Delete your browsing history in three steps
Open Chrome on your Chromebook and press Ctrl + H to open the History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A window will appear with checkboxes for different types of data — make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked along with Browsing history. At the top, select the time range you want to clear (usually All time if you want everything gone), then click Clear data.
That single action removes the record of websites you visited, the passwords Chrome saved, and the temporary files it stored. Your browsing history will no longer appear when you start typing in the address bar, and websites won't recognize you as a returning visitor.
If you want this to happen automatically every time you close Chrome, you can set that up in Settings so you never have to remember to clear it manually.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + H, then click Clear browsing data to remove your history in one action.
- The Clear browsing data window lets you choose what to delete — history, cookies, cached files, or all three together.
- You can set Chrome to automatically clear your history every time you close the browser.
- Clearing history removes saved passwords and autofill suggestions, so you may need to re-enter them on sites you visit regularly.
- Clearing your Chromebook history does not affect history stored in your Google Account if you are signed in to Chrome.
Choose what time period to clear
When the Clear browsing data window opens, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says Time range. Click it to choose how far back you want to go. The options are Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, and All time.
If you only want to remove today's browsing, select Last 24 hours. If you want to erase everything Chrome has recorded since you started using the Chromebook, select All time. The time range you choose applies to all the checkboxes below it — if you select Last 7 days, Chrome will only clear history, cookies, and cached files from the past week, leaving older data untouched.
Understand what each checkbox does
Browsing history is the list of websites you visited. Unchecking this box means your history stays, but other data gets cleared. Most people leave this checked.
Cookies and other site data are small files websites place on your Chromebook to remember you. Clearing this means websites will forget your login information, your shopping cart contents, and your preferences. You will need to sign back in to most sites after clearing cookies.
Cached images and files are copies of pictures, videos, and documents that Chrome saved to load websites faster next time. Clearing this frees up storage space but makes websites load slightly slower on your first visit after clearing. Passwords and other sign-in data is a separate checkbox — unchecking it keeps your saved passwords even when you clear everything else.
Set Chrome to clear history automatically
If you do not want to manually clear your history every time, you can tell Chrome to do it automatically when you close the browser. Click the three-line menu in the top right corner of Chrome and select Settings. On the left, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
Toggle on the switch next to Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. This setting only clears cookies and site data, not your full browsing history. If you want your full history cleared automatically too, you will need to do that manually or use a different browser setting.
Once this toggle is on, Chrome will automatically delete cookies and cached files every time you close all Chrome windows. Your browsing history will still be saved unless you manually clear it using the Ctrl + H method described above.
Know the difference between local and account history
If you are signed into a Google Account on your Chromebook, Chrome stores your browsing history in two places: on the Chromebook itself and in your Google Account. Clearing history using Ctrl + H only removes the local copy on your device. Your Google Account still has a record of those websites.
To clear the history stored in your Google Account, go to myactivity.google.com in a web browser. Sign in with the same Google Account you use on Chrome. From there you can delete activity by date range or search for specific websites and delete them individually. This is separate from clearing your Chromebook's local history.
Recover deleted history if you change your mind
Once you clear your browsing history on a Chromebook, it cannot be recovered from the device itself. Chrome does not keep a backup of deleted history on your Chromebook. However, if you are signed into a Google Account, that account's activity history is stored separately on Google's servers and is not affected by clearing your local history.
If you deleted history by mistake and need to see what websites you visited, you can check your Google Account activity at myactivity.google.com. This shows a record of your activity across Google services and websites you visited while signed in, even if you cleared your Chromebook's local history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing my history delete my saved passwords?
Only if you check the Passwords and other sign-in data checkbox in the Clear browsing data window. By default, this box is unchecked, so your passwords stay saved even when you clear everything else. If you want to keep passwords but delete cookies, uncheck that box before clicking Clear data.
Does clearing history on my Chromebook clear it on my phone too?
No. Clearing history on your Chromebook only affects that device. If you are signed into the same Google Account on your phone, the phone's history remains separate. You would need to clear history on each device individually, or clear your Google Account activity at myactivity.google.com to remove it from all devices at once.
Can someone see my browsing history if I clear it?
Clearing your local history removes it from your Chromebook, so someone using your device cannot see it. However, your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see your activity through their own records. Clearing your Chromebook history does not hide your browsing from your ISP or from Google if you are signed in.
What happens if I clear cached files?
Websites will load slightly slower the next time you visit them because Chrome has to read all the images and files again instead of using the copies it saved. The slowdown is usually only noticeable on the first visit. After that, Chrome builds up a new cache and websites load normally again.
Can I clear history for just one website?
Not directly from the Clear browsing data window. You can visit myactivity.google.com and search for a specific website to delete just that activity from your Google Account. On your Chromebook itself, you would need to clear all history or use your browser's developer tools, which is more complicated than most people need.