How to Delete Links on iPhone: Safari, Messages & More

To delete links on iPhone, you can remove Safari browsing history entries, clear shared link previews from Safari's Shared with You section, or delete Messages conversations that contain links. These are the three documented methods Apple provides for removing link-related items from your device, helping you declutter your apps and protect your privacy.

How to delete links on iPhone: what you can and can't remove

Apple documents three relevant ways to remove link-related items on iPhone: deleting Safari history entries, removing shared links from Safari's Shared with You section, and deleting Messages conversations or parts of conversations that contain links. There is no documented method for deleting a single link inside a Messages bubble while keeping the rest of that message intact, nor is there a universal iPhone method for removing links in Notes or third-party apps. No supported-model limit or carrier-specific limit is documented in the retrieved Apple pages for these actions. Understanding this scope sets realistic expectations before you start.

Delete links in Safari history

Two documented methods exist for removing links from Safari browsing history. To clear all records at once:

Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
Confirm the timeframe you want to clear, then tap Clear History.

Apple's Safari support page says this removes records Safari keeps of where you've browsed during a period you choose. To delete individual website entries instead:

Open Safari and go to your Start Page.
Tap the History button, then tap Edit.
Tap Select Websites, choose one or more websites, then tap the Delete button.

Remove shared links from Safari's Shared with You

Link previews shared from Messages can appear in Safari's Shared with You section. To remove one:

Open Safari and locate the link preview under Shared with You.
Touch and hold the preview image of the link.
Tap Remove Link.

Apple says Safari must be turned on in Settings > Messages > Shared with You, and the sender must be in your contacts for links to appear there. Removing a shared link here does not delete the original message in Messages. Apple's Safari Shared with You guide retrieved here is for iPhone and notes the feature in the iPhone User Guide; the retrieved versions include iOS 15.0 and iOS 17.0 pages, and the wording is consistent across them.

Delete links in Messages conversations

Apple documents deleting a whole conversation from the Messages list, or deleting selected parts of a conversation. To remove selected parts:

Open the Messages conversation containing the link.
Tap Edit, then select the messages you want to delete.
Tap Delete, then tap Done.

For links shared from Messages into Safari's Shared with You, use the Remove Link method in Safari instead.

What about Notes and third-party apps?

Similarly, no universal iPhone method for deleting links in third-party apps is documented in the official pages. Direct users to each app's own support resources for help.

Keep your iPhone clutter-free

Use Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to erase Safari browsing records. Use Safari > Shared with You > touch and hold link preview > Remove Link to remove a shared link from Safari. For Messages, delete conversations or selected conversation parts, but note there is no separate single-link delete command. These three documented methods cover the main ways to remove unwanted links, freeing up phone storage space and keeping your device organized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting Safari history remove my saved bookmarks?

No. Clearing Safari history removes only your browsing records, not your bookmarks, favorites, or Reading List items. Those are stored separately and must be managed individually.

Can I recover a link after deleting it from Safari history?

Once you clear Safari history or delete individual entries, those records are permanently removed. There is no built-in undo or recovery option for deleted history entries.

Why don't shared links from Messages appear in Safari's Shared with You?

If either condition is not met, links from Messages will not appear in Safari.

Does deleting a conversation in Messages also delete the links from Safari's Shared with You?

No. Removing a conversation from Messages does not automatically remove the link preview from Safari's Shared with You section. You must use the Remove Link method in Safari separately.