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How to Search a Webpage for Specific Text in Safari on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad , the way you search within a webpage in Safari isn't so obvious. There are two different methods you can use in Apple's browser, both of which are described below. Once you've given them a shot, they'll become second nature.

How to Search Within a Webpage Using Safari's Smart Search Bar

• Launch Safari browser on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌
• Navigate to the page that you want to search.

• Scroll down the Smart Search results for the section called On This Page . Alongside it you'll see the number of matches for your search term. Tap the Find [your search term] option below it.
• Safari will jump to the first instance of the word or phrase you search for on the webpage and highlight it in yellow. You will also see the matching result above the onscreen keyboard. Use the up/down arrow buttons to jump to each successive instance of your search term on the current page.

How to Search Within a Webpage Using Safari's Share Sheet

• Launch Safari browser on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.

• Scroll past the Share options to the Action menu and select Find on Page .
• Type the word or phrase you're looking for in the search field and tap Search . Safari will jump to the first instance of your search term on the webpage and highlight it in yellow. You will also see the matching result above the onscreen keyboard. Use the up/down arrow buttons to jump to each successive instance of your search term on the current page.

Did you know that Safari can intelligently use a website's own search bar to help you find what you're looking for? For more details, check out our article on how to perform a quick website search in Safari .

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How to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad

• How to search the web using the Smart Search bar
• How to search bookmarks and web history using the Smart Search bar

How to search the text on a specific web page using the Smart Search bar

How to change your default search browser in safari, how to search safari from search on the home screen in ios 15.

The Smart Search bar in iOS 15 is a hybrid of the old address and search bars melded into one universal place to type and go. You can access your default search provider, your browsing history, saved bookmarks, and even specific words on web pages, all through the unified Smart Search bar at the top of your Safari browsing window. It makes searching for something on your best iPhone more straightforward. Here's how to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad.

How to search the web using the Smart Search bar on iPhone and iPad

• Launch Safari from the Home screen.
• Tap in the Smart Search bar at the top or bottom of your browser.

• Type in some keywords or a phrase you would like to search for.
• Tap on the Go button at the bottom right of your screen.

That's it! Safari will now use your default search engine to scour the internet for you.

How to search bookmarks and web history using the Smart Search bar on iPhone and iPad

• Launch Safari from your Home screen.

• Type in some keywords you would like to search the internet for (I searched for "apple").
• Tap on the site or bookmark you would like to navigate to under the Bookmarks and History heading.

• Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
• Open a web page in Safari.
• Tap the Smart Search bar .

• Type the word or phrase that you want to find on the page.
• Tap the word or phrase under On this Page.

• Tap the navigation buttons to jump to each instance of the word if there's more than one.
• Tap Done when you're finished.

Everyone has their favorite search engine. Make sure yours is programmed as the default and use the Smart Search bar in Safari.

• Tap on Settings from your Home screen.
• Tap on Safari (you may have to scroll down to find it).

• Tap on Search Engine .
• Tap on your preferred search engine from the list.

Next time you open up Safari and type something into the Smart Search bar, it will use your newly-set search engine.

In iOS 15 , super-powered the native search functionality available to the left of the Home screen. When you enter a search term in the Search feature, you'll see suggested web searches and even websites based on your term.

• Swipe right on your Home screen to navigate to search.
• Enter your search term in your search bar.
• Tap the search result you want.

As you can see in the example above, the search terms that iOS found for "iMore" will automatically open Safari and search the web using that term.

The Smart Search bar can be at the top or bottom

If you're on iOS 15, you may notice that Apple switched the search/address bar from the top of the screen in Safari to the bottom of the screen. There's no functionality difference between the two options, but if you prefer the Smart Search bar to be at the top rather than the bottom, you can change the location of the address bar in Settings .

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

Updated March 2022: Updated for the most recent version of iOS 15.

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 

Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz .

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Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to control+f search on iphone & ipad in safari.

Many computer users associate Control+F with searching for text on a web page, and if you’re coming to the iPhone or iPad from the Windows world, you may be wondering how you can use the equivalent to the Control+F search in the Safari browser on iPhone and iPad.

