Where to find your Google search history
Your Google search history lives in your Google Account settings, not in your browser. This means your searches are stored on Google's servers even if you clear your browser history, and you can see them from any device where you are signed in to the same Google Account.
To view your searches, go to myactivity.google.com in any web browser. Sign in with the Google Account you use for searching. You will see a list of your recent activity organized by date, with your most recent searches at the top.
If you have multiple Google Accounts, make sure you are signed into the right one. You can check which account you are using by looking at the profile picture or email address in the top right corner of the page.
Key Takeaways
- Your Google search history is stored in your Google Account at myactivity.google.com, separate from your browser history.
- You can delete individual searches, delete all searches from a specific date range, or turn off search history recording entirely.
- Deleting your search history from myactivity.google.com does not delete it from Google's servers if you have Web & App Activity turned on in your account settings.
- Incognito mode in Chrome and private browsing in other browsers do not record searches to your Google Account history.
- Your search history is visible to anyone who has access to your Google Account password, so use a strong password and sign out on shared devices.
How to delete individual searches
On the myactivity.google.com page, find the search you want to remove. Hover your mouse over it and a trash icon will appear on the right side. Click the trash icon to delete that single search.
Google will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click Delete to remove it permanently from your activity page. The search will no longer appear in your history on any device.
If you have many searches to delete one at a time, this method works but takes longer. For removing larger blocks of history, use the date range deletion method instead.
How to delete searches by date range
At the top of myactivity.google.com, you will see a filter button (it looks like three horizontal lines with a funnel icon). Click it to open the date range options.
Select the time period you want to delete: Today, Yesterday, Last 7 days, Last 30 days, All time, or a custom date range. Once you select a date range, the page will show only searches from that period.
At the top of the filtered results, a checkbox will appear that says Select all. Click this checkbox to select every search in that date range. Then click the trash icon that appears, and confirm the deletion. All searches from that period will be removed from your activity page.
Turning off search history recording
If you do not want Google to record your searches at all, you can turn off the setting that stores them. Go to myaccount.google.com (note: this is different from myactivity.google.com).
On the left side menu, click Data & privacy. Scroll down to find Web & App Activity. Click on it to open the settings.
You will see a toggle switch next to Web & App Activity. Click the toggle to turn it Off. Google will ask you to confirm. Once you turn it off, Google will stop recording your searches going forward.
Keep in mind that turning off Web & App Activity affects more than just search history — it also stops Google from recording your YouTube views, your use of Google Maps, and other activity in Google products. You can turn it back on at any time by returning to this same page and clicking the toggle again.
Understanding the difference between browser history and Google history
Your browser history (the searches you see when you press Ctrl+H or Cmd+H) is stored on your device. Your Google search history is stored in your Google Account on Google's servers. These are two separate records.
Clearing your browser history will not clear your Google search history. If you delete your browser history but leave Web & App Activity turned on in your Google Account, your searches will still appear on myactivity.google.com.
This is why some people are surprised to find their searches still visible after clearing their browser — they cleared the wrong history. If you want to remove all traces of your searches, you need to delete them from myactivity.google.com as well as clear your browser history.
Using Incognito mode to avoid recording searches
If you do not want a search recorded to your Google Account at all, use Incognito mode in Chrome (or Private Browsing in Firefox, Safari, or Edge). When you search in Incognito mode while signed into your Google Account, that search will not appear in your Google search history.
To open Incognito mode in Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac. A new window will open with a notification that you are in Incognito mode. You can search normally, but the search will not be recorded to your account.
Incognito mode does not hide your searches from your internet service provider or from your network administrator if you are on a work or school network. It only prevents the search from being stored in your Google Account and your browser history on that device.
Protecting your search history from others
Anyone who knows your Google Account password can sign in and see your entire search history. If you share a device with other people, sign out of your Google Account when you are done using it.
To sign out, click your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google page and select Sign out. This removes your account from that device, so the next person who uses it will not see your activity.
If you use a shared computer and want extra protection, use Incognito mode for sensitive searches instead of signing in to your account. You can also use a password manager to create a strong, unique password for your Google Account, which makes it harder for someone to guess and access your history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my search history from myactivity.google.com delete it from Google's servers?
No. Deleting from myactivity.google.com removes it from your activity page, but if Web & App Activity is turned on, Google keeps a copy on its servers. To prevent Google from storing searches in the first place, turn off Web & App Activity in your account settings. If you want both — delete what is stored and stop future recording — delete your history and then turn off the setting.
Can I see my search history on my phone?
Yes. Open any web browser on your phone, go to myactivity.google.com, and sign in with your Google Account. You will see the same search history as on a computer. You can delete searches the same way — by clicking the trash icon next to each search or by using the date range filter.
What happens to my search history if I delete my Google Account?
When you delete your Google Account, all data associated with it — including your search history — is deleted from Google's servers. This process takes a few days to complete. Once deleted, you cannot recover your search history or any other account data.
Why do I see searches I do not remember making?
If you are signed into your Google Account on a shared device, other people using that device may have made searches that appear in your history. Check who else has access to your account and consider signing out after each use. You can also review your activity regularly and delete searches that were not made by you.
Does using a VPN hide my searches from my Google search history?
No. A VPN hides your searches from your internet service provider, but if you are signed into your Google Account, Google still records the search in your account history. To prevent Google from recording, use Incognito mode or turn off Web & App Activity in your account settings.