Clearing your search history on an iPhone 12 is a straightforward process. It involves going into your Safari browser settings and erasing your browsing data. This quick task will ensure your privacy is protected and can also help free up some space on your device.
Step by Step Tutorial: Clearing Search History on iPhone 12
Before we dive into the steps, it’s important to know that clearing your search history will remove a record of the websites you’ve visited. This can be helpful if you’re concerned about privacy or just want to keep your browsing habits to yourself.
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone 12.
In the settings menu, you’ll find a list of various options to customize and control your iPhone. You will need to scroll down to find the Safari browser settings.
Step 2: Scroll to Safari
Scroll down and tap on ‘Safari’.
Safari is the default web browser for iPhone. By tapping on it, you’ll be directed to a menu where you can adjust settings specifically for your web browsing experience.
Step 3: Clear History and Website Data
Tap ‘Clear History and Website Data’.
This option is typically towards the bottom of the Safari settings menu. Tapping this will bring up a prompt to confirm that you want to clear your history.
Step 4: Confirm Your Action
Confirm that you want to clear your history.
A pop-up will appear to ensure you want to proceed. Once you confirm, your search history will be wiped from the device.
After completing these steps, your search history, cookies, and browsing data will be removed from your iPhone 12. This means that anyone else who uses your phone won’t be able to see the websites you’ve visited.
Tips: Clearing Search History on iPhone 12
- Regularly clearing your search history can keep your device running smoothly.
- If you’re selling or giving away your iPhone 12, it’s a good idea to clear your search history first.
- Remember that clearing your history can also log you out of websites you’ve been using.
- To keep your browsing private in the future, consider using Private Browsing mode.
- If you want to clear history for just one site, you can do this in the Safari app by tapping the book icon, then the clock icon, and swiping left on the individual history entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing my search history also clear my bookmarks?
No, clearing your search history will not affect your bookmarks. They will remain intact.
Can I recover my history after I clear it?
Once your history is cleared, it cannot be recovered. Make sure you want to erase this information before you confirm the action.
Will clearing my search history improve my iPhone’s performance?
It can. Clearing cache and history can free up space and potentially improve your iPhone’s performance.
Does clearing my history delete my autofill information?
No, clearing your history does not delete autofill information such as passwords or form data.
Can I clear my search history for a specific time period only?
No, the clear history function on the iPhone 12 does not allow you to select a specific time frame. It will clear all browsing history.
Summary
- Open the ‘Settings’ app.
- Scroll down and tap ‘Safari’.
- Tap ‘Clear History and Website Data’.
- Confirm that you want to clear your history.
Conclusion
Knowing how to clear your search history on your iPhone 12 is an essential skill for maintaining your privacy and keeping your device clutter-free. Whether you’re concerned about someone snooping on your browsing habits or you just want to clear up some space, it’s a simple but powerful action you can take to enhance your iPhone experience. Remember that once your history is cleared, it’s gone for good, so make sure you really want to erase it before you hit confirm. With the steps laid out in this article, you’re all set to keep your browsing history to yourself. Happy browsing—or not, if that’s what you prefer after clearing your search history on iPhone 12!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.