If you can’t clear your history in Safari on your iPhone or iPad

If the option to clear your Safari history is grey or dimmed, find out what to do.

You might not be able to clear your Safari history if you don’t have any history or website data, if some Content & Privacy Restrictions are turned on, or if your device is enrolled in mobile device management (MDM).

Check that you have history or website data to clear

  1. Open the Safari app.

  2. Tap the Show Bookmarks buttonnull.

  3. Tap the History buttonnull.

    History tab in Safari showing no recent websites. The Clear button is dimmed.

If there aren’t any websites listed in the History tab, then you don’t have any Safari history to clear.

If you use Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time

  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.

  2. Under Restrictions, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

  3. Tap App Store, Media, Web and Games.

  4. Tap Web Content.

    Content and Privacy Restrictions settings options. The Web Content section is highlighted.

  5. Choose Unrestricted.

  6. If asked, enter your Screen Time passcode. Forgot your Screen Time passcode?

If your device is managed by an organisation, such as a school or employer

Certain settings might be restricted if your device is enrolled in mobile device management (MDM), which lets an organisation – such as a school or employer – securely and wirelessly configure devices.

If your device is managed by an organisation and you still can’t clear your history after trying the previous steps, contact your organisation for more information.

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