Netflix stores everything you watch, and you can remove it
Netflix keeps a record of every show and movie you start watching, whether you finish it or not. This history appears in your "Continue Watching" row, shows up in your profile's activity page, and feeds Netflix's recommendation algorithm. You can delete individual titles from your history, clear your entire watch history at once, or remove a specific profile's history entirely. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
Your watch history is tied to your account, not to your device, so Netflix can see what you watched on your phone, your TV, and your computer all in one place. If someone else has access to your account, they can see your entire watch history unless you delete it or use a separate profile.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual shows or movies from your Netflix history by clicking the X next to them in your profile's activity page.
- Clearing your entire watch history removes all records at once, but Netflix will start building a new history the moment you watch something else.
- Deleting history does not affect what Netflix recommends to you when ready — the algorithm takes time to adjust.
- If you share a Netflix account with others, deleting your profile's history does not affect theirs, and vice versa.
How to remove one show or movie from your history
Open Netflix and sign in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner (on a phone, tap the three horizontal lines, then your profile). Select "Account" or "Your Account" depending on your device.
Look for a link or button labeled "Viewing activity" or "Watch history" — the exact name varies by device. Click it. You will see a list of everything you have watched, with the most recent at the top. Find the title you want to remove and click the X or circle icon next to it. Netflix removes it when ready. That title will no longer appear in your "Continue Watching" row or your activity history.
How to delete your entire watch history at once
Go to your account settings the same way: profile icon, then Account. Find "Viewing activity" or "Watch history" and open it. At the top or bottom of the page, look for a button that says "Clear all viewing data" or "Clear entire history" — the exact wording depends on whether you are on a phone, computer, or smart TV.
Click it. Netflix will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, your entire history disappears. Netflix will not show you a confirmation message after this — the page straightforward refreshes and your history is gone. Your "Continue Watching" row will empty out, and your recommendations will start fresh.
What happens to your recommendations after you delete history
Deleting your history does not when ready change what Netflix recommends to you. Netflix's algorithm learns from your watch patterns over time, so removing a few titles or even your entire history takes days or weeks to show up in your recommendations. If you delete your history and then watch something new, Netflix will start building recommendations based on that new activity.
If you want to reset your recommendations more quickly, the most effective approach is to delete your history and then watch a few titles you actually want to see. Netflix weights recent activity more heavily than old activity, so your new viewing will push out the old patterns faster.
Deleting history on a shared account
If you share a Netflix account with family members or roommates, each person should have their own profile. When you delete your profile's history, it does not affect anyone else's profile. Only your watch history disappears — their "Continue Watching" rows, their activity pages, and their recommendations stay exactly as they were.
If you share a profile with someone else (which Netflix discourages), deleting the history removes it for both of you. The same applies if you clear the entire history from the account-level settings rather than from a specific profile. To avoid this, make sure each person who uses Netflix has their own profile.
Why Netflix keeps your watch history
Netflix uses your watch history to power its recommendation engine, to populate your "Continue Watching" row so you can resume shows easily, and to track what content is popular. The company also uses this data to decide which shows to renew and which to cancel.
Netflix does not sell your watch history to advertisers — the company is a subscription service, not an ad-supported one. However, your history is stored on Netflix's servers and is part of your account data. Deleting your history keeps your viewing private from people who physically access a shared device, but it does not prevent anyone with your Netflix password from logging in and seeing your history on their own device.
Protecting your privacy on a shared device
If you watch Netflix on a device that other people use — a family TV, a roommate's computer, or a shared tablet — deleting your history keeps your viewing private from people who physically access that device. However, it does not prevent anyone with your Netflix password from logging in and seeing your history on their own device.
The most effective privacy approach on a shared device is to use your own profile. Netflix allows up to four simultaneous streams on a standard plan, so each household member can have their own profile with their own history, recommendations, and "Continue Watching" row. If you do not have a separate profile, deleting your history after each session is the next best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my history stop Netflix from recommending similar shows?
Not when ready. Netflix's recommendations are based on patterns built over time, so removing one or two titles has little effect. Clearing your entire history will eventually reset your recommendations, but it takes days or weeks. Watching new content speeds up the process because Netflix weights recent activity more heavily.
Can I delete history from the Netflix app on my phone?
Yes. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, select your profile, tap Account, then Viewing activity. Find the title you want to remove and tap the X next to it. The process is the same on Android and iPhone.
If I delete my history, will Netflix stop sending me emails about shows I watched?
Deleting your history does not change your email preferences. Netflix sends recommendation emails based on your account settings, not your watch history. To stop these emails, go to Account settings, find Email preferences or Notifications, and turn off recommendation emails.
What if I accidentally delete something from my history?
Netflix does not have an undo button for deleted history. Once you remove a title, it is gone. However, if you watch that show or movie again, it will reappear in your history. You can also manually add titles back to your list by marking them as "Add to My List" if you want to keep track of them.
Does Netflix delete my history automatically after a certain amount of time?
No. Netflix keeps your entire watch history indefinitely unless you delete it yourself. Your history stays on your account even if you cancel your subscription and come back years later — it will still be there when you log back in.