Safari is making your past searches a little harder to ignore, thanks to a small but notable change in the latest iOS 18.4.1 update: recent searches are now prominently displayed in a list.
The feature, also available in the latest iPadOS update, aims to make it easier to spot and revisit past searches. While this information was always stored in your search history, Apple now brings it to the forefront by displaying recent searches every time you tap the search bar.
At the same time, however, it could feel cluttered or raise privacy concerns for some customers.
The recent searches list includes a “Clear All” option, which removes the entries, but new ones will continue to appear over time.
How to turn it off
To fully disable the feature, here’s a quick guide:
Go to Settings > Apps > Safari, then toggle off Show Recent Searches.
It’s worth noting that Safari will still store your search history — it just won’t appear in the list.
To prevent searches from being saved, open a Private Browsing window by tapping the Tabs button and switching to the Private section.
To delete your full browsing history, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > History and Website Data, then choose how far back you’d like to clear.