You can delete individual titles from Continue Watching, but Netflix keeps a record of what you watched
Netflix stores your viewing history in two places: the Continue Watching row on your home screen, and a complete history in your account settings. Removing a title from Continue Watching makes it disappear from your home page, but Netflix still records that you watched it. If you want Netflix to forget you watched something entirely, you need to remove it from your full viewing history instead.
The Continue Watching row shows the last few titles you started but did not finish. Removing a title from this row takes about 10 seconds and requires no settings changes. Clearing your entire viewing history is a separate action that affects recommendations and what Netflix remembers about your account.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a title from Continue Watching hides it from your home screen but does not erase Netflix's record that you watched it.
- To remove one title from Continue Watching, hover over it on your home screen and click the X icon that appears.
- To erase a title completely from your viewing history, go to Account settings, find Viewing activity, and delete it from there.
- Clearing your entire viewing history removes all records of what you watched and resets Netflix's recommendations to zero.
- Netflix keeps deleted viewing history in its servers; deletion only removes it from your account view.
How to remove one title from Continue Watching on your home screen
Open Netflix and look at your home page. Find the Continue Watching row — it appears near the top and shows the shows and movies you started recently. Hover your mouse over the title you want to remove. A small X icon will appear in the top right corner of that title's box.
Click the X. The title disappears from Continue Watching when ready. It no longer shows on your home screen, but Netflix still knows you watched it. Your recommendations and search history remain unchanged.
On mobile apps (iPhone, Android, or tablet), the process is similar. Open the app, find Continue Watching, and tap and hold the title you want to remove. A menu appears with a remove option. Tap it, and the title disappears from the row.
How to delete a title from your complete viewing history
If you want Netflix to stop recording that you watched something, you need to remove it from your full viewing history, not just from Continue Watching. Open Netflix and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu.
On the Account page, scroll down and look for a section called Profile and parental controls or Settings (the exact name varies by region). Click on your profile name. You will see an option for Viewing activity or Watch history. Click it.
A list of every title you have watched appears, with the most recent at the top. Find the title you want to remove. Click the X icon next to it. The title disappears from your viewing history. Netflix no longer uses it to recommend shows to you, and it will not appear in Continue Watching.
What happens when you clear your entire viewing history
On the same Viewing activity page, you will see an option to Clear all viewing activity or Clear entire watch history. Clicking this button removes every title from your history at once. Netflix forgets everything you have watched.
After you clear your history, your recommendations reset. Netflix will no longer suggest shows based on what you watched before. Your Continue Watching row empties. If you start a new show, it will appear in Continue Watching, but nothing from before the clear date remains.
This action cannot be undone from within your Netflix account. If you change your mind, you will have to rebuild your history by watching shows again. Netflix's servers retain records of what you watched, but those records are not visible to you or connected to your account after deletion.
Why Netflix keeps records even after you delete them
Netflix stores viewing data to improve its recommendation system, track licensing agreements with studios, and analyze what content is popular. When you delete something from your account, you are removing it from your personal view, not from Netflix's databases. The company uses this data to decide which shows to keep, which to cancel, and what new content to produce.
This is standard practice across streaming services and social media platforms. Deletion from your account view is different from deletion from the company's records. If you are concerned about what Netflix knows about your viewing habits, deleting your history is the only control you have as a user.
Removing titles on different devices
The steps above work on a web browser or computer. On a smart TV, the process is slightly different because you cannot hover a mouse. Open Netflix on your TV, find Continue Watching, and navigate to the title you want to remove using your remote. Press the options button (usually marked with three dots or lines). A menu appears with a remove option. Select it.
On a tablet or phone, tap and hold the title in Continue Watching until a menu appears, then select remove. The exact button names vary slightly between iPhone and Android, but the concept is the same: find the title, access the menu, and choose remove.
What you should know about shared accounts
If you share your Netflix account with other people, removing a title from your Continue Watching only affects your profile, not theirs. Each person on the account has their own Continue Watching row and their own viewing history. When you delete something from your history, it disappears only from your profile.
If someone else on your account watched the same show, it remains in their Continue Watching and their history. Netflix treats each profile as separate for viewing records and recommendations. This is why shared accounts can have very different home screens — each person sees recommendations based only on what they have watched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing something from Continue Watching delete it from Netflix's records?
No. Removing a title from Continue Watching only hides it from your home screen. Netflix still records that you watched it. To remove it from your viewing history entirely, you must delete it from your Account settings under Viewing activity.
Can I remove multiple titles at once?
You can only clear your entire viewing history at once, not select multiple specific titles. To remove individual titles, you must delete them one at a time from your Viewing activity page. There is no bulk delete option for specific shows.
If I delete my viewing history, will Netflix stop recommending shows to me?
Yes. Your recommendations reset to zero. Netflix will show you popular and trending content instead of personalized suggestions. As you watch new shows, Netflix will begin building recommendations again based only on what you watch after the deletion.
Will deleting my history stop Netflix from tracking what I watch going forward?
No. Netflix continues to record everything you watch. Deletion only removes past history from your account view. If you want to prevent Netflix from recording future viewing, you would need to stop using the service or use a separate profile.
Can someone else see my viewing history if we share an account?
Only if they use your profile. Each person on a shared account has their own profile with their own viewing history. Other people cannot see your Continue Watching row or your history unless they log in as you.