How to Delete Frequently Visited Sites on iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to keep your browsing history a little more private on your iPhone? The Frequently Visited Sites feature in Safari can be surprisingly revealing. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to manage and clear, giving you control over what your iPhone displays. This guide walks you through the process, ensuring your browsing habits remain your business.

The Direct Answer: How to Remove Frequently Visited Sites

Deleting Frequently Visited Sites on your iPhone can be done in a few simple ways. The quickest and easiest method is to clear your browsing history and website data. This will wipe out all your frequently visited sites, along with cookies and other browsing information. Alternatively, you can disable the feature altogether, preventing Safari from tracking and displaying these sites in the first place. Let’s break down the methods:

Method 1: Clearing History and Website Data

This is the nuclear option – it removes everything. Be warned: it will sign you out of websites and clear saved passwords.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. Scroll down again and tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. A confirmation prompt will appear. Tap Clear History and Data to confirm.

This action will immediately erase your browsing history, cookies, and other browsing data, including your frequently visited sites. The Frequently Visited Sites section will then appear empty.

Method 2: Disabling the Frequently Visited Sites Feature

If you’d prefer to prevent Safari from tracking and displaying these sites in the future, you can disable the feature entirely.

1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the tabs icon (the two overlapping squares) located at the bottom right.
3. In the tab view, scroll down until you see the Frequently Visited sites.
4. Tap the Edit button in the top right corner.
5. Tap the minus (-) button next to each site you wish to remove. A red “Delete” button will appear, tap it.
6. Tap Done when you’re finished.

Alternatively, to prevent these sites from appearing on a new tab:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. Scroll down to the General section.
4. Tap Favorites. Here you can change the location that new tabs will pull from.
5. If you don’t have any favorites saved, the frequent sites will no longer appear.

Method 3: Manually Removing Individual Sites

You can also remove individual sites one by one.

1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the tabs icon (the two overlapping squares) located at the bottom right.
3. In the tab view, scroll down until you see the Frequently Visited sites.
4. Long press (touch and hold) on the site you want to remove.
5. A menu will appear. Tap Delete.

This will remove the selected site from the Frequently Visited Sites section. Repeat this process for each site you want to remove. This is the most granular method, allowing you to curate your list carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to managing Frequently Visited Sites on your iPhone, covering various aspects and concerns:

FAQ 1: Will clearing history delete my saved passwords?

Yes, clearing your browsing history and website data will delete your saved passwords. This is because saved passwords are often stored as cookies or website data. Before clearing your history, ensure you have a backup of your passwords using iCloud Keychain or a password manager.

FAQ 2: How often does Safari update the Frequently Visited Sites list?

Safari updates the Frequently Visited Sites list dynamically based on your browsing habits. There isn’t a specific time interval; it updates as you visit websites more frequently.

FAQ 3: Can I recover deleted Frequently Visited Sites?

No, once you delete Frequently Visited Sites, they are permanently removed from the list. Safari will start tracking your browsing habits again to populate the list with new sites.

FAQ 4: Does clearing history affect my other devices connected to iCloud?

Yes, if you have Safari syncing enabled across your devices via iCloud, clearing your browsing history on your iPhone will also clear it on your other devices (iPads, Macs) that are logged into the same iCloud account.

FAQ 5: Is there a way to prevent Safari from tracking my browsing history altogether?

Yes, you can use Private Browsing mode in Safari. In Private Browsing, Safari doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, or other website data. To enable it, tap the tabs icon, then tap “Private” at the bottom. Everything you search for on that tab will not be saved, and the Frequently Visited Sites will not appear on your main tab.

FAQ 6: Why are some sites showing up in Frequently Visited even though I rarely visit them?

This can happen due to various factors, such as websites being embedded within other websites you frequently visit, or Safari misinterpreting your browsing patterns. Try clearing your browsing history and website data to reset the list.

FAQ 7: Can I customize the number of Frequently Visited Sites that are displayed?

No, Safari does not offer a setting to customize the number of Frequently Visited Sites displayed. The number is predetermined by the system.

FAQ 8: Will using a VPN affect the Frequently Visited Sites feature?

Using a VPN might indirectly affect the Frequently Visited Sites feature. Because a VPN can route your traffic through different servers, Safari might track different versions of websites or not track certain sites at all due to altered browsing patterns.

FAQ 9: How do I manage cookies on my iPhone?

You can manage cookies in Settings > Safari > Block All Cookies. However, blocking all cookies might negatively impact your browsing experience on some websites. Alternatively, you can clear all existing cookies by clearing your browsing history and website data.

FAQ 10: What’s the difference between clearing history and clearing website data?

Clearing history removes the list of websites you’ve visited. Clearing website data removes cookies, cache, and other data stored by websites on your device. Clearing both provides the most comprehensive cleanup.

FAQ 11: I’ve cleared my history, but Frequently Visited Sites still appear. Why?

Ensure you also cleared website data. Sometimes, cookies and cached data can persist and cause sites to reappear. Also, make sure iCloud syncing is disabled if you only want to clear the history on that specific iPhone.

FAQ 12: Is it possible to exclude specific websites from being tracked in Frequently Visited Sites without clearing all data?

Unfortunately, Safari doesn’t offer a feature to specifically exclude individual websites from the Frequently Visited Sites list without clearing all data. Your best option is to either clear your browsing history or manually delete the specific sites as they appear. Private browsing mode is the best option for avoiding site tracking altogether.

By following these steps and understanding the FAQs, you can effectively manage and clear your Frequently Visited Sites on your iPhone, maintaining your privacy and controlling your browsing experience. Remember to back up important data like passwords before clearing your history to avoid any inconvenience. With a little know-how, you can keep your browsing habits private and your iPhone working just the way you want it to.