You can use Private Browsing Mode, view the Privacy Report, and adjust settings in the Safari app to keep your browsing activities private and help protect yourself from malicious websites.
Tabs you open in Private Browsing don’t appear in History on iPhone or in the tab list on your other devices, even if you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. And if you have a passcode set, Private Browsing locks when it’s not in use.
Here’s how to browse the web privately in Safari on iPhone.
Visit sites privately
Private tabs you open with Private Browsing stay out of History on iPhone and out of the list of tabs on your other devices. Signing in to the same Apple Account doesn’t change that: tabs in Private Browsing aren’t shared with your other Apple devices.
Private Browsing locks when it’s not in use if your iPhone has a passcode set, though it may not lock immediately.
- Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Tabs button.
- Swipe right on the tab bar at the bottom of the screen until Private Browsing opens. Then tap Unlock.
To exit Private Browsing, tap the Tabs button, then swipe left to open a Tab Group from the menu at the bottom of your screen. The websites you have open in Private Browsing stay open, and Private Browsing locks.
To allow Private Browsing to be locked, go to Settings > Apps > Safari, then turn on Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing, Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing (supported models), or Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing (supported models).
Note: Any Safari extensions you have installed that have access to browsing data are automatically turned off in Private Browsing.
Choose a search engine for Private Browsing
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
- Turn off Also Use in Private Browsing.
- Tap Private Search Engine, then choose a search engine.
View the Privacy Report
Safari helps keep trackers from following you across websites and viewing your IP address. On the current webpage you’re visiting, the Privacy Report shows a summary of trackers that Intelligent Tracking Prevention has encountered and prevented. Reviewing and adjusting Safari settings can also keep your browsing activities private from others who share the device, and it helps protect you from malicious websites.
- Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Page Menu button and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Privacy Report.
Use iCloud Private Relay to browse the web with more privacy
With an iCloud+ subscription, iCloud Private Relay can help stop websites and network providers from creating a detailed profile about you. Once it’s turned on, your iPhone’s traffic is encrypted and sent through two separate internet relays. So websites can’t see your IP address and exact location, and network providers can’t collect your browsing activity in Safari.
See Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay to learn how to:
- Turn iCloud Private Relay completely on or off for your iPhone.
- Turn iCloud Private Relay on or off for a specific Wi-Fi or cellular network.
- Turn iCloud Private Relay off temporarily.
- Set the specificity of your IP address location.
Note: iCloud Private Relay isn’t available in all countries or regions.
Temporarily allow a website to see your IP address
A website that relies on IP filtering, monitoring, or rate-limiting might require your IP address to be visible. You can temporarily turn off iCloud Private Relay for that website only.
- Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
- On the website, tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the search field and then tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Show IP Address.
Until you leave the website or close its Safari tab, your IP address remains visible to it. For other websites, iCloud Private Relay remains on.
Control privacy and security settings for Safari
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
- Turn any of the following on or off:
- Prevent Cross-Site Tracking: Safari limits third-party cookies and data by default. Turn this option off to allow cross-site tracking.
- Hide IP address: Safari automatically protects your IP address from known trackers. For eligible iCloud+ subscribers, your IP address is protected from trackers and websites as you browse in Safari. If this option is off, your IP address isn’t hidden.
- Fraudulent Website Warning: Safari displays a warning if you’re visiting a suspected phishing website. Turn this option off if you don’t want to be warned about fraudulent websites. (Not available in all countries or regions.)
- Camera: Choose whether Safari websites can use your camera without asking you first. Tap Camera and choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
- Microphone: Choose whether Safari websites can use your microphone without asking you first. Tap Microphone, then choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
- Location: Choose whether Safari websites can use your location without asking you first. Tap Location and then choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
To set exceptions for a specific website, open the website in the Safari app, tap the Page Menu button, tap Website Settings, then tap the setting you want to change below Website Settings For.
