Customize your Safari settings on iPad

In the Safari app , you can change your Safari layout, 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 the tabs you have open, your bookmarks, history, and Reading List up to date across all your 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.

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.
- Use Start Page on All Devices: Keep your settings and preferences updated across all Apple devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID. See Set up iCloud on your devices in the iCloud User Guide.
- Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Add a webpage to your favorites.
- Siri Suggestions: As you search, use Siri to suggest webpages.
- Shared with You: See links shared with you in Messages. See View links shared with you on iPad.
- Frequently Visited: Go straight to the websites you visit most.
- Privacy Report: Stay updated on how many trackers and websites Safari blocked from tracking you. See View the Privacy Report.
- Reading List: List pages currently in your Reading List. See Add the current page to your Reading List.
- 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 Use tabs in Safari on iPad.

Note: Your custom start page settings are updated on all your Apple devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and two-factor authentication is turned on for iCloud. See the Apple Support article Two-factor authentication for Apple ID.

Change text size

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, Hide Toolbar, Request Mobile Website, Website Settings, and Privacy Report.

Change display and privacy controls

Use the Page Settings button to switch to Reader, hide the search field, set privacy controls for a website, and more.

Tap , then do any of the following:

View the webpage without ads or navigation menus: Tap Show Reader (if available).
Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the top of the screen to get it back).
View the mobile version of the webpage: Tap Request Mobile Website (if available).
Set display and privacy controls for each time you visit this website: Tap Website Settings.

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

Customize your Safari settings on iPad

Customize your start page

Change text size

Change display and privacy controls

Use keyboard shortcuts