Browsing history is one of the essential features of Safari that keeps a detailed record of your online activity, allowing you to quickly access previously visited websites and track your digital footprint. Whether you need it for research or personal security, learning how to manage Safari’s browsing history is essential for every Mac user. Follow this guide to learn how to check, search and clear your Safari browsing history on a Mac.
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How to Check Safari Browsing History on a Mac
Safari for Mac offers several different methods to access your browsing history. You can do it via the Safari menu, toolbar, or a keyboard shortcut.
Use the Safari Menu to Access Browsing History
The easiest way to check browsing history in Safari is from the web browser’s menu. Follow the steps below to check Safari history on your Mac.
Launch the Safari browser on your Mac. Find the ribbon menu in the upper-left corner of your screen, and select History.
You’ll get access in the drop-down menu to a list of all the websites you’ve previously visited.
If you want a more detailed view, click on Show All History at the top of the drop-down menu. This opens a dedicated browsing history window where you can search for specific websites and delete individual entries.
View Browsing History in the Safari Toolbar
If you often need to check or search Safari history, customize your Safari toolbar, and add a button to quickly access your browsing history.
Open the Safari browser on your Mac. From the ribbon menu, select View -> Customize Toolbar.
Drag History from the options and place it in any place you would like on the Toolbar.
Select Done in the bottom right of the window.
If you want to change the position of this button later or delete it from the toolbar altogether, follow the same steps and drag the button back to the items menu.
Use a Keyboard Shortcut to Check Safari History
For those who prefer using keyboard shortcuts, you can use a shortcut to open and check Safari history.
When you have a Safari window open, press the Command + Y keys to open your browsing history in a new window.
How to Manage Browsing History in Safari
Along with viewing your browsing history, you can also keep your history organized.
Search Your History for Specific Websites
It’s easy to locate a particular website in your Safari history. When you open your browsing history, use the Search bar in the upper-right corner of the window to search within the list of your previously visited websites.
Enter the website’s name or any related keywords, and Safari will display all relevant results.
Clear Safari Search History
See something you don’t like in your browsing history? Or maybe it’s something you want to hide from prying eyes, should someone else access the list? You can delete specific entries from Safari history.
Open your browsing history window in Safari on either your Mac, right-click on the website entry you wish to delete, and select Delete.
You can also clear your entire browsing history or auto-delete it instead.
Open your browsing history window in Safari on your Mac. Look for the Clear History or Clear option at the bottom of the screen and select it. Select the time range of your browsing history that you want to clear (e.g., last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history).
Confirm your selection by clicking on Clear History or Clear Browsing History.
Improve Your Safari Experience
Mastering your Safari browsing history is essential for efficient web browsing and maintaining privacy on your Mac. With the various methods outlined here, you can easily access, search, and clear your browsing history to suit your needs. For those looking to optimize the Safari experience and protect their privacy, we recommend taking the next step and learning how to create Safari profiles on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Anya Zhukova.
Anya is a bilingual writer who has spent over 8 years writing about all things tech. She’s contributed to high-traffic tech publications such as MakeUseOf, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, and Switching to Mac. Anya’s always looking for new ways to make life easier using technology. When she’s not writing, you can find her shredding fresh pow on a snowboard, or exploring new mountain bike trails.
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