The Safari web browser on iPhone and iPad has a built in Find On Page search feature that easily allows you to search for matched text on a webpage, mimicking the behavior of Control+F search for users who are coming to the platform from Windows. And arguably, the iPhone and iPad method is even easier to search matched text for than using Ctrl+F, as you’ll see in this walkthrough.

How to Use the Control+F Equivalent in Safari for iPhone & iPad

Ready to search for matching text on a web page in Safari? Here’s all you need to do:

• Open the Safari browser if you haven’t done so and visit the web page you want to search for matched text on
• Tap the arrow button flying out of the box in the Safari toolbar

• Scroll down and tap on “Find On Page”, this is the Control+F equivalent on iPhone and iPad Safari

• Enter the text you want to find on the web page

• Use the arrows to navigate to the next or prior instance of the matched text if desired, when finished tap “Done”

There you go, is that easy or what?

This works exactly the same on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Depending on which versions of iOS or iPadOS are in use, the Find On Page option in the menu may appear as a line option or a button , but it’s always available in Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Bonus Trick: Command+F is Control+F equivalent for iPad Safari Users

One added trick is available for iPad users that have an external keyboard or keyboard case connected to their device, like the Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard.

• From Safari on iPad, hit Command+F on the keyboard to bring up Find On Page instantly
• Type the text you want to search for on page and hit return to find the matching text on the web page

The Command+F for Find On Page keystroke on iPad with keyboard is also the same for using Find On Page in Safari for Mac, and even Chrome for Mac.

Command+F as Control+F replacement should be extra simple for iPad users to remember, since the keystrokes are so similar.

What do you think? Do you find selecting the Find On Page item easier than using the Ctrl-F keyboard shortcut? Do you think the Command-F keyboard shortcut for iPad is simpler or the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Related articles:

• How to Reverse Image Search with Google on iPhone
• How to Turn Off Split Screen in Safari for iPad? Exiting Safari Split Screen in iPadOS
• How to Change the Search Engine in Safari for Mac OS X
• How to Use Search on iPhone & iPad with Spotlight

» Comments RSS Feed

On Macs, the correct keys are Command-F. What, are you on Windows or something?

Correct, Command+F is Find on Page on the Mac. This is aimed at people coming to iPhone or iPad from a Windows background and who are used to Control+F to search things on webpages.

On my iPhone, using Safari, I don’t have anything like what you’re showing. There are no windows in which to type

You have to follow the steps to access the Find On Page feature

Good tip. Easier still: just type your search keywords in the Safari address bar, then tap “Find ” from the list. Saves a few steps, no need to use the Share dialog.

thanks for this, anyway you don’t need to use the share sheet, just write in the search bar and it expands to down, and that’s it, one of the options is “find on page”

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How to search for text on Safari webpage from iPhone

Updated on:

What to know about Safari search text on iPhone

• Method I : Tap the Safari share button on a webpage → Find on Page → type your search word.
• Method II : Tap the Safari search address bar → type your search word → scroll down the suggestions, and tap Find ‘search word.’

To search the exact word on a lyrics site or find the precise keyword on a webpage, you have to rely on Safari’s search text feature. On Mac, Command + F does the job. But for Safari on iPhone or iPad, the steps are different. Here are two quick ways to search text on a website page in Safari’s mobile version.

How to find text in iPhone Safari using the iOS Share Sheet

Search within the safari webpage on iphone using smart search bar.

• When you are on a webpage in iPhone Safari, tap the share icon .
• Scroll down, and tap Find on Page .
• Type the word you wish to search.
• Use the two arrows to see where that word is on the webpage.

Tip : If you wish to edit the search term, you may do so by tapping the existing word on the search screen.

• Tap the search bar and type your desired search term. Make sure not to hit enter/go key on the iPhone keyboard.
• Scroll down the suggestions to see On This Page (number matches). Tap Find ‘search term.’
• Use the two arrows to navigate.

This is how you can search for any word or phrase on a webpage inside Safari on iPhone and iPad. I hope this brief guide was helpful. If you have other questions, kindly ask me via the comments section below.

Other helpful Safari posts:

• 4 Ways to close all Safari tabs at once on iPhone and iPad
• How to delete frequently visited sites from Safari on iPhone
• How to hide IP address in Safari on iPhone and Mac
• How to customize start page in Safari on iPhone

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Safari: A Beginner’s Guide for iPhone or iPad Users

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On Apple devices, the default web browser is called Safari. It shares a lot of similar features to other common browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. But if you’re new to using Safari, you may feel a little lost because the interface is slightly different to the others.

So, here’s a beginner’s guide on how to use the Safari app to browse the web on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Search for Content in the Safari App

As with all web browsers, you’ll need to first enable your iPhone’s mobile data or connect to a Wi-Fi network to access the internet.

Then, to search in Safari, simply type a term, phrase, or URL into the Smart Search bar at the bottom of the screen and tap Go on your keyboard. The Smart Search bar is a combination of the address bar and search bar. As you type, you’ll see search suggestions based on your keyword as well as results from your bookmarks and browsing history.

How to Navigate a Webpage in Safari

Once you obtain your search results, you tap on a link you’re interested in. Now let’s look at how you can navigate the webpage once it’s loaded.

How to Jump Back to the Top of Webpage

After swiping to scroll down a long article, you may want to go back up to access the website’s menu. To instantly jump back to the top of the webpage, just tap the topmost edge of your screen.

How to Go Backward (or Forward) a Webpage

After tapping on a link, perhaps the webpage isn’t quite something you’re looking for. To go back to your search results, swipe from left to right from the edge of your screen.

To go forward on a webpage, swipe from right to left instead.

Related: Essential Safari iOS Tips & Tricks for iPhone Users

How to Reveal the Safari Address Bar

Your Safari address bar is automatically hidden away when you’re scrolling down a webpage. To bring it back, tap the bottom edge of the screen that shows the website’s main URL.

How to Work With Multiple Tabs in the Safari App

Having multiple tabs opened in Safari can help you to compare information between webpages and search for new content without having to close your current webpage. Here’s how to work with multiple tabs in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Open a New Tab

To open a new tab, select the Tabs icon in the bottom-right corner, which looks like two overlapping squares. Then tap the Plus (+) to open a new tab.

How to Switch Between Tabs

Again, hit the Tabs icon. You’ll see a gallery of all your opened tabs in Safari. Select a tab to visit the webpage you want.

Since the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a new feature in Safari: tab groups. Many of us are probably guilty of having way too many opened tabs. Therefore, organizing tabs into groups makes them more manageable. Learn more about how to use tab groups in Safari on your iPhone .

How to Open a Link in a New Background Tab

When you read long articles, you’ll likely come across a link or two within the content that sparks your interest. To avoid disrupting your reading process, you can make Safari open the link in the background, in a new tab. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app.
• Select Safari .
• Scroll down and tap Open Links .
• Choose In Background .

Next time you want to open a link, long-press it. Then, select Open in Background . When you want to visit that link, select Tabs to view all your opened tabs and choose the loaded webpage.

Saving and Sharing Webpages in Safari

The internet gives you access to a whole new world of information. Save a webpage to refer to it later, or share it with your family and friends.

How to Bookmark a Safari Webpage

To bookmark a webpage to read later, tap the Share icon in the middle of the bottom of the screen (it looks like an arrow coming out of a square) and select Add Bookmark . Type in a bookmark name.

To access your bookmarked webpage later, tap the Bookmark icon (an opened book) and browse through your bookmarks, reading list, and history to find what you’re looking for.

Besides the bookmark option, you’ll also notice that you can add a webpage to your favorites or reading list. Marking a webpage as a favorite will make it show up on your Safari home page. It’s useful if you visit the website often.

To learn more about reading lists, you can visit our guide on the differences between a bookmark and a reading list .

