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When I clear Safari history does that clear cache, as well?

Within the safari application, when I clear all history, and close all tabs, does that clear the apps cache?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 12, iOS 17

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 8:59 AM

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Posted on Sep 20, 2024 2:13 PM

frosty130 wrote:

No just cleared all history in my safari app and closed all tabs, just asking will this also clear website data and cache? Does it clean up everything?


The simple (and wrong) answer? Sure! (If you close all tabs, delete all history, and clear the saved data.)


The (unpleasant, correct) answer: No. There are always browser traces left somewhere, whether left locally, or on associated network services.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 20, 2024 2:13 PM in response to frosty130

frosty130 wrote:

No just cleared all history in my safari app and closed all tabs, just asking will this also clear website data and cache? Does it clean up everything?


The simple (and wrong) answer? Sure! (If you close all tabs, delete all history, and clear the saved data.)


The (unpleasant, correct) answer: No. There are always browser traces left somewhere, whether left locally, or on associated network services.

Sep 20, 2024 1:14 PM in response to frosty130

frosty130 wrote:

What if I clear all history within the safari browser and close all tabs


Some background or goals around the request dor clearing local data? This can go in quite different directions.


If you want stuff stored locally to vaporize at exit, use Private Mode browsing.


If you want to manually clean up, close tabs, clear history, and clear saved data.


If you want to avoid (reduce) tracking, there are other techniques increasingly used for that tracking, as well as via the users’ own installed apps.


Private Relay or Tor might be helpful for some requirements and some cases, but I’d not assume either was particularly robust against adversaries with ubiquitous access. (Who is your adversary?)


If you want to see if and when saved data is also cleared, test it locally, and see what happens. I don’t expect saved data is cleared when history and tabs are closed, and I definitely don’t expect web apps are at all effected.

When I clear Safari history does that clear cache, as well?

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