You can delete one search at a time from your Google Search history, or clear everything at once
Google stores every search you make when you are signed into your account. You can remove individual searches by going to your Search history page, finding the search you want gone, and clicking the delete button next to it. You can also delete all your searches from a specific date range, or wipe your entire history in one action. The process takes less than a minute, but the searches stay in Google's backup systems for a while longer — deletion from your account does not mean Google has no record of them.
Which method you choose depends on whether you want to remove a few searches that embarrass you, hide a pattern Google might notice, or just start fresh. Each approach works differently and leaves different traces.
Key Takeaways
- Go to myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to delete, and click the trash icon next to it to remove it from your account.
- Deleting a search from your account removes it from the history Google shows you, but Google's servers may retain copies for weeks or months.
- You can delete all searches from a specific date range using the date filter on the left side of your activity page, rather than clicking each one individually.
- Turning off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings stops Google from recording new searches going forward, though it also affects other Google services like Maps and YouTube.
Delete a single search from your history
Open a web browser and go to myactivity.google.com. You must be signed into the Google account where the search was recorded. If you use multiple Google accounts, make sure you are signed into the right one — your search history is separate for each account.
The page shows your recent activity in reverse chronological order, with the newest at the top. Scroll down to find the search you want to delete. Each search appears with the date and time you made it. Click on the search result to see more detail if you are not sure which one it is.
Once you find it, look for the trash icon (a small garbage can) on the right side of that search entry. Click it. Google will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click Delete in the confirmation box. The search disappears from your activity page when ready.
Delete multiple searches from a date range
If you want to remove many searches at once instead of clicking each one individually, use the date filter on the left side of myactivity.google.com. Click Delete activity by near the top left of the page.
A box appears with three options: delete activity from today, from the last week, or from the last month. Choose the time range that covers the searches you want gone. Google will show you a preview of what will be deleted. Click Delete to confirm. All searches from that date range disappear from your account.
This method is faster than deleting one search at a time, but it removes everything from that period — you cannot pick and choose which searches to keep. If you need to keep some searches from that time range, delete them individually instead.
What happens to your search after you delete it
When you delete a search from myactivity.google.com, it stops appearing in your own activity history. Google's recommendation engine also stops using that search to personalize your results and ads. From your perspective, the search is gone.
Behind the scenes, Google's servers may keep backup copies of your deleted searches for a period of time — Google does not publish exactly how long. These backups exist for system recovery and legal reasons, not for tracking you. You cannot access them yourself, and they do not affect what you see when you log in.
Deletion also does not prevent Google from using patterns in your search history to build a profile of your interests. If you searched for something sensitive ten times before deleting it, Google's systems may have already learned that pattern. Deleting the individual searches after the fact does not erase what Google inferred about you.
Turn off search recording to stop Google from storing new searches
If you want to prevent Google from recording your searches going forward, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & privacy on the left, then scroll down to Web & App Activity and toggle it off.
When Web & App Activity is off, Google stops recording your searches, your YouTube watch history, your Chrome browsing history, and your Google Maps activity. Your searches still happen — Google still processes them to give you results — but Google does not store them in your account. This is different from deleting past searches; it only affects new activity going forward.
Turning this setting off does affect your experience. Google uses your search history to personalize results and to fill in autocomplete suggestions based on things you have searched before. Without it, you lose that convenience. You can turn Web & App Activity back on at any time.
Delete searches on your phone or tablet
The process is the same on mobile devices as on a computer. Open a web browser on your phone or tablet, go to myactivity.google.com, and sign in. Scroll to find the search you want to delete, tap the trash icon, and confirm. You can also use the date filter to delete multiple searches at once.
If you use the Google app on Android or iOS, you can also delete searches directly from the app. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, go to Search history, find the search, and tap the trash icon next to it. The process is identical to the web version.
Searches you cannot delete
If you have Web & App Activity turned off, Google does not record your searches, so there is nothing to delete. Turning it back on does not recover old searches from before you turned it off — they are not stored anywhere.
If you search while signed out of your Google account, or in Incognito mode, Google does not link those searches to your account. They do not appear in your activity history, so you cannot delete them from myactivity.google.com. Incognito mode prevents Google from storing the search in your account in the first place, rather than deleting it after the fact.
Searches you make on other devices or in other browsers still appear in your account activity if you are signed in. Deleting a search from myactivity.google.com removes it from all your devices at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a search stop Google from using it for ads?
Yes. Once you delete a search from your activity, Google stops using that specific search to personalize ads shown to you. However, if you searched for something many times before deleting it, Google may have already built a profile of your interests based on the pattern. Deleting the searches after the fact does not erase inferences Google already made.
Can I delete searches on someone else's device?
No. You can only delete searches from your own Google account by signing in at myactivity.google.com. If someone else uses your device while signed into their own account, you cannot see or delete their searches. If they use your device while signed into your account, their searches appear in your history and you can delete them, but they will know you did.
What is the difference between deleting a search and using Incognito mode?
Incognito mode prevents Google from recording the search in the first place. Deleting a search removes it after Google has already recorded it. Incognito is better if you want to prevent storage from the start; deletion is better if you forgot to use it and want to clean up afterward.
If I delete my search history, will my internet provider still see what I searched?
Yes. Your internet service provider can see the websites you visit regardless of whether you delete your Google search history. Deleting your Google history only affects what Google stores about you, not what your ISP sees. Your ISP sees the domain names you connect to, but not the search terms you type into Google's search box.
How long does Google keep deleted searches in backup?
Google does not publish the exact length of time. Backups exist for system recovery and are separate from your account activity. You cannot access them yourself, and they do not affect your privacy settings or what you see when you log in. If you need to know Google's exact retention policy, you can request your data through Google Takeout or contact Google's support.