You will not be able to clear your browsing history from Safari browser in case you find that the option “Clear History and Website Data” is grayed-out in Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad. This post should help understand and solve this interesting problem.
Clear History Option Grayed Out in Safari on iPhone
I spent over 2 hrs last night trying to delete my browser history in safari, how can I delete it?? The clear history option in settings is grayed out and will not function, anyone? Help? – David126 on Macrumours
The frustration as expressed by this user is understandable considering the fact that the solution to this problem lies in the most unlikely place.
Who would assume, guess or imagine that blocking Adult Content or blocking certain websites on your iPhone or iPad could make the option to “Delete Website History and Data” inaccessible on your device.
What has probably happened in this case is that you have either opted to “Limit Adult Content” or blocked certain Websites on your iPhone or iPad. Choosing any of these options leads to “Clear History and Website Data” option becoming grayed out in Safari.
Hence, the only way to enable back the option to “Clear History and Website data” in Safari on your iPhone or iPad is to remove the restrictions that you had placed for certain Websites.
Fix “Clear History and Website Data” Grayed Out in Safari
Follow the steps below to remove the restrictions on Websites or Adult content that you may placed on your iPhone. This will enable back the option to Clear History and Website data for Safari browser on your iPhone.
1. Tap on Settings > tap on General
2. Scroll down a bit and tap on Restrictions
3. Enter your 4 digit Restrictions Passcode.
Note: In case you have forgotten your restrictions passcode you can follow this tutorial: Reset your restrictions passcode
4. On the next screen, scroll down and tap on Websites – You will find this tab under the section ALLOWED CONTENT.
5. On Websites Restrictions page, tap on All Websites – Which means you are allowing all Websites on your iPhone.
Once you have removed the restrictions on Websites, you can go back to Safari browser from the Settings Menu and you will find the option “Clear History and Website Data” enabled back on your device.
You can now easily clear your browsing history on iPhone by tapping on this option. Once, you have cleared the browsing history, you can go back and enable the restrictions on Adult Content and block websites on your iPhone (as it was before).