Customize your Safari settings on iPad

In the Safari app , you can customize your start page, change the text size on websites, and change display and privacy settings. Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on multiple devices to keep your open tabs, bookmarks, browsing history, and Reading List up to date across all your Apple devices.

Customize your start page

Every time you open a new tab, you begin on your start page. You can customize your start page with new background images and options.

The start page in Safari, which shows favorite websites, websites shared with you, and websites saved to your Reading List. At the bottom of the screen is the Edit button.

Open the Safari app on your iPad.
To open a new tab, tap at the top-right corner of the screen.
Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap Edit.
Choose options for your start page.
- Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Add a website to Favorites.
- Frequently Visited: Go straight to the websites you visit most.
- Shared with You: See links shared with you in Messages. See Find links shared with you.
- Privacy Report: Stay updated on how many trackers and websites Safari blocked from tracking you. See View the Privacy Report.
- Siri Suggestions: As you search, allow websites shared in Calendar and other apps to appear.
- Reading List: Show webpages currently in your Reading List. See Add the current webpage to your Reading List.
- Recently Closed Tabs: Go back to tabs you previously closed.
- iCloud Tabs: Show open tabs from other Apple devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and Safari is turned on in iCloud settings or preferences. See Organize your tabs with Tab Groups.
- Background Image: Choose the image you want to appear in the background each time you open a new start page. To use a photo as your background, tap .

Note: Your custom start page settings are updated on all your Apple devices where you have Use Start Page on All Devices turned on, and you’re signed in with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.

Change the text size for a website on Safari

Open the Safari app on your iPad.
Tap on the left side of the search field.
Tap the large A to increase the font size or the small A to decrease it.

A webpage with the Page Settings menu open. From top to bottom, the menu includes Text Size, Show Reader, Listening Controls, Hide Toolbar, Request Mobile Website, Website Settings, and Privacy Report.

Change the display controls for a website on Safari

You can hide the search field, switch to Reader, and more.

Open the Safari app on your iPad.
Tap , then do any of the following:
- Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the top of the screen to get it back).
- See a streamlined view of the webpage: Tap Show Reader (if available).
  To return to the normal view, tap Hide Reader.
- See what the webpage looks like on a desktop computer: Tap Request Desktop Website (if available).

You can also adjust Safari settings in Accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Per-App Settings. Tap Add App, choose Safari, then tap Safari to adjust the settings.

Choose where to save downloads

When you download a file in Safari, you can choose whether to save it to iCloud or on your iPad.

Go to Settings > Safari > Downloads, then choose one of the following:

iCloud Drive: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. This allows you to access the downloaded file on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID.
On My iPad: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder on your iPad.

Share website passwords with a group

You can create a group of trusted contacts and share a set of passwords. Passwords stay up to date for everyone in the group, and you can remove someone at any time.

See Create shared password groups.

Adjust privacy settings for Safari

You can choose what privacy settings you want across Safari, and create individual exceptions for websites. See Browse privately.

Use keyboard shortcuts

You can navigate in Safari using keyboard shortcuts if you have an Apple external keyboard connected to your iPad.

To view available keyboard shortcuts, connect your keyboard, then press and hold the Command key.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide