Screen Time On But History Can be deleted

Question

Level 1

31 points

Screen Time On But History Can be deleted

Help! I have screen time enabled for 4 family members. I have limit adult websites turned ON. Yes this allows u to now clear history. BUT - there’s a loophole. If you go into the bookmarks history and tabs section, you can swipe and delete any and all history.

to test this - type a website in of your choice. All of the websites that come up can swipe and be deleted. And it leaves NO trace in screen time.

so, technically history can still be deleted this way! Please help me figure out if there’s an extension I can add. Or some type of option where my family members can not do this

iOS 26!

Posted on Dec 16, 2025 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

155,588 points

Dec 29, 2025 12:17 PM in response to Henrietta099

I cannot duplicate what you describe, or I don't understand the problem. Probably both. In any event if you think something is not working the way you expect I encourage you to contact Apple and ask. Use the Support link below, and by all means reply with what they have to say. Perhaps it's a bug, perhaps it isn't, but there is something I am missing. Thanks!

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Answer 2

Henrietta099 Author

Level 1

31 points

Dec 27, 2025 5:50 PM in response to Henrietta099

I meant to type history can NOT be deleted - not now.

but yes this lets you swipe and delete history. And it erases it completely from screen time after about 30 minutes. It takes a few but if u type a website. Visit it. Swipe to delete it. It will show up in screen time and then after 30 min or so it’s completely erased even from screen time

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

155,588 points

Dec 28, 2025 2:33 PM in response to Henrietta099

I'm a little confused. You want to see your browsing history, correct? Yet not to be able to clear it? I'm not sure if there is a way to do that, but I am probably misinterpreting your question.

Delete your Safari history, cache, and cookies on iPhone - Apple Support describes how to manage browsing history.

Screen Time you probably already know about: Use parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. Its title implies Screen Time is exclusively for parents but it's not solely for that purpose.

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Answer 4

Henrietta099 Author

Level 1

31 points

Dec 28, 2025 6:49 PM in response to John Galt

Yes you are correct. I want my kids to be able to visit what websites they want, with me being able to check their device weekly and make sure all the websites are appropriate.

with this loophole now you can swipe to delete history even with screen time on and clear history grayed out

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

155,588 points

Dec 29, 2025 6:34 AM in response to Henrietta099

Screen time as such does not prevent the deletion of browsing history. If you want to prevent the deletion of browsing history you must enable Parental Controls.

Use parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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Answer 6

Henrietta099 Author

Level 1

31 points

Dec 29, 2025 8:43 AM in response to John Galt

Yes I am well aware of parental controls and they are absolutely enabled on all of our 5 devices.

limit adult content turned off the deletion of history. And it works!

but there’s a loop hold as I provided a picture above. Even with all of that on and working properly, it still lets you swipe and delete individual pages of history even with parental controls on and working under the bookmarked history and tabs section

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Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

155,588 points

Dec 28, 2025 11:01 AM in response to Henrietta099

I believe Private Browsing is what you seek, which can also be combined with Screen Time if you so choose.

Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support

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Answer 8

Henrietta099 Author

Level 1

31 points

Dec 28, 2025 1:45 PM in response to John Galt

I’m wanting to be able to see all of the history. With private browsing u can’t see any history

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