There are two main reasons why the Safari icon may have disappeared from your iPhone.
1. Hidden or Relocated: It is possible that the Safari icon has been hidden or moved to a different location on your iPhone. Sometimes, icons can get accidentally dragged and placed into folders or onto other screens. To check if this is the case, swipe left or right on your home screen to navigate through all the screens and folders on your iPhone. Look for the Safari icon in any folders or on other screens. You can also use the search function on your iPhone by swiping down on your home screen and typing “Safari” to see if it appears in the search results.
2. Deactivated through Restrictions: Another possibility is that the Safari app has been disabled or restricted on your iPhone. This can happen if you or someone with access to your device has enabled restrictions for Safari. To check if Safari is restricted, go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on “Screen Time” or “General” followed by “Restrictions” or “Content & Privacy Restrictions.” If you have enabled restrictions, you may need to enter a passcode or use Face ID/Touch ID to access the restrictions settings. Look for the Safari option and make sure it is not disabled. If it is disabled, you can toggle it back on to make the Safari icon reappear on your home screen.
It is important to note that these are the most common reasons for the Safari icon disappearing, but there could be other factors at play depending on your specific situation. If you have recently updated your iPhone’s software or made any changes to your settings, it is possible that these changes could have affected the visibility of the Safari icon.