How Long Does Advanced Website Data Retain Past Websites Visited

I apologise if this does not come across clearly, but how long does Advanced Website Data for Safari, store past visits/searches? And can it also transfer past data onto a new device? E.g. has searched/visited websites on their old phone, then gets a new phone and transfers all the data over like usual, would the advanced website data from the old phone pass over to the phone?


Thank you.

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 2:11 AM

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Posted on Mar 10, 2025 1:24 PM

Assuming you're referring to cookies, that's up to the web site to decide.


When a web sites sets a cookie to store data in your browser, they include an expiration time after which the data is no longer valid. This could be in minutes, hours, days, or years. You don't usually get to see this, or override it.

Admittedly, it would. be nice if Apple exposed this, so you could see, but they don't.


As for cross-device support, cookie data is not normally shared across devices, so that cookie stored on your iPhone is unique to that phone and won't appear on your iPad or Mac.


However, if you install/restore a device from a backup (including setting up a new device using migration assistance) the new device is setup using a point-in-time copy of the previous device, and therefore cookie data may be transferred, too.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 10, 2025 1:24 PM in response to Chvaka

Assuming you're referring to cookies, that's up to the web site to decide.


When a web sites sets a cookie to store data in your browser, they include an expiration time after which the data is no longer valid. This could be in minutes, hours, days, or years. You don't usually get to see this, or override it.

Admittedly, it would. be nice if Apple exposed this, so you could see, but they don't.


As for cross-device support, cookie data is not normally shared across devices, so that cookie stored on your iPhone is unique to that phone and won't appear on your iPad or Mac.


However, if you install/restore a device from a backup (including setting up a new device using migration assistance) the new device is setup using a point-in-time copy of the previous device, and therefore cookie data may be transferred, too.

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How Long Does Advanced Website Data Retain Past Websites Visited

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