Delete your search history in three steps
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac. This opens your History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A box will appear asking what you want to delete and how far back. Select the time range you want (Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, All time), make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked along with your search history, then click Clear data.
That removes the record Chrome keeps of what you searched for and the websites you visited. It does not remove what Google's servers recorded about your account — that requires a separate step if you want to delete it.
If you want Chrome to stop recording your history going forward, you can use Incognito mode for individual browsing sessions, or turn off sync so Chrome stops sending your history to your Google account.
Key Takeaways
- Pressing Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac) opens your History page, where you can click Clear browsing data to delete what Chrome recorded.
- You can delete history from the last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all the way back to when you started using Chrome.
- Deleting your Chrome history does not remove what Google's servers recorded about your account unless you also clear your Google account activity separately.
- Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving your search history for that session, but Google still records the activity if you are signed into your account.
- Turning off sync in Chrome settings stops your history from being sent to your Google account, but does not delete history that is already there.
The difference between Chrome history and Google account history
Chrome keeps two separate records. One is stored on your computer — this is what you delete when you clear browsing data. The other is stored on Google's servers under your account, and it tracks what you searched for and where you went whenever you were signed into Chrome.
Deleting your local Chrome history does not touch the Google account record. If you sign into Chrome on a different computer, you will see your old history there because it synced from your account. To remove that, you need to go to your Google Account settings, not just clear Chrome.
This matters if you share a computer but have separate user accounts — clearing one person's Chrome history does not clear what Google recorded about their account. It also matters if you are concerned about what Google itself knows, rather than just what is visible on your device.
How to delete history from your Google Account
Go to myactivity.google.com in any browser. You will see everything Google recorded about your account — searches, videos you watched, places you visited, and more. On the left side, click Delete activity by. Choose the date range (Today, Last 7 days, Last 30 days, All time), then click Delete.
You can also delete individual items by clicking the three dots next to each entry and selecting Delete. This is slower if you have years of history, but useful if you only want to remove specific searches.
If you want to stop Google from recording your activity altogether, go to myactivity.google.com, click the toggle for Web & App Activity, and turn it off. This stops Google from recording new searches and websites you visit, but it also means some Google services (like personalized search results) will not work as well.
Using Incognito mode to avoid saving history
Press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac to open an Incognito window. Chrome will not save your search history, cookies, or site data from that session. When you close the window, everything you did in it disappears from your computer.
Incognito mode is useful if you are using a shared computer or if you do not want a particular search saved locally. However, it does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you are on a work network, or Google if you are signed into your account. Google still records Incognito searches under your account unless you have turned off Web & App Activity.
Incognito is also not the same as private browsing on other browsers — the name and behavior are Chrome-specific, though the concept is similar across Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Turning off sync to stop Chrome from recording history to your account
Click the three-line menu in the top right corner of Chrome, then go to Settings. On the left, click Sync and Google services. Under Sync, you will see a toggle for what Chrome syncs — History, Passwords, Autofill, Open tabs, and more. Turn off the toggle next to History.
This stops Chrome from sending your new searches and websites to your Google account. Your local Chrome history will still be saved on your computer, so you can still see it if you press Ctrl + H. But it will not appear on other devices you sign into, and Google will not record it on your account.
If you turn off sync entirely by clicking Turn off at the top of the Sync section, Chrome will stop syncing everything — passwords, bookmarks, open tabs, and history. This means your bookmarks and passwords will not follow you to other devices, so most people only turn off History sync, not all sync.
What happens when you clear browsing data
When you click Clear data in the Clear browsing data box, Chrome deletes the files it stored about your browsing on that computer. This includes your search history, the websites you visited, cookies (which store login information and preferences), cached images and files (which speed up loading), and read history.
Clearing data does not affect your bookmarks, saved passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes. It also does not log you out of websites automatically — you may still be signed in because the website itself remembers you, not because Chrome does.
The time range you choose matters. If you select Last 24 hours, only the last day is deleted. If you select All time, everything Chrome has ever recorded is gone. There is no undo — once you click Clear data, it is deleted from your computer.
Clearing history on other devices where you use Chrome
If you have signed into Chrome on multiple devices — your phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop — your history syncs across all of them. Clearing history on one device does not automatically clear it on the others.
You have two options. First, you can go to each device and clear the history locally by pressing Ctrl + H (or Command + Y on Mac) and clicking Clear browsing data. Second, you can delete your Google account history at myactivity.google.com, which removes it from all devices at once because it deletes the record Google stores on its servers.
If you have turned off sync, clearing history on one device will not affect the others — each device keeps its own separate history. In that case, you need to clear each device individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my Chrome history delete what my internet service provider saw?
No. Your internet service provider can see every website you visit because the traffic goes through their network. Clearing your Chrome history only removes the record Chrome kept on your computer and Google account. Your ISP's records are separate and you cannot delete them yourself.
If I clear my history, will websites still know who I am?
Websites may still recognize you if you are signed into an account on that website. Clearing your Chrome history deletes cookies, but many websites store information about you on their own servers. You would need to log out or delete your account on that website to fully disconnect.
Can I recover history after I clear it?
No. Once you click Clear data, Chrome deletes it from your computer. Google account history deleted at myactivity.google.com is also permanently removed. There is no trash or recovery option.
Does Incognito mode hide my activity from my WiFi network?
No. Anyone with access to your WiFi router, including your internet service provider, can still see which websites you visit. Incognito mode only hides your activity from Chrome and the device itself, not from the network.
What if I want to keep some history but delete other parts?
You can delete individual items by opening your History page (Ctrl + H), finding the entry, clicking the three dots next to it, and selecting Delete. For Google account history, go to myactivity.google.com and click the three dots next to each item. This is slower than clearing everything at once, but it lets you keep what you want.