Mobile Safari Tips and Tricks

This Tips and Tricks section is a compilation of the hidden features in the Safari browser for iPhone and iPod touch. Documenting these hidden shortcuts, will save you some time and hopefully make surfing Safari on your Apple mobile device more fun. Also check out the new features in iPhone 2.0 Software.

Navigating Websites:

Show the URL Touch and hold any link for a few seconds to show the destination URL. It works on linked images too.
Page Pown Double-tapping an unlinked portion on the bottom of the screen will re-center around your tap.

Move to Top Tapping the top of the screen (below the time) will move you to the top of the page.
Zoom images Double-tapping images will zoom the picture to fit your iPhone display. Double-tap again to return to the original size.
Zoom on text. Double-tap on any text column to have it zoom it and fit the screen. Double-tap again to return zoom out.
Pinch Zoom. Use your thumb and forefinger and move them apart on the screen. Squeeze or Pull apart to zoom in and out.
Scrolling Pages. By default Safari hides the scrollbars on the page, until you start scrolling with your fingertips. Use your fingers (one or two) to drag pages up or down. Flick up or down to scroll faster. Scrolling is locked to go either vertical or horizontal. Tap the page at any time to stop the scrolling.

Typing:

Suggested Contractions To get popular contractions filled in automatically just add a third repetitive letter to get Safari to suggest the contraction word. Examples include “helll” -> “he’ll” , “welll” -> “we’ll”, “weree” -> “we’re” etc.
Keyboard Switching Press the space bar from the .123 keyboard to return to the alpha keyboard. This can be good when you just need a number or a period. If you have the iPhone 1.1.1 update you can simply double-tap the space key to get a period.

January 2nd, 2009 at 6:50 am Ross Porter says:

How can I type a “space” on my iTouch while using the keyboard during a search in Google while using Safari? There is no space bar. Is there a trick I am missing?

Thanks,

Ross

January 5th, 2009 at 1:58 am Dana says:

how can i download files by safari in ipod touch?

February 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am Thomas Henderson says:

How can i highlight text on a webpage using safari? How could i copy or paste the text thus selected? Help, i’m in rodent withdrawal.

February 4th, 2009 at 9:41 pm Joe says:

You can download photos in Safari by tapping and holding on any image

February 4th, 2009 at 9:42 pm Joe says:

There is no copy/paste functionality on the iPhone right now

February 4th, 2009 at 9:43 pm Joe says:

Do you have the latest update for you iPod touch?

February 5th, 2009 at 6:24 am thomas says:

Weak! No selecting text? Weak Apple, weak!

February 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pm Liam says:

Can you download anything other than pictures? If not is there any way of doing?

February 24th, 2009 at 1:13 am geriann says:

why doesn’t the iphone have where you can forward jokes???why,why,why????

February 28th, 2009 at 4:36 pm Sarah marra says:

Why are there no flash player for mobile Hulu??

March 1st, 2009 at 5:51 am Ross says:

I do have the new iTouch.

Thanks, Ross

March 1st, 2009 at 5:52 am Ross says:

yes, I have the latest version.

March 6th, 2009 at 9:48 am mateoo says:

why i cannot download files like skype etc? It says file to big for safari. Is there diff vers of safari or there is something in options helpp!!!!I

March 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am how to date says:

Great post, thanks for the info

March 12th, 2009 at 4:33 pm Dave Mobile says:

I don?t usually post to blogs but on finding the info here I felt I had to, thanks for the useful information!!

March 24th, 2009 at 9:47 am Chris says:

If you jailbreak your iPod touch 2G there are some. Packages on installer which allow you to highlight, copy and paste text from any portion of any sits to/from the clipboard.

I have yet to find a way to download files. Apparently it could be done with a safari plugin a year and a half ago on the firmwares

March 27th, 2009 at 7:50 pm Chris says:

How do you download music such as mo3

April 25th, 2009 at 8:05 pm Thatguy says:

I downloaded a ebook using safari where would it be

May 10th, 2009 at 3:41 pm indira says:

May 17th, 2009 at 4:59 pm MrStyle09 says:

How can I download games and apps ota without using safari?

June 18th, 2009 at 9:12 am Prince says:

There is no Itune stores and safari on my itouch…how can i add these app?

June 20th, 2009 at 8:05 am nokia says:

I like this blog. Keep on posting, I will subscribe. How do youthink of the new Nokia N97?

July 3rd, 2009 at 4:18 pm Greg says:

How to download files of of safari

July 19th, 2009 at 3:09 am Dale says:

Another useful tip: When browsing embedded lists or PDF’s in websites, you can use two fingers to scroll the list

August 10th, 2009 at 11:25 am skip says:

iphone wont tap down

September 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm al says:

my iphone will not scroll at all.
It seems to be locked.,and its telling me to
double tap.
how do i fix this?