Whenever you seek information, your first instinct is to Google it. Google’s influence is so profound that we rely on it for nearly everything. However, remember that Google records all your searches in your search history. Regardless of the device, you can permanently delete your browser history. To learn how to delete your Google search history, follow the simple steps below.
Delete your Google History from a Mobile Device or Tablet
Deleting your Google history on a phone or tablet requires just a few taps. You can erase your entire search history or quickly remove searches from the past 15 minutes.
Read More: How to Turn Off Incognito Mode on Android: A Useful Guide for 2024
Delete Google Search History from the Google Search App
The Google Search app offers several privacy options, including deleting your search history. Follow these steps:
- Open the Google Search app on your mobile device or iPad.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “Search History.”
- You may need to verify your identity before deleting your history. Tap the blue “Verify” button at the bottom of the screen and enter your home screen lock PIN or password.
- You will see your complete search history, with a cross icon next to each entry.
- To delete a specific search, tap the cross icon next to it.
- To remove searches from a particular day, tap the day’s cross icon.
- Tap the blue “Delete” icon at the top to delete all or most of your search history. Choose from options like “Delete Today,” “Delete Custom Range,” “Auto-delete,” or “Delete All-time.” Select “Auto-delete” for automatic deletion and set a 3, 6, or 18-month period.
Note: This process clears your Google search history but does not affect your browsing history.
Clear Search History from Google Chrome
Using the Google Chrome app on your Android device, you must also clear your browsing history. Follow these steps:
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
- Go to “Settings” and then select “Privacy and Security.”
- Tap “Clear Browsing Data.”
- Customize the data range for which you want to delete your browsing data.
Delete the Search History of Google Chrome on your iPhone or iPad
On an iPad or iPhone, Google Chrome has a slightly different interface. To delete your Google Chrome search history on iOS, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Chrome app on your iOS device and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “History” and then tap “Clear Browsing Data.”
- You can choose the time range for which you want to delete data, from one hour to 24 hours, seven days, four weeks, or all time.
- Tap “Clear Browsing Data” and confirm your choice.
Delete Google Search history from Google Chrome Desktop Browser
If your mobile device isn’t available, you can delete your Google Chrome search history from your desktop browser by following these steps:
- Go to Google Chrome Activity on your browser.
- View a list of your browsing and search history, including that from your mobile device.
- Apply filters based on date and product to narrow down the history you wish to delete.
- Click “Search” and apply the filter.
- You can delete individual items or clear all selected history using “Delete Results.”
- Confirm your deletion by clicking “Delete.”
- You can delete history from the Last hour, Last day, or all time or set a custom date range.
- Select “Search” from the options to delete search history specifically and click “Apply.”
- Review the summary of your deletions and click “Delete” to confirm.
To delete browsing data as well:
- Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “Clear Browsing Data.”
- You can choose the time range and types of data to delete, such as cache, cookies, site data, or browsing history.
- Click “Clear Data” to finalize the deletion.
Auto-delete Google Chrome History
To set up auto-delete for your Google Chrome history, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your Google My Activity page.
- Click the hamburger menu icon at the top and go to “Activities Control.”
- Find and select “Google Chrome” from the list of Google apps.
- Click “Auto-delete (Off).”
- Turn on the toggle next to “Auto-delete activity older than” and choose the time range for data deletion.
- Tap “Next,” review your settings, and click “Confirm” to activate auto-delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I delete my Google search history?
Deleting your Google search history helps protect your privacy by removing personal data that Google stores about your searches. It can also help improve your browsing experience by clearing old or irrelevant search suggestions.
How do I delete my Google search history on mobile devices?
On mobile devices, open the Google app, tap your profile icon, go to “Search History,” verify your identity if needed, and then choose to delete specific searches or clear your entire history.
Can I delete the search history for Android on Google Chrome?
Yes, open the Chrome app, tap the three-dot menu, go to “Settings,” then “Privacy and Security,” and select “Clear Browsing Data.” Customize the time range and data types to delete.
How do I clear Google search history on an iPad or iPhone?
Open the Chrome app, tap the three-dot menu, go to “History,” then “Clear Browsing Data.” Choose the time range and confirm the deletion.
What if I want to delete my search history from my desktop?
Visit Google Chrome Activity on your browser, apply filters for date and product, choose specific items or delete all, and confirm your deletion. To browse data, go to “Settings,” then “Clear Browsing Data,” and select the data to delete.
How can I set up auto-delete for my Google Chrome history?
Sign in to your Google My Activity page, go to “Activities Control,” select “Google Chrome,” click “Auto-delete (Off),” enable the toggle, choose your preferred time range, and confirm.
Will deleting my search history also remove my browsing data?
No, deleting search history only removes the record of your searches. To delete browsing data like cache and cookies, you must clear it separately through your browser’s settings.
Can I recover the deleted Google search history?
Once deleted, search history cannot be recovered. Ensure you want to delete it before confirming.
How often should I clear my search history?
The frequency of clearing your search history depends on your privacy preferences. Regularly clearing it can help maintain your privacy and keep your search suggestions relevant.
Conclusion
Managing your Google search history is crucial in maintaining your privacy and ensuring a more tailored browsing experience. Whether you’re using a mobile device, desktop browser, or Google Chrome, deleting or auto-deleting your search history is straightforward.
By following the steps outlined for each platform, you can quickly clear specific searches or set up automatic deletion to manage your data more effectively. Regularly updating these settings helps keep your personal information secure and your browsing experience uncluttered.
