How to Clear Search History on iPhone: Complete Guide (2026)
Protect your privacy and free up space by clearing your iPhone's search history across Safari, Spotlight, Maps, and more
Why Clear Your iPhone Search History?
Your iPhone stores search history across multiple apps and services to provide personalized suggestions and faster searches. While convenient, there are several good reasons to clear this data regularly:
- Privacy protection: Prevent others from seeing what you've searched
- Free up storage: Search history and cache can accumulate over time
- Fresh start: Remove outdated or irrelevant suggestions
- Selling/gifting device: Clear personal data before transferring ownership
- Troubleshooting: Fix issues with search suggestions or autocomplete
- Reduce tracking: Limit data collection by apps and websites
Method 1: Clear Safari Search History
Safari is the default browser on iPhone and stores your browsing and search history. Here's how to clear it:
Step 1: Open Settings
Tap the Settings app on your iPhone home screen (the gray gear icon).
Step 2: Scroll to Safari
Scroll down and tap Safari in the settings menu.
Step 3: Clear History and Website Data
Tap Clear History and Website Data (it's usually in blue text near the bottom of the Safari settings).
Step 4: Confirm
A popup will appear asking you to confirm. Tap Clear History and Data to proceed.
Note: This will clear your browsing history, cookies, and other browsing data from Safari on all devices signed in with your Apple ID if you have Safari syncing enabled via iCloud.
💡 Pro Tip: If you only want to delete specific sites from your history instead of everything, go to Safari app > tap the book icon > tap the clock icon (History) > swipe left on individual entries to delete them.
Method 2: Clear Spotlight Search History
Spotlight is iPhone's universal search feature that appears when you swipe down on the home screen. It remembers your searches and shows suggestions.
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Settings app.
Step 2: Go to Siri & Search
Tap Siri & Search.
Step 3: Clear Spotlight Suggestions
Unfortunately, there's no direct "clear" button for Spotlight history. However, you can reset it by:
- Scroll down to Siri Suggestions section
- Toggle off Suggestions in Search
- Wait 10 seconds
- Toggle it back on
This resets Spotlight's learning and clears previous search patterns.
Method 3: Clear Google Search History (Google App & Chrome)
If you use Google's app or Chrome browser on your iPhone, you'll want to clear that search history separately.
For Google App:
- Open the Google app
- Tap your profile picture in the top right
- Tap Search history
- Tap Delete and choose:
- Last hour
- Last day
- All time
- Custom range
- Tap Delete to confirm
For Chrome Browser:
- Open Chrome app
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the bottom right
- Tap History
- Tap Clear Browsing Data
- Select time range and data types (Browsing history, Cookies, Cached images)
- Tap Clear Browsing Data
Method 4: Clear Maps Search History
Apple Maps stores your search history and frequent locations. Here's how to clear it:
Option 1: Clear All Maps History
- Open the Maps app
- Tap your profile picture in the top right
- Scroll down and tap Clear All Recents
- Confirm by tapping Clear All
Option 2: Delete Individual Searches
- Open Maps app
- Tap the search bar
- Under "Recents," swipe left on any search
- Tap Delete
Method 5: Clear App Store Search History
The App Store remembers your searches to provide better suggestions.
- Open the App Store
- Tap the Search tab at the bottom
- Tap the search bar at the top
- You'll see your recent searches below
- Swipe left on any search term
- Tap Delete
- Repeat for each search, or tap Clear to remove all at once (if available)
Method 6: Clear Siri Search & Dictation History
Siri stores your voice requests and dictation history to improve accuracy.
- Open Settings
- Tap Siri & Search
- Tap Siri & Dictation History
- Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History
- Confirm by tapping Delete
Note: This deletes all Siri and dictation history associated with your Apple ID across all devices.
Method 7: Clear Keyboard Dictionary
Your iPhone learns words you type frequently. To reset this:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset
- Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary
- Enter your passcode
- Confirm by tapping Reset Dictionary
Note: This only resets learned words, not your entire keyboard settings.
Method 8: Clear All Website Data (Advanced)
For a more thorough privacy cleanup, you can clear all website data stored on your iPhone.
- Open Settings
- Tap Safari
- Scroll down and tap Advanced
- Tap Website Data
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Remove All Website Data
- Confirm by tapping Remove Now
Warning: This will log you out of most websites and remove saved preferences.
Prevent Future Search History Buildup
Want to minimize search history going forward? Try these settings:
Use Private Browsing in Safari
- Open Safari
- Tap the tabs icon (two squares)
- Tap Private in the bottom left
- Tap + to open a private tab
Private browsing doesn't save history, cookies, or autofill information.
