How to delete your Chrome browsing history
You can delete your Chrome browsing history in under a minute through the browser's settings menu. Chrome lets you remove everything at once or pick a specific date range — for example, just today's browsing or the last week. You can also choose what types of data to clear: browsing history alone, cookies, cached images, passwords, or any combination.
The steps are the same whether you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux. On phones and tablets, the process is slightly different but equally straightforward.
Key Takeaways
- Open Chrome, press Ctrl+H (Windows/Linux) or Command+Y (Mac), then click "Clear browsing data" to open the deletion menu in seconds.
- You can delete all history or choose a specific time range like "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or a custom date range.
- The "Cookies and other site data" checkbox removes login information and preferences stored by websites, while "Cached images and files" clears temporary copies of web pages.
- On Android or iPhone, open Chrome settings, tap "Privacy", then "Clear browsing data" to reach the same options.
- Turning on Chrome's sync feature means your history deletes across all devices where you are signed in, but history deleted on one device does not automatically delete on others if sync is off.
Delete history on Windows or Mac
Press Ctrl+H on Windows or Linux, or Command+Y on Mac. This opens your browsing history in a new tab. In the top left, click the blue "Clear browsing data" button.
A box will appear with three dropdown menus. The first menu, labeled "Time range", controls how much history to remove. Your options are "All time", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last hour". You can also click "Custom" to enter a specific start and end date if you want to delete only a narrow window.
The second menu shows what types of data to clear. By default, "Browsing history" is checked. You can also check "Cookies and other site data" (which removes login information and website preferences), "Cached images and files" (temporary copies of pages), "Download history", "Autofill form data", "Passwords", and "Site settings". Most people leave only "Browsing history" checked unless they have a reason to clear the others.
Once you have set the time range and chosen what to delete, click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right. Chrome removes the data immediately.
Delete history on Android or iPhone
Open the Chrome app and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings".
On Android, tap "Privacy" and then "Clear browsing data". On iPhone, tap "Privacy" and then "Clear Browsing Data". A menu appears with the same options as the desktop version: time range, browsing history, cookies, cached data, and more. Select your time range and what to delete, then tap "Clear Browsing Data" to confirm.
What gets deleted and what stays
When you clear browsing history, Chrome removes the list of websites you visited and the dates you visited them. If you also check "Cookies and other site data", Chrome removes login tokens, so you will be signed out of most websites. You will need to log back in the next time you visit them.
Deleting history does not remove files you downloaded — those stay in your Downloads folder. It also does not remove bookmarks or saved passwords unless you specifically check those boxes. If you delete "Cached images and files", web pages may load slightly slower the next time you visit them because Chrome has to download fresh copies instead of using stored versions.
If you have turned on Chrome sync and are signed into your Google account, deleting history on one device will delete it from all devices where you are signed in. If sync is off, deleting history on your phone does not affect your laptop, and vice versa.
Automatically delete history on exit
You can set Chrome to delete your browsing history automatically every time you close the browser. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right. Go to "Settings", then click "Privacy and security" on the left side.
Under "Clear browsing data", toggle on "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". This removes browsing history, cookies, and cached files each time you close the browser completely. Note that this setting does not delete download history or passwords — only the items you choose in the main "Clear browsing data" menu.
This feature is useful if you share a computer or want to keep your browsing private without manually clearing history each time. However, it means you will be logged out of websites when you reopen Chrome, since cookies are deleted.
Pause history recording
If you want to browse without Chrome recording your history at all, use Incognito mode. Press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+N on Mac. On phones, open the three-dot menu and tap "New Incognito tab".
In Incognito mode, Chrome does not save your browsing history, cookies, or form data. When you close an Incognito tab, that session is forgotten. However, files you download and bookmarks you create are still saved. Your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see your activity — Incognito mode only hides your activity from other people using the same device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover history after I delete it?
No. Once you clear browsing history in Chrome, it is permanently removed from the browser. Chrome does not have an undo button for deleted history. If you need to find a website you visited, try searching your email for confirmation messages or receipts, or check your internet service provider's records if available.
Does deleting Chrome history delete it from Google's servers?
No. Deleting history from Chrome only removes it from your browser. If you are signed into a Google account, Google may still have a record of your searches and websites you visited through your Google account activity. To remove that data, go to myactivity.google.com, sign in, and delete items from your Google account history separately.
Will clearing history log me out of websites?
Only if you check "Cookies and other site data" when clearing. If you delete only browsing history, you stay logged in. If you also delete cookies, you will be logged out of most websites and will need to sign back in.
Can I delete history from a specific website only?
Not directly through the clear browsing data menu. However, you can open your full history (Ctrl+H or Command+Y), find the website in the list, and click the X next to individual entries to remove them one at a time. For faster removal of many entries from one site, use the time range and "Cookies and other site data" options to clear everything from that site within a specific period.
Does clearing history on my phone clear it on my computer?
Only if you have Chrome sync turned on and are signed into the same Google account on both devices. If sync is off, deleting history on one device does not affect the other. To check if sync is on, open Chrome settings and look for your account name at the top — if it shows your email, sync is active.