What clearing your history actually does
Clearing your internet history removes the record of websites you visited from your device, but it does not erase the record from your internet service provider, your employer's network, or the websites themselves. When you clear history in your browser, you are deleting local files stored on your computer or phone — the list that appears when you type into the address bar, the cache of images and scripts that speed up page loading, and the cookies that remember your login information.
The websites you visited still have records of your visit. Your ISP still has logs of which IP addresses you connected to and when. If you were on a work network or school network, the network administrator still has records. Clearing your history is useful for privacy from other people who use your device, but it is not a substitute for a VPN or private browsing mode if you are concerned about your ISP or network seeing where you go.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing your browser history removes the list of sites you visited from your device, but does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or the websites themselves.
- Most browsers let you clear history, cookies, and cached images all at once, and you can set them to clear automatically when you close the browser.
- Each browser and device has a different menu location for clearing history, so you may need to look in settings or preferences rather than the main menu.
- Clearing history on your phone works the same way as on a computer, but the steps differ depending on whether you use Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or another browser.
- If you want to browse without adding to your history at all, use private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Safari and Firefox) instead of clearing afterward.
How to clear history in Chrome on Windows and Mac
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + H on Mac. This opens your history page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A window will appear with checkboxes for different types of data.
At the top of the window, you will see a dropdown that says All time or a date range. Click it and choose how far back you want to clear — Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. Then check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files along with Browsing history. Click Clear data. The process takes a few seconds.
If you want Chrome to clear your history automatically every time you close the browser, go to Settings (the three-line menu in the top right), click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Check the box that says Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to clear history in Safari on Mac and iPhone
On a Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top. Click Clear History. A dropdown will ask how far back you want to clear — choose all history, the last hour, today, or today and yesterday. Click Clear History again to confirm.
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll down and tap Safari, then scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data. This clears everything at once — you cannot choose a date range on iOS. If you want to clear only cookies without clearing your full history, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, swipe left on any site, and tap Delete.
How to clear history in Firefox on Windows, Mac, and Android
On Windows or Mac, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac). The Clear Recent History window opens. At the top, click the dropdown next to Time range to clear and choose Everything, Last Hour, Last 2 Hours, Last 4 Hours, or Today. Make sure Browsing & read History, Cookies, and Cache are all checked. Click Clear Now.
On Android, open Firefox and tap the three-line menu at the bottom right. Tap Settings, then Delete browsing data. Check Browsing history, Cookies and site data, and Cached images and files. Tap Delete browsing data at the bottom. Firefox on Android clears everything from the beginning of time — you cannot select a date range.
How to clear history in Edge on Windows
Open Microsoft Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete. This opens the Clear browsing data page. At the top, click the dropdown next to Time range and choose All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months. Check the boxes for Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files. Click Clear now.
To make Edge clear your history automatically when you close it, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to Clear browsing data and turn on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. The next time you close Edge, a window will appear asking what you want to delete.
Using private browsing mode instead of clearing history later
If you know you do not want a browsing session recorded, use private browsing mode from the start instead of clearing history afterward. In Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (Mac). In Safari, press Command + Shift + N on Mac or tap the tabs icon and then Private on iPhone. In Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Command + Shift + P (Mac). In Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + P.
Private browsing mode does not add websites to your history, does not store cookies between sessions, and does not cache images. When you close the private window, nothing is left behind on your device. However, private browsing mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer, or the websites you visit — it only hides it from other people using your device.
What to do if you share a device with other people
If multiple people use the same computer or phone, clearing your history protects your privacy from them, but it is not foolproof. Someone can still see which websites are in your bookmarks, which apps are installed, or which files are in your downloads folder. A better approach is to create a separate user account on your device if the operating system supports it.
On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and click Add another person. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups and click the lock icon, then the plus sign to add a new user. On iPhone or iPad, you cannot create separate user accounts, but you can use Screen Time to restrict what other users can see. On Android, go to Settings > System > Multiple users and add a new user profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my history hide my activity from my internet service provider?
No. Your ISP can see which websites you visit because they provide the internet connection itself. Clearing your browser history only removes the record from your device. If you want to hide your activity from your ISP, you need a VPN (virtual private network), which encrypts your traffic so your ISP sees only that you are connected to the VPN, not which websites you visit through it.
Can websites see that I cleared my history?
No. Websites cannot tell whether you cleared your history. They have their own records of your visits on their servers, which are separate from your device. Clearing your history only affects what is stored locally on your computer or phone.
If I clear my history, will I lose my saved passwords?
Not automatically. When you clear browsing data, most browsers ask you to confirm which types of data to delete. If you uncheck Passwords or Autofill information, those will be preserved. If you check the box for passwords, they will be deleted. Read the checkboxes carefully before clicking clear.
What is the difference between clearing history and clearing cookies?
History is the list of websites you visited. Cookies are small files that websites store on your device to remember information about you — like your login status, your language preference, or items in your shopping cart. You can clear one without clearing the other, though most people clear both at the same time.
Does private browsing mode protect me from hackers?
Private browsing mode protects you from other people using your device, but not from hackers or malware. If your device is infected with malware, a hacker can see your activity regardless of whether you use private mode. If you are concerned about security, use antivirus software and keep your operating system and browser updated.