4 Ways to Search and Delete Google History on All Devices

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 08:07

Whenever you use Google in your web browser or application, Google will automatically save your search entries, your location, and information on the sites you visited. Your Google history includes a list of all websites and searches performed, while your Google activity includes information that Google stores in the background, such as location. You can delete both on your computer or mobile device, as well as adjust your settings to automatically delete your Google activity.

Step

Method 1 of 4: Clear Google Activity on Computer

Step 1. Visit

This page is your Google account page and contains all the privacy, security and personalization options.

Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your account if you haven't already

Step 2. Click Data and Personalization

It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Step 3. Click My Activity

This option is under the “Activity and Timeline” section.

Step 4. Click the “More” button

It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. On computers, this option is indicated by a three-dot icon stacked on top of each other.

Step 5. Select Delete activity by

You will be taken to a new page.

Step 6. Click All Time and select Delete

Your Google activity will be cleared from your account, including web, app, and YouTube activity, as well as location history.

You can also manually select the activity you want to delete by clicking each box individually

Method 2 of 4: Clear Google History on Computer

Step 1. Visit

This page is your Google account page and contains all the privacy, security and personalization options.

Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your account if you haven't already

Step 2. Click More

It's in the upper-right corner of the screen and looks like three dots on top of each other. A drop-down menu with various options will appear.

Step 3. Select History, then click History again

From the drop-down menu, click the “History” option to display the second drop-down menu. At the top of the menu, select History again.

You can also press Ctrl + H

Step 4. Click Clear Browsing Data

This option is on the left side of the screen. Once the option is clicked, a new box will appear on the screen.

Step 5. Select All Time to clear all history

You can also browse the history list and manually select what you want to delete by checking the boxes next to each option individually.

Step 6. Click Clear Data

The search history will be deleted from the browser.

Method 3 of 4: Automatically Clear Google History

Step 1. Visit https://myaccount.google.com via a web browser

While Google automatically stores search entries and other activity on the internet, you can set your account to have that information automatically deleted after a certain period of time.

Google gives you control over the data and information it stores about you, such as location history, web and app activity, and search/watch history on YouTube

Step 2. Click Data & personalization

This option is in the left menu. If you're using a phone or tablet, you may need to tap the menu icon in the upper-left corner of the screen to see it.

Step 3. Click Manage your activity controls

This blue link is under the " Activity controls " section.

Step 4. Review the types of activity that Google is tracking

You'll see three segments in the activity control section:

• “ Web & App Activities:

  In this segment, Google stores all of your search entries (from the Google search engine to Google Maps and Google Play), IP addresses, ads clicked, voice recordings, and other things you do on your Android device.

• “ Location History:

  In this segment, you can see the history of the locations you visited, as well as recommendations for places based on the locations you visited.

• “ YouTube History:

  Google/YouTube tracks the videos you watch, as well as the content you search for.

Step 5. Turn off history/activity autosave (optional)

If you don't want Google to keep the history of the categories above, slide the appropriate switch to the off position or “Off” (grayed out), read the warning message, and click “ Pause ”.

• Step 6. Set up automatic deletion (optional)

  If you don't mind Google keeping search history/activity on the internet, but want to make sure the information is deleted automatically after a certain amount of time:

  • Click " Auto-delete (Off) ” next to one of the three existing categories.
  • Select a time period and touch “ Next ”.
  • Review the data to be deleted if you wish to continue.
  • Click " Confirm ”.
  • Repeat the steps for the other categories for which you want to apply automatic deletion.

  Method 4 of 4: Clear Google History on iPhone

  

  Step 1. Open the Google Chrome app

  This browser is marked by a rainbow colored circle on a white background.

  If you don't have Chrome, you can search for it through the App Store

  

  Step 2. Touch More, then select History

  The “More” button is in the upper-right corner of the screen and looks like three dots in a row. Open the menu, then select History.

  Now, you can view your browser history through the app

  

  Step 3. Touch Clear Browsing Data

  This option is at the bottom of the screen.

  

  Step 4. Check the Browsing History option

  This box may have been checked from the start. If there is other information or entries that you do not want to delete, uncheck the appropriate boxes before moving on to the next step.

  

  Step 5. Touch the Clear Browsing Data button again

  All the information you marked will be deleted.

  

  Step 6. Click Done

  It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. You will be taken back to the main Google Chrome page.

  Tips

  Google uses your history to show relevant recommendations on apps, search results, and the internet. If the problem occurs after you disable history or activity recording, re-enable recording by accessing the “ Manage your activity controls ” and touch the displayed switch.