How to Sync Safari Start Page Across Devices iOS 15

With iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, Apple introduced deep customization options for the Safari start page, including custom background images and personalized section layouts. These visual customizations do not remain isolated on a single device; instead, they automatically synchronize across your entire Apple ecosystem via iCloud. This guide explains the mechanism behind this feature and how to ensure your custom Safari background updates seamlessly on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

How the Syncing Mechanism Works

Safari relies on iCloud to mirror your start page configuration across all hardware signed into the same Apple ID. When you set a custom background image or rearrange your start page sections, Safari writes these preferences to your iCloud account.

If you select an Apple-provided default wallpaper, iCloud simply transmits the asset identifier to your other devices. If you upload a personal photo from your photo library, iCloud uploads that image file and distributes it in the background to Safari on your other linked devices running compatible operating systems (iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or macOS Monterey and later).

How to Enable Start Page Syncing on iOS 15

To ensure your custom background appears everywhere, the cross-device sync setting must be enabled directly within Safari:

  1. Open Safari on your iPhone running iOS 15.
  2. Open a new tab to access the Start Page.
  3. Scroll to the very bottom and tap the Edit button.
  4. Toggle on the switch labeled Use Start Page on All Devices.
  5. Enable Background Image, then select an included preset or tap the plus (+) sign to choose an image from your Photos app.
  6. Tap the close (X) button in the top-right corner to save your changes.

Once this setting is enabled, any changes you make to the background image or section order will automatically reflect on your other devices.

Requirements for Successful Syncing

For Safari start page synchronization to function properly, verify the following system settings:

  • Matching Apple IDs: All target devices must be signed into the same Apple ID.
  • iCloud Safari Enabled: On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, and make sure the Safari toggle is switched on. Repeat this check on your Mac and iPad.
  • Operating System Compatibility: Cross-device syncing requires iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, or newer. Older operating system versions do not support this feature and will ignore custom start page properties.