Where your search history lives and how to reach it
Your search history is stored in two places: on the search engine's servers (what they keep about you) and in your browser (what your device keeps about you). Deleting one does not delete the other. Google stores your searches if you have a Google account and are signed in. Bing stores searches tied to your Microsoft account. Both let you delete your history through your account settings, separate from clearing your browser.
Before you delete anything, know what you are deleting. Google's "My Activity" page shows every search, every YouTube video you watched, every Gmail you opened, and every Google Map you looked at — all tied to your account. Microsoft's activity page shows Bing searches and Edge browser activity. These are different from your browser's local history, which is what appears when you type in the address bar and see suggestions.
The fastest route depends on what you want gone. If you want to delete a few searches from last week, use the search engine's activity page. If you want to delete everything Google or Microsoft knows about you, use their account settings. If you want to stop storing history altogether, change your settings before you search.
Key Takeaways
- Google and Bing store your search history on their servers only if you are signed into an account; signing out prevents new searches from being stored there.
- Deleting search history from Google.com/myactivity or Microsoft.com/account/privacy does not delete the same searches from your browser's local history.
- You can delete all your search history at once, or set an automatic deletion schedule so searches older than 3 or 18 months disappear without your action.
- Turning off "Web & App Activity" or "Search History" in your account settings stops the search engine from storing future searches, but does not delete past ones.
Delete searches from Google
Go to myactivity.google.com while signed into your Google account. On the left side, click "Search" to see only your Google searches. You will see a list of every search you have done while signed in, with dates and times.
To delete individual searches, hover over each one and click the trash icon. To delete all searches from a specific date, click the date at the top of that day's group. To delete everything at once, click the three-dot menu at the top left, select "Delete activity by," choose "All time," and confirm. Google will ask you to sign in again to complete the deletion.
If you want Google to stop storing future searches, go to myactivity.google.com, click the three-dot menu, select "Settings," and turn off "Web & App Activity." This stops Google from recording new searches, but does not delete the ones already stored. You can also set automatic deletion: in the same Settings menu, choose "Auto-delete" and select whether searches older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months should be removed automatically.
Delete searches from Bing and Microsoft
Go to account.microsoft.com/privacy while signed into your Microsoft account. Click "Clear recent activity" under the "Clear browsing data" section. You will see a list of your Bing searches and other activity. Select the time range (Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 30 days, or All time) and check the boxes for what you want deleted. Make sure "Search history" is checked, then click "Clear."
To stop Bing from storing future searches, stay on the same privacy page and find the "Manage your search privacy" section. Toggle off "Personalized ads" or "Search history" depending on what you want to disable. Unlike Google, Microsoft does not offer automatic deletion on a schedule, so you will need to manually clear your activity if you want it removed regularly.
Delete searches from your browser
Your browser keeps a separate history of every site you visited and every search you typed into the address bar. This is stored on your device, not on Google's or Bing's servers. Deleting it does not affect what Google or Bing knows about you, and deleting your Google activity does not clear your browser history.
In Chrome, press Ctrl+H (Windows) or Command+Y (Mac) to open your history. Click "Clear browsing data" on the left. Choose your time range at the top — "All time" deletes everything. Check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" along with "Browsing history," then click "Clear data." In Firefox, press Ctrl+H or Command+Y, click "Clear Recent History" on the right, choose "Everything," and click "Clear Now." In Safari, go to History menu and click "Clear History," then choose how far back to delete.
To stop your browser from storing history at all, use private or incognito mode. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Command+Shift+N (Mac). In Firefox, press Ctrl+Shift+P or Command+Shift+P. In Safari, press Command+Shift+N. Searches and sites visited in private mode are not saved to your browser history, though your internet service provider and the websites themselves can still see what you visit.
Stop search engines from storing your searches before they happen
The easiest way to keep search history from piling up is to prevent it from being stored in the first place. If you do not want Google storing your searches, sign out of your Google account before you search, or use private browsing mode. Google cannot tie searches to your account if you are not signed in.
The same applies to Bing: sign out of your Microsoft account or use private browsing. Keep in mind that signing out means you lose personalized search results, Gmail access, and other account features while you browse. Private mode keeps you signed in but does not store history locally or on the search engine's servers.
If you want to stay signed in but stop the search engine from storing your activity, turn off "Web & App Activity" in Google Settings or "Search history" in Microsoft Settings. This is the middle ground: you stay signed in and get personalized results, but the search engine does not keep a record of what you searched for.
What deletion actually removes and what it does not
When you delete your search history from Google or Bing, the search engine removes it from your account's activity page and from the servers where it was stored. You will no longer see those searches in "My Activity" or your account settings. However, the search engine may keep anonymized copies for internal use, and your internet service provider still has a record of the sites you visited.
Deleting your search history does not remove your searches from search results that other people can see. If you searched for something and clicked a link, that click may have been recorded by the website you visited, separate from your search engine history. Deleting your Google or Bing history does not affect those records.
If you used a work computer or a school network, your employer or school may have their own records of your searches, separate from Google's or Bing's. Deleting your personal account history does not touch those logs. Similarly, if you searched while connected to someone else's Wi-Fi, the router owner may have network logs of your activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my search history from Google also delete it from my browser?
No. Google's servers and your browser store history separately. Deleting from myactivity.google.com removes what Google knows about you, but your browser still has a record of the sites you visited. You must clear your browser history separately through Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge settings.
Can I delete just one search instead of everything?
Yes. In Google's My Activity, hover over the search you want gone and click the trash icon. In Microsoft's privacy settings, you can select individual items before clicking "Clear." Your browser also lets you delete individual history entries by right-clicking them and selecting "Delete."
If I use private browsing, is my search history stored anywhere?
Private browsing stops your browser from storing history on your device. However, your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and the search engine itself can still see your searches. If you are signed into a Google or Microsoft account while in private mode, those searches may still be recorded in your account's activity.
How long does Google keep my search history if I do not delete it?
Google keeps your search history indefinitely unless you delete it manually or set up automatic deletion. You can go to Google Settings and choose to automatically delete searches older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months. Without this setting, searches remain in your account until you remove them.
Will deleting my search history stop ads from following me around?
Deleting your search history removes the record of what you searched for, but does not stop ads based on other data Google or Bing collects — like sites you visited, videos you watched, or your location. To reduce personalized ads, turn off "Web & App Activity" in Google Settings or adjust ad preferences in both Google and Microsoft account settings.