How to Share a Link From the Safari App

Stumble upon an interesting DIY project? A promising recipe you’d like to share with your family? You don’t have to bookmark and remind yourself to show the webpage to them later. You can share the link directly from the Safari app.

Tap the Share icon. You can then select the receiver’s name from the horizontal list of recent contacts, or choose your preferred communication app to send the Safari link to them.

Erasing Your Digital Footprint in Safari

If you’re an aspiring crime writer, having a friend notice your crime-filled search history when they peer over your shoulder is inevitably awkward. Hence, there are some things we’d prefer to keep private and erase all traces of once we exit a web browser.

Safari has a few features to help you with this.

How to Close a Tab

If you don’t close your tabs, old webpages will just auto-load again the moment you head into Safari. Having too many opened tabs affects your browsing speed as well.

Closing a tab is simple. You just need to tap the Tabs icon and then tap the Close (x) button in the corner of the tab.

How to Browse Privately in Safari

Similar to Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode, Safari has a feature called Private Browsing Mode. Your autofill information and browser history won’t be saved when you use this function. Here’s how to use it:

• First, tap the Tabs icon.
• Select the center Tabs button with an arrow next to it.
• Choose Private .
• To open a new private tab, tap the Plus (+) button.

Whenever you’re in doubt about whether you’re in Private Browsing Mode, just check the Smart Search Bar. It will be dark grey instead of white when you’re browsing privately.

How to Clear Your Safari Browsing History

If you forgot to use Private Browsing while searching for confidential information, don’t worry. You can still clear your history in Safari. Just follow these steps:

• Tap the Bookmarks icon.
• Select History (the clock icon).
• Tap Clear .
• Choose the time length from which you want Safari to clear your history.

Use the Safari App to Surf the Internet on Your iPhone

The Safari app has all the features you need for a seamless browsing experience. Once you’re familiar with these basic functions, you can check out and download Safari extensions from the App Store to enjoy more helpful features while surfing the internet on your iPhone or iPad.

• Safari Browser

How to Search for a Word on a Webpage on iPad or iPhone

Some years ago, I figured out how to search a webpage for a keyword in Safari on Mac. This is an extremely useful, timesaving tool; it saves you having to browse through the page to find what you are looking for – if the information you seek is there at all. I also have an iPad and an iPhone, and although I’m pretty sure I had looked around at the various menu options available for Safari on i OS/iPadOS , I hadn’t seen anything that looked like a page search option, and so I had dismissed the idea of using my iPad or iPhone and just used my Mac when I needed to find a keyword on a webpage.

See also: How to Use Split View in Safari on iPad

See also: Spotlight Search Not Working On iPhone / iPad? Fix

In this article, we will tell you how to use the keyword search feature for Safari on iPad or iPhone. We will also go through how to use it on Mac Safari.

See also: Mail in Big Sur: Fix Missing Trash Folder, Flags and Search Issues

Search the Page in Safari

On iphone or ipad.

You can look for specific words or phrases on a webpage in Safari.

• Open the website (page) you want to search.
• If necessary, scroll up (by sliding your finger down the page) a little until the menu bar appears at the bottom of your screen.

• Enter the word or phrase in the search field.
• You will be able to see how many results are found for your word or phrase, and if there is more than one result, you can scroll through the results by tapping on the up and down arrows next to the search field.

• When you are finished searching, tap Done.

See also: How to Scan Documents to Mac using iPhone

There are a couple of ways to open the search field to look for a word or phrase on a webpage.

See also: How to Create, View, Edit, and Restore Bookmarks in Safari on Mac

• Open Safari and navigate to the page you wish to search.
• Command – F. Press the Command key, followed by the F key, then release both.
• Go to the Safari menu at the top of your screen. Go to Edit > Find > Find.
• Type a word or phrase in the search field that appears near the top of your Safari window.
• You can scroll through the results using the forward and backward arrows.
• Click on Done when you have finished your search.

See also: How to Clear the Browser Cache in Safari on Mac

Related Articles:

• Is Safari Not Working on Mac? How You Can Fix It
• Safari Can’t Open The Page Because Safari Can’t Establish A Secure Connection To The Server, Fix
• Mac Spotlight Search not Working after macOS Upgrade, Fix
• Siri Sharing Suggestions Not Working, Fix

Dr. Stacey Butler is a tech writer at macReports covering news, how-tos, and user guides. She is a longtime Mac and iPhone user and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She is a former faculty member and a math teacher. Here is her LinkedIn profile , Google Scholar profile and her ResearchGate profile . Email Stacey Butler .

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How to search through tabs in Safari on iPhone and iPad

If you do a lot of browsing on the internet with Safari on your iOS device, there may come a time when you want to find a specific site or page that you have open. While you can easily scroll through your open tabs, if you’re looking for something in particular, it may take less time to simply search for it, especially if you have a bunch of tabs opened.

So, here’s how to search through tabs in Safari on iPhone and iPad.

Access your Safari tabs

With Safari open on your iPhone or iPad, tap the Tabs button on the bottom right corner.

Now to search through your tabs, slide down on that tabs screen, and you’ll see a search box appear at the top. Type in your search word or phrase, and all tabs not containing it will disappear, leaving the one or more that apply.

You’ll notice as you begin typing that the results will start to narrow down immediately. So, in many cases, you won’t even have to type the complete word or phrase you’re looking for. When you see the site or page you want, tap it, and you’re set.

More Safari tutorials:

• How to find a specific word inside webpages in Safari for iPhone and iPad
• How to hide Favorites in Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac
• How to turn off Frequently Visited Sites in Safari for iPhone and iPad

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Where is the Safari iPad "find" function ?

On any Mac, I can hit Command-F and find stuff on the page. How do I do this on a new iPad Air 5th generation?

Message was edited by: TarasVWZ

Posted on Jun 27, 2014 7:13 AM

Posted on Jun 27, 2014 7:23 AM

To search for text within a web page In Safari on iPad, tap on the url bar at the top, and type in your search string, but don't tap enter. At the bottom of the auto complete results will be a section titled "On this page" Tap that to get the search results for the current website page.

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Jun 27, 2014 7:23 AM in response to TarasVWZ

Jun 27, 2014 7:18 AM in response to TarasVWZ

Use the universal bar at the top of the page (where you'd type in a URL). Type in your search term there. You'll see options to try to use the term as a website address, as an internet search query or "On this Page".

Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPad

When you use Private Browsing, the details of your browsing aren't saved, and the websites you visit aren't shared with your other devices. Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information.

How to turn on Private Browsing

Open Safari on your iPad.

While Private Browsing is on, the Safari address bar appears black or dark instead of white or gray, and the buttons are black instead of blue.

How to turn off Private Browsing

Learn how to use Private Browsing on iPhone or iPod touch .

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iPhone & iPad: How to change default search engine in Safari

While you can’t change your default web browser on iOS, Apple does allow you to change the default search engine in Safari. The default on iOS is Google, but you are able to change it to either, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo.

Follow along to learn how…

• Head to Settings > Safari.
• Under SEARCH, tap Search Engine.
• Select the search engine you’d like to set as your default search engine.

While Safari is the only default option on iOS, it’s great that, at the very least, Apple gives you the option to change your default search engine, especially if you’re privacy conscious and don’t want to use Google. Note that this only applies to Safari, so doing searches via Siri, for example, will still default back to Bing.

For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles:

• iPhone: How to customize respond with text while receiving a phone call
• Mac: How to get the official Apple user guide for free
• iPhone & iPad: How to force quit apps
• Apple Watch: How to get the official Apple user guide for free
• iPhone & iPad: How to use Do Not Disturb for Messages
• Mac: How to delete a user on macOS
• iOS: How to leave a group iMessage

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How to Search History on iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Past Browsing

Learning how to search history on an iPad is quick and straightforward. In just a few steps, you can easily find and revisit web pages you’ve previously explored. This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you make the most out of your browsing experience on your iPad.

