What clearing Google Search does
Clearing your Google Search history removes the record of searches you have typed into Google.com or the Google search box on your phone or computer. Google keeps this history so it can show you faster results next time and personalize recommendations — but you can delete it whenever you want.
When you clear your search history, Google stops showing those old searches in your search box suggestions and stops using them to tailor what results appear. The searches disappear from your Google account across all your devices. This does not delete the websites you visited — only the record that you searched for them.
You can delete your entire search history at once, or delete searches from a specific date range. You can also turn off search history recording altogether, though Google will still store some information about your activity.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your Google Search history through your Google Account settings on any device with a web browser.
- Deleting search history removes suggestions from your search box and stops Google from using those searches to personalize results.
- You can delete all history at once or choose a specific date range like the last hour, day, week, month, or year.
- Turning off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings stops Google from recording new searches, though some activity data may still be stored.
- Clearing your browser's search history is separate from clearing your Google Account search history and does not affect the other.
How to delete your search history on a computer
Go to myactivity.google.com in any web browser and sign into your Google Account if you are not already signed in. On the left side of the page, click Delete activity.
A box will appear asking what time period you want to delete. Click the dropdown menu at the top (it usually says "All time") and choose whether you want to delete searches from the last hour, last day, last week, last month, or all time. Then click the blue Delete button.
Google will ask you to confirm. Click Delete again, and your search history for that time period will be removed from your account. The page will refresh and show you the deletion is complete.
How to delete your search history on a phone or tablet
On an iPhone or iPad, open Safari or Chrome and go to myactivity.google.com. Sign in to your Google Account. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left corner, then tap Delete activity.
Tap the dropdown menu at the top and choose your time period. Then tap the blue Delete button and confirm the deletion.
On an Android phone or tablet, the steps are the same. Open Chrome or your default browser, go to myactivity.google.com, sign in, tap the menu icon, tap Delete activity, choose your time period, and tap Delete.
How to turn off search history recording
Go to myactivity.google.com and sign in. In the top right corner, click your profile picture, then click Manage your Google Account. Click the Data & Privacy tab.
Scroll down to the section labeled Web & App Activity and click it. You will see a toggle switch that says Web & App Activity. Click the toggle to turn it off. Google will ask you to confirm — click Turn off.
When Web & App Activity is off, Google stops recording your searches and browsing activity. Your search suggestions may become less personalized, and Google will not use your search history to show you tailored results. You can turn this setting back on at any time by following the same steps and clicking the toggle again.
The difference between clearing Google Search history and browser history
Your Google Search history is stored in your Google Account. Clearing it removes searches from myactivity.google.com and stops them from appearing in your Google search box suggestions. This works the same way on any device where you are signed into that Google Account.
Your browser history is stored on the specific device and browser you use. If you clear your browser history in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, you remove the list of websites you visited — but your Google Search history remains in your Google Account. Clearing one does not clear the other.
If you want to remove all traces of your searches and browsing, you need to do both: clear your Google Search history through myactivity.google.com and clear your browser history through your browser's settings.
What happens to your data after you delete it
Once you delete your search history from myactivity.google.com, it is removed from the activity log you can see. Google stops using those searches to personalize your results or show you suggestions.
Google's servers may retain some data for a period of time for technical and legal reasons, but the deleted searches will not appear in your account or be used to tailor your experience. If you have turned off Web & App Activity, Google will not record new searches going forward, though it may still collect some information about your device and network activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting my search history delete my browsing history too?
No. Your Google Search history and your browser history are separate. Deleting one does not affect the other. You need to clear your browser history through your browser's settings if you want to remove the list of websites you visited.
Can I delete only certain searches instead of a whole time period?
Yes. On myactivity.google.com, you can scroll through your search history and click the trash icon next to any individual search to delete just that one. You can also search for a specific term at the top of the page to find and delete searches related to that topic.
If I turn off Web & App Activity, will Google stop tracking me completely?
Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from recording your searches and app usage, but Google may still collect other information about your device, location, and network activity. To limit data collection further, you can review other privacy settings in your Google Account under Data & Privacy.
Does clearing my search history affect my saved passwords or payment methods?
No. Deleting your search history only removes the record of searches you performed. It does not affect passwords, payment information, bookmarks, or any other data stored in your Google Account or browser.
Why do my search suggestions still appear after I deleted my history?
If you see search suggestions after deleting your history, they may be based on your current typing rather than your past searches. Google also shows popular searches and suggestions based on your location. These are not from your deleted history. If you want to stop personalized suggestions entirely, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings.