Manual method
- On iPhone open Settings > Apps > Safari > Export beneath History and Website Data.
- Select bookmarks/history and the intended profiles. Leave passwords and credit cards unselected for a memory archive.
- Save to Downloads, then move the ZIP into encrypted storage.
- Extract a working copy and inspect history dates and bookmarks. On Mac use File > Export Browsing Data where available.
Coverage and limitations: Apple warns the export is unencrypted. Older OS versions have different capabilities. This does not include deleted history, private browsing or the files downloaded from websites.
Size and time to allow
Illustrative planning size: 0.1 GB; scenario range 0.001–1 GB. This is a storage-planning example, not a measured average. Your archive may be smaller or larger. Retained browsing history and bookmarks across selected profiles; excludes downloaded files.
Preparation and hands-on time: Local export: allow 5–15 minutes including inspection, plus copying; no provider queue.
For the 0.1 GB example, network transfer alone is approximately:
| Connection download speed | Transfer estimate |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbit/s | 2 min |
| 50 Mbit/s | 23 sec |
| 100 Mbit/s | 12 sec |
These calculations use decimal GB and 70% of the advertised speed. Tiny transfers can take longer because of startup overhead. Local exports do not need an internet download; use these numbers only for a network transfer. Preparation, retries, extraction, checking and a cloud upload are additional; use upload speed for the latter.
Where and how to keep it
An encrypted USB key can hold this example, but keep another independent copy on an external drive or in private encrypted cloud storage. A USB key alone is easily lost and is not a complete preservation plan.
Create a dated safari/YYYY-MM-DD/ folder. Keep received originals unchanged, use a separate working copy, and note the account/profile, selected dates, formats and known gaps in a private README. Compare file sizes, check any supplied checksums, and open sample files from the backup before considering the task finished. Repeat after meaningful additions. Follow the storage, archive-checking and large-file guide.
Sources and review
Public documentation was reviewed on 27 October 2026. No signed-in export or restoration was performed. Account options and availability can change; follow the current provider instructions.