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How to Change Your Start Page on Safari

Last Updated: February 10, 2023 Tested

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 453,087 times.

Your Safari start page, or "homepage", is the page that loads whenever you start Safari. You can change this page to whatever you'd like, but if you have an adware infection it may keep getting reset. If this is the case, you can try manually removing the adware so that you can regain your control. If you use an iOS device, you can create custom shortcuts to simulate a traditional start page.

Changing Your Homepage

Step 1 Open the Safari browser.

  • If you're using Safari for Windows, click the "Edit" menu and select "Preferences". It is highly recommended that you switch to a more up-to-date browser, as Safari for Windows is no longer supported by Apple and is not receiving any security updates.

Step 3 Select the General tab if it isn't already.

  • You can also click Set to Current Page to set your new homepage to the page that is currently open.
  • If your homepage keeps resetting to something else, red on to the next section.

Removing an Adware Infection

Step 1 Understand when you need to do this.

  • Amazon Shopping Assistant by Spigot Inc.
  • Cinema-Plus Pro (Cinema + HD, Cinema + Plus, and Cinema Ploos)
  • Ebay Shopping Assistant by Spigot Inc.
  • Searchme by Spigot, Inc
  • Slick Savings by Spigot Inc.

Step 4 Quit Safari and click the

  • /System/Library/Frameworks/v.framework
  • /System/Library/Frameworks/VSearch.framework
  • /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/Jack
  • /Library/InputManagers/CTLoader/
  • /Library/Application Support/Conduit/
  • ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ConduitNPAPIPlugin.plugin
  • ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/TroviNPAPIPlugin.plugin
  • /Applications/SearchProtect.app
  • /Applications/WebTools.app
  • /Applications/cinemapro1-2.app
  • ~/Applications/cinemapro1-2.app

Step 6 Reboot your computer.

iPhone, iPad, iPod

Step 1 Use Safari to navigate to your desired home page.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

Clear Safari Search History

  • ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
  • ↑ http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/homepage-in-iphone-safari.398581/

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How to customize your start page in Safari on iPhone and iPad

Iphone Safari Start Page Hero

  • Choose sections for your start page
  • Set a background image for your start page

Safari is probably one of your most used apps on your current iPhone. After all, Safari is your gateway to the wonderful world of the internet on the go. But have you ever wished you could make your mobile Safari experience a little more personal?

Since macOS Big Sur, Apple gave users the ability to customize the start page in Safari on the Mac . But this same feature did not make its way to the iPhone and iPad until iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, respectively. When you customize the start page in mobile Safari, you can pick your own cool background image and choose what sections you want to display when you first open a new tab. Sections can include your Favorites, Siri Suggestions, Reading List, and more. It's a simple little setting, but customizing your start page makes Safari feel more like your own.

Here's how to customize your start page in Safari on iPhone and iPad.

How to choose sections for your start page in Safari on iOS

  • Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
  • If you are on an existing webpage, tap the Tabs button and launch a new tab .
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the start page and tap Edit .
  • If you prefer to use the same start page customization across all of your iPhones, iPads, and Macs, make sure the toggle for Use Start Page on All Devices is set to ON (green). This ensures that your start page appearance and settings are synced through iCloud.
  • You'll see sections for Favorites , Frequently Visited , Shared With You , Privacy Report , Siri Suggestions , Reading List , and iCloud Tabs . Tap the toggles for the sections that you want to display to ON (green).
  • If you want to rearrange the order that these sections appear in, just drag-and-drop with the handle into the order that you prefer.

In iOS 16 , a new section for Recently Closed Tabs will be added to the available options listed above. This section will show tabs that you've recently closed, in case you want to pull them up again.

How to set a background image for your start page in Safari on iOS

Adding a background image is a good way to spice up your Safari browsing experience while you're on the start page. Apple gives you the option to choose a preset image, or you can even pick out your own. Here's how.

  • Make sure you're in a new tab so you can be on the start page .
  • Scroll down to the bottom and tap Edit .
  • Tap the toggle for Background Image to ON (green).
  • Select one of the preset images by tapping on it.
  • If you prefer to use your own, tap the large plus (+) button.
  • Choose an image from your Photo Library .

If you've already set an image from your Photo Library but want to change it, just tap on the square with your custom image to browse your Photo Library again for a different image.

A personalized Safari

As you can see, it's easy to customize your start page in Safari on your favorite iPhone and iPad in iOS 15 . Doing so will give you a better experience whenever you open up a new tab in Safari, and it is a great way to add your own touch to the browser.

Updated June 2022: Updated with information from iOS 16 developer beta .

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.

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how to set home page safari ipad

How to change your Safari Homepage on Mac, iPhone and iPad

While you may not think much about what your Homepage is on Safari , this can be the handiest way to see your favorite site first. Every time you open Safari, you can visit the website you like most right off the bat or when you hit your Home button. Maybe it’s your preferred news source, the weather site you trust most, or your favorite tech site, iDownloadblog.com.

To make sure you get to your favorite website quickly each day, here’s how to change your Safari Homepage on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Safari Homepage on Mac

Change your Safari Homepage

Open Safari on your Mac, and then follow these steps to change your Homepage:

1) Click Safari > Preferences from the top menu bar.

2) Choose the General tab.

3) In the box next to Homepage , enter the URL of the website you want. If you are currently on that site, just click the Set Current Page button. This will change that URL for you.

Set Homepage Safari Mac

Set your Homepage for new windows and tabs

By making that change above, each time you click the Home button on your toolbar or History > Home from the menu bar, you’ll land on that page. But you can set it up so that whenever you open a new Safari window or tab, you’ll go directly to that page too.

In the same Safari Preferences window, above Homepage , you’ll see the options for New windows open with and New tabs open with . You can click the drop-down box and choose Homepage for both or just one.

Set Homepage New Window and Tabs Safari Mac

For something out of the ordinary, you can also set an image as your Safari Homepage on Mac. So, you can see your adorable pet, favorite vacation spot, or loving family whenever you open Safari.

On iPhone and iPad

Things are currently not as simple on iOS as they are on macOS. There isn’t a setting for Homepage in Safari on iPhone and iPad. But there is a workaround you can use to always open Safari with your favorite page. You’ll do this by creating a shortcut on your Home Screen, and here’s how.

1) Open Safari on iPhone or iPad and go to the site you want to use.

2) Tap the Share button at the bottom.

3) Select Add to Home Screen .

4) Name your shortcut and tap Add .

Now, whenever you want to open Safari to that “Homepage,” just tap your shortcut.

Add to Home Screen Safari Homepage iPhone

Note : If a website you use opens in a reader or mobile mode, you may not see your normal Safari options (tabs, bookmarks, etc.). So, use the desktop version of the site instead. Before performing the steps above, select the Share button > Request Desktop Site . Then, follow the instructions to add it to your Home Screen.

