What clearing your Facebook history actually does
Clearing your Facebook history removes the record of pages you have visited, posts you have looked at, and searches you have made — but it does not delete the posts you created or change what other people can see about you. Facebook keeps two separate records: your activity log (what you did) and your timeline (what you posted). Clearing history erases the first one. The second stays unless you delete individual posts.
When you clear your history, Facebook stops using those browsing patterns to show you targeted ads based on what you looked at. It also removes the list of recently visited pages from your search bar. However, Facebook still knows you visited those pages — the company retains that data for its own purposes. Clearing history is about what appears in your own account, not about what Facebook stores internally.
The process takes less than a minute and you can do it on a phone, tablet, or computer. You can clear everything at once or choose a specific date range.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing your Facebook history removes the list of pages and posts you viewed, but does not delete posts you created or change what others see about you.
- You can clear all history at once or select a specific time period — for example, the last week or the last month.
- Clearing history stops Facebook from using your browsing patterns to target ads to you, though the company still retains the data internally.
- You can also turn off activity tracking entirely so Facebook stops recording what you look at going forward.
How to clear your entire history on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to find Your Information and Permissions and tap Off-Facebook Activity.
You will see a list of apps and websites that have sent information to Facebook about your activity. At the top, tap Clear All Activity. Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap it again. The process takes a few seconds. After this, your browsing history on Facebook itself and the list of pages you recently visited will be gone.
If you want to clear only part of your history instead of everything, go back to Settings, find Your Information and Permissions, and tap Activity Log instead. You will see a timeline of your activity. Tap the three dots next to any item and select Delete. You can delete items one at a time this way, though it takes longer if you have months of history to remove.
How to clear your history on a computer
Go to Facebook.com and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Click Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Your Information and Permissions, then Off-Facebook Activity.
At the top of the page, click Clear All Activity. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password. Type it in and click Clear. Your history will be removed when ready.
To delete specific items instead, go to Settings, click Your Information and Permissions, then Activity Log. Find the item you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. You can also filter by date or type of activity to find what you are looking for faster.
The difference between clearing history and deleting posts
Your activity log shows what you looked at. Your timeline shows what you posted. Clearing your activity log does not touch your timeline. If you posted a photo last month and want it gone, you need to delete the post itself — clearing history will not remove it.
To delete a post you created, find it on your timeline, click the three dots in the corner of the post, and select Delete Post. The post will be removed from your timeline and no one will be able to see it. If you want to delete multiple posts at once, go to your timeline, click the three dots next to your name, and select Activity Log. From there you can delete posts one at a time or use the filter to show only posts from a certain date range.
Turning off activity tracking so Facebook stops recording what you do
If you do not want Facebook to record your browsing history going forward, you can limit what the platform tracks. On a phone or tablet, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites. Scroll down and tap Off-Facebook Activity. At the top, toggle Clear Future Activity on. From that point forward, Facebook will not record which apps and websites you visit.
On a computer, go to Settings > Apps and Websites > Off-Facebook Activity. Click Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity and toggle Future Activity on. This does not stop Facebook from tracking what you do inside the Facebook app itself — it only stops the company from recording your activity on other websites and apps.
Keep in mind that turning off future activity tracking may change your ad experience. Facebook uses your browsing history to show you ads related to your interests. If you turn off tracking, the ads may be less relevant to you, though you will still see ads.
What happens to your search history
Facebook keeps a separate search history — a list of what you have searched for on the platform. This is different from your activity log. To clear your search history, go to the search bar at the top of Facebook and click the X next to any recent search to remove it. You can also clear all recent searches at once by clicking Clear All if that option appears.
Unlike your activity log, your search history does not affect the ads you see. It is mainly there for your convenience — so you can quickly find something you searched for before. Clearing it does not change your ad targeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my history delete my posts?
No. Clearing your activity log removes the record of what you looked at, not what you posted. Your posts stay on your timeline unless you delete them individually. If you want your posts gone, you have to delete them one at a time or use your activity log to find and delete multiple posts at once.
Will clearing my history stop Facebook from showing me ads?
Clearing your history stops Facebook from using your recent browsing patterns to target ads to you, but you will still see ads. Facebook may show you ads based on other information — like your location, age, or the pages you follow. The ads will likely be less personalized after you clear your history.
Can I clear history from a specific date instead of everything?
Yes. Instead of clearing all activity at once, go to your Activity Log and delete items individually. You can also use the filter to show only activity from a certain time period, then delete those items together. This takes longer than clearing everything, but gives you more control.
Does clearing my history affect what other people see on my profile?
No. Clearing your history only changes what you see in your own account. Other people cannot see your activity log, so clearing it does not change what appears on your profile to them. If you want to hide posts from other people, you need to delete the posts or change their privacy settings.
What is the difference between clearing history and deactivating my account?
Clearing history removes your activity log and search history but keeps your account active. Deactivating your account hides your profile from other people temporarily, though Facebook keeps your data. Deleting your account permanently removes your profile and posts after 30 days. Clearing history is the lightest option and affects only what you see in your own account.