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Independent forensic analysis of Mobile Safari — visit history, open and recently-closed tabs, bookmarks, Reading List, downloads, autofill, cookies, and iCloud-synced browsing — with deleted-history recovery from WAL and prior backups.
Quick Answer. Mobile Safari stores browsing history in History.db at /private/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/{Safari-UUID}/Library/Safari/History.db. Every visit gets a row in history_items and history_visits with URL, title, visit time, and referrer. Downloads live in Downloads.plist. Deleted visits routinely persist in the WAL journal, in Safari cache, and in KnowledgeC /app/webUsage events.
| Path | Contents |
|---|---|
| Safari/History.db | Visits with URL, title, timestamp, visit count |
| Safari/BrowserState.db | Open tabs, recently closed tabs, window state |
| Safari/Bookmarks.db | Bookmarks and folder structure |
| Safari/ReadingList/ | Reading List items and cached article content |
| Safari/CloudTabs.db | Tabs open on other Apple devices via iCloud |
| Safari/Downloads.plist | Every file downloaded through Safari |
| Safari/UserNotifications/ | Push notification permissions per site |
History.db — pre-deletion visits/app/webUsage — Safari domain visits with durationLibrary/Caches/com.apple.WebAppCache/ — favicon and page fragmentscom.apple.SafariShared eventsPrivate Browsing does not add rows to History.db, does not persist cookies, and does not extend Reading List. It does generate KnowledgeC /app/webUsage events, DNS activity in system logs, Wi-Fi/cellular traffic records, and content in device RAM. Where a private browsing session must be reconstructed, KnowledgeC and Unified Log evidence usually recover the domains and times.
Downloads.plist lists every downloaded file with URL, filename, size and completion state. Autofill data (names, addresses, credit cards) lives in Contacts.db and the Keychain; passwords sync via iCloud Keychain to other devices. We identify accounts and profiles the user has interacted with, including breached-credential fills flagged by iOS 16+.
Elite Digital Forensics is an independent, defense-aligned iPhone forensics practice. We are retained by attorneys, in-house counsel, and, where appropriate, individuals and businesses directly. Every engagement begins with a scoped acquisition plan, hash-verified evidence, and a written report suitable for attorney review, negotiation, or court. When retained through counsel, our work product is protected. See the iPhone Forensics hub for the full analytical framework we bring to every matter.
Often, yes — through KnowledgeC /app/webUsage, DNS logs, Unified Log entries, and network state. It is a UI feature, not a forensic barrier.
Yes — CloudTabs.db on any paired Apple device shows tabs open on this iPhone at the time of the last sync.
By default until the user clears it. If the user selected “Clear History and Website Data → All Time” we rely on WAL, KnowledgeC, and prior backups.
Sometimes — when KnowledgeC captured the domain and Unified Log timing aligns; specific URLs beyond domain granularity are harder without a memory image.
Tell us about the Mac, the accounts, and the timeframe. We will tell you what is recoverable, what is not, and what it will cost.
Request Confidential Consultation Call (833) 292-3733This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Elite Digital Forensics provides independent digital forensic services and expert witness testimony; we do not provide legal representation. Every case is fact-specific; outcomes depend on the evidence, jurisdiction, and counsel. Retain qualified legal counsel for advice about your matter.
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