It can be quite frustrating to find Safari browser missing on iPhone, just when you wanted to look for something on the internet. You can find below the steps to fix the issue of Missing Safari Icon on iPhone or iPad.
Safari Disappeared from iPhone Home Screen
When Safari Icon disappears from the Home screen on iPhone, most users start thinking about the possibility of the Safari App being accidentally deleted by them or by someone with access to their device.
However, this is never the case as Apple prevents users from deleting essential Apps and Safari happens to be one of the most essential native Apps that cannot be deleted from an Apple device.
In most cases, the problem of Missing Safari Icon ends up being due to the Safari App being accidentally moved to one of the Home Screens or being hidden in a Folder on the App Library screen.
A less common reason for Safari Icon missing or disappearing from the Home screen on iPhone or iPad is due to the Safari App being restricted by Screen Time Settings.
1. Check All Home Screens & Folders
As mentioned above, the most common reason for Safari Icon missing on iPhone or iPad is due to the Safari App being accidentally moved to another Home Screen or a Folder.
Hence, the first step would be to carefully go through all the Home screens on your device and look for Safari App. Also, go through all Folders and make sure that Safari Icon is not hiding in a Folder on your device.
2. Search For Safari Browser On iPhone
Follow the steps below to ask your iPhone to look for the Missing Safari App Icon.
1. Bring up the Search bar on the Home screen of your iPhone (Swipe down or Swipe left, depending on the model of your iPhone).
2. Type Safari in the Search bar and this should bring up Safari App in the search results.
3. Tap & Hold the Safari Icon, drag it upwards slightly and release the finger to place Safari Icon back on the Home Screen of your device.
Note: Even if Safari App is hidden in a Folder, you will see the name of the Folder in which the Safari App Icon is hidden on your device.
3. Look For Safari in App Library
If you had accidentally removed Safari from the Home screen, it should be available in the App Library on your iPhone.
1. Swipe Left on the Home screen of your iPhone, until you reach the App Library screen.
2. On App Library screen, type Safari in the Search bar and you should find Safari appearing in the Search results.
3. Once Safari appears in the search results, tap and hold on Safari Icon and select Add to Home Screen option.
This should immediately bring the Safari Icon back on the Home Screen of your device.
4. Unhide Home Screen
Another possibility is that you may have accidentally moved Safari to another Home screen and also hidden that Home Screen.
1. Tap & Hold on the Dots located on the Home Screen of your iPhone.
2. Look for Safari Icon in the Thumbnails and tap below the Thumbnail that contains the Safari Icon (if it does not have the check mark).
3. This will unhide the Screen containing Safari Icon and you will find Safari back on the Home screen of your iPhone.
5. Reset Home Screen
An easy way to get native Apps like Safari back to their default position on the Home screen of iPhone or iPad is to Reset the Home Screen.
1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap the Reset option.
2. On the Reset Screen, select Reset Home Screen Layout option.
As mentioned above, resetting the Home Screen should bring back the Safari Icon to its usual position on the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
6. Disable Restrictions on Safari App
You may have accidentally or intentionally placed restrictions on Safari App, in order to prevent the possibility of your children accessing the internet and using up all your data.
1. Open Settings > Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps.
2. On Allowed Apps screen, move the toggle next to Safari to ON position.
Note: If you are using Screen Time Passcode, you will be prompted to enter Screen Time Passcode.
