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Safari search history across linked devices

My 2 sons and I have 3 devices all linked by the one apple ID. I have noticed that I can see on my ipad what open tabs my son has on safari on his iPod. Can he also see what I am browsing on the Internet. I really don't want them reading some of the stuff that I access none of which I might add is dodgy just not appropriate for young kids. When I saw in the cloud tab that I could see his open links I worried that he had access to mine. I have looked on his iPod and can't see anything I have open but I just wondered what the official technical answer is. On reading all the cloud stuff it would appear that open pages stay open across all devices. Any advice would be gratefully received

iPad 2, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 3, 2014 10:01 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 3, 2014 1:19 PM

Ok that 95% answers my query and I have gone on and cleared all the history on his ipod and also any open pages on both his and my devices however where o n the iPod would I see what he sees when I have a tab open i want to do a test and leave a tab open on my device and see what he sees. On the ipad it's very obvious where the cloud is as it sits at the top of the browser next to the history when you are on safari but I can't find anything similar on his iPod . It is the most recent version he has of the iPod. He def has the same cloud as me but I just can't see where he would see the open tabs. I can change the setting on my ipad to private browsing which will ensure he can't see any of my searches but I was curious to see where he would see it. My other son is getting the new ipad mini next week and I will have to check his too so it would be good to know where to look to check. Finally can you have a different cloud ID but keep the same apple ID for app sharing. ( I am an old mom and haven't a clue but want to protect them as much as poss). Thanks in anticipation

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 3, 2014 1:19 PM in response to randers4

Ok that 95% answers my query and I have gone on and cleared all the history on his ipod and also any open pages on both his and my devices however where o n the iPod would I see what he sees when I have a tab open i want to do a test and leave a tab open on my device and see what he sees. On the ipad it's very obvious where the cloud is as it sits at the top of the browser next to the history when you are on safari but I can't find anything similar on his iPod . It is the most recent version he has of the iPod. He def has the same cloud as me but I just can't see where he would see the open tabs. I can change the setting on my ipad to private browsing which will ensure he can't see any of my searches but I was curious to see where he would see it. My other son is getting the new ipad mini next week and I will have to check his too so it would be good to know where to look to check. Finally can you have a different cloud ID but keep the same apple ID for app sharing. ( I am an old mom and haven't a clue but want to protect them as much as poss). Thanks in anticipation

Jan 3, 2014 11:21 AM in response to Odie31

If he is sharing the same iCloud account and has Safari turned on in Settings>iCloud he would be receiving your open tabs too. To prevent this, you would have to do one of the following:


  • Stop sharing the same iCloud account
  • Turn off Safari syncing with iCloud
  • Turn on Private Browsing


To clear the browsing history and iCloud tabs on his device, open Safari on it, tap the tabs icon at the bottom, tap Private (which turns on private browsing), tap Close All, then tap Private again to turn off private browsing again.

Safari search history across linked devices

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