Disable Safari History Syncing
- Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud
- Toggle off Safari
This prevents Safari history from syncing across your Apple devices.
Turn Off Search Suggestions
- Settings > Safari
- Toggle off Safari Suggestions
- Toggle off Search Engine Suggestions
Disable Siri Suggestions
- Settings > Siri & Search
- Toggle off Suggestions in Search
- Toggle off Suggestions in Look Up
What Happens When You Clear Search History?
Understanding what gets deleted helps you make informed decisions:
- Browsing history: List of websites you've visited
- Cookies: Small files that remember login sessions and preferences
- Cache: Temporary files that help websites load faster
- Autofill data: Saved form information (depending on settings)
- Search suggestions: Personalized search recommendations
What doesn't get deleted:
- Bookmarks and Reading List
- Saved passwords (unless you specifically delete them)
- Downloaded files
- AutoFill information (unless cleared separately)
⚠️ Important: Clearing history doesn't make you completely anonymous. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and websites you visit can still track your activity. For true privacy, use a VPN and privacy-focused browsers.
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Shop iPhone CasesFrequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Does clearing search history delete my passwords?
No. Clearing Safari history and website data does not delete saved passwords. Your passwords are stored separately in iCloud Keychain or your device's password manager. To delete passwords, go to Settings > Passwords and delete them individually.
Will clearing history log me out of websites?
Yes, clearing cookies and website data will log you out of most websites. You'll need to sign in again the next time you visit. However, if you use iCloud Keychain or a password manager, your credentials will autofill to make logging back in easier.
Can I recover deleted search history on iPhone?
No. Once you clear your search history from your iPhone, it cannot be recovered. The data is permanently deleted from your device. However, if you have iCloud syncing enabled, there might be a brief window before it syncs the deletion to other devices.
Does clearing history free up storage space?
Yes, but usually not a significant amount. Clearing Safari history, cache, and cookies can free up anywhere from a few MB to a few hundred MB, depending on how long it's been since you last cleared it. The cache (temporary website files) takes up the most space.
How often should I clear my iPhone search history?
It depends on your privacy needs and browsing habits. For most users, clearing history once a month is sufficient. If you're concerned about privacy or share your device, consider clearing it weekly or using Private Browsing mode regularly.
Does clearing history on iPhone clear it on my other Apple devices?
Yes, if you have Safari syncing enabled via iCloud. When you clear history on one device, it clears across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID. To prevent this, turn off Safari syncing in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud before clearing history.
Can I set Safari to automatically clear history?
No, iOS doesn't have a built-in feature to automatically clear Safari history on a schedule. You must manually clear it each time. However, you can use Private Browsing mode, which doesn't save history at all.
What's the difference between clearing history and clearing cookies?
Clearing history removes the list of websites you've visited. Clearing cookies removes small data files that websites store on your device to remember your preferences and login sessions. When you select "Clear History and Website Data" in Safari, it clears both.
Will clearing search history improve iPhone performance?
Slightly. Clearing cache and cookies can free up some storage and potentially make Safari run a bit faster, especially if you haven't cleared it in a long time. However, the performance improvement is usually minimal on modern iPhones.
Can my internet provider see my search history even after I delete it?
Yes. Clearing history on your iPhone only removes it from your device. Your internet service provider (ISP), network administrator (at work or school), and the websites you visited may still have records of your browsing activity. For true privacy, use a VPN.
How do I clear search history for specific apps like Instagram or TikTok?
Each app has its own search history settings. Generally, you need to:
- Open the app
- Go to your profile or settings
- Look for "Search History," "Recent Searches," or "Clear Search History"
- Tap to clear
Does using Private Browsing mode hide my activity from my ISP?
No. Private Browsing only prevents Safari from saving your history, cookies, and autofill information on your device. Your ISP, network administrator, and websites you visit can still see your activity. Use a VPN for true privacy from your ISP.
Final Thoughts
Clearing your iPhone search history is a simple but important step in maintaining your privacy and keeping your device running smoothly. Whether you're concerned about privacy, freeing up storage, or just want a fresh start, the methods outlined above will help you clear search history across all the major apps and services on your iPhone.
Remember to clear your history regularly, use Private Browsing when needed, and consider adjusting your privacy settings to limit data collection going forward.
Need more iPhone tips? Check out our other guides on iPhone care and maintenance!
