How To Check Browsing History in Safari

Safari, the default web browser on Apple devices, stores your browsing history so you can revisit websites you’ve previously visited. Checking your browsing history in Safari can be useful if you need to find a website you visited earlier or monitor your recent browsing activity. Here’s how you can view your browsing history on both Mac and iOS devices.

How to Check Browsing History in Safari on Mac

Step 1: Open Safari

1. Launch Safari on your Mac by clicking on the Safari icon in the Dock or finding it in your Applications folder.

Step 2: Access the History Menu

1. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on History.
   • This will display a dropdown menu with a list of recently visited websites.
2. To see a more detailed history, select Show All History from the History menu.
   • You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Y to open the browsing history directly.

Step 3: Browse Through Your History

1. In the History window that opens, you will see a list of websites you’ve visited, sorted by date.
2. Use the search bar in the top-right corner to search for a specific website or keyword.
3. To revisit a website, double-click on its entry in the list, and it will open in a new tab.

Step 4: Clearing Browsing History (Optional)

If you want to clear your browsing history, you can do so from the same menu:

1. Click on the History menu in the top menu bar.
2. Select Clear History….
3. Choose the time range you want to clear (e.g., the last hour, today, today and yesterday, all history).
4. Click Clear History.Note: Clearing your history will remove browsing data like cookies and cache for the specified period, which may affect website login sessions.

How to Check Browsing History in Safari on iPhone and iPad

Step 1: Open Safari

1. Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad by tapping the Safari icon on the home screen.

Step 2: Open the History Panel

1. Tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or in the top menu bar (iPad).
   • This icon is located at the bottom of the screen on an iPhone and resembles an open book.
2. In the menu that appears, tap on the clock icon. This is the History tab, where you can view a list of all the websites you have visited.

Step 3: Browse Through Your History

1. Your browsing history will be displayed, sorted by date.
2. Scroll through the list to find a specific website.
3. To revisit a site, tap on its entry, and Safari will load it in the current tab.

Step 4: Clearing Browsing History (Optional)

If you want to clear your browsing history:

1. Tap on Clear in the bottom-right corner of the History tab.
2. Choose the time range you want to clear (e.g., Last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, All time).Note: This will remove all browsing data, including cookies and cache, for the selected period.

Summary

Checking your browsing history in Safari on both Mac and iOS devices is straightforward. By following these steps, you can easily access and manage your history, revisit past websites, or clear your browsing history if needed. This can be particularly helpful if you need to retrace your online activity or keep your browsing history private.