How to delete your Netflix watching history
You can delete individual titles from your Netflix watching history, or clear your entire history at once. Netflix stores what you've watched so it can recommend shows and resume where you left off — but you can remove any or all of it whenever you want. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and the Netflix app.
Your viewing history is tied to your specific profile, not your account. If you share Netflix with others, deleting your history won't affect theirs, and they won't see what you remove. If you want to hide something from recommendations without deleting it, you can also tell Netflix "not interested" on individual titles, which removes them from suggestions without erasing them from your history.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual shows or movies from your history by clicking the X next to the title in your viewing activity, or clear everything at once through your account settings.
- Deleting history only affects your profile and your recommendations — it doesn't change what other people on your account can see.
- Removing a title from history doesn't delete it from Netflix; you can still search for and watch it again.
- If you want to hide something from recommendations without deleting it, you can mark it "not interested" instead.
Delete individual titles from your history on any device
The fastest way to remove one or two things is to go to your profile menu and find the title in your viewing activity. On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap "Account" or "Settings" (depending on your device). Scroll down to "Viewing activity" and find the title you want to remove.
Next to the title, you'll see an X or a circle with an X inside it. Tap or click it. Netflix will ask you to confirm, and the title disappears from your history immediately. The show or movie stays on Netflix — you're only removing it from your personal viewing record. You can do this one title at a time for as many as you want.
On a computer or web browser, the process is identical. Go to your profile menu, select "Account," then find "Viewing activity" under your profile settings. Hover over any title and the X button appears. Click it to remove that title from your history.
Clear your entire watching history at once
If you want to delete everything you've watched instead of removing titles one by one, Netflix has a button for that. On any device, go to your profile menu and select "Account." Look for "Viewing activity" and scroll to the bottom of the page.
You'll see a link that says "Clear all viewing activity" or "Clear viewing activity" (the exact wording varies slightly by device). Click or tap it. Netflix will ask you to confirm that you want to clear your entire history. Once you confirm, everything disappears — your recommendations reset, and Netflix will start fresh with new suggestions based only on what you watch from that point forward.
This action is permanent and affects only your profile. Other people using your account keep their own histories intact. If you change your mind later, there's no way to restore what you deleted, so make sure you're ready before you confirm.
Why Netflix keeps your watching history
Netflix uses your history to power its recommendation system and to let you resume shows where you stopped watching. Without it, Netflix would have no way to know what you like or where you left off in a series. The history also helps Netflix understand viewing patterns across its user base, which informs what shows and movies it produces and licenses.
You don't have to keep your history for Netflix to work — you can delete it whenever you want, and the app will function normally. Your recommendations will just be less personalized until you watch more titles. If you're concerned about privacy on a shared device or account, clearing your history regularly is a straightforward way to keep your viewing separate from others.
The difference between deleting history and marking "not interested"
Deleting a title from your history removes it from your viewing record entirely. Marking something "not interested" keeps it in your history but tells Netflix's recommendation system to stop suggesting similar content to you. Use "not interested" when you want Netflix to know you didn't enjoy something without erasing the fact that you watched it.
To mark a title "not interested," find it in your history or see it in a recommendation row, then look for a thumbs-down icon or a menu button (three dots). Select "Not interested" from the options. Netflix will adjust your recommendations immediately, but the title stays in your viewing activity. This is useful if you watched something by accident or didn't like it, but you don't need to hide the fact that you watched it.
What happens to your history on shared accounts
Netflix lets you create separate profiles for each person using your account. Each profile has its own viewing history, recommendations, and settings. When you delete your history, only your profile is affected — other people's profiles keep their own histories untouched.
If you share a Netflix account with family or roommates and want to keep your viewing private, the best approach is to use your own profile and delete your history regularly. You can also ask other people on your account to do the same. Netflix doesn't have a way to hide individual profiles from each other, so separate profiles are the main privacy tool available on a shared account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my history remove the show from Netflix?
No. Deleting your history only removes the title from your personal viewing record. The show or movie stays on Netflix and you can still search for it and watch it again. You're only changing your own profile, not Netflix's catalog.
Can I delete my history on one device but keep it on another?
Your viewing history is stored on Netflix's servers and syncs across all your devices. When you delete a title or clear your entire history, it disappears everywhere you use Netflix. You can't keep history on one device and delete it on another.
Will clearing my history affect other people's accounts?
No. Each profile on a Netflix account has its own separate history. Clearing your history only affects your profile. Other people using different profiles on the same account keep their own viewing records and recommendations.
What if I accidentally clear my entire history?
There's no way to restore a deleted history. Netflix doesn't have an undo button or a recovery option. If you clear everything by mistake, your history is gone permanently, but you can start building a new one by watching shows and movies going forward.
Does Netflix still recommend shows if I clear my history?
Yes, but your recommendations will be less personalized at first. Netflix will show you popular titles and new releases until you've watched enough for the system to learn your preferences again. Your recommendations improve as you continue watching.