How to Delete Bookmarks on iPhone

You can delete bookmarks on iPhone in both Safari and Chrome. Safari is the default browser on iOS, so most iPhone bookmarks are there. If you also use Chrome on your iPhone, the process is different. This guide covers both.

Before you delete: If iCloud sync is turned on for Safari, deleting a bookmark on your iPhone also deletes it on your Mac, iPad, and every other device connected to the same Apple ID. This sync happens automatically within minutes. Make sure you do not need the bookmark on your other devices before removing it.

Delete bookmarks in Safari on iPhone

Delete a single bookmark

1. Open Safari.
2. Tap the Bookmarks button at the bottom of the screen (the open book icon).
3. Navigate to the bookmark you want to delete.
4. Swipe left on the bookmark.
5. Tap Delete.

You can also tap and hold (long-press) a bookmark and select Delete from the menu that appears.

Delete multiple bookmarks at once

1. Open Safari and tap the Bookmarks button.
2. Tap Edit in the bottom-right corner.
3. Tap the red minus icon next to each bookmark you want to remove, then tap Delete to confirm each one.
4. Tap Done when finished.

There is no "select all" option for bulk deletion in Safari on iPhone. You have to remove bookmarks one at a time while in Edit mode.

Delete a folder in Safari

1. Open Safari and tap the Bookmarks button.
2. Tap Edit in the bottom-right corner.
3. Tap the red minus icon next to the folder.
4. Tap Delete.

This deletes the folder and every bookmark inside it. There is no confirmation asking if you are sure, so check the folder's contents first by tapping into it before you delete.

Undo in Safari on iPhone

If you accidentally delete a bookmark, shake your iPhone immediately to trigger the Undo dialog. Tap Undo to restore the bookmark. This only works right after the deletion. If you navigate away or close Safari, the undo option is gone.

Delete bookmarks in Chrome on iPhone

If you use Chrome as your browser on iPhone, bookmarks are separate from Safari's bookmarks. Chrome bookmarks sync with your Google account, not iCloud. For the full desktop guide, see How to Delete Bookmarks in Chrome.

Delete a single bookmark

1. Open Chrome on your iPhone.
2. Tap the three-dot menu at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap Bookmarks.
4. Navigate to the bookmark you want to delete.
5. Swipe left on the bookmark and tap Delete. Or tap Edit in the bottom-right corner, then select and delete.

Delete multiple bookmarks

1. Open Chrome and go to Bookmarks (three-dot menu > Bookmarks).
2. Tap Edit in the bottom-right corner.
3. Select the bookmarks you want to remove by tapping each one.
4. Tap Delete.

What happens with Chrome sync

If you are signed into Chrome with your Google account and sync is enabled, deleting a bookmark on your iPhone also removes it from Chrome on your computer and any other device using the same Google account. This is similar to how iCloud sync works for Safari.

If you only want to delete a bookmark from your phone but keep it on your computer, you would need to turn off bookmark sync first. Go to Chrome Settings > Sync > Manage what you sync and toggle off Bookmarks. Then delete the bookmark. Keep in mind that turning sync back on later may restore the deleted bookmark from the server.

iCloud sync: what to know before deleting

iCloud bookmark sync for Safari is on by default for most iPhone users. This means:

• Deletions are immediate and sync everywhere. If you delete a bookmark on your iPhone, it disappears from your Mac, iPad, and any other Apple device within minutes.
• There is no trash or recycle bin. Neither Safari on iPhone nor Safari on Mac keeps deleted bookmarks in a recoverable location.
• You cannot selectively sync. iCloud does not let you sync some bookmarks but not others. It is all or nothing.

To check if iCloud sync is on for Safari:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap [Your Name] at the top.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Look for Safari under Apps Using iCloud.

If Safari sync is turned on and you want to delete bookmarks only from your iPhone without affecting other devices, you would need to turn Safari sync off first. Be aware that turning it off may prompt you to keep or delete the local Safari data on that device.

Back up before a large cleanup

If you are about to delete a lot of bookmarks, consider backing up first:

• Safari bookmarks: On your Mac (if you have one), open Safari and go to File > Export Bookmarks to save an HTML file of everything. On iPhone running iOS 18.2 or later, you can export directly from Settings.
• Chrome bookmarks: On your computer, back up your Chrome bookmarks before deleting on your phone. Since Chrome sync is bidirectional, deletions on your phone will reach your computer.

Protect your Chrome bookmarks

Deleting bookmarks on your iPhone can affect your entire Chrome library through sync. TrueBookmark keeps automatic versioned backups of your Chrome bookmarks on your computer, so if a mobile cleanup goes further than intended, you can restore to a previous version.