Netflix stores your watch history so it can recommend shows and resume where you left off, but you can delete it whenever you want
Netflix keeps a record of every show and movie you've watched on your account. This history powers the "Continue Watching" row and personalizes recommendations. You can delete your entire viewing history, remove individual titles, or pause history recording altogether — each option takes less than a minute and works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
The steps differ slightly depending on your device type, but the principle is the same: go to your account settings, find the viewing activity section, and remove what you want hidden. Netflix doesn't delete the data immediately from all your devices, so expect a short delay before changes sync across your screens.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your entire Netflix watch history or remove individual titles from your account settings under "Viewing activity".
- On phones and tablets, go to your profile icon, select "Account", then "Viewing activity" to remove titles one at a time or clear everything.
- On computers and smart TVs, access the same menu through your account settings, though the exact path varies by device.
- Deleting history from your account removes it from all devices, but changes may take a few minutes to sync across your screens.
- Pausing your viewing activity stops Netflix from recording new watches, though this option is only available on the web version.
Delete history on your phone or tablet
Open the Netflix app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Select "Account" from the menu that appears. Scroll down and tap "Viewing activity" — this shows every title you've watched on that profile.
To remove a single title, tap the circle with an X next to it. To delete your entire history at once, go back one screen and look for "Download your personal information" or a similar option that lets you manage your data. Some versions of the Netflix app show a "Clear all" button directly in the Viewing activity section — if you see it, tap that instead.
Changes sync within a few minutes, but you may need to close and reopen the app to see the updated history on other devices.
Delete history on a computer or web browser
Go to netflix.com and sign in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Account". Find "Viewing activity" under your profile name and click it. This page lists every title you've watched.
Click the circle with an X next to any title to remove it from your history. There is no "clear all" button on the web version, so you must remove titles one at a time if you want to delete everything. If you have a large history, this takes longer but is still straightforward.
Delete history on a smart TV or streaming device
The process on smart TVs and devices like Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick is similar but uses your remote instead of a touchscreen. Open Netflix and navigate to your profile icon using the arrow buttons. Select "Account" and then "Viewing activity".
Use your remote to highlight each title you want to remove and press the select button to delete it. The exact button names vary by device — your remote may say "OK", "Select", or "Enter" instead. If you're unsure, check your device's manual or Netflix's help page for your specific model.
Pause new history from being recorded
If you want to stop Netflix from recording what you watch without deleting past history, you can pause your viewing activity. This option is only available on the web version at netflix.com.
Sign in, click your profile icon, select "Account", and find "Viewing activity". At the top of the page, you should see an option to pause viewing activity. When paused, Netflix won't record new watches, but your old history stays intact. You can turn recording back on at any time using the same menu.
What happens to recommendations when you delete history
Deleting your viewing history removes titles from your "Continue Watching" row and affects Netflix's recommendations. The more history you delete, the less Netflix knows about your preferences, so recommendations may become more generic or based only on what you've watched recently.
If you delete everything, Netflix will start fresh and show you popular titles in different genres rather than personalized picks. This resets gradually — recommendations improve again as you watch new shows and build a new history.
Deleting history doesn't affect billing or account access
Removing your viewing history has no effect on your Netflix subscription, billing, or password. You stay logged in, your payment method remains the same, and you keep all your saved preferences like subtitle language and playback settings.
If you want to remove someone else's history from a shared account, you'll need their login credentials or you can create a separate profile for them. Each profile on a Netflix account has its own viewing history, so deleting one person's history doesn't affect anyone else's.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my history without deleting my account?
Yes. Deleting viewing history and deleting your account are completely separate actions. You can remove all your watched titles and keep your account active with the same email, password, and subscription.
Does Netflix keep deleted history somewhere I can't see?
Netflix's privacy policy states that deleted viewing activity is removed from your account. However, Netflix may retain some data for internal analytics or legal reasons, but this data is not linked to your profile and does not affect what you see or what recommendations you receive.
If I delete history on my phone, does it delete on my TV too?
Yes. Viewing history is tied to your Netflix profile, not your device. When you delete a title or clear your history on any device, the change syncs to all devices where you're signed in with that profile within a few minutes.
What if I only want to hide one show from recommendations?
Deleting a single title from your viewing activity removes it from your history and reduces its influence on recommendations. You can also click the thumbs-down icon on a show's detail page to tell Netflix you're not interested, which affects recommendations without deleting the title from your history.
Can I recover deleted viewing history?
No. Once you delete a title or clear your entire history, Netflix does not provide a way to restore it. If you think you deleted something by mistake, you can start watching that show again and it will reappear in your history.