Google Maps stores three separate histories, and you delete them in different places
Google Maps keeps track of three things: the places you search for, the routes you navigate, and your real-time location history. You can delete all three, but the steps are different for each one. Most people find their search history in the Maps app itself, but location history lives in your Google Account settings — a place many people never look.
The reason they are split is that Google treats location history as account-level data (it follows you across all Google services), while search and navigation history stays within Maps. Understanding this split matters because deleting one does not delete the others.
Key Takeaways
- Google Maps search history and navigation history can be deleted directly from the Maps app on your phone or computer, usually in under a minute.
- Location history — the continuous record of where your phone has been — is stored in your Google Account settings, not in the Maps app itself.
- You can delete all history at once or remove individual searches and locations one by one.
- Turning off location history stops Google from recording your movements going forward, but does not erase what has already been stored.
- If you use Google Maps on a shared device or account, deleting your history will affect what other people see when they use that same account.
How to delete your search and navigation history from the Maps app
On your phone or computer, open Google Maps and tap or click the profile icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Maps history. You will see a list of places you have searched for and routes you have navigated. From here you can delete individual items by tapping or clicking the X next to each one, or delete everything at once by selecting Delete all.
On a computer, the same menu is in the top right corner under your profile picture. The process is identical: Settings, then Maps history, then delete what you want to remove. Deleted items disappear when ready from your Maps history, though Google may keep records of this activity in other places (like your Google Account activity log).
If you do not see a Maps history option in your Settings menu, your account may not have location history turned on, or you may be using an older version of the app. Update Google Maps to the latest version and check again.
How to delete location history from your Google Account
Location history is different from search history. It is a continuous record of where your phone has been, recorded whenever you have location services turned on. To see and delete it, go to myactivity.google.com in a web browser. This is your Google Account activity page, not the Maps app.
On the left side, click Location. You will see a timeline of places your phone has visited, often with dates and times. You can delete individual locations by clicking on them and selecting the delete button, or delete all location history by clicking the three-dot menu at the top and selecting Delete all. Google will ask you to confirm; once you do, the history is removed.
This page shows location history from all Google services that use your location — not just Maps. If you use Google Photos, Google Search, or other Google apps with location turned on, they all feed into this same timeline. Deleting from this page removes the record from all of them at once.
The difference between deleting history and turning off location history
Deleting your location history removes what Google has already recorded. Turning off location history stops Google from recording new locations going forward. These are two separate actions, and doing one does not do the other.
To turn off location history, go to myactivity.google.com, click Location, then click the three-dot menu and select Turn off Location History. You can also do this from your phone's Settings: on Android, go to Settings, then Google, then Manage your Google Account, then Data & Privacy, then Web & App Activity, and toggle off Location. On iPhone, open Settings, scroll to Google Maps, and turn off Location.
If you turn off location history but do not delete what has already been stored, Google keeps the old records. If you delete all your location history but do not turn off the setting, Google will start recording your location again the next time you use Maps or another Google service with location enabled.
What happens when you delete history on a shared device or account
If you share a Google Account with someone else — a family account, a work device, or a shared household phone — deleting your history will delete it for everyone using that account. Google does not separate history by user within a single account; it is all or nothing.
If you want to keep your location private from someone else using the same account, the only real solution is to use a separate Google Account. You can set up a second account on the same phone or computer and use that account for Maps when you want privacy. The downside is that you lose access to your saved places, starred locations, and other Maps data tied to your main account.
How to prevent Google Maps from storing history in the future
The most direct way to stop Google Maps from recording your activity is to turn off location history in your Google Account settings (described above). But there are other layers: you can also turn off location services on your phone entirely, use Maps in Incognito mode, or use a different maps service that does not track your location.
Incognito mode in Google Maps (available on Android and iPhone) prevents Google from saving your searches, routes, and location to your account. Open Maps, tap your profile icon, and select Turn on Incognito mode. While in Incognito mode, Maps will not add your searches or navigation to your history. However, your phone's operating system and your internet service provider can still see where you are and where you are going — Incognito mode only hides it from Google.
If you turn off location services on your phone entirely, Google Maps will not know your location and cannot record it. The trade-off is that Maps becomes much less useful; you will not see real-time traffic, and the app cannot show you where you are on the map. For many people, this is too much of a sacrifice for the privacy gain.
Why Google keeps this data and what it is used for
Google stores your Maps history and location data to improve the service: it learns which routes you prefer, which places you visit often, and what kinds of searches you make. This data also powers features like "Your Timeline" (a personal map of everywhere you have been) and personalized recommendations for restaurants, shops, and other places near you.
Google also uses this data for advertising. Your location history and search patterns help advertisers target you with relevant ads. If you search for "pizza near me" and then visit a pizza restaurant, Google knows that, and it can tell advertisers that you are the kind of person who acts on local search ads. This is one reason why deleting your history matters to some people — it reduces the amount of data Google has about your movements and interests.
You do not have to delete your history to limit this. You can keep your history but adjust your privacy settings to limit how Google uses it for ads, or you can delete history periodically rather than turning off the feature entirely. The choice depends on how much you value the convenience of Maps remembering your favorite places against how much you want to limit what Google knows about where you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my Google Maps history delete it from Google's servers completely?
Deleting your history removes it from your account and from the Maps app, but Google may keep records of your activity in other systems for legal, security, or business reasons. Your deleted history will not show up in Maps or in your Google Account activity, but you cannot be certain it is gone from every Google database. If you want to minimize what Google stores about you, turning off location history and using Incognito mode going forward is more effective than deleting old history.
Can I delete only certain types of history, like just my searches but not my navigation?
Yes. In the Maps app, go to Settings, then Maps history, and delete individual items one by one. You can delete a search without deleting a route, or vice versa. Location history (from your Google Account) is separate and can be deleted independently. However, there is no way to delete only searches while keeping navigation, or only navigation while keeping searches — you have to choose which individual items to remove.
If I delete my Maps history, will my saved places and starred locations disappear too?
No. Your saved places, starred locations, and custom lists are separate from your search and navigation history. Deleting your history will not affect them. If you want to remove saved places, you have to delete them separately from your Saved Places list in the Maps app.
Does Google Maps track me if I have location services turned off on my phone?
Google Maps cannot determine your location if location services are off, so it cannot record where you are. However, if you search for directions or navigate to a place, Google will still record that search or route in your Maps history. The location history feature specifically tracks your real-time location; turning it off stops that tracking, but does not stop Maps from recording your searches and navigation.
What is the difference between Google Maps history and Google Search history?
Google Maps history is specific to the Maps app and includes searches for places, routes you have navigated, and your location timeline. Google Search history is separate and includes searches you have done in Google Search or the Chrome browser. Deleting one does not delete the other. Both are managed from your Google Account, but in different places: Maps history is in the Maps app, while Search history is at myactivity.google.com under the Search tab.