How to recover deleted history on iphone without computer

It is not uncommon to delete your browsing history by accident. It could be due to a software bug or because of how you configured your settings. This could affect the length of time that the browser history is saved.

Fortunately, there's a way you can recover and view deleted Safari history through an iCloud retrieval, using iTunes backup, restoring from the iCloud web, and more.

If you have just deleted Safari history on iPhone by accident, you can retrieve every bit of it using the solutions we are about to discuss in detail below.

• Retrieving Your Deleted iPhone History
• 1. Checking the Settings
• 2. Using iCloud Web
• 3. Retrieving From iCloud Backup File
• 4. Retrieving From iTunes Backup File
• 5. Using Third-Party Tools
• FAQ About Safari Browser History
• How Long Does Safari Keep Deleted Browsing History On iPhone Devices?
• Why Is My Safari History On iPhone Missing?
• Uninstalling Your Browser
• Accidental and Automatic Deletion
• Glitches and Bugs
• Conclusion

Retrieving Your Deleted iPhone History

The following are the most effective ways of retrieving your deleted browsing history:

1. Checking the Settings

If you use the iPhone Safari browser and happen to lose your history, the first place you should check is the device settings.

Being the native iPhone browser, Safari stores most of its browsing history data within the device, where it can be retrieved quickly in case of accidental deletion.

This can be done in the following steps:

• Open Settings.
• Navigate down to Safari.
• Select the "Advanced" option at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap on "Website Data".
• Choose " Show All Sites".
• Use the search option to look for any specific page you may have opened while browsing.

An important detail to note here is that using this method to recover deleted Safari history will only reveal the root domain of the sites you opened. It won't help with getting the specific pages of your lost Safari history on iPhone devices. To access that, you will need more detailed solutions which are given below.

2. Using iCloud Web

This should not be confused with directly retrieving the data from an iCloud backup. You can recover deleted Safari bookmarks if you have linked your iPhone Safari browser to your iCloud account.

This sync ensures that every page you visit and bookmarks you save are updated in the iCloud account in a dedicated iCloud Safari archive.

To recover deleted Safari bookmarks on iPhone via iCloud Web, follow these steps:

• Sign in to your iCloud account.
• Tap on the Settings icon and scroll down to the bottom, where you can choose the "Restore Bookmark" option found in the Advanced section.
• You will see Safari active list. Choose the one that contains the deleted Safari bookmarks by checking the date backup date.
• Click Restore and wait till the process is completed. The deleted Safari history will be restored to your iPhone device.

3. Retrieving From iCloud Backup File

This is a process you need to go for if the iCloud web restoration method doesn’t just help you recover deleted Safari history. You will not just be getting browser history, but other data like photos, audio files, contact info, among many other things that have been backed up over time. 

When you choose to do a complete iCloud backup, you will be erasing existing data from your iOS device in order to recover deleted Safari history. The process will only restore data that you had backed up in your last backup. So, think twice before proceeding with this method. Ask yourself if restoring your browser history is worth losing all your data.

To recover deleted Safari History on iPhone, follow these steps:

First, factory reset your iPhone.

• Open Settings.
• Go to General.
• Scroll further down to Reset or Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap on "Erase All Content and Settings".

• Once your phone restarts, follow the setup prompts until you see the "Restore from iCloud Backup" option that will appear on the "Apps and Data" screen.
• Sign into your iCloud account and choose the backup that contains the deleted Safari history.
• Click Restore and wait for the process to run to the end. You should now see the restored Safari history on your device.

4. Retrieving From iTunes Backup File

If you have an existing iTunes backup file, you can retrieve deleted Safari history by restoring it. 

You will need access to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. Similar to the previous method, you will be erasing all existing data on your iPhone and restoring the data that you had backed up in your last backup. So proceed with caution.

You can recover Safari history on iPhone using iTunes backup in the following ways:

• Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. Give the computer a moment to detect the device.
• Once the iPhone is recognized, you will see an iPhone icon in the iTunes backup window.
• You will see a Restore Backup option on the lower side of the right pane. Tap on it to choose the specific backup that contains the deleted Safari history you need.
• Click the Restore backup button and allow the process to run to completion. The selected Safari browsing history files will be downloaded and restored back to the iPhone.

Related Reading

• A Guide to Fixing “iPhone is Disabled Connect to iTunes” Error

5. Using Third-Party Tools

If you don't wish to lose your iPhone data when trying to recover deleted Safari history, you need to use a third-party tool.

There are several free options that are good but the one that passed the test with flying colors for me was iMyFone D-Back iPhone Data Recovery software. You will need a computer to pull this off.

You can recover your deleted browser history in the following ways:

• Download and install the iPhone data recovery program on your computer.
• Connect your iPhone and allow the program to detect the device. This will open a window with several options displayed on the left panel.
• Select "Recover from iOS Device" and tap on the "Start" button.
• This will open a new window that contains all the backed-up data on your device. Select "Safari History'' in the Memos & Others section.
• The software will conduct a quick scan and display the recoverable deleted history. Click on "Recover" to restore the browsing history data directly to your device.

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FAQ About Safari Browser History

How Long Does Safari Keep Deleted Browsing History On iPhone Devices?

This is a common question that was answered by Apple not long ago. The length of time that Safari history on iPhone is stored varies with the device in question. Mac computers can keep Safari history for up to a year while most iPhones and iPad can manage up to a month. After that, older entries will be automatically deleted as new ones are added at the top.

Related Reading

• 4 Ways You Can Recover Deleted Call History on iPhone
• How To Turn Off Private Browsing On iPhone- [A Simple Guide]
• How To Delete App Store History In 2 Simple Ways
• How to Retrieve Deleted Contacts on iPhone Without Backup (Explained)

Why Is My Safari History On iPhone Missing?

There are several issues that could lead to your Safari browsing history disappearing, sometimes without your knowledge. They include the following:

Uninstalling Your Browser

If you uninstall or modify your Safari browser without backing up the data to your iCloud account, you will not see your browsing history if you install it again. The new installation will begin from scratch. Link your browser to your iCloud to ensure that everything is backed up for easy restoration, no matter how many times you get rid of the app.

Accidental and Automatic Deletion

Accidental deletion is the leading cause of lost browsing Safari history on iPhone devices. When there are so many buttons involved in the browser, it is easy to tap on the wrong one by accident, leading to part or all of your browsing history being deleted by accident.

Your iPhone is set up to clear history after 30 days to make room for new iPhone data. There's not much you can do to rectify this other than bookmarking the most important pages that you visit.

Glitches and Bugs

When your device has been used for a few years, glitches are inevitable. Your Safari history could fall victim to these bugs and glitches, leading to a mass deletion.

You should have everything updated at all times. If you keep experiencing the same problems, get in touch with Apple to sort them out before trying other drastic options like buying a new phone. 

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Conclusion

Smartphones save browser histories for a given period of time for a reason. It is easy to access a page that you have visited before as the link pops up based on your browsing history searches. This is why people never clear their Safari history logs. You can find other helpful fixes in Apple forums and YouTube pages if none of the recommended tips work.

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