Delete individual searches from your Amazon account
Amazon keeps a record of everything you search for on the site. You can remove these searches one at a time from your account settings. Open Amazon.com, sign in, and go to your account by clicking the "Returns & Orders" link at the top right, then select "Your Account" from the dropdown menu.
Once you're in Your Account, scroll down and click "Browsing History" under the "Shopping preferences" section. You'll see a list of every search you've made. Next to each search term, there's an X button. Click the X to delete that individual search from your history.
This method works well if you only want to remove a few searches — maybe something you don't want showing up in your recommendations. If you have months of searches to clear, doing them one by one takes time, so the next method is faster.
Clear all your search history at once
Amazon lets you delete your entire search history in one action. Go back to "Browsing History" in Your Account using the same path as above. At the top of your search list, you'll see a link that says "Manage your browsing history." Click it.
On this page, you'll find a button labeled "Delete all browsing history." Click this button, and Amazon will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, every search you've ever made on Amazon disappears from your account. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you're ready before you click.
After you delete your history, Amazon stops using those old searches to recommend products to you. Your recommendations will start fresh based on what you search for and buy going forward.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual Amazon searches by going to Your Account, clicking Browsing History, and clicking the X next to each search term.
- To clear everything at once, use the "Delete all browsing history" button on the Manage Your Browsing History page.
- Deleting your search history stops Amazon from using those old searches to recommend products, but does not affect your order history or saved items.
- Amazon continues to record new searches after you delete your history, so you'll need to repeat this process if you want to keep your history cleared regularly.
What gets deleted and what stays
When you delete your browsing history, Amazon removes only your search terms — the words you typed into the search box. This does not touch your order history, your saved items, your wish lists, or your reviews. Those remain in your account unchanged.
Amazon also keeps separate records of what you've viewed and clicked on, which is different from your search history. Deleting searches does not clear your view history. If you want to remove items from your view history, you need to do that separately by clicking the X next to individual items in your Browsing History page.
Your payment methods, addresses, and account settings are never affected by deleting your search history. Only the record of what you've searched for changes.
Why Amazon keeps your search history
Amazon stores your searches to personalize your experience on the site. The searches you make feed into the recommendations you see on your home page, in emails, and throughout the site. Amazon also uses this data to show you ads on other websites based on what you've searched for.
If you don't want Amazon to use your searches for recommendations and ads, deleting your history is one step. However, Amazon will start collecting new search data as soon as you search again. To stop personalization entirely, you would need to adjust your advertising preferences in Your Account under "Advertising Preferences," though this does not stop Amazon from collecting the data — it only stops them from using it to target ads to you.
Delete your history on the Amazon app
If you use the Amazon mobile app on your phone, you can delete your search history there too. Open the app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap "Your Account," then tap "Browsing History."
From here, the process is the same as on the website. You can click the X next to individual searches to delete them one by one, or tap "Manage your browsing history" and then "Delete all browsing history" to clear everything at once. The app syncs with your Amazon account, so deletions on the app show up on the website and vice versa.
Regularly clearing your history
If you share your Amazon account with family members or use a shared device, you may want to clear your search history regularly so others don't see what you've been looking for. You can delete your history as often as you want — there's no limit to how many times you can do this.
Some people clear their history after every shopping session, while others do it monthly. The choice depends on your privacy concerns and how much you value Amazon's personalized recommendations. Keep in mind that if you delete your history frequently, Amazon has less data to work with for recommendations, so you may see fewer relevant product suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my search history delete my orders?
No. Your order history is completely separate from your search history. Deleting searches does not affect your orders, receipts, or returns. You can always see what you've ordered by going to "Returns & Orders" in Your Account.
Can I delete my search history on Amazon without signing in?
No. You must be signed into your Amazon account to access and delete your search history. If you use a shared device and want to delete searches without signing in, you would need to clear your browser's cache and cookies instead, though this removes data from all websites, not just Amazon.
Will deleting my search history stop Amazon from sending me recommendations?
Deleting your history stops Amazon from using your old searches for recommendations, but Amazon will start collecting new search data immediately. To reduce personalized recommendations overall, you can adjust your advertising preferences in Your Account, though this only affects ads, not product recommendations on Amazon itself.
If I delete my history, will other people see it if they use my account?
Yes. Your search history is tied to your Amazon account, not to a specific device or browser. If someone else signs into your account on any device, they can see your search history unless you've deleted it. If you share an account with family, consider deleting sensitive searches regularly.
Can I see my deleted search history?
No. Once you delete a search from your history, Amazon does not provide a way to recover it. If you think you might need a search term later, write it down before you delete it.