How to Use Safari on an iPhone

This How.com.vn teaches you how to use Apple's native web browser on your iPhone.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Safari App

It's a white app with the image of a blue compass.
It's at the top of the screen.
Using the keypad, you can enter search terms to retrieve Web results or a URL to get to a specific site.
4
Tap the blue Search or Go button on your keyboard to search. You should see this button in the bottom right corner of your screen.
- Scroll down to see search results.
5
Tap a link to view a Web page.
6
Tap the "Refresh" icon. Once a web page or search results are displayed, you can refresh the page by tapping ↻ on the right side of the search field.
- Hold down on the Refresh icon and then select "Request Desktop Site" at the bottom of the page if you'd like to view the desktop version of the page rather than the mobile site.
- If you'd like to download an image from a webpage, tap and hold on a photo until a menu pops up. Then tap Save Image to save it to your camera roll.
  - Not all websites allow images to be saved.
- You can also use your finger to select, copy, share, and look up text on Web pages in Safari.
7
Tap the "Share" icon. It's a square with an upward pointing arrow at the bottom-center of the screen. Use this tool to share a page or a selection with another person via any number of methods, including AirDrop, text message, or email.
- You can also bookmark a page, make it a favorite, or add it to your home screen or a reading list by tapping the appropriate button in the bottom row of options.
- Scroll left to see all the available options.
They are located in the lower-left corner of the screen. These tools navigate forward and backward among the websites in the current tab.
9
Tap the "Tabs" icon. It's two overlapping squares in the lower-right corner.
- Tap an open tab to switch between tabs.
- Swipe left on a tab or tap the ✖️in its upper-left corner to close it.
- Tap ➕at the bottom center of the screen to open a new tab.
- Tap Private in the lower-left corner to enter Private Browsing mode.
- Tap Done in the lower-right corner to exit the "Tabs" screen.
- Hold down on. the "Tabs" icon to open a new tab, open a new private tab, close the tab you're on, or close all of the tabs you have open at once.
10
Tap the "Bookmarks" icon. It's a book-shaped icon in the lower-right of the screen.
- Tap the "Bookmarks" tab in the upper-left corner of the screen. From this menu, you can: Tap Favorites to see websites you've added to your "Favorites" list; tap History to see your browsing history; or tap a bookmark to go immediately to its Web page.
- Tap the tab with the reading glasses icon at the top-center of the screen to go to your "Reading List." These are pages that you've added to the list so that you can go back and read them later.
- Tap the @ tab to go to your list of shared links. These links are generated by subscriptions from your social media accounts, like Twitter.
- Tap Done in the upper-left corner to exit the "Bookmarks" menu.
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Customizing Safari Settings

It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on your home screen.
It's next to a blue compass icon in a section with other Apple apps, like Mail and FaceTime.
3
Customize "Search" settings. The options in the "SEARCH" section at the top of the screen allow you to tailor how Safari performs searches.
- Tap Search Engine to set a default Web searching service, like Google.
- Slide "Search Engine Suggestions" and "Safari Suggestions" to "On" (green) if you'd like Safari to offer you search or website suggestions as you type in the search bar.
- Slide "Quick Website Search" to "On" (green) if you'd like Safari to search within a website for specific terms by including the website name as part of the search: "How.com.vn to use Safari," for example.
- Slide "Preload Top Hit" to "On" (green) if you'd like Safari to automatically load the result that best matches your search.
4
Customize "General" settings. The settings in the "GENERAL" section allow you to customize some aspects of how you use Safari.
- Tap Passwords to see and edit what sites Safari has saved passwords for.
- Tap Autofill to select what information Safari can fill in automatically, such as name and address, when you fill out an online form.
- Slide "Frequently Visited Sites" to "On" (green) and tap Favorites and check the folder if you want Safari to make suggestions from your "Favorites" list or sites that you visit often when you open a new tab or perform a search.
- Tap Open Links to tell Safari what you want to happen when you tap a hyperlink.
- Slide "Block Pop-ups" to "On" (green) if you don't want to see pop-up advertisements.
5
Customize "Privacy & Security" settings. The settings in the "PRIVACY & SECURITY" section of the menu can be customized to make your browsing activities more or less secure.
- Slide "Do Not Track" to "On" (green) in order to discourage advertisers from following your browsing habits.
- Tap Block Cookies to change the security settings that allow or block the website data that sites use to track your browsing history.
- Slide "Fraudulent Website Warning" to "On" (green) if you'd like to be alerted when Safari suspects you've navigated to an illegitimate website.
- Slide "Check for Apple Pay" to "On" (green) if you want Safari to determine whether a site supports Apple's secure virtual payment platform.
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question
I can't get Safari to respond or change page or close current search. What do I do?
Community Answer
Try this after closing Safari: 1. Click Settings. 2. Click Safari. 3. Click Clear History and website data.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question
What can I do if I receive the following error: "Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding"?
Community Answer
If something like this happens, it is best to refresh your pages. If that doesn't work, go to Settings, turn of your WiFi and try again. This time it should show up.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question
How do I clear history searches?
Community Answer
Go to 'Settings' then find 'Safari', scroll down and highlighted in blue will be 'Clear History and Website Data'.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1