Delete your search history from Google right now

You can delete your Google search history in three ways: delete everything at once, delete a specific search, or set it to delete automatically. The fastest route is the "Delete all time" option in your Google account settings, which takes about two minutes. If you want to keep some searches and remove only others, you can delete them one at a time. If you want Google to stop storing searches altogether, you can turn off Web & App Activity — though this also affects other Google services like YouTube recommendations.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use a computer or phone, and whether you want to delete history from your account or from a single device. All of these options are free and built into Google.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete all your Google search history at once by going to myactivity.google.com, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Delete all time".
  • To delete individual searches instead, open myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it.
  • Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from storing new searches, but it also turns off personalized recommendations on YouTube and in Google Search.
  • Deleting your history from your Google account removes it from all devices where you are signed in, but does not affect searches made in private browsing mode.
  • If you use a shared device, you can delete history from only that device without affecting your account history on other devices.

Delete all your search history at once

Go to myactivity.google.com in any web browser. You will see a list of everything Google has recorded — searches, videos you watched, maps you looked up, and more. At the top left, click the three horizontal lines (the menu icon), then click Delete activity by.

A box will appear with date options. Click the dropdown that says "All time" to delete everything. Then click the Delete button. Google will ask you to confirm. Click Delete again. This removes all your search history from your Google account. The process takes a few seconds.

If you only want to delete searches from a certain period — say, the last month — click the dropdown and select Last month, Last week, or Last day instead of "All time". The same deletion process applies.

Delete individual searches instead of everything

If you want to keep most of your search history but remove specific searches, go to myactivity.google.com again. Scroll through the list to find the search you want to delete. You can also use the search box at the top to find a specific search by typing a keyword.

Once you find the search, click the trash icon (or three dots, then "Delete") next to it. That single search is removed when ready. You can repeat this for as many searches as you want. This method is slower than deleting everything at once, but it lets you keep searches you want to preserve.

Stop Google from storing new searches going forward

If you do not want Google to record your searches at all, you can turn off Web & App Activity. Go to myactivity.google.com, click the three horizontal lines, then click Settings. Under "Web & App Activity", toggle the switch to Off. Google will ask you to confirm. Click Turn off.

Once you turn this off, Google stops recording new searches on your account. However, this also affects other Google services: YouTube will stop learning your preferences, Google Search will not personalize results based on your history, and Google Maps will not remember places you looked up. If you want to keep those features but stop recording searches, this option is not the right choice.

You can turn Web & App Activity back on at any time by going to the same Settings page and toggling it back to On.

Delete history from a single device without affecting your account

If you use a shared computer or phone and want to delete your search history from only that device, you can clear your browser history instead of your Google account history. This removes searches from the device itself but does not change what Google has stored in your account.

In Chrome on a computer, click the three dots in the top right corner, then click Settings. On the left, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked. Set the time range to All time, then click Clear data. This removes your search history from that computer only.

On an Android phone, open Chrome, tap the three dots, then tap Settings. Tap Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Check the same boxes and tap Clear data. On an iPhone, the steps are similar: open Chrome, tap the three dots, tap Settings, then Privacy, then Clear Browsing Data.

What happens to searches made in private or incognito mode

If you use Chrome's Incognito mode, Firefox's Private Browsing, or Safari's Private Browsing, Google does not store those searches in your account history. They do not appear on myactivity.google.com. However, your internet service provider, your employer (if you use a work network), and the websites you visit can still see what you search for.

Private browsing mode only hides your searches from your Google account — it does not hide them from everyone. If you want more privacy from your internet service provider or network administrator, you would need to use a VPN, which is a separate tool that encrypts your connection.

Why Google stores your search history

Google stores your searches to personalize your results, show you relevant ads, and improve its search engine. The longer your history, the better Google can predict what you are looking for. This is why deleting your history sometimes makes Google Search feel less personalized — it has less information to work with.

You can also pause your history without deleting it. Go to myactivity.google.com, click the three horizontal lines, click Settings, and toggle Web & App Activity to Off. This stops new searches from being recorded but keeps your old history intact. You can turn it back on later if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting my Google search history delete it from Google's servers?

When you delete your search history from myactivity.google.com, it removes the record from your account. Google says the data is deleted, but some information may remain in backups for a limited time. If you are concerned about Google keeping any record at all, turning off Web & App Activity prevents new searches from being stored in the first place.

Will deleting my search history affect my Gmail or other Google services?

No. Deleting your search history only removes searches you performed in Google Search. It does not affect your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, or other Google services. Those have separate storage and deletion processes.

Can I delete my search history on Google if I am not signed in?

No. You can only manage your search history through your Google account at myactivity.google.com. If you are not signed in, Google does not link searches to your account, so there is no history to delete. Signing in is required to see and manage your history.

If I delete my search history, will it stop Google from showing me ads?

Deleting your history reduces the information Google has about your interests, which may make ads less targeted. However, Google still shows you ads based on other signals — your location, the websites you visit, and your Gmail content. Deleting search history alone will not stop ads from appearing.

What is the difference between deleting history and turning off Web & App Activity?

Deleting history removes searches you have already made. Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from recording new searches going forward. If you delete your history but leave Web & App Activity on, Google will start recording searches again when ready. If you want a clean slate and no future recording, do both: delete all history, then turn off Web & App Activity.