Netflix stores everything you watch, and you can remove it
Netflix keeps a record of every show and movie you start, whether you finish it or not. This history appears on your account homepage, in the "Continue Watching" row, and in your profile's viewing activity. You can delete individual titles from your history, clear your entire watch history at once, or remove a specific profile's history without affecting other people who share your account.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. On most devices, you can delete history directly from your account settings. On some streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV, you may need to use the Netflix website instead.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual titles from your watch history through your account settings on any device with a web browser.
- Clearing your entire watch history removes all viewing records at once, but you cannot undo this action.
- Deleting history from one profile does not affect the watch history of other profiles on the same account.
- Smart TV apps and some streaming devices do not have a delete history option built in, so you will need to use Netflix.com instead.
Delete individual titles from your watch history on a computer or phone browser
The fastest way to remove one or two titles is through your account settings on Netflix.com. Open Netflix in a web browser on your computer or phone, sign in to your account, and select your profile icon in the top right corner. Click "Account" from the dropdown menu.
On the Account page, look for a section called "Profile & Parental Controls" or straightforward "Profiles." Click on the profile whose history you want to edit. Scroll down until you see "Viewing activity" and click the link. You will see a list of everything you have watched, with the most recent at the top.
Next to each title, you will see a circle with an X inside it. Click that X to remove the title from your history. The title disappears when ready. You can remove as many individual titles as you want this way, one at a time. This method is useful if you want to keep most of your history but hide a few specific shows or movies.
Clear your entire watch history at once
If you want to delete everything you have watched on a profile, you can clear the entire history from the same Viewing activity page. Go to Netflix.com, click your profile icon, select "Account," find your profile under "Profile & Parental Controls," and click "Viewing activity."
At the top of the viewing activity list, you will see a link that says "Clear all viewing data" or similar wording depending on your region. Click this link. Netflix will ask you to confirm that you want to delete all viewing history for that profile. Once you confirm, the entire list clears and cannot be recovered. This action only affects the profile you selected — other profiles on your account keep their own history.
Delete history on a smart TV or streaming device
Most smart TV apps and streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast do not have a built-in option to delete history directly from the app. If you try to find account settings on these devices, you will not see a viewing activity or history option.
To delete history from a smart TV or streaming device, use a computer or phone instead. Open Netflix.com in a web browser, go to your account settings, find "Viewing activity," and delete titles or clear your history the same way described above. The changes take effect when ready across all devices. The next time you open Netflix on your TV, the deleted titles will no longer appear in your "Continue Watching" row or your profile's history.
Remove history from a specific profile without affecting others
If multiple people use your Netflix account with separate profiles, you can delete history from one profile without touching anyone else's. Each profile has its own viewing activity and watch history.
Go to Netflix.com and click your profile icon in the top right. Select "Account." Under "Profile & Parental Controls," you will see a list of all profiles on your account. Click on the profile whose history you want to delete. Then click "Viewing activity" and remove titles or clear all history as described above. Only that profile's history changes. The other profiles keep their own complete watch history.
What happens after you delete history
When you delete a title from your watch history, it stops appearing in your "Continue Watching" section and in your viewing activity list. Netflix also stops using that title to recommend new shows and movies to you. If you deleted it by mistake, you can always watch it again and it will reappear in your history.
If you clear your entire viewing history, Netflix loses all information about what you have watched. This means your recommendations will be based only on what you watch going forward. Your recommendations may feel less accurate for a few days until Netflix learns your preferences again from new viewing.
Why you might want to delete your Netflix history
People delete their Netflix history for different reasons. You might want to hide a show you watched from other people who share your account and see the "Continue Watching" row. You might want to remove recommendations for a show you did not actually enjoy. Or you might want to start fresh with new recommendations by clearing everything.
Deleting history is also useful if you share your account with family members and want to keep your viewing separate from theirs. Creating a separate profile for each person is the best long-term solution, but deleting history works if you need to remove something quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my watch history on the Netflix app on my phone?
The Netflix mobile app does not have a delete history feature built in. You must use Netflix.com in a web browser on your phone or computer to delete history. Open Netflix.com, sign in, go to your account settings, find "Viewing activity," and delete titles from there.
If I delete a show from my history, will it stop recommending similar shows?
Yes. Netflix uses your watch history to recommend new titles. When you delete a show from your history, Netflix stops using it to make recommendations. However, if you have watched other similar shows, Netflix may still recommend based on those.
Does deleting my history delete it from other devices I use?
Yes. Your watch history is stored on Netflix's servers, not on individual devices. When you delete a title or clear your history through Netflix.com, the change takes effect when ready across all devices where you are signed into that profile — your phone, tablet, computer, and smart TV.
Can I recover my watch history after I clear it?
No. When you click "Clear all viewing data," Netflix permanently deletes your entire watch history. You cannot undo this action or recover the list of shows you watched. If you only want to hide a few titles, delete them individually instead of clearing everything.
Will other people on my account see that I deleted something?
No. Deleting history from your profile does not notify other people or leave any trace. Other profiles on your account have their own separate history and cannot see what you delete from yours.