Setting Safari Homepage

You can always use the Favorites feature in Safari to quickly get to the sites you love most. But setting your Homepage gets you to your favorite website the fastest.

Do you plan to set a Safari Homepage for your favorite site? Let us know! And if you have tips for using Safari on Mac or iOS that you’d like to share, feel free to comment below.

Useful Safari tips:

  • 11 tips to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
  • How to add Favorites in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • How to fix Safari tabs disappearing on iPad and iPhone
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iOS 15: How to Customize Your Safari Start Page and Background

First seen in macOS Big Sur, Safari's redesigned Start Page in iOS 15 is a one-stop shop for all of your Bookmarks, Favorites, Frequently Visited sites, Siri Suggestions, iCloud Tabs, Reading List, and Privacy Report.

ios 15 safari start page

  • Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad .
  • Tap the open tabs icon in the bottom right corner of the Safari interface.

safari

  • Scroll down to the bottom of the Start Page and tap the Edit button.
  • To sync your Start Page settings with other devices linked to the same Apple ID , turn on the switch next to Use Start Page on All Devices .
  • Use the switches to control what you want to appear on your Start Page. Options include: Favorites , Frequently Visited , Shared with You , Privacy Report , Siri Suggestions , Reading List , and iCloud Tabs .
  • You can also turn on the Background image option and choose one of the existing iOS wallpapers, or select your own from your photos by tapping the big + button.

safari

In iOS 15, Tab Groups is another new feature in Safari that can improve your browsing experience. To learn more about Tab Groups, be sure to check out our dedicated how-to.

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  • How To Change Homepage
  • iOS (Apple)

How to Set Your Safari Homepage on iPad

With Safari on iOS and iPad, you can create an icon, that looks just like an app icon, which will open Safari and open your homepage.

Step 1: Open Safari Browser And Type in Your Homepage

On your iPad, open up Safari. Now touch the address bar on the top-middle section and type in your homepage address. In our example, we are using our Homepage Ninja page.

Type in Homepage in Safari

Step 2: Click on the Square Icon with the Arrow

After your homepage has loaded in Safari, click on the icon that looks like a square and has an arrow pointing up. This will give you options to add the page to your home screen.

Click Square-Arrow Icon

Step 3: Select Add to Home Screen

Select the icon that says "Add to Home Screen" and has a plus symbol. This will create an icon on your home screen that you can open. It will open Safari up with the homepage as the first page shown to you.

Add to Home Screen

Step 4: Your Homepage Is Now On Your Home Screen

You should now have an icon on your home screen that you can click to open up your homepage in the Safari browser. This icon acts as any other home screen icon where you can move it around or delete it. It basically just opens up Safari, with one difference being that it will open your homepage page first. This is how Safari handles homepages.

Your Homepage Home Screen

NOTE Homepage Ninja has IOS icons enabled so that you can have high resolution icons on your home screen.

  • How To Set Your Homepage:
  • Open Safari, Type Homepage
  • Click Square-Arrow Icon
  • Add to Home Screen
  • Your Homepage Home Icon

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Set a home page for Safari on the iPad

Start safari with a specified home page.

Jim Lynch

Here's how you can easily set up a home page for Safari on your iPad. 1. Open the Safari app. 2. Go to the web page you want to use for your home page. 3. Tap the arrow icon. 4. Tap the Add to Home Screen icon. 5. Type in the name of the page, then tap the Add button. 6. An icon for the page will be added to your Home screen. 7. Tap your new Home screen icon instead of the Safari icon, and Safari will load your preferred home page.

For more, see the original article at the link below.

How to Set a Home Page in the Safari Browser | iPad Academy

This story, "Set a home page for Safari on the iPad" was originally published by ITworld .

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Jim Lynch is a technology analyst and online community manager who has also written for many leading industry publications over the years, including ITworld , InfoWorld , CIO , PCMag , ExtremeTech , and numerous others.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Jim Lynch and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.

Copyright © 2012 IDG Communications, Inc.

how to set home page safari ipad

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How to Add Safari Website Shortcuts to iPad's Home Screen

For iPads running iOS 7 and above

how to set home page safari ipad

What to Know

  • Open Safari > go to web page you want to add as Home screen icon > Share icon > Add to Home Screen .
  • Next, edit the shortcut name (optional) > select Add to save the shortcut.

This article explains how to add an iPad Home screen icon for a specific web page to serve as a shortcut to that page.Information applies to iPads with iOS 7 through iPadOS 16.

How to Add a Home Screen Icon for a Web Page

The iPad home screen displays icons for navigating through your applications and settings. Among these apps is  Safari , Apple's web browser, which is included with all its operating systems. One especially useful feature is the ability to put shortcuts to your favorite web pages on the iPad Home screen.

Making a Home screen icon for a web page that you visit frequently saves time. Here's how to do it.

Select the Safari icon to open the main browser window.

Go to the web page that you want to add as a Home screen icon. Select the  Share  button at the top or bottom of the browser window. It's represented by a square with an up arrow.

In the window that opens, scroll across or down and select  Add to Home Screen .

In the interface that opens, edit the name of the shortcut icon you are creating, if needed. This step is optional, but a short name is best. It represents the title that displays on the Home screen under the icon.

Select  Add to save the shortcut.

Your iPad's Home screen now contains an icon that takes you directly to your chosen web page.

If you have multiple home screens, it may appear on a screen that isn't filled.

You can move the shortcut and organize it like any other app icon. When you no longer need it, delete it in the same way that you would delete apps from the iPad .

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how to set home page safari ipad

Safari is the default web browser for iPhones and iPads, and it comes with a customizable Start Page that allows users to access their favorite websites, bookmarks, and reading lists easily. Customizing the Safari Start Page can enhance your browsing experience and save time by accessing the websites you visit frequently quickly. In this article, we will discuss how to customize the Safari Start Page on iPhone and iPad.

Step 1: Launch Safari

The first step is to launch the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad. You can find the Safari icon on your home screen or application library.

Step 2: Open the Start Page

Once you have launched Safari, tap the Start Page button, also known as the Home button, located at the bottom center of your screen. The Start Page will display your frequently visited websites, bookmarks, and reading list.

Step 3: Edit the Start Page

To customize the Start Page, tap the Edit button located at the bottom right corner of the screen. You will notice the Start Page icons starting to wiggle, indicating that they are editable.

Step 4: Reorder and Remove Icons

To reorder the icons, press and hold the icon and drag it to the desired location. To remove an icon, tap the minus (–) icon in the top left corner of the icon and confirm the deletion by tapping Remove. To add an icon, tap the plus (+) icon in the bottom center of the screen, and select either Add Bookmark, Add Reading List, or Add Website.