How to Search History on iPad

This section will help you navigate through your iPad’s browsing history so you can find previously visited websites with ease. By following the steps below, you’ll be able to search and access your history in no time.

Step 1: Open Safari

To start, you need to open the Safari browser on your iPad.

Safari is the default web browser for iPads, and it is usually pinned to the dock at the bottom of your home screen. If you can’t find it there, swipe down and type “Safari” in the search bar.

Step 2: Tap the Bookmarks Icon

Next, tap the bookmarks icon located at the bottom of the Safari screen.

This icon resembles an open book and is situated next to the tabs and share icons. Tapping it will open a menu with various bookmark options.

Step 3: Select the History Tab

In the bookmarks menu, select the tab labeled “History” to access your browsing history.

The History tab is identified by a clock icon. This will display a chronological list of all the websites you’ve visited recently.

Step 4: Use the Search Bar

To find a specific page, use the search bar at the top of the History tab.

Type in keywords or the website name you are looking for. Safari will filter your history based on what you type, making it easier to find specific entries.

Step 5: Tap on a History Entry

Once you’ve found the page you were looking for, tap on it to revisit the site.

This will instantly take you back to the web page you previously visited, allowing you to pick up right where you left off.

After completing these steps, you will be able to quickly revisit any sites you’ve browsed in the past. This is particularly helpful for finding information you may have forgotten to bookmark.

Tips for Searching History on iPad

• If you frequently revisit certain websites, consider bookmarking them for quicker access in the future.
• You can also clear your browsing history by tapping “Clear” at the bottom of the History tab.
• For a more organized history, close tabs you’re no longer using to prevent clutter.
• If using private browsing mode, remember that your history will not be saved.
• Keep your iPad’s software updated to ensure you have the latest features and security updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i search history from private browsing mode.

No, private browsing mode does not save your history, so you won’t be able to search for those pages later.

How far back can I search my history?

Safari typically keeps your browsing history for up to a month, but this can vary depending on your settings.

Can I search history on other browsers like Chrome on my iPad?

Yes, other browsers like Chrome also have a history feature. The steps will be similar but may vary slightly.

How do I clear my browsing history on Safari?

Go to the History tab and tap “Clear” at the bottom to erase your browsing history.

Can I recover deleted history?

Once you clear your history, it cannot be recovered. Always ensure you no longer need the information before deleting it.

• Open Safari.
• Tap the bookmarks icon.
• Select the History tab.
• Use the search bar.
• Tap on a history entry.

Searching your history on an iPad is a useful skill that can save you time and effort when looking for previously visited websites. Whether you’re trying to revisit a helpful article, a shopping page, or just retrace your internet steps, knowing how to navigate your browsing history is invaluable.

If you found this guide helpful, consider exploring more resources on how to enhance your iPad experience. From learning tips and tricks for other apps to optimizing your device’s settings, there’s always something new to discover. Happy browsing!

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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How to Change Safari Settings on iPhone or iPad

Last Updated: November 4, 2019 Tested

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 39,164 times. Learn more...

This wikiHow teaches you how to customize the behavior of the Safari web browser on your iPhone or iPad. If you're using iOS 13 or later, you now have the option to choose display options for individual websites in addition to making global changes.

Changing Web Preferences by Website

• Changes you make with this method will only affect the currently-open website. If you want your preferences to affect all websites rather than just for those you customize, see the Changing Web Preferences for All Websites section instead.

• Select Ask on a feature if you'd like to be asked each time the site tries to access the feature (default).
• Select Deny if you never want the site to access the feature.
• Select Allow to always allow the site to access the feature.

Changing Web Preferences for All Websites

• It is also possible to customize these settings on a per-website basis. See this method to learn how.
• Changing your web preferences using this method will not affect sites you've customized individually.

• Select Ask on a feature if you'd like to be asked each time any site tries to access the feature (default).
• Select Deny if you never want websites to access the feature.
• Select Allow to always allow websites to access the feature.

