Delete Recent Searches on Google

Google stores your search history in your account if you are signed in. To remove individual searches, go to myactivity.google.com, which shows everything Google has recorded about you. On the left side, click Search to see only your searches. Find the search you want to delete, hover over it, and click the trash icon that appears on the right.

To delete multiple searches at once, use the three-line menu icon in the top left corner and select Delete activity by. Choose the date range — you can pick a specific day, all time, or anything in between. Google will delete all searches from that period. If you want to stop Google from storing searches altogether, go to myactivity.google.com, click the three-line menu, select Settings, and turn off Web & App Activity. This stops new searches from being saved, but does not delete what is already there.

Delete Recent Searches on Bing

Microsoft Bing works similarly to Google if you use a Microsoft account. Sign into account.microsoft.com, then go to Privacy and select Bing search history. You will see a list of your recent searches. Click the X next to any search to remove it individually, or click Clear all at the top to delete everything at once.

If you are not signed into a Microsoft account when you search, Bing still stores some information tied to your device or browser, but you cannot access it through your account. In that case, clearing your browser history (covered below) is the only way to remove those searches from your device.

Delete Searches Stored in Your Browser

Your web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — keeps a record of searches you have typed into the address bar and search box, separate from what Google or Bing stores. To clear this local history, open your browser settings and look for Clear browsing data or Clear history. In Chrome and Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. In Firefox, press Ctrl+Shift+H on Windows or Command+Shift+H on Mac. In Safari, go to History in the menu bar and click Clear History.

When the window opens, make sure Cookies and cached images and files is checked, and set the time range to All time if you want to remove everything. Some browsers let you choose to clear only search history without touching other data. After you click the delete button, those searches are gone from your browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Google and Bing store your searches only if you are signed into an account, and you can delete them one at a time or in bulk through your account settings.
  • Your web browser keeps its own separate record of searches you typed, which you clear through the browser's history settings, not through Google or Bing.
  • Deleting searches from your account does not automatically delete them from your browser, and vice versa — you may need to clear both.
  • To stop future searches from being saved, turn off search history in your Google or Microsoft account settings, or use private browsing mode in your browser.
  • Private or incognito mode prevents your browser from storing searches locally, but does not stop Google or Bing from recording them if you are signed in.

Delete Searches on Mobile Devices

On an iPhone or iPad, open Safari, tap the book icon at the bottom, then tap History. Tap Clear History and Website Data at the bottom and choose the time range. On Android with Chrome, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy, and tap Clear browsing data. Select the time range and make sure Search and site suggestions is checked.

If you use the Google app on your phone to search, your searches go to your Google account, not just your browser. Delete them the same way you would on a computer — through myactivity.google.com on any device. The same applies to the Bing app and your Microsoft account.

What Happens When You Delete a Search

When you delete a search from Google or Bing, it is removed from the activity log you can see. However, these companies may retain some data for internal purposes — they do not publicly say how long or in what form. Deleting from your browser removes the search from your device only; it does not affect what Google or Bing has stored.

If you share a device with other people, deleting your searches does not remove them from their accounts or their browsers. Each person needs to delete their own history separately. If you are concerned about privacy on a shared device, use private or incognito mode, which does not save searches to your browser history at all.

Use Private Browsing to Prevent Searches from Being Saved

Private or incognito mode is a browser feature that stops your device from storing searches and website visits. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Command+Shift+N on Mac. In Firefox, press Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Command+Shift+P on Mac. In Safari, go to File and click New Private Window. In Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows.

When you close a private window, your searches and browsing history from that session disappear from your device. This does not affect what Google or Bing records if you are signed into your account — they still see your searches. But if you are not signed in, private mode prevents both your browser and the search engine from storing anything on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be signed in for Google to save my searches?

Yes. Google only stores searches in your account if you are signed in with a Google account. If you search without signing in, Google may still collect data about your search, but it is not tied to your account activity log. Your browser, however, saves searches whether you are signed in or not.

If I delete a search from Google, can other people still see it?

No. Deleting a search from your Google account removes it from your activity log. Other people cannot see your search history unless they have access to your account password. If you share a device, each person has their own account and their own search history.

Does clearing my browser history delete my Google searches too?

No. Clearing your browser history removes searches stored on your device, but does not touch what is saved in your Google account. You need to delete them separately through myactivity.google.com. The same applies to Bing — clearing your browser does not delete your Bing account history.

Will private browsing stop Google from seeing my searches?

Private browsing stops your browser from saving searches to your device, but if you are signed into your Google account, Google still records your searches in your account activity. To prevent Google from seeing searches, you would need to sign out of your account before searching, or use a search engine that does not track you.

Can I delete searches from a specific date only?

Yes. On myactivity.google.com, you can delete searches from a specific day, a date range, or all time. Click Delete activity by in the menu and choose your date range. For your browser, most browsers let you choose to clear history from the last hour, day, week, or all time, but not a specific date in the middle.