase all content and settings
- Restore the data you backed up
- Intro to privacy and safety tools
- Update your Apple software
- Set a unique passcode or password
- Secure your iPhone or iPad with Face ID
- Secure your devices with Touch ID
- Delete unknown fingerprints from iPhone or iPad
- Add or delete fingerprints on your Mac
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Use two-factor authentication
- Help prevent being locked out of your device
- Keep your device, app, and website passwords secure on iPhone and iPad
- Manage shared password and passkeys
- App privacy features in Apple products
- Harden your devices against mercenary spyware
- Manage safety settings in Messages
- Use Check In for Messages
- Block calls and messages
- Receive warnings about sensitive images and videos on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Keep your browsing history private
- Make an emergency call or text on iPhone or Apple Watch
- Obtain evidence related to another person’s account
- What’s new in personal safety
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/52d714626638d3391623c853be0c593b.png)
Keep your browsing history private in Safari and Maps
Reviewing and clearing search history and caches for browsers and other apps may be a good practice if you’re concerned someone has access to your device. Many apps store information about what you’ve searched for and what you’ve looked at so that it’s easy for you to rediscover it in the future. For example, when you use the Maps app, having a history of locations you’ve searched for or navigated to can make it easier to navigate back to a place you recently visited.
If you’re in an unsafe personal situation and need to look up safety strategies online but don’t want Safari to keep a record of what you’ve viewed, you can open a Private Browsing window on iPhone , iPad , and Mac . When you use Private Browsing, the details of your browsing aren’t saved, and they aren’t shared across your devices. Additionally, if you’ve updated your devices to iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 , or macOS Sonoma 14 , Safari locks Private Browsing tabs after a period of inactivity so that they can be opened only with your password, passcode, Face ID or Touch ID , protecting your privacy when you’re away from your device. You can clear your browsing history and open a Private Browsing window on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
![iphone safari clear history disabled A MacBook Air, iPad, and iPhone.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/ab0cbe9a7d16c51b4fd799924d93cac5.png)
Clear your browsing history in Safari
If you’ve been looking up information about safety strategies online and are concerned someone may see your browsing history, you can remove all records that Safari keeps about where you’ve browsed.
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/492fec5aff74dbdef9b526177c3804b4.png)
When you clear your history, Safari removes data it saves as a result of your browsing, including:
A history of the webpages you visited
The back and forward list for open webpages
A list of frequently visited sites
Recent searches
Icons for webpages
Snapshots saved for open webpages
A list of items you downloaded (downloaded files aren’t removed)
Websites you added for a Quick Website Search
Websites that asked to use your location
Websites that asked to send you notifications
Clear recent directions and favorites in Maps on iPhone and iPad
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/21e8c59cd2f31008048b15875a0abc56.png)
Do one of the following:
Swipe a recent route left.
Tap More directly above the list, then swipe a recent route left; or to delete a group of routes, tap Clear above the group.
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/e982b0811e63036167780d80f9e32aad.png)
Clear recent directions and favorites in Maps on Mac
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/f879e8fec1cd7c4dfe20ca5fe0572a12.png)
Below Recents, click Clear Recents.
If you want to remove a Favorite location, Control-click a location (in the sidebar below Favorites), then choose Remove from Favorites.
Open a Private Browsing window on iPhone
Open the Safari app.
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/f4b16b532ccaa39c805b4612005e0ac6.png)
The tab is automatically added to a Tab Group called Private. You can open multiple private tabs in the group.
You can easily confirm that you’re in Private Browsing Mode by checking that the search field bar is gray or that it displays the word Private.
Open a Private Browsing window on iPad
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/07daa670e8c759818397d4c14e823401.png)
While Private Browsing Mode is on, the search field background is black instead of white and sites you visit don’t appear in History on iPad or in the list of tabs on your other devices. You can open multiple private tabs in the Private Tab Group.
Open a Private Browsing window on Mac
A window using Private Browsing has a dark Smart Search field with white text.
