iPad Basics

Safari

Safari is a web browser that comes built in to the iPad. You'll use it to access websites on your device. Safari's interface is similar to those you might find on a desktop web browser, and it also has a few unique features to make mobile browsing easier.

Getting to know Safari

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the Safari interface.

Reader

The Reader feature allows you to view web articles in a large, easy-to-read format, free of any ads or clutter.

Navigation Buttons

Use the back and forward buttons to navigate between pages you've recently visited.

iCloud Tabs

Tap the iCloud button to access any sites you've left open in Safari on another device (including your iPhone, iPod Touch, and Mac).

New Tab Button

Tap here to create a new tab. When you create a new tab, the Favorites page will appear, which includes shortcuts to your most frequently visited websites. You can tap a website to navigate to that page, or enter a URL into the address bar as normal.

Bookmarks/Reading List/Shared Sites

Tap here to see your bookmarks, shared websites, and reading list. If you don't have an internet connection, you can still read websites that you've added to your reading list.

Share Button

Use the Share button to create a bookmark, save the page to your reading list, and more. You can even email the link to your friends, or share it on Twitter or Facebook.

The Address Bar

The address bar displays the URL for the current page. To navigate to a new page, just enter a new address. You can also use the bar to search the web.

Tabs

Safari allows you to browse and open links in separate tabs, which can make it easier to multitask.

To navigate to a different tab, tap the one you want.

To close a tab, tap the X.

Browsing with Safari

Safari includes several features that make browsing the web easy. We've included some of the most helpful features below:

Opening a link in a new tab

If you find a link to a website, you can open that link in a new tab. This allows you to open the site without losing your place on the original page.

• To open a link in a new tab, tap and hold the link, then select Open in New Tab.
  Opening a link in a new tab

Multi-touch zoom

Sometimes it can be difficult to read webpages in Safari. Luckily, there are two ways to zoom in and out using multi-touch gestures:

• Double-tap the screen: This gesture will zoom to the area of the screen you tap, which is especially helpful for reading small text. Double-tap again to zoom out.
• Pinch the screen: This gesture allows you to zoom in and out, offering more control over how large (or small) the page appears.

Screen orientation

Remember, you can always rotate the iPad to change the screen orientation. Some websites may work well in portrait mode, while others will look best in landscape mode.

Adding websites to the home screen

If you find that you frequently visit the same website again and again, you might want to add the site as a bookmark. But if you want even faster access, you can add an icon to a website on your Home screen. Just tap the Share button, select Add to Home Screen, then click Add.

Adding a website to the Home screen

The page will appear as an icon on your Home screen. When you tap the icon, Safari will open, and the website will appear.

Opening a website from the Home screen