Can’t Delete Safari History on iPhone? Try These 5 Fixes!

Safari is a popular web browser used by millions of iPhone users around the world. It offers a convenient way to browse the internet, access websites, and store browsing history. However, there may be instances when you find yourself unable to delete your Safari history on your iPhone.

In this article, we will explore the reasons why you can’t delete Safari history on iPhone, provide step-by-step instructions to resolve the problem.

How to delete Safari history on iPhone

Just in case you are new to your iPhone and don’t know how to clear your Safari history, to help you become familiar with the process, the following instructions will guide you through the necessary steps.

However, if you're already familiar with the process, feel free to skip ahead to the provided fixes below.

Delete Safari history from iPhone Settings
Open iPhone Settings app > Scroll down and tap Safari > Tap Clear History and Website Data > From the pop-up window, tap it again to confirm the deletion.

Delete Safari history from the Safari app
Alternatively, you can clear your browsing data from a specific period in the Safari app on iPhone.

In the Safari app, select the Bookmarks icon at the bottom of the screen > Switch to the History tab > Tap Clear and pick a time duration - The last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, or All time.

Why can’t you delete your history on Safari?

You may ask, “Why can’t I delete my history on Safari?” There could be several reasons why you are unable to delete your Safari history on your iPhone:

• Software Glitch: Sometimes, Safari may encounter temporary glitches or bugs that prevent the deletion of browsing history.

• Restrictions Enabled: If you have enabled restrictions on your iPhone, it may restrict the ability to delete Safari history.

• Website Data Synced with iCloud: If you have enabled iCloud syncing for Safari data, your browsing history may be stored and synced across multiple devices. In such cases, deleting history on one device may not reflect on others.

• Corrupted Safari Cache: A corrupted cache can cause issues with deleting Safari history. Cached data may interfere with the deletion process.

Fixes to can’t delete Safari history on iPhone

Deleting Safari history in the proper way but still can’t delete history on Safari? If you're experiencing difficulties deleting your Safari history, try these fixes below.

Check Restriction settings

Just in case, when you go to the iPhone Settings, the Clear Safari History greyed out. It is likely that you have web content restrictions set up. Just follow the steps below to have a check and disable Screen Time restrictions.

Step 1. In your iPhone Settings app > Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Step 2. Enter your Screen Time password if asked > Select Web Content > Choose the Unrestricted option.

Force restart your iPhone

A simple force restart can resolve temporary glitches or bugs that may be causing the issue. You can choose the appropriate steps to force reboot according to your iPhone model.

iPhone 8 and later: Press and quickly release the Volume + button > Perform the same operation on the Volume - button > Press the Side button and release when you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume - button and the Power button > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s or earlier: Press both the Power button and the Home button for seconds > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Disable iCloud sync for Safari

If your iPhone Safari can’t delete history, you can verify your iCloud sync settings to troubleshoot the issue. If you use iCloud, it automatically syncs bookmarks, reading lists, and browsing history across all your Apple devices.

Although it typically doesn't cause any problems, occasional issues may result in items reappearing in your iPhone or iPad browsing history.

Steps to disable iCloud sync for Safari
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap your Apple ID > Select iCloud.

Step 2. Tap Show All > In the “Apps using iCloud” page, locate and toggle off the switch next to Safari.

Reset network settings

Cannot delete Safari history on iPhone issue could be due to broken network settings and configurations. Resetting these settings to their default values may help resolve the problem. To do so, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app on iPhone > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Choose Reset Network Settings > Verify your password to confirm.

Update to the latest iOS

In case you’re on an old version of iOS, it is also suggested to update your iOS or iPadOS to the latest version to avoid bugs and errors, which may include the one that leads to Safari history cannot be deleted.

Go to Settings on your iPhone, choose General > Software Update > If there is an update available, tap Download and Install.

Bonus: One-click delete iPhone Safari history

If you're still unable to delete Safari history or prefer a hassle-free solution, FoneTool provides a convenient option for one-click deletion of iPhone Safari data.

Get FoneTool on your computer, and follow the three simple steps to erase Safari history from iPhone in one-click.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer with USB > Launch FoneTool, and click Toolbox > Choose Data Eraser.

Step 2. Mouse over to Erase private data, and click Get Started.

Step 3. Select Safari history > If needed, check Enable Deep Erase Technology for permanently deletion > Click Start Erase to begin.

Summary

Encountering difficulties when trying to delete Safari history on your iPhone can be frustrating. However, by following the step-by-step instructions provided and exploring the fixes mentioned, you should be able to overcome this issue - Can’t delete Safari history on iPhone.

Additionally, if you prefer a convenient and efficient method, FoneTool offers a one-click solution for deleting Safari history on your iPhone. With the right steps and tools, hope you can successfully delete your Safari history and ensure a clean browsing experience on your iPhone.