![iphone safari clear history disabled A normal Safari window on a Mac with its light Smart Search field, and a private Safari window with its dark Smart Search field.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/7fc0236e5a616b38dcc152290967e761.png)
Browse as you normally would.
If you want to always open windows with Private Browsing on Mac
Click the “Safari opens with” pop-up menu, then choose “A new private window.”
If you don’t see this option, do one of the following:
![iphone safari clear history disabled](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E0D0504FC0FDB45C09F0B5/65E0D0544FC0FDB45C09F0CD/en_US/2f77cc85238452e25cb517130188bf99.png)
To further enhance Safari privacy
In your Downloads folder, delete any items that were downloaded while you were using Private Browsing windows.
Close any other Private Browsing windows that are still open, to prevent other people from using the Back and Forward buttons to see pages you visited.
Download this guide as a PDF
You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple ID , you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips .
Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.
How to disable clearing history on safari when screen time is turned on.
Previously clearing safari browsing history would be disabled when screen time was turned on. Now screen time is still turned on but you are able to clear the safari browsing history. Can this be made an option in screen time? To allow or not allow the clearing of Safari browsing history? I noticed this on iOS 16.6
Posted on Jul 31, 2023 11:59 AM
Posted on Oct 8, 2023 10:02 AM
Same for me: swipe to delete still working with content restrictions on. So the clear button is grayed out, and history can’t be deleted wholesale from settings, but individual websites (and whole days) can be deleted with a swipe. This seems contradictory to using content controls to help a teen learn to use responsibly. Am I missing something?
Similar questions
- Delete Safari history with restrictions Please could someone help. My son has an iPad with restrictions, I would like to view and delete Safari History, the only way I have found is to turn off screen time but don’t seem to be able to just turn it back on after deleting the history. You get taken to the whole set up screen time again. Is there another way? 4657 3
- Certain screen time settings not coming into affect I’m trying to remove clear safari history and the screen time setting that would normally block is web content under the content restriction tab, I turn it off with the certain sites being available now but I still can’t clear history 1214 3
- I cant clear my history on Safari or in the settings and i have screen time turned off I cant clear my history on safari page or in the settinfs and i have screen time turned off [Re-Titled by Moderator] 383 1
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Oct 8, 2023 10:02 AM in response to Melmel2016
Oct 14, 2023 11:27 PM in response to -NANA-
I’m also having this issue. PLEASE HELP
Oct 11, 2023 1:08 PM in response to rachellewillhoit
Yes. It’s updated to the latest iOS.
Jul 31, 2023 3:40 PM in response to Pacific2023
You can certainly let Apple know what you'd like to see here:
Product Feedback - Apple
Oct 9, 2023 11:16 AM in response to another_apple_user18
I went to the Genius Bar and geek squad none were able to help. They said to reach apple and let them know what’s going on to see if it’s something they need to fix in the software
Oct 14, 2023 5:46 AM in response to Melmel2016
Were you able to get any help on this issue?
Jun 28, 2024 5:41 PM in response to Pacific2023
how did you get it so they can’t delete the history? i’ve searched and looked all over screen time and can’t find anything. please tell me how to turn it on x
Oct 1, 2023 12:15 AM in response to Pacific2023
I tried do this and it still has the delete swipe option
This is for iOS 16.6
Jul 31, 2023 3:40 PM in response to IdrisSeabright
Thank you, and I think it was maybe just a glitch. I restarted the phone, then turned off screen time and turned it back on and then the option to clear history disabled again.
Oct 10, 2023 3:39 AM in response to Melmel2016
I guess that’s my next option. It works as expected on my teen’s phone, with parent controls turned on but not on a shared iPad (my Apple ID) with content restrictions only. Hmm. Thanks Melmel.
![iphone safari clear history disabled rachellewillhoit](https://discussions.apple.com/public/assets/avatars/SYSTEM_DEFAULT_AVATAR_EN_8999.png)
Oct 10, 2023 10:36 PM in response to Pacific2023
Was this on iOS 16 by chance or had you already update to 17? I know this is a loophole with 17 but wondering if it was also a glitch with 16.
