How to Download Your Browsing Data from Safari, with Photos

Key Points

• Safari is a popular web browser available on Apple devices, storing browsing history, reading lists, and bookmarks.
• You can easily export bookmarks on a Mac using the ‘Export Bookmarks’ option in the File menu.
• To export history and reading lists on a Mac, use a third-party tool like iMazing.
• Deleted browsing data can be restored on a Mac using Time Machine or on an iPhone using iCloud.

If you’re an Android user, you may only be familiar with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. However, there is another popular web browser called Safari. It is available on Apple devices, including iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Safari works like any standard browser — it lets you search and explore different web pages while storing your browsing history. In fact, you can also download your browsing data from Safari.

Safari stores three data types on your device, including history, reading list, and bookmark. You can easily access and export this data anytime. Typically, the browsing data from Safari is synced to your Apple or iCloud account. So, you can access it on any device you’re logged into with your iCloud ID. 

You can also import your browsing data from Safari to another web browser or computer. For that, you must know how to access your Safari history, bookmarks, and reading list. Let’s learn how to download your browsing data from Safari.

Downloading Browsing Data from Safari: How to Export Bookmarks on a Mac

To download your browsing data from Safari on your Mac, you begin by exporting your bookmarks on your Apple device. Follow the steps below to get started.

Step 1: Choose Export Bookmarks in the File Menu

First, launch Safari on your Mac and click File from the menu located on the screen’s top. It will open a quick drop-down menu. Select the Export Bookmarks option.

Step 2: Select Name, Tag, and Location for the File

A prompt will appear on the screen asking you to create three settings: choosing the file’s name, tag, and location. The tag will help you organize your downloaded browsing data from Safari, so pick it wisely. 

Step 3: Click Save 

Make your choices in the previous step, then hit the Save button. Your bookmarks will be downloaded to your chosen folder instantly! 

Downloading Browsing Data from Safari: How to Export History and Reading List on a Mac

You can export your browsing history to your Mac using a third-party tool to export or download your browsing data from Safari. One such app is iMazing. Here is how you can use it for this purpose.

Step 1: Download iMazing on Your Mac

First, download the iMazing app on your Mac and launch it. Meanwhile, enable backup encryption on your iPhone and connect it to your Mac.

Step 2: Select Your iOS Device

Now, choose your iPhone and click Safari from the left-hand menu. It will open three drop-down options to download your browsing data.

Step 3: Choose What You Want to Export

Click on the type of data you want to download — history, bookmarks, or reading list. Then, choose from Export to Excel, Export to HTML, or Export to CSV options to download your browsing data from Safari. You’re done!

If you choose the Excel or CSV format, you can easily import your browsing items into a spreadsheet. However, with the HTML option, a web page file will be downloaded on your device that will open in any browser. The history data will be displayed as links, which you can easily import to another device or browser.

In the video below, Kirk from iMazing shows how easy it is to export Safari data from from your iPhone by using the iMazing app.

How to Download Browsing Data from Safari on an iPhone

It’s not easy to directly download browsing data from Safari on your iPhone. You can’t access the “Export Bookmarks or History” option on your iPhone or iPad. However, you can still do a workaround to download your data. 

Just sync your Safari data with your iCloud account and then access it on another device later. Just follow these steps to learn how to do it.

Step 1: Open Your Settings

First, open Settings on your iPhone and tap your account name on the top.

Step 2: Enable iCloud

On the next screen, turn on the iCloud toggle to enable synchronization. 

Step 3: Select Safari

A list of apps will then appear on your iPhone. Find Safari and turn its toggle green. That’s it; your bookmarks are now exported to your iCloud account, which you can access anytime. 

Note: To import your browsing data from Safari to another device, you must install the iCloud app on that device as well.

Can You Download Your Deleted Browsing Data from Safari?

You can restore your deleted browsing data from Safari since iOS devices store it in their memory, but that’s only for a month. After that, the data is deleted permanently. When it comes to Mac, this duration is a year. If you’re downloading your Safari browsing data within this period, try the following methods to do it successfully.

