Chrome stores what you type to save you time later, but you can delete any entry you don't want it to remember

When you start typing in a form field in Chrome, the browser suggests things you've typed before in that same field. This is autofill. You can remove individual entries one at a time as you type, or clear entire categories of saved information from your settings. The fastest way depends on whether you want to delete one thing now or wipe a whole category.

Autofill is convenient, but it also means Chrome is storing your addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and payment information on your device. If you share your computer with someone else, or if you're selling or giving away your device, removing autofill entries is a practical step to keep your information private.

Key Takeaways

  • Delete a single autofill entry by typing in the field, highlighting the suggestion with your arrow keys, and pressing Delete or Shift+Delete.
  • Clear all autofill data at once by going to Settings > Autofill and passwords > Addresses and more, then selecting what to delete.
  • Chrome separates autofill into three categories: addresses, payment methods, and passwords — you can clear one category without touching the others.
  • Deleting an autofill entry does not delete the original information from websites where you entered it; it only removes Chrome's local copy.

Delete one autofill entry while you're typing

The quickest way to remove a single autofill suggestion is to delete it the moment you see it. Start typing in any form field — a search box, an address field, a name field, anywhere Chrome has saved something you've typed before. Chrome will show a dropdown list of suggestions below the field.

Use your down arrow key to highlight the entry you want to remove. Once it's highlighted (it will turn gray or blue depending on your theme), press the Delete key on your keyboard. On a Mac, press Shift+Delete instead. The entry disappears from the dropdown and Chrome stops suggesting it in that field going forward.

This method works for any autofill suggestion except passwords. If you want to remove a saved password, you'll need to use the settings menu instead. The Delete key method is fastest when you notice an unwanted suggestion while filling out a form, because you don't have to leave the page or open settings.

Clear autofill data from Chrome settings

If you want to delete multiple entries at once, or if you want to remove an entire category of autofill data, use Chrome's settings. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu.

In the left sidebar, click Autofill and passwords. You'll see three options: Addresses and more, Payment methods, and Passwords. Click whichever category you want to clear. A list of all saved entries in that category will appear.

To delete individual entries, click the three dots next to each one and select Delete. To delete everything in that category at once, look for a "Delete all" button or checkbox at the top of the list. Confirm when Chrome asks you to verify the deletion. This approach gives you control over which categories to clear — you might want to keep your passwords but remove old addresses.

Wipe all autofill data at the same time

If you want to clear your autofill history completely — addresses, payment methods, and passwords all at once — use Chrome's Clear browsing data tool. Click the three dots in the top right, then select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data.

A window will pop up. Make sure the time range at the top is set to "All time" if you want to delete everything. Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Autofill form data". Do not check "Passwords and other sign-in data" unless you also want to delete your saved passwords — that's a separate setting.

Click Clear data. Chrome will remove all autofill entries you've saved. This action cannot be undone, so only do this if you're certain you want to delete everything. Many people use this option when preparing to sell or give away a computer.

Understand what gets deleted and what stays

When you delete an autofill entry from Chrome, you're only removing Chrome's copy of the information. If you entered your address on Amazon, for example, and then delete that address from Chrome's autofill, Amazon still has your address on file. Deleting from Chrome does not change anything on the websites themselves.

Similarly, if you delete a saved password from Chrome, the password itself doesn't change on the website. You'll just have to type it in manually next time you log in, or reset it if you've forgotten it. This distinction matters because some people think deleting autofill will remove their information from websites — it won't.

Stop Chrome from saving autofill data in the future

If you don't want Chrome to remember things you type, you can turn off autofill entirely. Open Chrome Settings, click Autofill and passwords, then toggle off each category you want to disable: Addresses and more, Payment methods, or Passwords. You can turn off all three or just the ones you don't want saved.

You can also prevent autofill on a single website. Some sites have their own settings that let you opt out of autofill. Check the website's privacy or security settings to see if that option exists. If you use Chrome in Incognito mode, autofill is disabled by default — Chrome won't save anything you type in an Incognito window, and it won't suggest anything from your autofill history either.

Sync autofill across your devices

If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your autofill data syncs across all your devices — your phone, tablet, and computer. That means if you delete an autofill entry on your computer, it disappears from your phone too. If you delete it on your phone, it's gone from your computer.

If you don't want autofill to sync, you can turn off sync for autofill specifically. Open Chrome Settings, click Sync and Google services, then click Manage what you sync. Uncheck Autofill. Your autofill data will stay on each device separately and won't update across devices anymore. This is useful if you share a Google account with someone else but want to keep your autofill private to each device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deletion after I've cleared autofill data?

No. Once you delete an autofill entry or clear your autofill history, Chrome does not keep a backup. You'll have to re-enter the information the next time you need it, and Chrome will start saving it again. If you delete something by accident, the only way to restore it is to type it in again.

Why is Chrome still suggesting something I deleted?

If you deleted an entry but Chrome keeps suggesting it, the entry may be saved in a different category. For example, if you deleted an address from your Addresses list but the same address is also saved as part of a payment method, Chrome will still suggest it. Delete it from all categories where it appears.

Does deleting autofill protect my privacy?

Deleting autofill from Chrome removes data stored locally on your device, but it does not affect what websites know about you. Websites keep their own records of information you've entered. If you're concerned about privacy, focus on what you share with websites themselves, not just what Chrome remembers.

What's the difference between autofill and passwords?

Autofill saves things like your name, address, phone number, and email — information that doesn't change often. Passwords are stored separately and are encrypted more heavily. Deleting autofill does not delete passwords, and vice versa.

Can I delete autofill on my phone the same way?

The steps are slightly different on Chrome for Android and Chrome for iOS. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Autofill and passwords, then select the category and delete entries. On iPhone, the process is similar but some menu names may vary slightly depending on your iOS version.