Clear your Google search history in three steps
You can delete your Google search history from any device in about two minutes. The fastest way is to go to myactivity.google.com, click the trash icon at the top left, and confirm the deletion. Google will remove the searches you've made while signed into your account — but only the ones you choose to delete. You can delete everything at once, or pick specific searches to remove.
The searches Google stores are the ones you typed while logged in. If you search without signing in, Google doesn't connect those searches to your account, so they won't appear in your history. Clearing your history doesn't affect your saved passwords, bookmarks, or other Google account data — it only removes the record of what you searched for.
Key Takeaways
- Visit myactivity.google.com and sign in with your Google account to see all your stored searches in one place.
- You can delete all your search history at once or remove individual searches by clicking the three-dot menu next to each one.
- Deleting your search history does not erase your browsing history in Chrome or any other browser — those are stored separately.
- Google keeps searching your account for new activity after you delete history, so you'll need to delete again if you want to keep your history clear.
- Searches made while you're not signed in to Google don't get saved to your account history at all.
Delete all your search history at once
Open a web browser and go to myactivity.google.com. Sign in with the Google account whose history you want to clear. You'll see a list of your recent activity — searches, videos you watched on YouTube, places you looked up on Maps, and other things you did while signed into Google.
Look for the trash icon in the top left corner of the page. Click it. A box will pop up asking you to confirm. Google will ask you to choose a time range: "All time" will delete everything, or you can pick "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," "Last 7 days," "Last 4 weeks," or a custom date range. Select "All time" if you want to remove all your search history. Then click "Delete" to confirm.
Google will remove all the searches from your account. The page will refresh and show you an empty activity list. This process works the same way on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Delete individual searches instead of everything
If you only want to remove certain searches, you don't have to delete your entire history. Go to myactivity.google.com and sign in. Scroll through your activity to find the search you want to remove. You can also use the search box at the top to find a specific search faster — type a word or phrase you remember searching for.
When you find the search you want to delete, click the three-dot menu icon next to it. A small menu will appear. Click "Delete" from that menu. Google will remove just that one search from your history. Repeat this for any other searches you want to remove individually.
This method takes longer if you have many searches to delete, but it's useful if you only want to hide a few specific things and keep the rest of your history.
Turn off search history storage
You can tell Google to stop saving your searches altogether. Go to myactivity.google.com and look for the settings icon (it looks like a gear) in the top right corner. Click it and select "Settings." You'll see an option that says "Web & App Activity." Toggle this switch to the off position.
When you turn off Web & App Activity, Google stops recording your searches, the websites you visit, and other activity in your Google account. Your searches will still work normally — you'll just see fewer personalized suggestions. Google will not save this activity to your account, so there will be nothing to delete later.
If you turn this setting off and then change your mind, you can turn it back on at any time. Turning it off does not delete the history you've already saved — it only stops Google from recording new activity going forward. You'll still need to manually delete your existing history if you want it gone.
Understand what gets deleted and what doesn't
When you delete your Google search history, you're only removing the record of searches you made while signed into your Google account. This does not delete your browsing history in Chrome or any other web browser. Your browser history and your Google search history are two separate things stored in two different places.
Deleting your Google search history also does not remove your saved passwords, bookmarks, payment methods, or any other information in your Google account. It only removes the searches themselves. If you want to clear your browser history, passwords, and other browsing data, you'll need to do that separately in your browser's settings.
Searches you made while not signed into your Google account are not saved to your account history at all. If you search Google without logging in, those searches won't show up on myactivity.google.com, and there's nothing to delete.
Delete search history on your phone or tablet
The process is the same on a phone or tablet as it is on a computer. Open any web browser and go to myactivity.google.com. Sign in with your Google account. You'll see the same activity list and the same trash icon at the top. Tap the trash icon, choose your time range, and tap "Delete."
If you're using the Google app on your phone, you can also delete searches from there. Open the Google app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Data & Privacy" tab. Scroll down to "Web & App Activity" and tap it. You can delete your history from there, though the myactivity.google.com method is usually faster.
What to do if you can't find your search history
If you go to myactivity.google.com and see an empty list, it means either you haven't done any searches while signed into that Google account, or you've already deleted your history. Check that you're signed into the correct Google account — if you have multiple accounts, you might be looking at the wrong one. Click your profile picture in the top right corner to see which account you're signed into.
If you're signed into the right account but still see nothing, your Web & App Activity setting might be turned off. Go to the settings icon and check whether "Web & App Activity" is toggled on or off. If it's off, Google isn't saving your searches, so there's nothing to delete. You can turn it back on if you want Google to start recording your activity again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my Google search history delete my browser history?
No. Your Google search history and your browser history are stored separately. Deleting one does not affect the other. To clear your browser history in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you need to go into that browser's settings and delete it there.
Will deleting my search history remove my saved passwords and payment methods?
No. Deleting your search history only removes the record of what you searched for. Your passwords, payment methods, bookmarks, and other account information stay in your Google account. If you want to delete those, you have to do it separately.
Can I delete just one search instead of all of them?
Yes. Go to myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to remove, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Delete." You can do this for as many individual searches as you want without deleting your entire history.
If I turn off Web & App Activity, does it delete my old searches?
No. Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from saving new searches going forward, but it does not delete the searches you've already made. You need to manually delete your existing history if you want it removed.
What if I search Google without signing in — does that get saved?
No. Searches you make while not signed into your Google account are not saved to your account. They won't appear in myactivity.google.com, and there's nothing to delete. However, your internet service provider or network administrator may still be able to see what you searched for.