Jun 28, 2024 5:48 PM in response to Pacific2023
Usually with content restrictions on, you cannot clear your search history.
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
Disable Screen Time Restrictions. Restart your iPhone. Other workarounds to fix Safari Clear History option grayed out. Reset All Settings on iPhone. 1. Disable Screen Time Restrictions. If you use Screen Time to enable limited web access, the option for Clear History and Website Data will be grayed out.
Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Once you've confirmed that you're up to date with iOS, let's confirm the steps taken to clear the history to be sure they're the same steps. Take a look at the following resource to confirm you're using the same method: Clear the history and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Here's how to do it. Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General. Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Step 3: Tap Reset and ...
Clear cookies and 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 ...
Can't clear history on safari I can't clear my history on my MacBook Pro. "Clear history" is always grayed out when I try to click on it. I do have screen time turned on with allowed websites only, so I turned off screen time entirely, and I still have "clear history" grayed out.
I can't clear my history on Safari. It is very irritating because I know how to but the "clear" button is grayed out and I cant push it. I cleared everything in settings, but when i search things that I accidentally searched before pop up. I don't understand why I cannot clear history when I push the bookmark button, and it is really ...
This should help you fix the grayed-out clear history/data button on Safari. If this doesn't work, try restarting your iPhone or factory reset all settings. All You Need to Do: Disable Content ...
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Scroll down and turn off Safari, then tap Keep on My iPhone. Now go to Safari settings and tap Clear History and Website Data . With iCloud sync turned off your bookmarks, reading lists, and browsing histories aren't updated across devices.
Tap your Apple ID. Tap iCloud. You may need to tap Show All if Safari does not appear on this screen. Turn off Safari. Tap Keep on My iPhone. Tap Apple ID. Tap Settings. Tap Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > select the Reset option. 2. On the pop-up, select Reset All Settings option. 3. Patiently wait for the Reset process to be completed. Note: The Reset process does not delete any data from your device, it removes all the current Settings on your device.
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 ...
Select Reset Network Settings and confirm your decision. 4. Delete History Manually (Mac Only) If you need to clear your Safari history on Mac and are having problems, remember you can delete your ...
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 ...
On an iPhone, it's at the bottom of the screen. In the pop-up that appears (on the left side of the screen on iPad and over the whole screen on iPhone), tap the History tab (which looks like a clock face), and then tap the "Clear" button. (Don't worry. It won't clear anything yet.) After you tap "Clear," another pop-up will give you yet another ...
Safari extensions are greyed out on iPhone. After the installing the last security update for iOS 15 (15.6.1), I cannot enable Safari extensions. They are greyed out. Not only that, but I cannot clear history and website data either. That option is also greyed out. I have already restarted the phone several times.
Scroll down and select Safari . Scroll down the menu and tap Clear History and Website Data . Tap Clear History and Data → select Close All Tabs. This procedure will remove all cookies, cache, and history from your iPhone completely. Furthermore, you can prevent the cache from piling up by surfing in the Private Browsing Mode .
Open up the Settings app and find Safari in the left-hand list, and then scroll down the right side until you find the "Clear History and Website Data" button. You'll be prompted to verify that you really want to do this, and it will point out that this is also going to delete the history from other devices using your iCloud account to sync Safari.
4 points. Help. Safari clear data option is greyed out. Cant delete history! The option for clearing website data and history for Safari is greyed out in Safari settings. I have disabled screentime and unrestricted all websites. It is still greyed out and still displays search history.
On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. On your Mac: Open the Safari app , choose History > Clear History, click the pop-up menu, then 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:
When you use Private Browsing, "Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information." — Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support. The short answer is it can't be done, but it might help if you were to explain your need to do that.
8 points. Posted on Oct 8, 2023 10:02 AM. Same for me: swipe to delete still working with content restrictions on. So the clear button is grayed out, and history can't be deleted wholesale from settings, but individual websites (and whole days) can be deleted with a swipe. This seems contradictory to using content controls to help a teen ...