Removing Frequently Visited Websites on Safari: A Definitive Guide

So, you’re looking to declutter your Safari browsing experience and get rid of those frequently visited websites that are popping up? You’ve come to the right place. Getting rid of these digital reminders of your past browsing habits is easier than you think, and we’re here to guide you through it.

The direct answer is simple: You can remove frequently visited websites on Safari on your iPhone by disabling the “Frequently Visited” feature in your Safari settings. This will prevent them from appearing on the new tab/start page. Alternatively, you can individually clear specific sites from the list. The detailed steps are outlined below:

1. Open the Settings App: Locate the Settings app icon on your iPhone’s home screen and tap it.
2. Scroll Down to Safari: Scroll down until you find the “Safari” option and tap on it.
3. Locate “Frequently Visited Sites”: In the Safari settings, scroll down until you see the “Frequently Visited Sites” option.
4. Toggle Off (Disable): Tap the toggle switch next to “Frequently Visited Sites” to turn it off (it will turn grey). This will disable the feature entirely, and the list will no longer appear.
5. Removing Individual Sites (If Frequently Visited is Enabled): If you prefer to keep the “Frequently Visited Sites” feature enabled but want to remove specific websites:
   • Open the Safari app.
   • Open a New Tab (Tap the overlapping squares in the bottom right, then the “+” icon).
   • Long press the icon of the website you want to remove.
   • Select the “Delete” option to remove it from the list.

That’s it! This is the quickest and most effective way to remove and manage the frequently visited sites showing on your Safari browser. Now, let’s delve deeper and answer some common questions you might have regarding this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 common questions and detailed answers regarding the management of frequently visited sites in Safari on your iPhone:

1. Will Disabling “Frequently Visited” Affect My Bookmarks or History?

No, disabling the “Frequently Visited” feature in Safari will not affect your saved bookmarks or browsing history. It only prevents the list of frequently visited websites from being displayed on the new tab/start page. Your bookmarks and history will remain intact.

2. How Can I Access My Browsing History in Safari?

Accessing your browsing history in Safari is simple:

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap the Bookmarks icon (it looks like an open book) at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the History icon (it looks like a clock) at the top of the Bookmarks menu.
4. You’ll see a chronological list of websites you’ve visited.

3. How Do I Clear My Browsing History in Safari on My iPhone?

Clearing your browsing history is a good way to maintain privacy. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. Tap on “Clear History and Website Data“.
4. A confirmation message will appear; tap “Clear History and Data” to confirm.

Important Note: Clearing history will also clear your cookies and other website data.

4. Can I Customize the Number of Frequently Visited Sites Displayed?

Unfortunately, Safari does not offer a native option to customize the number of frequently visited sites displayed. It’s an all-or-nothing feature; either it’s on, and it displays the automatically determined frequently visited sites, or it’s off, and it displays nothing.

5. If I Use Private Browsing, Will Websites Still Appear in “Frequently Visited”?

No, websites visited in Private Browsing mode will not appear in your frequently visited list. Private browsing doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, or other website data, ensuring your activities remain private.

6. How Does Safari Determine Which Websites Are “Frequently Visited”?

Safari uses an algorithm that considers factors such as:

• Frequency of visits: How often you visit a specific website.
• Duration of visits: How long you spend on a website during each visit.
• Recency of visits: How recently you visited the website.

The algorithm combines these factors to determine which websites are most likely to be relevant to you.

7. Can I Pin Specific Websites to the Start Page Instead of Relying on “Frequently Visited”?

Yes, you can! While you can’t directly “pin” websites to the Frequently Visited section, you can add them to your Favorites and then customize your start page to show Favorites. Here’s how:

1. Add to Favorites: Open the website in Safari. Tap the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing upward) at the bottom of the screen. Tap “Add to Favorites“. Choose a location if prompted (usually the Favorites folder).
2. Customize Start Page: Open a new tab in Safari. Scroll to the bottom of the start page and tap “Edit“. Enable “Favorites“. Now, your favorite websites will appear on the start page.

8. Why Are Some Websites Showing Up That I Haven’t Visited Recently?

This can happen due to several reasons:

• Website Data: Safari might still have stored website data (cookies, cache) from previous visits, even if they were not recent.
• Shared Devices: If you share your Apple ID with other devices, browsing activity from those devices could influence your frequently visited list.
• Algorithmic Quirks: The algorithm might be giving undue weight to certain visits based on factors like duration or engagement.

9. How Do Cookies and Website Data Affect the “Frequently Visited” Feature?

Cookies and website data can influence the “Frequently Visited” list. Websites use cookies to track your browsing activity and preferences. Safari uses this data to determine which websites you visit most often. Clearing your cookies and website data can reset the “Frequently Visited” list, as discussed earlier.

10. Is There a Third-Party App to Better Manage My Safari Start Page?

While there are apps that offer enhanced browsing experiences, they don’t directly manipulate the native “Frequently Visited” list in Safari. These apps might provide alternative start pages with customizable widgets and features. Some users may find them preferable to the standard Safari start page, but they won’t affect the underlying way Safari determines “Frequently Visited” sites.

11. How Does iCloud Affect My “Frequently Visited” Sites Across Multiple Devices?

If you have iCloud Safari enabled, your browsing history, bookmarks, and other Safari data, including your “Frequently Visited” list, can sync across all your Apple devices logged in with the same Apple ID. This means that if you frequently visit a website on your iPad, it might also appear in your “Frequently Visited” list on your iPhone. To prevent this, you can disable Safari syncing in iCloud settings on individual devices or clear your browsing history separately on each device.

12. I Deleted a Frequently Visited Site, but It Keeps Reappearing. What’s Happening?

If a deleted frequently visited site keeps reappearing, here are a few possible causes:

• iCloud Sync: As mentioned earlier, iCloud Safari syncing can cause the site to reappear if it’s being frequently visited on another device linked to your Apple ID.
• Persistent Cookies: Even after deleting the site, certain cookies or website data might remain, causing Safari to re-add it to the list. Try clearing your history and website data again.
• Automatic Re-Addition: If you continue to visit the site, even infrequently, Safari might automatically re-add it to the list based on its algorithm. Your best bet may be disabling the feature altogether.

By understanding these nuances and following the steps outlined above, you can effectively manage your frequently visited websites in Safari and create a browsing experience that’s tailored to your needs. Happy surfing!