Changing General Safari Settings

• Use the sliders in the "IN SAFARI" section at the top to choose whether Siri has access to Safari.
• Use the sliders in the "IN SEARCH" section to customize whether Safari options show when searching your iPhone/iPad or using the Shortcuts app.
• Tap the back button when you're finished.

• Tap AutoFill to adjust which information appears automatically in form fields, such as your name, address, phone number, email, and credit card info.
• Pop-up ads are blocked in Safari by default. If you'd like to see pop-up ads on websites, slide the "Block Pop-ups" switch to the Off (gray) position.
• Tap Downloads to choose where to save files and media you download from websites. You'll have the option to choose a cloud storage service or your iPhone/iPad.

• To allow sites and services to track your browsing anywhere on the web, slide the "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" switch to the Off (gray) position. To retain your privacy, you can leave this switch in the On (green) position.
• Cookies are used by websites to keep track of your visits, preferences, and login information (for sites that require username/password access). [2] X Research source The "Block All Cookies" switch is Off (gray) by default, but you can enable it by toggling it to the On (green) position.
• Safari will display a warning message if a website you visit is deemed fraudulent in some way. If you don't want to see these messages, you can toggle the "Fraudulent Website Warning" switch to the Off (gray) position.
• Adjust the "Check for Apple Pay" switch to reflect your desired Apple Pay behavior on all websites.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://www.cultofmac.com/636450/how-to-use-safaris-amazing-new-settings-in-ios-13/
• ↑ https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-privacy-what-are-cookies.html

About This Article

1. Go to a website in Safari. 2. Tap the Aa button. 3. Tap Website Settings . 4. Make your changes. 5. Tap Done . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Change Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Paurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters are with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often making it longer.

The Safari browser is the default app to browse the web on Apple devices. To improve your browsing experience, you can create Tab Groups in Safari of your most visited websites to quickly access them when needed. By default, Safari uses Google as the default search engine.

But there are still a lot of users who prefer using a search engine other than Google Search. So if you want to change the default search engine in Safari, here’s how to do it on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Before you begin, ensure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac run the latest version of the respective operating systems.

Change Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone and iPad

There’s the option of opening the search engine’s website in a separate tab and using it to browse the web. However, changing the default search engine in Safari is way more convenient. If you prefer using Safari from your iPhone or iPad, here’s how to change the default search engine. The steps remain the same for both platforms.

Step 1:  Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2:  Scroll down and tap on Safari.

Step 3:  Scroll down and select Search Engine.

Step 4:  Select your preferred search engine from the list of options.

After you select your preferred search engine, you can scroll down and change settings like opening links in a new tab, Search Engine Suggestions, or more. You can repeat the same steps to change your default search engine in Safari on your iPhone and iPad.

You can also read our post if Safari is not downloading files on your iPhone .

Change the Default Search Engine in Safari on Mac

You can use a different search engine to download and install a different web browser like Microsoft Edge or Firefox. But if your Mac is running low on storage, you don’t need to download a separate web browser to change your search engine. But one of the other main reasons behind changing the default search engine is the browser hijacking code or extensions.

The Safari browser on your Mac lets you change the default search engine and use it for internet browsing. Here are the steps.

Step 1:  Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Safari,  and press Return.

Step 2:  Click on Safari at the top-left corner.

Step 3:  Select Settings from the list of options.

Step 4:  Click the Search tab in the Settings window.

Step 5:  Select the drop-down next to Search Engine.

Step 6:  Select the new search engine of your choice for use in Safari.

You can repeat the same steps to change your default search engine once again in Safari on your Mac.

How to Change Homepage to Search Engine in Safari on Mac

In addition to changing the default search engine, you can change the default homepage to open with the search engine in Safari. The homepage loads up when you don’t have any specific website tabs opened in Safari. So you can set the web page of your default search engine as the homepage in Safari. Here’s how:

Step 4:  Select the General tab in the Settings window.

Step 5:  Type the web page link of the search engine you plan to use in the Homepage box.

If you opened the search engine web page in Safari, you can click on Set To Current Page.

After you close the tab, Safari will always open your selected search engine’s web page whenever you open a new tab on your Mac.

