Search the Web Easier on the iPhone or iPad

Apple provides the Safari app for browsing the Internet. For the most part, it is convenient and easy to use. Most of the browsing controls are easy to understand, but there are a few hidden features to make browsing a little easier.

View Browsing History

When browsing the Internet, you typically visit many different websites. Occasionally, you may need to return to a website you previously visited. Tapping the Back button will take you to the last website that was viewed. While this works well for recently viewed websites, it can be a little cumbersome if the website you need was last viewed some time ago.

Luckily, there is an easy way to view the browsing history to locate a particular website. With the Safari app open, tap and hold on the Back button. On the iPhone, the Back button is shaped like a triangle pointing to the left. It is located in the bottom left of the screen. On the iPad, the Back button is located in the top left of the screen.

Holding the Back button will cause a list of all previously viewed websites to appear. Simply select the website you need and it will reload.

If you have several different tabs open, the browsing history is saved independently for each tab. Once you close a tab, the browsing history for that tab is deleted.

Sync Safari Tabs

If you have multiple iOS devices such as an iPhone and an iPad, syncing tabs allows you to see websites you visited on one device while using the other device. For example, say you were reading a very interesting article on a website while using your iPhone. Unfortunately, you were interrupted before you could finish reading. Later, while using your iPad, you want to continue reading the article. You can quickly find the website by selecting the tab from the iPhone. Tabs can even be shared between iOS devices and Mac computers.

When viewing a website with Safari, the website opens in a window called a tab. Through iCloud, these tabs are available to any device running Safari. You just need to enable the sharing of Safari data in the iCloud Settings.

Enable Safari Tab Sharing

To enable Safari data sharing on an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and select iCloud.

If iCloud is active, you will see your Apple ID listed in the Account field at the top of the window. If iCloud is not active, you will need to sign in using your Apple ID to sync data with iCloud.

Once iCloud is active, toggle the Safari switch to the ON position to activate data sharing. This will allow tabs to be shared across your devices.

Access Safari Tabs on the iPhone

With Safari data sharing active on all your devices, you can access tabs from any device by opening Safari and selecting the Bookmarks icon.

In the list that appears, select iCloud Tabs and you will see a list of the open tabs on your other devices. Tap on the website you want to view.

Access Safari Tabs on the iPad

Viewing tabs on the iPad is very similar to the iPhone, except you will select the cloud shaped icon instead of the Bookmarks icon. You will then see a list of the open tabs on your other devices. Select the website you want to view.