Is the Safari suggestions option greyed out on the iPhone that you use? In this guide, we will solve that issue by implementing a few troubleshooting tips. Now, the Safari suggestions option may be greyed out due to bugs on iOS or any issue with the Safari app.
Often users keep content privacy and restrictions enabled on their iPhones. This prevents Safari from suggesting a few websites. It may not be an issue for casual Safari users but serious browsing for work or social media may get affected due to restrictions on content display. Sometimes it could be a case of any random bugs that just showed up due to any improper app installation/update or system errors.
Top Ways to Fix Safari Suggestions Greyed Out on iPhone
The various fixes should re-enable the Safari suggestions option within the iOS settings.
1. Update iOS
- Open the Settings app > tap on General > Software Update.
- If the newest build of iOS is available, you will be prompted to install it.
- Tap on Download and Install to begin installing.
2. Restart the Safari Browser App
Usually, this troubleshooting method is also known as force quitting the affected app to fix its issues. Close the Safari app from the iOS app launcher and restart it again.
- If you have an iPhone with the home button, Double tap the home button to bring up the app cards.
- If you are using an iPhone without a home button, then Swipe up from the bottom of your screen. This will bring up the app switcher.
- Navigate to the Safari app card. Hold and swipe up the app card to close it.
- Now, launch the Safari app from the iPhone home screen or the iOS App Library.
- Check if the suggestions are now working or not.
3. Clear the Browsing Data on Safari App
This will clear out the junk files from the Safari browser cache. Cleaning out the memory is a useful trick to help the app function better.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Navigate to Safari and tap on it.
- Tap on Clear History and Website Data.
- Confirm the action by tapping on the option Clear History and Data.
- It is also suggested to relaunch the Safari app once you are done clearing the browsing data for the app.
4. Enable Siri Suggestions on iOS
Information found on Apple forums also indicates that turning on the Siri suggestion has worked in fixing the greyed-out Safari Suggestions option on iOS. Here is how to enable the feature.
- Go to Settings > Siri and Search.
- Under the tab Before Searching tap on the switch beside Show Suggestions.
5. Restart the iPhone
One of the common fixes that can quickly resolve random bugs is restarting the iPhone. Depending on the model of iPhone you are using, follow the corresponding methods to reboot them.
iPhone X/iPhone 11/12/13/14
- Press and hold the volume down and the side button.
iPhone SE 2nd/3rd Gen/iPhone 7/8 series
- Press and hold the side button.[the power button on the right side of the iPhone frame]
iPhone SE 1st gen, 5s, 5c, or 5
- Press the power button at the top-right point of the frame.
After the above steps on your respective iPhone, you will be redirected to the iPhone switch-off page. Simply hold and drag the slider under the option “Slide to Power Off“. Wait for a few seconds before turning the iPhone on using the side button.
6. Disable the Content Restrictions for Safari Browser
With content restrictions removed for Safari, you can access all the websites and information from your search. To disable the content restrictions, follow the steps below.
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap on Content and Privacy Restrictions.
- Under that tap on the toggle beside Content & Privacy Restrictions to disable it.
- Go back to the Settings page > tap on Safari. Check if the Safari Suggestions option has become active or not.
7. Reset the iPhone
Resetting will change the settings of all the elements within the iOS to their default value. You can think of it as a new iPhone freshly unboxed. It is usually implemented when other tips and tricks fail to resolve a specific technical issue with the iPhone.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset > then tap on Reset All Settings.
- Enter the passcode to confirm and continue with the reset.
- Let the device reset, restart automatically, and then you can set it up again.
Also, check the settings to see if the Safari suggestions option is still greyed out. It should be fixed now.
Conclusion
I hope these fixes will help you out in solving the issue of Safari Suggestions greyed out on iPhone. With suggestions enabled on Safari, you can smoothly browse the web with website suggestions and related search topics making it easier for you to access your desired information on the web.