You can attempt to recover deleted Safari history on your iPhone by viewing the history in your Settings, using an iCloud backup, or downloading a third-party data recovery software to help.
I am the type of person who keeps Safari tabs open and often goes back to previous pages I’ve visited, whether it be sports scores, news articles, or discussions. As a result, when I accidentally delete my Safari history, it can be a frustrating experience.
But thankfully, there are a few ways to recover this history, and this guide is going to take a closer look at them.
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Key Takeaways
- You can view your recently deleted Safari history easily in the iPhone settings, but this method only works if the cache and cookie files remain intact.
- Using an iCloud backup can help to recover your Safari history, but you need to ensure you move quickly. If the backup updates at a point after the history was already deleted, this method will not work.
- You can also use a third-party data recovery tool in order to recover the history. Make sure to do your research and choose a company with a good reputation, as you always need to be careful when downloading a new app or piece of software.
1. View History in Your iPhone Settings
The first way to try and recover your Safari history is simply by looking in your iPhone settings. To do this, you need to go to Settings > Safari, and then scroll down to the bottom and tap Advanced.
On the Advanced page, choose the Website Data option to see a list of sites that you have recently visited. Unfortunately, this method won’t work if you have also deleted the cache or cookie files in Safari.
2. Utilize an iCloud Backup
If that wasn’t successful, the next option to consider is restoring the history from an iCloud Backup. Doing this will bring back all the data that you have backed up on iCloud, which will include the Safari history.
The first step to restore a backup is to reset your iPhone. To do this, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, and then click Erase All Content and Settings.
When the reset is done, you can begin to set up your device like you would do if it was brand new. As you set up your device again, complete the on-screen instructions and once you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, choose to restore from iCloud Backup.
You will then need to sign into your iCloud account and choose the backup you want to restore from. Also, keep in mind that anything new you have downloaded, created, or saved that’s not in the backup you are restoring will be lost if you restore from that backup.
Of course, if you don’t have a backup, this method won’t work. Going forward, it is a good idea to keep an updated backup so your apps, data, and information are kept safe.
In order to create a backup, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and ensure it is turned on. You can also manually back up the device by clicking Back Up Now.
Also, keep in mind that iCloud will only store data for a limited time before it is replaced by a new backup automatically, so make sure to recover from your backup as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of recovering your Safari history successfully.
3. Use Third Party Software
Another option to try is to enlist the help of some third-party iPhone data recovery software. These generally work by connecting your phone to a computer, and letting the software recover previously-deleted data and returning it to you.
There are many to choose from, so make sure to do your homework before deciding which to use. Be sure to check out reviews and ratings, to get a sense of the reputation that it has. It’s also a good idea to consider the process in which they work and how simple they are to use.
In addition to recovering deleted Safari history, many of these can also recover things like messages, photos, notes, and more.
Final Thoughts
While accidentally deleting Safari history is an annoying experience, there are many ways to try and recover the data. I hope this guide has been able to help you learn more about them.
Is there anything else you think I should have mentioned in this guide, but didn’t? If so, let me know in a comment.
