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You can completely delete Safari from an iPhone only if your iPhone is set up in a region where Apple supports it. Apple’s support guidance names EU countries and regions, and Japan, where Safari on iPhone can be deleted. Elsewhere, Safari stays on the device. You can still hide its icon, stop it from opening links, or block it with Screen Time, but none of those removes the app.

Apple also requires one step before deletion: you must install another web browser and set it as your default. The sections below explain how to check eligibility, the exact deletion steps, what deletion removes, how to undo it, and what to do if the option is missing.

Check whether your iPhone supports Safari deletion

Apple’s support article Delete certain built-in apps from your iPhone or iPad in certain countries or regions sets the eligibility rules. It says additional built-in apps, including Safari, can be deleted for users in EU countries or regions, and that Safari on iPhone can also be deleted in Japan. Apple sets this list and can change it, so if you are outside these areas or the list has changed, the deletion path below will not apply to you.

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To confirm your region, open Settings > General > Language & Region. If the region shown is not an EU country or region or Japan, skip to the alternatives section.

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Delete Safari in an eligible region

Complete these steps in order. Deletion is not possible until the alternative browser is installed and set as the default.

  1. Install a different web browser from the App Store.

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  2. Open Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App and select the browser you installed. Complete any setup prompts that appear.

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  3. Touch and hold the Safari icon on the Home Screen or in App Library, then tap Remove App.

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  4. Tap Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm.

Menu labels can differ slightly between iOS versions. If you do not see Delete App, see the troubleshooting section below.

What deletion removes and what it does not

Apple’s support article describes these effects:

  • Browsing history and website data stored on the iPhone are removed with the app.
  • Some Settings change once Safari is gone.
  • Certain in-app browsing controls remain under Settings > General > In-App Web Browsing.

How to get Safari back

Deletion is reversible. Open the App Store, search for Safari, and download it again. Your previous browsing history is not restored by reinstalling the app, because deletion removed it from the device.

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Alternatives if you cannot or do not want to delete Safari

Each option below changes a different thing. Only the first one deletes the app, and it is available in the regions listed above.

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Option What it changes Removes Safari from iPhone? Requirement How to reverse it
Delete Safari Removes the app, its browsing history and website data stored on the iPhone Yes, in eligible regions only Another browser installed and set as default Download Safari again from the App Store
Set another default browser Which app opens webpage links No Another browser installed Change the Browser App setting again
Remove from Home Screen Only the Home Screen icon No, it remains in App Library None Open it from App Library or add it back to the Home Screen
Screen Time restriction Blocks access to the app No Screen Time configured on the iPhone Turn off the restriction in Screen Time
Clear history and website data Erases stored browsing data only No None Not stated; the app itself is unaffected

Set another browser as the default

Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App and choose a different browser. Links that open webpages will then go to that browser, while Safari stays installed. This is the simplest way to stop Safari from opening links, and it works in any region where you can install another browser.

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Remove Safari from the Home Screen

Touch and hold Safari, then choose Remove App > Remove from Home Screen. Apple states that the app stays in App Library and can still be used. This only tidies the Home Screen.

Restrict Safari with Screen Time

Screen Time can limit access to apps and features. A restriction blocks Safari from being opened, but the app remains on the iPhone. Describe this as blocking access, not as removing the app.

Clear browsing data without touching the app

To erase stored history and website data while keeping Safari, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. To remove cookies and cache but keep history, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data and tap Remove All Website Data. Neither action changes AutoFill information, and neither uninstalls Safari.

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Troubleshoot a missing Delete App option

If the Delete App option does not appear, check these two places:

  • Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Deleting Apps. If app deletion is restricted here, turn it on to allow deletion.
  • Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. A management profile on the device means an organization may control deletion. Apple’s troubleshooting article If you can’t delete an app on your iPhone describes this case.

These checks do not change regional eligibility. If Safari is not deletable in your region, neither setting will make it so.

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