You can delete browsing history in Internet Explorer, both mobile and desktop versions, in several ways. You can even delete specific sites or pages from your history. Delete browsing history in the desktop version of Internet Explorer via the "Safety" or "Internet Explorer" menu, depending on the program version. Meanwhile, to delete browsing history on your phone, you have to use your finger to access the "Settings" menu.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Internet Explorer 10 and Mobile version 11
Step 1. Tap the Internet Explorer icon from the home screen or application list to open it as usual
Step 2. Open the "Settings" menu
Slide your finger inward from the inside right, then tap "Settings" from the menu that appears.
If you're using a mouse, hover over the lower-right corner of the screen and select "Settings" from the menu that appears
Step 3. Open your browsing history
Click "Options", then select "Select" in the "History" section.
Step 4. Delete your browsing history
Check the box next to "Browsing History", then tap or click "Delete" when you're done selecting entries. The entry of your choice will be deleted from the history.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Safety Menu (Internet Explorer 8-11)
Step 1. Click the Internet Explorer icon to open the browser
Step 2. Open the "Tools" menu
It's in the top-right corner of the screen, and has a cog icon. Click the icon to access the "Tools" menu.
If you're using Internet Explorer 8, you'll find the "Tools" menu in the menu bar instead of the cog icon
Step 3. Start deleting browsing history
After clicking "Tools", click the "Safety" button.
Step 4. Click "Delete browsing history. " You will see a dialog box on the screen, which will allow you to select the data to be deleted.
Step 5. Select the data you want to delete
To clear browsing history, check the "Browsing history" (or "History") box.
- Keep in mind that data such as cached images, temporary internet files, cookies, download history, saved form data and passwords, tracking protection data, ActiveX and Do Not Track filters, and bookmarks may also be deleted.
- In Internet Explorer 8 and above, check the Preserve Favorites website data option if you do not want to delete cookies and bookmarks.
Step 6. Click "Delete" to delete browsing history
Step 7. Click "OK" to exit
Your browsing history will also be deleted.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Internet Options Menu (Internet Explorer 7-11)
Step 1. Click the Internet Explorer icon to open the browser
Step 2. Open "Internet Options"
This option is in the menu bar, under "Tools".
- If you're using Internet Explorer 9, find the cog icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- You can also access the "Internet Options" option through the Control Panel. From the Control Panel window, select "Network and Internet", then click "Internet Options".
Step 3. Select the "General" tab in the "Internet Options" menu
This tab is the first tab on the left side.
Step 4. In the "General" tab, precisely in the "Browsing history" section, click "Delete …".
Step 5. Select the data you want to delete by ticking it
To clear browsing history, check the "Browsing history" (or "History") box.
- Keep in mind that data such as cached images, temporary internet files, cookies, download history, saved form data and passwords, tracking protection data, ActiveX and Do Not Track filters, and bookmarks may also be deleted.
- In Internet Explorer 8 and above, check the Preserve Favorites website data option if you do not want to delete cookies and bookmarks.
Step 6. Click "Delete" to delete browsing history, then click "Yes" to confirm action if prompted
Step 7. Click "OK" to exit
Your browsing history will also be deleted.
Method 4 of 4: Clearing History for Specific Sites
Step 1. Click the Internet Explorer icon to open the browser
Step 2. Open the "Favorites" menu
Tap or click the star-shaped "Favorites" icon in the upper-right corner of the window.
Step 3. Access your browsing history
Tap or click the "History" tab in the "Favorites" box.
Step 4. Select history view
Click the menu under the "History" tab, then select a sorting option. You can display history by date, site, number of visits, or order of visits today.
Keep in mind that if you're viewing your history by site, you can right-click any site to open it and see the pages you've visited on that site
Step 5. Remove specific sites from browsing history
Click and hold the address of any site in the list, then click "Delete" from the menu that appears.
You can also delete a site from your browsing history by right-clicking on any site address, then selecting "Delete" from the menu
Tips
- Since Windows 10, Internet Explorer has been replaced by Microsoft Edge. Windows 10 users can still access Internet Explorer by searching for "Internet Explorer" in Cortana or the search box.
- When using Internet Explorer 11, you can access the "Delete Browsing History" dialog box by simply pressing Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Del.
- When using Internet Explorer 11, you can set your browsing history to be deleted automatically. Open "Internet Options", then click the "General" tab. After that, check the checkbox "Delete browsing history on exit".
- To remove additional internet usage related files (such as images and saved web pages) in Internet Explorer, go to "Internet Options". After that, click the "Advanced" tab and check the "Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed" checkbox.
