Safari is a default browser for iOS and Mac computers. It is one of the commonly used browsers for Apple users to access the internet and, at the same time, save important browsing history. This makes it possible to revisit previous website pages and pick up from where you left off. However, it is easy to lose Safari history, and it can happen due to an iOS update, accidental deletion, or system crash.
Luckily, if you've deleted your Safari search history on your iPhone, you can still get it back. In this article, we will introduce 5 solutions to recover deleted history Safari on iPhone with or without a backup.
Is it possible to retrieve deleted iPhone history on the Safari browser? Well, the answer is yes. When you delete browsing history on Safari, it is not permanently erased from the device. You may still find it on your phone, but you only have a limited timeframe. If you act fast, you may be lucky to get back the deleted browsing history. However, remember, the success rate of restoring deleted browsing history this way isn't 100%.
Conversely, if you've backed up your browsing history beforehand, you can easily see the deleted files from a backup, either iCloud backup or iTunes backup.
In this section, we'll introduce effective ways to recover deleted Safari history, whether you have a backup or not. When you find out that you mistakenly erased history from your Safari browser, these are the best approaches to take and recover it:
The easiest option we recommend all iOS users to try out when they realize their Safari browsing history has been deleted is to check your device's Settings. If you're lucky, you will find lost Safari history here. However, this approach will only be fruitful if you haven't deleted cookies or cache files before.
Below are the steps to get back your deleted Safari history on your iPhone through Settings:
Step 1. Open the iPhone Settings app, then scroll down to "Safari" and click on it to open the primary interface.
Step 2. Find the "Advanced" option at the bottom and press on it. When a new Advanced interface appears, select "Website Data".
Step 3. You'll see all those sites you've visited. Check if the deleted history is there and click on the "Show All Sites" option to show all the websites you've browsed.
See More: Read this article to learn how to view Safari history on iPhone.
If you did not keep a backup of your Safari history, the only option you have is to use third-party software. As a professional iPhone data recovery software, iPhone Data Recovery can help in recovering deleted Safari history and Safari bookmarks on iOS devices. It is very safe, and with the highest rates of success in the recovery industry, it is your best option to restore all files from your iOS devices. Moreover, apart from restoring data from iOS, iPhone Data Recovery supports recovering data from iTunes and iCloud backup as well.
Key Features:
Below are steps on how to see recently deleted history on Safari via the iPhone Data Recovery tool:
01First, you need to download iPhone Data Recovery software on your PC and install it. Launch it and enter "iPhone Data Recovery". Next, choose the "Recover from iOS Device" option.
02Now, link your iPhone to the PC using a lightning cable. When asked, click "Trust" on your iPhone to allow the tool to detect the phone. When done connecting, you need to press the "Start Scan" icon to scan files on the iPhone.
03You'll see all iOS data listed on the left panel in categories after the scan is completed. Locate, then select "Safari History" from the left sidebar. Locate and then check all the detailed info of the deleted Safari history on the right. After that, tap the "Recover" button.
If you have used iCloud to back up your data, then iCloud backup can also be a viable option to recover the deleted Safari browsing history on your iPhone. However, all files and content will be erased from your device, which might lead to data loss if some files haven't been backed up yet. Also, for this method to work, you require a reliable internet connection.
Here is the process to retrieve deleted history from iPhone Safari via iCloud backup:
Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to "General". Find the "Reset" option by scrolling down to the bottom page and clicking on it. Click on the "Erase All Content and Settings" option afterward to reset the iPhone.
Step 2. When you get back to the original setup page, you should select the option for "Restore from iCloud Backup" to recover the deleted Safari history and other data to your iPhone.
If you want to restore from iCloud backup without reset, you can read this article.
How to Restore from iCloud Backup Without ResetIf you have backed up your files to iTunes, you can restore deleted search history from iTunes backup. But remember, when you restore your data from iTunes, your data will be overwritten by the new files being restored. It is thus advisable to back up your files before restoring data from iTunes.
Note: If you have a Mac computer operating on macOS Catalina or a newer version, you need to use the Finder application to perform the recovery procedure.
To restore Safari browsing history from iTunes backup, these are the steps to use:
Step 1. Launch iTunes/Finder on your computer and link the iPhone to the computer using a lightning cable. (iTunes doesn't recoginze your iPhone?)
Step 2. After the device gets recognized, tap on the option for "Restore Backup", then select the recent backup file you created before you erased your Safari history.
When the procedure is finished, you may now open Safari on the iPhone and confirm if Safari history was restored.
Do you know you can also see the deleted browsing history via Time Machine on a Mac computer? Apple users can sync files across all Apple devices linked to the same iCloud account. So, if the Safari browsing history was synced to a Mac computer automatically, it can be restored using the Time Machine. If you are sure your computer has made a backup via Time Machine, the recovery process will only take a few steps as follows:
Step 1. Close the Safari app on your Mac first. Open Finder, select "Go", and proceed to the "Go to the folder" option.
Step 2. Key in "~/Library/Safari/" into the space, then tap on the "Go" button.
Step 3. When you get to the Safari directory page, locate the History.db file or it can also be History.plist on older Safari browser versions.
Step 4. Open the Time Machine menu at the top right, then select "Enter Time Machine". Choose the data you want to restore from the list. Make sure you choose a date containing Safari history files, then press the "Restore" button.
Step 5. Finally, open Safari again to check all history. Just click on history from the menu bar on the upper screen, then choose "Show All History".
You May Like: Is your Safari not loading websites in iOS 16/17? Here is a troubleshooting guide you can't miss.
Q1. What types of files does Safari store?
Safari keeps various data types on the phone to help you have an efficient browsing experience. Among the many files Safari browser saves are browsing history, cache, cookies, search history, and more.
Q2. Does Safari usually keep browsing history? And for how long?
Yes, Safari keeps a browsing history on the devices used. According to Apple, Safari will keep a browsing history on a Mac computer for about one year, while on iOS devices, it keeps the search history for a month. This way, you can restore your history when you mistakenly delete it.
Q3. Does Safari clear the old history?
Once you delete history, Safari will also remove the data it saves from your browsing, which includes web pages you visited, recent searches, sites you frequently visited, and more.
In conclusion, the process of recovering deleted Safari browsing history on an iPhone can be challenging, but it is not impossible. With the right tools and methods, you can potentially retrieve lost web pages and valuable information. It's important to act quickly and follow the steps outlined in this guide to maximize your chances of successful recovery. iPhone Data Recovery is the best and most recommended solution to restore deleted Safari search history on iPhone. It restores data selectively, only those files that are missing.
Related Articles:
How to Check History on iPad After Deleted with/without Backup?
How to Recover Deleted History on Google? [Lost & Found]
[Solved] How to Retrieve Deleted Contacts on iPhone without Computer
How to See Incognito History on iPhone? Find the Answer Here!
Feedback
Free Download for PC 
Free Download for Mac 
