How to Get Safari Back on iPhone (iOS 17)

Has your Safari app suddenly vanished into thin air? The good news is that you don't have the option to delete the native Safari app on your iPhone, so it has likely just been accidentally removed from your Home Screen. For this situation, we'll show you how to find the hidden app and move it back to your Home Screen. In rare cases, a software glitch can delete the app from your iPhone, so it will need to be re-installed. For either situation, let's cover how to get Safari back on your Home Screen.

Jump To:

• Safari Disappeared from iPhone? Here’s How to Find It
• Safari Deleted? Re-install Safari on iPhone

Safari Disappeared from iPhone? Here’s How to Find It

For most people, the missing Safari app has not been deleted, just removed from the Home Screen. Below, we'll show you how to find the app and move it back to your Home Screen by searching the App Library or by using Siri Search. Both methods will work if Safari has simply been removed from your Home Screen, so you can simply choose the option you prefer. 

How to Put App Back on Home Screen Using the App Library

Here's how to add Safari to your Home Screen by searching the App Library: 

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1. Swipe left through your Home Screens until you open the App Library.
   
   
2. If you see the Safari icon, press and hold the app until the Quick Action menu appears. Tap Add to Home Screen.
   
   
3. If you don’t see Safari, tap the search bar and type the name of the app.
   
   
4. If you see the Safari icon, press and hold the app and drag it to the left edge of your screen. 
   
   
5. This should bring you to the Home Screen. Release the app and it will be added to your Home Screen.
   
   
6. If you want to add the app to your Dock, press and hold the Safari icon and drag it to the bottom of your screen. 
   
   
7. The Dock can display up to four apps, and will appear at the bottom of every Home Screen so you can conveniently access Safari whenever needed. 
   
   

Your Safari app should now be added back to your Home Screen! If you're not familiar with the App Library, I recommend checking out this article on how to use the App Library. It's a great way to help you stay organized. For more nifty organization hacks and ways to use your iPhone's features, sign up for our free Tip of the Day Newsletter. 

How to Add Safari to Home Screen Using Siri Search

If you prefer to avoid searching your App Library, you can also find the hidden app by using Siri Search. Here's how to add Safari to your iPhone Home Screen:

1. From your Home Screen, swipe down from the center of your screen or tap Search at the bottom of your screen to access the Siri Search feature.
   
   
2. Type Safari and it should come up right away.
   
   
3. Press and hold the Safari icon, then drag it towards the bottom of the screen.
   
   
4. This should bring you to the Home Screen. Release the app and it will be added to your Home Screen.
   
   
5. If you want to add the app to your Dock, press and hold the Safari app and drag it to the bottom of your screen. 
   
   

Adding the Safari app to your dock is optional, but it does make it more convenient to access Safari. Your dock displays up to four apps at any given time, and will appear at the bottom of each Home Screen. 

Safari Deleted? Re-install Safari on iPhone

If you were not able to find Safari using the solutions above, the app has likely been removed from your iPhone. Below, we'll show you how to re-download Safari from the App Store. If that fails, you may need to reset your Home Screen layout to get Safari back on your device. 

Download Safari from the App Store

Here's how to re-install the Safari app on your iPhone so you can get it back on your Home Screen: 

1. Open the App Store app.
   
   
2. Tap Search.
   
   
3. Type Safari in the search bar, and press Search.
   
   
4. Select the Safari app.
   
   
5. If the app is no longer on your device, you will see a cloud icon, which you can tap to download Safari. If you see the Open icon instead of the cloud icon, Safari is still on your device, and you need to try the solutions above move it back to your Home Screen.  
   
   

Reset Your Home Screen to Re-install Safari

If you were not able to find or re-install Safari using the steps above, this method will reset your iPhone’s Home Screen back to the factory version, which is how the Home Screen looks when setting your device up as new. Since Safari is one of the apps featured on the default Home Screen, this method will allow you to add Safari to your Home Screen.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
2. Tap General.
   
   
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
   
4. Tap Reset.
   
   
5. Tap Reset Home Screen Layout.
   
   
6. Tap Reset Home Screen to confirm that you want to reset your home screen layout to factory settings.
   
   
7. Swipe up to return to your Home Screen and Safari should be in the dock at the bottom of your screen.
   
   

Hopefully, the solutions above worked, and you found adding Safari to your Home Screen to be a breeze! However, if the above solutions haven't worked, there might be a deeper issue with your device. In this case, I recommend contacting Apple Support or visiting the nearest Apple store for further assistance. If you're interested, I also recommend learning how to find your lost iPhone, even if the battery has died.