You can change this setting by clicking the dropdown menu next to ‘New Windows Open With’ and ‘New Tabs Open With.’

Use a New Search Engine

Using a new search engine as your default is very easy on Safari. You can choose from a list of options available on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Sometimes when you don’t get the desired results from one search engine, you can switch to another one. The ChatGPT is the new AI-driven technology that piques interest of many. Read our comparison of ChatGPT vs Google Search  to know more about them.

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Last updated on 12 April, 2023

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How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari for iOS

Make Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo Search your Safari search engine

What to Know

• From your iOS device's home screen, tap Settings , and then scroll down and tap Safari .
• Then, to Search Engine , you'll see the current default search engine, likely Google. To make a change, tap Search Engine .
• Finally, choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo , Bing , and  DuckDuckGo .

This article explains how to change the Safari iOS search engine from the default Google to another option, such as Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo. Information applies to Safari on iOS devices with iOS 14 through iOS 10.

How to Change Safari's Default Search Engine

To change the default search engine used by Safari on iOS devices:

Open the Settings app on the Home screen of your iOS device.

Scroll down and tap Safari .

The current default search engine is listed next to the  Search Engine entry.   Tap Search Engine to make a change.

Choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo , Bing , and  DuckDuckGo .

Tap Safari in the top left corner of the Search Engine screen to return to Safari's settings. The name of the search engine you chose appears next to the Search Engine entry. 

Search Settings in Safari

The Safari Settings screen includes other options you may want to use with your new default search engine. You can toggle each of these options on or off:

• Search Engine Suggestions presents suggested search terms as you type, obtained from the default engine.
• Safari Suggestions offers suggestions as you type, derived from a combination of sources including iTunes, the App Store, and the internet as a whole. This option also sends some of your search data to Apple, including which suggestions you selected.
• Quick Website Search speeds up search results. When you search within a particular website, Safari stores that data for future use, allowing you to then search that site directly from the Smart Search Field in subsequent browser sessions.
• Preload Top Hit loads pages quickly. Safari attempts to determine the best search result as you type, preloading that page ahead of time so that it renders in an instant if you select it. The determination process combines your browsing history and saved bookmarks.

The Search Settings screen contains several other options related to Safari on iOS devices, although not all of them are search-specific. In this screen, you can:

• Enter or choose autofill information to fill in forms on websites.
• Activate frequently visited sites in Safari.
• Opt to block pop-ups .
• Block cookies.
• Prevent cross-site tracking.
• Enable fraudulent website warnings.
• Ask websites not to track you.
• Allow websites to check if you have Apple Pay up on your device.
• Clear your history and website data.

Google, Yahoo Search, and DuckDuckGo all have apps you can download to your iOS device for those times you don't want to use the default in Safari for searches.

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• How to Add Safari Shortcuts to an iPhone Home Screen

How-To Geek

How to use google for safari search on your iphone or ipad.

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How to set google search as the default search engine on iphone or ipad.

You might be asking yourself why we'd write an article about how to switch to Google as your default search engine on the iPhone or iPad when it's already the default. The answer is simple: rumors are that Apple might switch the iOS default search engine to Yahoo or Bing at some point in the future.

Luckily you'll have already read this article and you'll know how to switch the default search engine. And, of course, if you wanted to switch to Bing or Yahoo or DuckDuckGo, you can use this same technique to do that. Although with the exception of the last one, we're not sure why you'd want to.

So if you're wondering how to stop using Bing or Yahoo as your search engine, you're in the right place.

Luckily changing the search engine is really simple. Just open up your Settings app, find Safari in the list on the left-hand pane, and then choose the Search Engine option. You can see in our screenshot that it's already set to Google.

You could choose to change your search engine to Yahoo or Bing, but the only other search engine we'd actually recommend for anybody is DuckDuckGo, and then only if you are really worried about Google knowing what you are searching.

Personally we don't care, Google is the best, and we're going to always use them for finding things. Judging by our audience statistics, 96 percent of our readers prefer Google as well.

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