How can I protect my privacy in the Safari mobile browser?

Your mobile browser collects a lot of information about your surfing habits. This data can be accessed by any of the websites you visit. Safari is considered (by some) to be a privacy friendly browser. Here are a few suggestions to make it even more private. 

1. Limit Access to Your Data

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Apps
3. Select Safari
4. Scroll down to General and enable Block Pop-ups
5. Scroll down to Privacy & Security and confirm Prevent Cross-Site Tracking is enabled
6. Note: Advanced Fingerprinting Protection now extends to all browsing by default in iOS 26 MacRumors — no action needed, but worth knowing it's active
7. Scroll down to Settings for Websites, select Camera, then choose Deny or Ask depending on your preference. Repeat for Microphone and Location
8. Optional: Tap Clear History and Website Data, select your preferred timeframe, then tap Clear History (note: this deletes all cookies and may require you to sign back into previously visited websites)
9. Optional: Under Privacy & Security, enable Block All Cookies (note: this may prevent some websites from working properly)

2. Lock Private Browsing (New in iOS 26)

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Apps
3. Select Safari
4. Select Privacy & Security
5. Enable Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing — this prevents anyone who picks up your phone from accessing your private tabs

3. Change Your Search Engine to a Privacy-Friendly One

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Apps
3. Select Safari
4. Select Search Engine
5. Select DuckDuckGo
6. Optional: Download the StartPage search app from the App Store

Additional Resources: 

- How can Firefox Focus protect my mobile browsing?
- How can I protect my privacy on my iPhone or iPad? 

- How can I use encryption to stay private and secure? 

- How can I protect my privacy in the Safari browser?