If you’ve ever wondered whether the website you’re visiting is truly secure, now you have a clear way to check it from your iPhone. Apple has been slow to add this feature to Safari for mobile, but it finally did so with iOS 18.4. And yes, it’s worth learning how to use, especially if you shop online, manage accounts, or simply care about your privacy.
Until now, if you wanted to check if a site was secure in Safari for iPhone, you couldn’t do much more than rely on the lock icon. But that’s changed. With this new option, you can view SSL/TLS certificate details directly from the browser, just as you’ve been able to do for years on Mac or in browsers like Chrome or Firefox.
What are SSL/TLS certificates and why should you care?
SSL/TLS certificates aren’t just a trivial technicality. They’re the mechanism that ensures the connection between your phone and the site you’re visiting is encrypted and secure . They protect your data when you enter a password or make a payment. And they also confirm that the website is truly who it claims to be, and not a fake created to trick you.
These certificates are issued by trusted entities, called certification authorities. If a certificate is valid and in order, Safari checks it in the background and allows the connection. But now, you can also view this information and understand what’s happening on each visit.
How to view the security certificate in Safari step by step
You don’t need to install anything or touch any complicated settings. This new feature is built into Safari and is very easy to use. Here’s how to access the certificate details for any website:
- Open Safari and go to the page you want to check.
- Click the page settings icon, which is located just to the left of the address bar (it looks like a small screen with lines).
- Tap the “More” button (•••) in the menu that opens.
- You’ll now see the “Connection Security Details” option. Tap it.
At this point, a tab will open that tells you if the website is secure and displays key information about the certificate. If you want to see more details, click “Details” and you’ll have full access to the site’s digital certificate.
There you’ll see information such as the issuer, the validity period, the key used, the server’s alternate name, and even the certificate’s fingerprints. All of this helps ensure you’re not facing a fake or manipulated website.
And what is all this for in everyday life?
It’s simple: for more relaxed browsing. Imagine you’re about to make a bank transfer from your mobile phone or buy something from a little-known online store. Thanks to this new feature, you can check if the site has a valid certificate, issued by a trusted entity, before entering your details. It’s also useful if you work in technology, manage websites, or just like to understand how internet security works.
Apple has been slow to arrive, but it’s finally taken a significant step with Safari on iOS. Now, you have control over whether a site is trustworthy or not, without having to use external tools or rely on what your browser tells you. And if you value your privacy, this is a feature you shouldn’t miss.
