After updating to the latest Brave browser for iOS, I enabled the “Auto Shred” feature and selected “App Close” along with all available options to clear browsing data (history, cache, cookies, saved logins, etc.) when the app is closed.
However, I’ve noticed that after completely closing Brave and reopening it, data for previously visited sites is still present under “Manage Website Data.” The expectation is that all website data should be deleted upon app close, but instead, cookies and other site data remain.
This makes it hard to ensure full privacy, and doesn’t match the expected behavior of the Auto Shred setting. I have tried restarting the phone, force-quitting Brave, and using the manual clear data options, but the issue persists.
Tested on iOS 26, Brave IOS APP number 1.82 (171). I am using an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Let me know if you need steps to reproduce, but it occurs consistently every time.
Description of the issue:
How can this issue be reproduced?
Install the latest version of the Brave browser app on an iOS device.
Open the Brave browser and go to the settings.
Enable the setting to wipe all data when the app closes.
Use the browser normally and navigate to some websites.
Close the Brave app completely (swipe it away or close it from the app switcher).
Reopen the Brave app.
Go to “Manage Website Data” from within the Brave browser settings.
Observe that website data is still present instead of being fully cleared as expected.
Expected result: Expected result is data should be wiped after app closes.
@Davidncali there is no other “on close” option except for Auto Shred. So when you say something about options for clear browsing data and all, that’s only when you press the button. Otherwise it does nothing.
Auto Shred would work if you have it enabled in the auto settings. It would have to be on the app actually closing and not just switching apps.
Keep in mind that Settings → Shields & Privacy is where you would have the global settings for the default choice of all websites.
If you’re changing anything via the Shields lion icon, this would be site settings. If you had modified any site specific then it would ignore the global settings and could remain.
So all of this below is “on demand.” It does absolutely nothing until you tap Clear Data Now.
Auto Shred as below would follow whichever you choose. This is the default one.
Can you confirm this is set to App Close?
Also, does it seem to be any specific sites with data remaining or are you saying all data remains? This is more in tune with the idea of site specific.
Auto Shred on App Close isn’t deleting data like it should. This feature worked fine before version 1.82.171. I understand how Auto Shred is supposed to work, and I know the app has to be fully closed, as I’ve mentioned before.
I use this setting for certain websites but not global. I really don’t want to activate it globally and lose everything I have. For that type of behavior I generally would just enable private browsing. They are basically one and the same.
I asked you to confirm. This is because of your other phrasing:
There is no such thing as all available options to clear browsing data (history, cache, cookies, saved logins, etc.) when the app is closed..
Since at least this was wrongly suggested, I just was wondering what else you are misunderstanding. Hence why it’s always very good to make sure to get clarification rather than make assumptions.
@Mattches this still works at least on a site to site basis for me. I don’t want to purge all of my data at the moment. Do you have a spare iPhone to test this on?