Step 5: Change the Background Image

You can also customize the Start Page background image by tapping the Customize button on the bottom left of the screen. You can select one of the default images, select a photo from your camera roll, or take a new photo.

Step 6: Save Changes

After you have finished customizing the Start Page, tap the Done button in the top right corner of the screen to save your changes.

In conclusion, customizing the Safari Start Page on iPhone and iPad is a quick and easy way to enhance your browsing experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can personalize your Start Page to display the websites, bookmarks, and reading lists that matter most to you. Moreover, you can change the background image to add a personal touch to your browsing experience. With these tips, you will be able to create a Start Page that is uniquely fitted to your browsing needs.

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How to change safari home page.

February 10, 2023 Matt Mills How to 0

One of the applications most used by all Apple users is Safari, the native browser of those from Cupertino. This has evolved over the years, becoming the most efficient and secure browser for all Apple devices. In this post we are going to see how we can customize the Safari home page.

How to customize the Safari home page?

How to change safari home page

Whenever we open Safari, a series of default tabs always appear. However, we can determine that the home page is Google’s own search engine, our work page or any page we like.

Customize the start page from Mac

To do this, from Safari we go to System Preferences that is located in the upper left, we also have the keyboard shortcut to access it quickly, which is Command + ,. The steps are the following:

  • Once inside the Preferences tab, click on General.
  • We go to the Start Page and write the web address that you want Safari to open by default.

Safari en mac

From the Mac , we can also configure the Safari window to open new windows and/or tabs from the home page. To do this, from System Preferences and General settings, click on the “Choose home page” option. You select the pages that you want to appear every time you open the Safari app.

Change Safari home page on iPhone and iPad

Unlike macOS, the iPhone and iPad operating system customizes the Safari launch window differently. The steps are the following:

  • We open the Safari app on our iPhone or iPad.
  • We access the page that we want to use by default.
  • We select the share button that is located at the top.
  • Click on “Add home screen”
  • We rename or leave the name of the web page the same.
  • Click on add.

Safari en iPhone

In this way, whenever we go to navigate from Safari, the home page that we have determined will appear.

Just like on Mac, we can also customize the main Safari page, where you can add new background images, colors, and options. To do this, tap on the tabs button and then tap on the “New Tab” button. Next, select the options you want to appear on the home page, including: Tab Group Favorites, Recently Closed Tabs, Favorites, Siri Suggestions, Shared with You, Frequently Visited, and Reading List.

Finally, one of the options that Apple allows is to set the same home page on all Apple devices that have the same ID. To standardize the home pages of Apple devices, you have to customize one of your devices and in system preferences, press the option of “Keep your settings and preferences in sync across all Apple devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID. Manzana”

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever customized the Safari home screen on Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

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XDA Developers

How to change the default web browser on iPhone or iPad

W hen you set up a new iPhone or iPad, you may notice that Safari is the default web browser. And while many users are fine with that, some others may prefer having a different default. Fortunately, with iOS and iPadOS 14, Apple started allowing users to change the default web browser. So, for example, if you're now running iOS 17 on an iPhone 15 Pro Max , you can change the web browser that the system defaults to when you click a link.

What's a default web browser?

As mentioned above, a default web browser is an app that iOS or iPadOS automatically directs to when you hit a link on your iDevice. Before OS version 14, users would have to copy the link and paste it into a third-party web browser if they were unsatisfied with Safari. So, now, after changing the default web browser, the OS will automatically launch and load the URL in the chosen app.

How to change the default web browser on iOS or iPadOS

To change the default web browser on an iPhone or iPad running OS version 14 or later:

  • Go to the App Store and click on the Search tab in the bottom right corner.
  • Tap the Search field on top and search for web browser .
  • View the list of results and choose the one that appeals to you the most.
  • Download it and wait for it to install on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Head to the Settings app and scroll down to the app you just installed. Close
  • Click on Default Browser App .
  • Choose the app you just installed.
  • Now, whenever you click a link, it'll automatically load in the newly set default web browser.
  • If you change your mind, you could always revert to Safari by following the same steps. Close

Changing the default web browser can save you a lot of time

Choosing a default web browser spares you from needing to copy and paste a certain link in the browser of your choice. This way, you just click on a certain link, and it launches the browser you prefer instead of defaulting to Safari. However, keep in mind that third-party iOS web browsers utilize Apple's WebKit engine, so they're essentially Safari with the developers' additional layers and features.

How to change the default web browser on iPhone or iPad

How-To Geek

How to change the safari home page on a mac.

Tired of opening Safari and seeing Favorites? Here's how to set your homepage to your favorite website in Safari on Mac.

Traditionally, a homepage is the first website your browser loads when you start it. But by default, Safari on Mac opens up a window of Favorites instead. If you'd like Safari to start with a website of your choice, follow these simple steps.

First, open the Safari web browser by clicking its icon in the dock, by using Spotlight Search , or by selecting it from the macOS Applications folder . From there, navigate to the page you'd like to use as your home page. It can be any website you want.

Navigate to your desired home page

In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Safari > Preferences.

Select Preferences in Safari

In Preferences > General, click the "Set to Current Page" button. This changes your home page to the current website Safari has open.

Click Set to Current Page button in Safari

After clicking the button, the address in the "Homepage" field will change to the address of the current page.

Next, we'll make it so you see your home page when you open Safari. In Preferences > General, click the drop-down menu beside the "New Windows Open With" listing.

Select New Windows Open With in Safari

In the drop-down menu, select the "Homepage" option.

Select Homepage from Drop Down List

If desired, you can repeat the same step with the "New Tabs Open With" option. In that case, every time you open a new tab, you'll see your home page.

Related: How to Reopen Closed Tabs and Windows in Safari on a Mac

How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

Clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad in a few simple steps

iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center

You'll definitely want to know how to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad . Know how to delete browsing history is part of basic user operation on all your devices, and is especially if you share devices with others. 

Luckily, deleting browsing history on Safari is easy and can be done in just a few taps, and is the same on iOS and iPadOS, so whether you're using an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad Air , these steps will apply.

Remember, though, that deleting your browsing history only stops your activity being visible on that device. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will still be able to see the webpages you have visited. If you want to stop that, for ultimate privacy, you'll need to use one of the best VPN services .

The following screenshots were taken on an iPhone running iOS 17 . If you aren't running the latest version of your device's OS, we can show you how to update an iPhone or how to update an iPad .

  • In Safari, tap the book icon
  • Go to the history tab (clock)
  • Select how far back to clear

Read on to see full illustrated instructions.

1. In Safari, tap the book icon

Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar.

2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear

Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear at the bottom.

3. Select how far back to clear and tap Delete

Now choose how far back you'd like to delete : last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

If you like, you can toggle on Close All Tabs , which will close every open tab that isn't in a tab group (we can show you how to use tab groups if you aren't sure).

