Why and when to clear your browsing history
Clearing your browsing history removes the record of websites you have visited from your browser. Google stores this history so it can suggest sites when you start typing in the address bar, and so you can search your own past visits. You might clear it to free up storage space, to remove traces of sites you visited on a shared device, or straightforward to start fresh.
The process is the same whether you use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — each browser has its own history storage, so clearing history in one does not affect the others. If you use multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer), you will need to clear history on each one separately unless you have synced your browsing across devices, in which case clearing on one device can clear it everywhere.
History clears when ready once you confirm. You cannot undo it, so if you think you might need a record of a site you visited, write down the URL or bookmark it before you clear.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing history in Google Chrome on a computer takes three clicks: open the menu, select "Clear browsing data", choose your time range, and confirm.
- You can clear all history or only history from the last hour, day, week, or month — choose the time range that matches what you want to remove.
- Clearing history does not sign you out of websites, delete saved passwords, or remove bookmarks unless you specifically check those boxes.
- On phones and tablets, the steps are similar but the menu location differs slightly depending on whether you use Android or iOS.
- If you have synced your Google account across devices, clearing history on one device will clear it on all of them.
Clearing history in Google Chrome on Windows or Mac
Open Google Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button). A dropdown list will appear.
Find and click "Clear browsing data". A window will pop up with several options. At the top, you will see a dropdown that says "Time range". Click it to choose what period of history to clear: "All time" removes everything, while "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", and "Last 30 days" let you remove only recent history.
Below the time range, you will see checkboxes for what to clear. By default, "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked. Leave these checked unless you have a reason not to. Do not check "Passwords and other sign-in data" unless you want to delete saved passwords — clearing history alone will not sign you out of websites. Do not check "Autofill form data" unless you want to remove saved addresses and payment methods.
Once you have set the time range and confirmed which boxes are checked, click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right. The window will close and your history is gone.
Clearing history in Google Chrome on Android phones and tablets
Open Google Chrome. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. A menu will slide up from the bottom of the screen.
Tap "Settings". A new screen opens. Tap "Privacy and security" (or sometimes just "Privacy"). Tap "Clear browsing data".
At the top, you will see "Time range". Tap it to choose the period: "All time", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 30 days". Below that, checkboxes appear for what to clear. "Cookies and site data" and "Images and files" are usually checked — leave them that way. Do not check "Passwords" unless you want to delete saved passwords.
Tap "Clear data" at the bottom. Your history is removed when ready.
Clearing history in Google Chrome on iPhone or iPad
Open Google Chrome. Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the bottom right corner. Tap "Settings".
Tap "Privacy". Tap "Clear browsing data".
A menu appears with options. You will see "Browsing history", "Cookies, Site Data", and "Cached Images and Files" — all are checked by default. Leave them checked. Do not check "Saved Passwords" unless you want to remove saved passwords.
At the top, you may see a time range option. If it appears, tap it and choose your range. Tap "Clear Browsing Data" to confirm. The action completes when ready.
What clearing history does and does not do
Clearing history removes the list of websites you have visited, so they will not appear in your address bar suggestions or in your history search. It also removes cookies (small files that websites use to remember you) and cached files (copies of images and pages stored on your device to load sites faster).
Clearing history does not sign you out of websites. If you are logged into Gmail, Facebook, or any other site, you will stay logged in. If you want to sign out, you must do that separately on each website.
Clearing history does not delete saved passwords unless you specifically check that box. Your saved passwords remain in Chrome's password manager. Clearing history does not remove bookmarks. Clearing history does not affect other browsers — if you use Firefox or Safari, their history remains untouched.
If you have turned on sync for your Google account (a setting that copies your bookmarks, passwords, and history across all your devices), clearing history on one device will clear it on all devices where you are signed into that account.
Clearing history automatically on exit
If you want Chrome to clear your history every time you close the browser, you can set that up. Open Chrome, click the three dots menu, and select "Settings". Click "Privacy and security" on the left side. Toggle on "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". From that point forward, your history, cookies, and cached files will be deleted automatically when you close the browser completely.
This setting does not clear your history while you are browsing — it only clears when you fully exit Chrome. If you close a tab or window but leave Chrome running, history remains. This is useful if you share a device and want to avoid leaving a record of your browsing for the next person to see.
Clearing history on a shared device
If you share a computer, phone, or tablet with others, clearing your history removes your browsing record from that device. However, it does not prevent other users from seeing what you visit in the future unless you use a private browsing mode.
In Chrome, you can open a private window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Command+Shift+N on Mac. On phones, tap the three dots menu and select "New Incognito tab". In private mode, Chrome does not save your history, cookies, or cached files — they disappear when you close the private window. This is the best way to browse privately on a shared device without having to remember to clear history afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
No, not unless you specifically check the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box before clearing. By default, that box is unchecked, so your saved passwords remain. If you want to delete a single password, go to Settings, then "Passwords", find the site, and click the trash icon next to it.
Will clearing history sign me out of websites?
No. Clearing history removes the record of sites you visited, but it does not sign you out. You will stay logged into Gmail, Facebook, and other sites. To sign out, you must do so manually on each website.
If I clear history on my phone, does it clear on my computer too?
Only if you have turned on sync for your Google account. If you are signed into the same Google account on both devices and sync is enabled, clearing history on one device clears it on all of them. If you are not synced or signed into different accounts, clearing on one device does not affect the other.
Can I undo clearing my history?
No. Once you click "Clear data" and confirm, the history is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you think you might need a record of a site, bookmark it or write down the URL before you clear.
What is the difference between clearing history and using private browsing?
Clearing history removes past browsing records after the fact. Private browsing (Incognito mode) prevents Chrome from saving history, cookies, and cached files while you browse — nothing is recorded in the first place. Private mode is better if you want to browse without leaving a trace on a shared device.