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, in your profile's watch list, and in Netflix's own records about your account. You can delete individual titles from your history, clear your entire viewing history, or prevent Netflix from recording future activity — but the steps differ depending on what you want to remove and which device you are using.
The reason Netflix tracks this is straightforward: the company uses your viewing data to recommend shows you might like, to decide which shows to renew or cancel, and to sell advertising information to studios. If you share your account with family members, their viewing history also affects what Netflix recommends to you. Deleting your history does not delete Netflix's records of what you watched — it only removes it from your visible profile and the recommendation algorithm that learns from your choices.
Key Takeaways
- You can remove individual titles from your history by clicking the X next to them in your profile, or by removing them from your "Continue Watching" row.
- To clear your entire viewing history at once, go to your account settings, find "Viewing activity", and select "Clear all viewing activity".
- Clearing your history does not prevent Netflix from recording what you watch going forward — you must turn off autoplay or use a separate profile to stop new entries from being added.
- If you share your account, your viewing history affects recommendations for everyone on that account, so clearing it will change what Netflix suggests to other users.
How to remove one title from your history on any device
The fastest way to hide a single show or movie is to remove it from your "Continue Watching" row. On the Netflix home screen, hover over the title you want to remove, click the three-dot menu that appears, and select "Remove from row". This hides it from your home screen but does not delete it from your full viewing history.
To actually delete a title from your viewing history, you must go to your account settings. On a computer or phone browser, sign in to Netflix, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Account", then find "Viewing activity" under your profile name. A list of every title you have watched will appear. Hover over or click any title and an X will appear — click it to remove that title from your history. On the Netflix app for phone or tablet, go to "More" or "Profile", then "Settings", then "Viewing activity", and tap the X next to any title you want to delete.
How to clear your entire viewing history at once
If you want to remove everything you have watched, go to your account settings through a web browser (the app does not have this option). Click your profile icon, select "Account", find "Viewing activity", and look for a link that says "Clear all viewing activity". Click it, and Netflix will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, your entire history disappears from your profile.
This action is permanent and cannot be undone, so Netflix will ask you to confirm twice. After you clear your history, your "Continue Watching" row will be empty, and Netflix will begin building a new recommendation profile based only on what you watch from that point forward. If you share your account with others, clearing your history will also clear theirs — they will lose their "Continue Watching" row and their recommendations will change.
Why Netflix keeps recording your history even after you delete it
Deleting your viewing history from your profile does not stop Netflix from collecting data about what you watch. Netflix's servers still record every title you start, how long you watch it, and when you watch it. Removing it from your visible history only prevents it from affecting your recommendations and from appearing in your profile.
This distinction matters because Netflix uses your viewing data for purposes beyond recommendations — the company reports aggregate viewing numbers to studios, uses it to decide which shows to renew, and may sell anonymized data to advertisers. Deleting your history does not opt you out of this tracking. If you want to prevent Netflix from recording new viewing activity, you would need to use a separate profile that you do not log into regularly, or to stop using the account altogether.
How to prevent Netflix from adding new titles to your history
Netflix does not have a built-in setting to stop recording your viewing activity. However, you can create a separate profile on your account that you use only for content you do not want tracked. Create a new profile, watch what you want on that profile, and your main profile's history and recommendations will not be affected.
Alternatively, if you are concerned about what Netflix recommends based on your history, you can periodically clear your entire viewing activity and start fresh. Some people do this monthly or after watching content they do not want to influence their recommendations. This does not prevent Netflix from recording the data, but it does reset what the recommendation algorithm knows about your preferences.
What happens to your history if you share your account
If multiple people use one Netflix account, you all share the same viewing history and recommendations unless you have separate profiles. When you watch something on your profile, it appears in your profile's history. When someone else watches something on their profile, it appears in their history. However, Netflix's recommendation algorithm learns from all profiles on the account together, so what one person watches can influence what Netflix suggests to everyone.
If you delete your viewing history, it only affects your profile — other people's histories remain intact. If you clear all viewing activity from the account settings page, it clears everyone's history at once. This is why many households create individual profiles: so each person's viewing history and recommendations stay separate. If you want your history hidden from other account users, ask them to create their own profiles, or create a separate profile for yourself.
Differences between devices and browsers
The steps to delete your history are slightly different depending on whether you use a computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. On a computer or phone browser, you can delete individual titles or clear all activity through your account settings. On the Netflix app for iPhone or Android, you go through "Profile" or "More" and then "Settings" to reach "Viewing activity". On a smart TV or streaming device, you usually cannot delete history directly from the device — you must use a web browser or phone to manage your account settings.
If you watch Netflix on multiple devices, deleting your history on one device deletes it everywhere. Your viewing history is tied to your profile, not to the device you are using. So if you clear your history on your phone, it will also be gone from your computer, your TV, and anyone else's view of your profile on that account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my history without clearing everyone else's on a shared account?
Yes. If you have a separate profile, delete only from your profile's viewing activity page. If you all share one profile, you cannot delete your history without deleting everyone's — the solution is to create individual profiles for each person on the account.
Does Netflix still know what I watched after I delete it?
Yes. Deleting your history removes it from your visible profile and stops it from affecting recommendations, but Netflix's servers still have a record of what you watched. Deleting your history is about privacy from other account users and from the recommendation algorithm, not about erasing Netflix's data.
Will deleting my history stop Netflix from recommending shows I don't like?
Partially. Clearing your history removes past data from the recommendation algorithm, so Netflix will start fresh. However, Netflix will begin learning your preferences again as soon as you watch new content. If you want different recommendations, you may need to watch different types of shows going forward.
Can I delete history from the Netflix app on my TV?
No. Smart TV apps do not have a viewing activity page. You must use a web browser or the Netflix app on your phone to delete history. Sign in to your account on Netflix.com or the mobile app, go to your account settings, and manage your viewing activity there.
What if I want to hide one show from my recommendations without deleting it from my history?
Netflix does not have a "hide from recommendations" button separate from deletion. Your options are to delete the title from your history entirely, or to create a separate profile for content you do not want to influence your main recommendations.