Finally, when you're happy, hit Delete .

As you can see in the screenshot above, if you now go back to the history tab, your history will have been deleted.

For more iPhone tutorials, check out our guides on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone , how to clear RAM on iPhone , how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone and how to rearrange the iOS 17 Messages '+' menu .

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Peter Wolinski

Peter is Editor of the How To and Camera sections at Tom's Guide. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, obsessively detailing his car, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots. 

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Android Police

How to make google chrome the default browser on your phone or pc.

Tired of trying to remember your bookmarks? Make Google Chrome your default browser on every device

There are many browsers for web surfing, but not all offer the best experience. While Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge get the work done, Google Chrome outshines the others. It includes support for various languages, syncing across devices, tab grouping, and incognito browsing. Chrome is the default browser on most Android phones and Chromebooks . We show you how to make it your go-to browser on any device.

Why Google Chrome is a great choice for your default browser

Several elements of Google Chrome make it a great default browser. One advantage is that it's an essential part of the Google ecosystem. Chrome supports integration with Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and other Google services. When you log in to your Google account on various devices, you can sync your bookmarks, apps, and extensions. Browsing updates you make on one device are reflected on other devices where you're signed in.

A Google Search page is open on an Android phone, iPhone, and Chrome browser.

It also supports cross-migration, allowing you to import settings from your previous default browser. You don't need to set up the browser from scratch. Depending on the web browser you're switching from, you can import your bookmarks, browsing history, homepage, search engines, and saved passwords .

Update Google Chrome

How to update Google Chrome to the newest version

Chrome is the default browser for affiliated Google products. Most Android devices and Chromebooks have Chrome set up. Make sure to update the application when an update is available. Windows PCs and other devices must download and install Chrome before setting it as the default browser.

If you feel Chrome isn't doing enough, extend its capabilities with extensions from the Web Store.

How to make Google Chrome the default browser on Android

Samsung's smartphones and Apple's iPhones are popular smart devices that don't feature Chrome as the default. Follow these steps to set Chrome as your default web browser on any Android device you own.

  • Go to Settings .
  • Scroll up and tap Apps .

selecting Apps option in Android settings menu

  • Tap Browser app .

Screenshot of the default apps menu in settings on Android

If you don't see the Choose default apps menu on your version of Android, use the following steps:

  • Go to Settings > Apps .
  • Tap Chrome from the list to open the app info.

Screenshot showing how to select Chrome from the Apps menu on Android

  • Select Chrome to make it your primary browser.

You've now set Chrome as the default browser on your Android smart device. You can follow the same steps to change to a different browser.

How to make Google Chrome the default browser on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 PCs have Microsoft Edge set as the default browser. Windows 8 and 7 use Internet Explorer as the default. However, Microsoft stopped support for those OS versions and Internet Explorer. Google made a similar move at the start of 2023 and now requires Windows 10 or higher to run Chrome. If you want to make Chrome your default browser, update your computer's OS.

How to make Chrome the default browser on Windows 11

Follow these steps to set Google Chrome as your default browser on Windows 11:

  • Download and install Chrome if you haven't.

Screenshot of the Windows 11 Start menu

This process sets Chrome as your default browser for your Windows 11 computer.

The Google Chrome logo against a blue and white background.

How to change the default Google account on a web browser

How to make chrome the default browser on windows 10.

Changing your default browser looks slightly different if you're running Windows 10 on your computer. Follow these quick steps to do so.

Screenshot of the Windows 10 Start menu

  • Click Default apps .
  • Scroll up and click Microsoft Edge under Web browser . If you see Chrome , it means Chrome is your default browser.

Screenshot of Windows 10 Default apps menu with Web browser options highlighted

Following these steps makes Chrome your default browser, whether your computer runs Windows 10 or 11.

How to make Google Chrome the default browser on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Apple devices have Safari as the default out of the box. You can change your default browser and email client to Google apps if that's your preference. This setting came with the release of iOS 14, despite the rivalry between Apple and Google.

Chrome is available for download on iOS 12 and higher. But only iPhones running iOS 14 and higher can set Chrome as the default app. MacBooks need macOS High Sierra 10.13 or a subsequent OS version.

Make Chrome your default browser on your iPhone or iPad

Setting Chrome as your default browser on an iPhone or iPad may feel strange, but it's hardly any trouble. Follow these steps:

  • Open Chrome .
  • Tap the three-dot icon in the lower-right corner of your screen to expand the app menu.

Screenshot of the Chrome app on iPhone

Chrome is now the default browsing app on your Apple smart device. When you launch a browser from a different app, your device uses Chrome.

Make Chrome the default browser on a MacBook or another macOS device

You can also make Chrome the default browser on your Apple computer. All it takes is a few simple steps.

  • Download and install Chrome on Mac . Run the app.
  • In the upper-right corner of your screen, click the three-dot icon to expand the app menu.

Screenshot of the Chrome browser menu on Mac with Settings option highlighted

  • Click Default browser .

Screenshot of the Chrome settings menu on Mac

Altering your default browser is easy whether you use Android, iOS, a PC, or a MacBook. You can change your mind later if Chrome isn't working out like you thought it would.

How to import data from a previous browser into Google Chrome

When switching your default browser, you'll likely want to bring your bookmarks, browsing history, and saved passwords from your old browser to Chrome. Here are instructions for importing data into Chrome from the most common desktop browsers (Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge):

Import bookmarks and settings from other web browsers to Google Chrome in Settings.

  • Select the desired browser from the drop-down menu.

Select a web browser and items to import to Google Chrome in Settings.

  • Click Import .

You'll need to install the browser you want to import data from on your system.

What to do if you can't make Chrome your default browser

You may need to update Chrome or delete your cache if you can't make it your default browser. If that doesn't work, reset the settings.

How to reset Settings on Chrome

Here's how to reset Chrome:

  • Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.

Screenshot highlighting 'Settings' in Chrome

How to update Google Chrome

Using an outdated version of Chrome can lead to unexpected behavior. Here's how to update it:

  • Select Settings .

Screenshot highlighting 'About Chrome' in Chrome

How to delete cookies and cache

Screenshot highlighting 'Clear browsing data' in Chrome

  • Select All time .

Screenshot highlighting 'Clear data' in Chrome

Google Chrome's best features for browsing

Constantly copying and pasting links to your preferred browser can be frustrating. Setting your preferred browser as the default tool simplifies the web surfing experience. You can even set your favorite website as the default homepage .

Screenshot of the Google Chrome home page

Here are some of the best features that make Google Chrome the perfect default browser:

  • Speed : It often loads pages faster than its competitors thanks to optimizations like pre-rendering and its V8 JavaScript engine.
  • Simplicity : It has a clean, minimal interface. The streamlined tabs and Omnibox make navigating the web straightforward.
  • Extensions : You can customize Google Chrome with powerful extensions from the Chrome Web Store for productivity, privacy, and entertainment.
  • Sync : You can sign in to sync bookmarks, history, passwords, and settings across all your devices. Doing so makes it easy to access your browsing information anywhere.
  • Security : It offers leading security against malware and dangerous sites with Safe Browsing technology and sandboxing to isolate web pages and applications.
  • Updates : Because Google Chrome downloads updates in the background and applies the update upon restart, you always have the latest features and security fixes.
  • Compatibility : It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome, Android, and iOS. You can use the same browser experience on any device.

To improve your browsing experience, learn about Chrome's hidden features and tricks on the desktop version.

Make browsing easy with Google Chrome

Changing your default browser is easier than it sounds. You should import your browsing data from Safari, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge when switching to Chrome. Its clean and easy-to-use interface improves your browsing experience.

Google regularly pushes updates for the Chrome browser with new security features and other add-ons. However, there's always room for improvement. Level up your web browsing experience by installing some of the best Chrome extensions .

Apple confirms iOS 17.4 removes Home Screen web apps in the EU, here’s why

Avatar for Chance Miller

iOS 17.4 offers a number of changes for the App Store and iPhone in the European Union. This includes things like third-party app marketplaces and support for alternative browser engines . One byproduct of these changes, however, is that iOS 17.4 removes support for Home Screen web apps in the EU.

Apple has now offered an explanation for this decision, confirming that the omission was not a bug. Instead, it’s because of requirements under the Digital Markets Act.

Web apps on iOS 17.4 in the EU

Last week, iPhone users in the European Union noticed that they were no longer able to install and run web apps on their iPhone’s Home Screen in iOS 17.4. Apple has added a number of features over the years to improve support for progressive web apps on iPhone. For example,  iOS 16.4 allowed PWAs to deliver push notifications with icon badges .

One change in iOS 17.4 is that the iPhone now supports alternative browser engines in the EU. This allows companies to build browsers that don’t use Apple’s WebKit engine for the first time. Apple says that this change, required by the Digital Markets Act, is why it has been forced to remove Home Screen web apps support in the European Union.

Apple explains that it would have to build an “entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS” to address the “complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines.”

This work “was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps,” Apple explains. “And so, to comply with the DMA’s requirements, we had to remove the Home Screen web apps feature in the EU.”

“EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark with minimal impact to their functionality,” Apple continues.

Top comment by Amirami

Honestly I think the EU is starting to go too far. I’ve always applauded the EU for sticking up for its citizen’s and demanding an even playing field. Competition is good for everyone.

BUT… There comes a point where you hinder a company or companies so much that in order to placate to everyone you have to abide by the lowest common denominator and you can no longer innovate.

In this particular case, I don’t see how this helps any customers at all. Second, I don’t blame Apple for not creating a way for PWA’s to work with third party WebKits. Why should they? Apple isn’t here to spoon feed its users whatever they want on any platform they want with little to no returns.

It’s understandable that Apple wouldn’t offer support for Home Screen web apps for third-party browsers. But why did it also remove support for Home Screen web apps for Safari? Unfortunately, that’s another side effect of the Digital Markets Act.

The DMA requires that all browsers have equality, meaning that Apple can’t favor Safari and WebKit over third-party browser engines. Therefore, because it can’t offer Home Screen web apps support for third-party browsers, it also can’t offer support via Safari.

Apple’s full explanation follows, which was published on Apple’s developer website today :

To comply with the Digital Markets Act, Apple has done an enormous amount of engineering work to add new functionality and capabilities for developers and users in the European Union – including more than 600 new APls and a wide range of developer tools. The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of system prompts to access privacy impacting capabilities on a per-site basis. Without this type of isolation and enforcement, malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a user’s camera, microphone or location without a user’s consent. Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a user’s awareness and consent. Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps. And so, to comply with the DMA’s requirements, we had to remove the Home Screen web apps feature in the EU. EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark with minimal impact to their functionality. We expect this change to affect a small number of users. Still, we regret any impact this change — that was made as part of the work to comply with the DMA — may have on developers of Home Screen web apps and our

iOS 17.4 is currently available to developers and public beta testers, and is slated for a release in early March.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

App Store

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to [email protected]

Use Touch ID on iPhone and iPad

Learn how to set up and use Touch ID, a fingerprint identity sensor that makes it easy for you to get into your device.

Set up touch ID

Use Touch ID

Manage Settings

Where is the Touch ID sensor?

The Touch ID sensor is either in the Home button or—on iPad Air (4th generation) and later and iPad mini (6th generation)—the top button. When you follow the steps below, your device's onscreen instructions will tell you which button to use. If you're not sure, learn which button is which on your iPad .

Set up Touch ID

Before you can set up Touch ID, you need to create a passcode for your device.* Then follow these steps:

Make sure that the Touch ID sensor and your finger are clean and dry.

Tap Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, then enter your passcode.

Tap Add a Fingerprint and hold your device as you normally would when touching the Touch ID sensor.

Touch the Touch ID sensor with your finger—but don't press—so the device can begin recognizing your fingerprint. Hold your finger there until you feel a quick vibration, or until you're asked to lift your finger.

ios15-iphone-se-settings-touch-id-passcode-setup

Continue to lift and rest your finger slowly, making small adjustments to the position of your finger each time.

The next screen asks you to adjust your grip. Hold your device as you normally would when unlocking it, and touch the Touch ID sensor with the outer areas of your fingertip, instead of the center portion that you scanned first.

ios15-iphone-se-settings-touch-id-passcode-setup-adjust-grip

If you have trouble enrolling one finger, try another. Still need help setting up Touch ID ?

* Touch ID and Face ID are available on certain iPhone and iPad models.

Use Touch ID to unlock your iPhone or make purchases

After you set up Touch ID, you can use Touch ID to unlock your iPhone. Just press the Touch ID sensor using the finger that you registered with Touch ID.

Make purchases with Touch ID

You can use Touch ID instead of your Apple ID password to make purchases in the iTunes Store, App Store, and Apple Books. Just follow these steps:

Make sure that iTunes & App Store is turned on under Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. If you can't turn it on, you might need to sign in with your Apple ID in Settings > iTunes & App Store.

Open the iTunes Store, App Store, or Apple Books.

Tap something to buy. You'll receive a Touch ID prompt.

To make a purchase, lightly touch the Touch ID sensor.

ios15-iphone-se-pay-with-touch-id

Use Touch ID for Apple Pay

With an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus or later, you can use Touch ID to make Apple Pay purchases in stores, within apps, and on websites in Safari. You can also use Touch ID on your iPhone to complete website purchases with your Mac. If you have an iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad (5th generation) or later, or iPad mini 3 or later, you can use Touch ID for Apple Pay purchases within apps and on websites in Safari.

Need help using Touch ID ?

Manage your Touch ID settings

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode to manage these settings:

Turn Touch ID on or off for Passcode, iTunes & App Store, or Apple Pay.

Enroll up to five fingerprints. Each new print might make fingerprint recognition take slightly longer.

Tap a fingerprint to rename it.

Tap a fingerprint, then tap Delete Fingerprint to remove it.

Identify a fingerprint in the list by touching the Touch ID sensor. The matching print in the list will be highlighted briefly.

ios15-iphone-se-settings-touch-id-passcode

Press the Touch ID sensor using Touch ID to unlock your device. To unlock your device using Touch ID without pressing the Touch ID sensor, go to Settings > Accessibility > Home Button [or top button] and turn on Rest Finger to Open.

About Touch ID security

Set up Apple Pay

Use Face ID on iPhone X and later

how to set home page safari ipad

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

how to set home page safari ipad

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

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Digital Markets Act —

Apple disables iphone web apps in eu, says it’s too hard to comply with rules, apple says it can't secure home-screen web apps with third-party browser engines..

Jon Brodkin - Feb 16, 2024 6:40 pm UTC

Photo of an iPhone focusing on the app icons for Phone, Safari, Messages, and Music.

Apple is removing the ability to install home screen web apps from iPhones and iPads in Europe when iOS 17.4 comes out, saying it's too hard to keep offering the feature under the European Union's new Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple is required to comply with the law by March 6.

Apple said the change is necessitated by a requirement to let developers "use alternative browser engines—other than WebKit—for dedicated browser apps and apps providing in-app browsing experiences in the EU." Apple explained its stance in a developer Q&A under the heading, "Why don't users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?" It says:

Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps. And so, to comply with the DMA's requirements, we had to remove the Home Screen web apps feature in the EU.

It will still be possible to add website bookmarks to iPhone and iPad home screens, but those bookmarks would take the user to the web browser instead of a separate web app. The change was recently rolled out to beta versions of iOS 17.4.

The Digital Markets Act targets " gatekeepers " of certain technologies such as operating systems, browsers, and search engines. It requires gatekeepers to let third parties interoperate with the gatekeepers' own services, and prohibits them from favoring their own services at the expense of competitors. As 9to5Mac notes , allowing home screen web apps with Safari but not third-party browser engines might cause Apple to violate the rules.

Apple warns of “malicious web apps”

As Apple explains, iOS "has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of system prompts to access privacy impacting capabilities on a per-site basis."

Apple said it won't be able to guarantee this isolation once alternative browser engines are supported. "Without this type of isolation and enforcement, malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a user's camera, microphone or location without a user's consent. Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a user's awareness and consent," Apple's FAQ said.

Despite the change, Apple said that "EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark with minimal impact to their functionality."

Apple previously announced that its DMA compliance will bring sideloading to Europe, allowing developers to offer iOS apps from stores other than Apple's official App Store.

Browser choice, security requirements

One browser-related change will be immediately obvious to EU users once they install the new iOS version. "When users in the EU first open Safari on iOS 17.4, they'll be prompted to choose their default browser and presented with a list of the main web browsers available in their market to select as their default browser," Apple's developer FAQ said.

Apple said it had to prepare carefully for the requirement to let developers use alternative browser engines because browser engines "are constantly exposed to untrusted and potentially malicious content and have visibility into sensitive user data," making them "one of the most common attack vectors for malicious actors."

Apple said it is requiring developers who use alternative browser engines to meet certain security standards:

To help keep users safe online, Apple will only authorize developers to implement alternative browser engines after meeting specific criteria and committing to a number of ongoing privacy and security requirements, including timely security updates to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Apple will provide authorized developers of dedicated browser apps access to security mitigations and capabilities to enable them to build secure browser engines, and access features like passkeys for secure user login, multiprocess system capabilities to improve security and stability, web content sandboxes that combat evolving security threats, and more.

Overall, Apple said its DMA preparations have involved "an enormous amount of engineering work to add new functionality and capabilities for developers and users in the European Union—including more than 600 new APIs and a wide range of developer tools."

reader comments

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Apple is about to change iPhone web browsing forever

Nadeem Sarwar

Apple has today announced a major change that could revolutionize the web-browsing experience for iPhone users. Alas, this browsing boon will be limited to users in the EU bloc. This news was announced alongside Apple’s plans to add sideloading and third-party app stores to the iPhone .

Deliberately spoiling the browsing experience

  • It’s all about preferential treatment

Oops. Did I say Safari stutters?

A bright future is right around the corner.

To comply with the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple says it will allow developers to use other browser engines for their web browsers. That means Apple will no longer force them to use its own WebKit rendering engine, which is the underlying tech behind what any web browser can do on your phone. That’s a massive rule change.

Browser vendors such as Chrome developer Google and Edge maker Microsoft have been restricted to creating mere shells around a highly specific, unmodified version of Safari’s WebView, a component whose functionalities are tightly dictated by Apple. Instead of shipping their meticulously developed browsers, the likes of Google and Mozilla are forced to build a separate browser that essentially acts as a thin wrapper for Apple’s WebKit engine.

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To put it simply, browser apps like Chrome, Firefox, Brave, DuckDuckGo, and others can be installed on an iPhone, but they merely serve as superficial overlays on Apple’s WebKit engine. This policy also means that Apple has the final say on which features are supported on Safari. And that feature gap is huge.

Just take a look at this feature comparison compiled by Open Web Advocacy to get a grasp of the problem:

Third-party browser vendors have no other option but to use a highly specific version of WebKit, with no flexibility to modify the engine’s features, including the activation or deactivation of existing features in the source code. This limitation chokes the ability of iOS browsers to stand out through soft forks.

On the other hand, in a market with genuine browser choices, third parties could develop their own browsers from scratch. Just take a look at what the folks behind the Arc browser have managed to accomplish in totally reimagining how a browser looks and works in the desktop ecosystem.

It’s also telling that a team with such bright minds has only released a companion Arc app on iOS and not a full-fledged revolutionary mobile browser — because they know full well that they won’t get the same kind of flexibility with iOS (due to WebKit) as they do on macOS for building a fantastic desktop browser.

This is evident in the Chromium browser ecosystem ,as well. Unlike in iOS, where Apple solely controls feature inclusion, browser vendors have the liberty to choose features when using Chromium on Android . Ultimately, for an average iPhone user, the key aspect is the software that operates on actual devices.

It’s all about preferential treatment

But it’s not just the lack of features that is concerning. It’s also about giving Safari an unfair edge because Apple controls the entire implementation of any browser that runs on the iPhone. Apple, of course, gives preferential treatment to Safari when it comes to accessing the native system on iPhones.

Safari has been granted the ability to display videos in full screen, while other browsers are prohibited from doing so, except on iPad. Oher browsers have also been historically kept from installing Web Apps, using the all-too-important extensions, or integrating Apple Pay to the same extent as Safari.

Next, let’s explore the competition perspective, which is what ultimately forced the EU to look into the WebKit situation. This WebKit-only approach forces companies to create multiple distinct applications for each platform, significantly increasing the costs and complexities of development and maintenance. These costs are in addition to the App Store’s 15% to 30% tax, which Apple has so fiercely protected to date.

The exorbitant costs of developing an interoperable application that functions identically to what Apple has to offer make it feasible only for well-funded companies. After all, why would anyone want to serve up a browser that functions virtually the same a Safari, while also being at technical disadvantage at the same time? Naturally, many useful or potentially profitable applications never see the light of day.

Safari and Apple’s WebView often encounter critical bugs that can break applications, and these issues also affect competing iOS browsers since they are unable to use their own engines, which may not have these bugs. Take a look at this failure graph called the Web Platforms Test Dashboard and marvel at Safari’s failures:

HTTP Toolkit has a massive catalog of how Apple’s approach is not only allowing browser bugs to persist on the web and weakening crucial security measures, but how it is also muddying the overall web for everyone with an iPhone in their hand. That’s particularly damning for a company that always argues against change by citing privacy and security.

If you really want to understand just how terribly Apple has created a browser monopoly on the iPhone, one where it has choked feature innovation and allowed nagging problems to persist, read this comprehensive 108-page document called “ Bringing Competition to the Walled Gardens – Third Party Browsers & Web Apps .”

But now that the EU has forced Apple’s hand and the company will finally allow alternative engines like Gecko and Blink, we will finally see a new experience fleshed out in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox running on the iPhone. And that could happen soon.

Earlier this year, Google announced (via GitHub , of all places) that it was working on an experimental iOS version of Chrome with the Blink engine at its core instead of WebKit. Of course, Apple’s policies won’t ever allow such a liberating monstrosity on the App Store, but it’s as if Google got a whiff that the EU could force Apple to reverse course. The folks over at 9to5Google even got a rudimentary version working on an iPhone.

Mozilla has also been testing a version of Firefox for iOS built atop its Gecko rendering engine. “We abide by Apple’s iOS app store policies, and are simply doing some exploratory work to understand the technical challenges for Gecko-based browsers on iOS if those policies were to change,” Mozilla told The Register earlier this year.

It looks like Google and Mozilla’s experiments with mobile web browsers free from the Apple WebKit shackles will finally bear fruit. But only for EU denizens. I dearly hope, for the sake of its valued customers, Apple does the same for users across the globe. It’s unprecedented, but at the end of the day, it’s also magical for an average iPhone user tired of the bland Safari experience.

I also dearly hope that regulators in other countries can also pull off what the EU has managed to accomplish. I am hopelessly addicted to the cause of “ iPad as a computer ,” but my worst enemy has been the constrained feature set on web browsers. I pray for a day when I can use Chrome on the iPad Pro to at least half of the capabilities it has on desktop browsers.

The ball’s in your court now, Apple!

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Nadeem Sarwar

Like millions of others, I visit the Apple website every year and order a new iPhone. Once it arrives, I always have the same reaction when I see it for the first time: it's a shame that I have to cover this beautiful device with a case. And yet, that's the wise thing to do to protect my investment.

Although I always recognized the need for an iPhone case, I have never been a fan of screen protectors. That changed recently when I was introduced to the Zagg Glass XTR3 Protector for my iPhone 15 Pro Max. One of the best screen protectors on the market, the XTR3 offers several features missing on similar products. Those features and Zagg's comprehensive product guarantee have made me a screen protector believer. Depending on your needs, you might want to be, too. I didn't used to be a screen protector person

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Though Apple only launched the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro recently, rumors have already begun about the iPhone 16 lineup coming in 2024. It's hard to believe, but it's true!

Though the iPhone 15 series is still relatively new, the rumor mill for the iPhone 16 has already begun. And since we’re in the era of spatial computing with the Apple Vision Pro, some changes need to be made to future iPhones to make compatible content.

So far, we’ve seen a few different design prototypes for the iPhone 16, at least with the base model. And though I always spring for the Pro models instead of the non-Pro versions, the design of the base iPhone 16 models has me excited for what's to (possibly) come. A call back to the iPhone X

iPad Pilot News

  • How to free up storage space on your iPad

It has happened to almost every pilot: you’re excited to download that new app or it’s time to download charts for your big cross country, but you get the dreaded “iPad Storage Full” message. Over time, as you download more apps and take more pictures, you can quickly fill up the storage space on your device and run into this alert. This means it’s time to start thinking about freeing up some space by deleting unused apps and media.

iPad storage options

Before we go further, let’s review the storage options for the iPad. There are more options than ever, depending on the model you choose: ranging from 64GB to 2TB (previous-generation models came with as few as 8GB). Since the iPad’s internal capacity is not upgradeable, it’s important to plan ahead and buy a model with more space than you initially anticipate needing.

Storage full

Not the message you want to see as you’re downloading new charts.

As a point of reference, downloading every VFR/IFR chart, airport info and high-resolution terrain data for the United States in ForeFlight Mobile takes roughly 25GB of data. Keep in mind, too, that if you update your charts a few days before the expiration date, ForeFlight will store two sets of charts until the start of the next cycle, requiring additional space for a short period of time.

While most of us don’t need to download charts for the entire US, you can see that it still doesn’t take long to fill up an older 32GB iPad, and even with a 64GB iPad, it can get tight. On top of that, you’ll want room for your other apps and additional space to accommodate new features that may be added in the future. So, while the least expensive model can  work, we think it’s worth spending the extra $100-150 for the 256GB model. You can read our complete recommendations for which iPad to buy here .

Analyze your current status

There are several ways to free up storage space on an iPad. Start out by checking the current status, which is located on the main iPad Settings app. Next, select General from the list of options on the left, and then select the iPad Storage option midway down the screen.

At the top of the iPad Storage page, you’ll first see how much free space is remaining, along with recommendations for clearing up space, plus a list of all your apps sorted by size. The MB/GB size next to each app represents the actual application size plus its downloaded content (e.g. charts, movies, music, etc.).

how to set home page safari ipad

How to free up space

Now that you know what’s taking up all your space, it’s time to start prioritizing your needs and removing nonessential apps and content:

1. Delete unused apps  – The easiest way to free up space is to review this list and see if there are any apps that you don’t use anymore. You’ll probably be surprised to see how much space some apps take up, especially if they contain embedded video or media. The Settings app shows when you last used an app, so find one that you don’t need and takes up a lot of space. To delete an app from this list, tap the name and a red Delete button appears. After confirming the deletion, the app is removed and that space is instantly freed up.

how to set home page safari ipad

You can also delete apps directly from the home screen of the iPad. To do this, tap and hold the application icon until a small menu pops up. You’ll see “Remove App” in red as the first choice, and tapping this will bring up the deletion confirmation alert. Keep in mind too that deleting an app does not mean you will have to buy it again if you decide later on that you want it back. Simply find that app in the App Store, and you’ll see a cloud icon, which means you can re-download it at no cost.

2. Remove media collections inside of apps –   There may be apps on the list here that display a massive file size, but in reality are bloated due to the media downloaded in the app. When you click on one of the apps you’ll see Documents and Data listed with a file size. It doesn’t take long for your favorite magazine or podcast app to grow to several GB of data after a years worth of downloads. Most apps allow you to delete individual editions or old content right in the app to free up space.

how to set home page safari ipad

3. Use the Offload App option –  If you’re not ready to completely delete an app, you can also tap Offload App. This is sort of an in-between state, where the app’s settings and documents are retained, but the app itself is deleted. If you need to use the app, it can be quickly redownloaded. This is useful if you need a quick, one-time free-up of space (maybe to do a big iOS update).

how to set home page safari ipad

4. Use cloud services for videos and photos –  With internet access available just about anywhere (when on the ground), consider moving your large photo collections online to cloud servers, using services like Apple iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive. For example in the main iPad Settings > Photos section you can enable iCloud Photos, which will automatically upload and store your entire photo library for instant online retrieval. You can also choose Optimize iPad Storage, which means the iPad will only store a lower resolution copy of your photos on the iPad itself. Don’t worrry – when you select an individual picture to view, the full resolution version will be downloaded. Photos can take up many GB of space, so this is a good option.

Photo settings on iPad

5. Optimize Music storage – Like Photos, your iPad offers the option to Optimize Storage of your music. iOS will determine which songs you haven’t played recently and delete them from your iPad. In general, this isn’t needed every day, but for a big iOS update, this is a quick way to free up space (especially if you have a lot of songs stored). You can also tap the Downloaded Music button to delete albums manually. If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can instantly stream them from the Music app when online.

iOS Music

6. Optimize chart types and regions in your EFB app – Next, open up your aviation apps and check if there are states or regions selected for download that you realistically won’t be flying through – for example removing downloaded charts for Alaska instantly frees up 5GB. Or maybe you only fly unpressurized airplanes, so you can turn off the options for helicopter charts and IFR High Charts.

ForeFlight download settings

7. Set iMessage storage limits –  While you might only use the Messages app on your iPhone, all the messages and attachments will still end up on your iPad if this feature is enabled. Over the course of a year, this can easily grow to several GBs in size. One way to control this and still keep the Message app synced on your iPad is to limit the length of time messages are saved. Go to Settings > Messages and set “Keep Messages” to 30 days.

how to set home page safari ipad

8. Clear Safari web browser cache –  Every web browser saves data from frequently visited sites to improve the user experience. It’s worth clearing this out occasionally to free up space and speed things up. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, and tap that option. This will remove browsing history, cookies and other cached (saved) data.

how to set home page safari ipad

Or let Apple choose

If you’re unsure or don’t have the time to look at each app, you can check the iOS recommendations. From Settings > General > iPad Storage, tap on the items underneath the Recommendations header to get customized options for your iPad.

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  1. Customize your Safari settings on iPad

    Table of Contents 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.

  2. How to Customize the Safari Start Page on iPhone and iPad

    First, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and open a new tab by tapping the tabs button (two overlapping rectangles), then tapping the plus ("+") button. You'll see Safari's "Start Page" by default. To edit what's on the Start Page, scroll down if necessary and tap the "Edit" button. When you tap "Edit," a "Customize Start Page" window will appear.

  3. How to Change Your Homepage in Safari

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  4. How to Change Your Start Page on Safari

    Use Safari to navigate to your desired home page. There is no way to set a traditional start page in Safari, as it simply picks up where you last left off. If you'd prefer that Safari always load a specific page when you start it, you can create a shortcut to that page on your Home screen and launch Safari using it instead of the regular app.

  5. How to customize your start page in Safari on iPhone and iPad

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  6. How to change your Safari Homepage on Mac, iPhone and iPad

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  9. iPhone & iPad: Set Safari Home Page

    Open Safari. Go to the web page you would like to make your home page. Tap the box and arrow icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap " Add to Home Screen ". Rename the icon if you wish, then tap " Add " in the top right corner of the screen. You can now use your new shortcut to open Safari to that web page from now on. Categories: Author

  10. Easily Change Your Safari Home Page on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

    1. Open the Safari browser on your iOS device. 2. Go to the website you want to create a shortcut for. 3. Then, at the bottom menu, tap on the " Share " button that looks like a square with an arrow pointing up. 4. When the menu pops up, scroll down and click on " Add to Home Screen ". 5.

  11. Set a home page for Safari on the iPad

    1. Open the Safari app. 2. Go to the web page you want to use for your home page. 3. Tap the arrow icon. 4. Tap the Add to Home Screen icon. 5. Type in the name of the page, then tap...

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    What to Know. Open Safari > go to web page you want to add as Home screen icon > Share icon > Add to Home Screen. Next, edit the shortcut name (optional) > select Add to save the shortcut. This article explains how to add an iPad Home screen icon for a specific web page to serve as a shortcut to that page.Information applies to iPads with iOS 7 ...

  13. How to Customize the Safari Start Page on iPhone and iPad

    Step 4: Reorder and Remove Icons. To reorder the icons, press and hold the icon and drag it to the desired location. To remove an icon, tap the minus (-) icon in the top left corner of the icon and confirm the deletion by tapping Remove. To add an icon, tap the plus (+) icon in the bottom center of the screen, and select either Add Bookmark ...

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    Video showing How You Can Change Safari Homepage on Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.Detailed instructions - https://blog.pcrisk.com/mac/13390-easily-change-your-s...

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  16. How to change the default web browser on iPhone or iPad

    Tap the Search field on top and search for web browser. View the list of results and choose the one that appeals to you the most. Download it and wait for it to install on your iPhone or iPad ...

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    In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Safari > Preferences. In Preferences > General, click the "Set to Current Page" button. This changes your home page to the current website Safari has open. After clicking the button, the address in the "Homepage" field will change to the address of the current page.

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    Read on to see full illustrated instructions. 1. In Safari, tap the book icon. Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar. 2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear ...

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  24. How to free up storage space on your iPad

    Go to Settings > Messages and set "Keep Messages" to 30 days. 8. Clear Safari web browser cache - Every web browser saves data from frequently visited sites to improve the user experience. It's worth clearing this out occasionally to free up space and speed things up.