Restore Your Deleted Browsing History on a Mac

Before you go this way, ensure your browsing history is synced with all your iOS and macOS devices through iCloud. Then, use the below steps to restore your deleted browsing history on a Mac using the Time Machine method.

1. First, check if Time Machine is enabled on your macOS device and if it has regular backup. Also, ensure your Mac and Time Machine backup drive are connected.
2. Next, navigate the Finder window on your Mac.
3. Access the folder where you want to save the deleted browsing data from Safari. The location can also be your desktop.
4. Search for the Time Machine icon in your Mac’s menu bar and click on it. Select Enter Time Machine to proceed.
5. Now, focus on the timeline on your screen’s right side to access a particular backup date. 
6. Select the date and find the Safari browsing data folder. Click the item you want to download: bookmarks, history, or reading list. 
7. Finally, tap Restore. 

Wait for a few minutes till the restoration process is completed. Once it is, your Safari browsing data will be downloaded to your selected folder. 

Access Your Browsing History on an iPhone

You can also access or recover your Safari browsing history on your iPhone. Follow the steps below to get started:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to Safari. Tap on it.
2. Select Advanced located at the bottom of your screen.
3. Tap Website Data to access all your Safari history.

Note: You can only restore data this way if you didn’t delete your cookies and cache.

Recover Browsing Data from Safari Using iFindit

What if you forgot to back up your Safari browsing data? In that case, you can install iFindit to recover the deleted Safari history. It is an app that restores any deleted file on your iOS device, including WhatsApp messages, videos, notes, text messages, etc. 

To use iFindit to restore your browsing data from Safari on your Mac:

1. First, install the iFindit app on your computer and launch it. 
2. Then, select Recover from iOS Device and connect your iPhone to the Mac.
3. Once your Mac detects the iPhone, click Next to proceed. 
4. Choose Safari History and then tap Scan. 
5. The app will then browse your iPhone’s memory to gather the deleted Safari browsing data. 
6. You will see a Recover option once the scan is completed. Hit this button and then select the folder where you want to restore the data.

That’s all you need to do to download your browsing data from Safari. You can now access it once the restoration completes.

Restore Safari History via iCloud

If you’ve enabled iCloud syncing, you can easily store your deleted browsing data across your Apple devices. This is how to access and download your deleted browsing data from Safari:

1. First, open the browser and visit www.iCloud.com.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID and look under the Advanced option.
3. Select Restore Bookmarks.
4. Choose the items you want to restore and hit Restore.

You can use this method to download your browsing data from Safari on any device, including non-Apple devices. 

Access Your Deleted Safari Data from iCloud Backup

This method is ideal if accessing your browsing data from Safari is so important that you’re willing to erase all your iPhone’s data. You will have to restore your entire iCloud backup data. However, beware of the risk — you may lose some data or files from your iPhone if they were not included in your iCloud backup. You also need an internet connection for this process. 

If you’re still willing to go this route, follow the steps below to get started:

1. First, you’ll have to reset your iPhone. For that, navigate the device’s Settings and then select General.
2. After that, tap Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. 
3. Once the factory reset process is completed, set up your iPhone per your preference. Then, select Restore from iCloud Backup.
4. Finally, pick the iCloud backup with your deleted Safari browsing data. Your device will start recovering the data from your iCloud on the iPhone. 

These are some effective methods for downloading your deleted browsing data from Safari. Hopefully, you can access what you’re looking for with one of the above fixes. 

Wrap Up

You can easily download your browsing data from Safari, including bookmarks, history, and reading lists, on your Mac. The “Export Bookmarks” option is available on Mac in the File menu, which you can access from the top menu. For the rest of the browsing data, you can use a third-party app to export your browsing history, bookmarks, and reading list. We explained how to do it through the iMazing app. 

You can even recover or download your deleted browsing data from Safari. While you can easily do it through the “Time Machine” feature on your Mac, it’s not that easy on iPhones. To restore your deleted browsing data on an iOS device, ensure Safari’s data is synced across all your devices via your iCloud account.

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/eldadcarin.