The fastest way to clear your history
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on your keyboard (or Cmd + H if you use a Mac). This opens your History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A box will pop up asking what time range you want to clear — select All time if you want everything gone, or pick a specific range like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days" if you only want recent history removed.
Make sure the checkbox next to Cookies and other site data is checked, along with Cached images and files. These hold information websites use to recognize you and speed up loading. Then click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right. Your history is now gone.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. If you want Chrome to delete your history automatically every time you close it, there is a setting for that too, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + H to open your History page, then click Clear browsing data on the left side.
- Choose your time range (All time clears everything; Last hour clears only the most recent activity) and make sure Cookies and other site data is checked.
- Click Clear data to finish — the process takes seconds and removes what websites can see about your visits.
- You can set Chrome to automatically delete history when you close the browser, so you do not have to do this manually each time.
- Clearing history does not sign you out of websites or delete saved passwords unless you specifically check that box.
What gets deleted when you clear history
When you click Clear data, Chrome removes the list of websites you visited, the search terms you typed, and the files your browser downloaded. It also clears cookies — small files that websites store on your computer to remember you — and cached images and files, which are copies of web pages and pictures saved locally to make sites load faster next time.
What does not get deleted by default: your saved passwords, your autofill information (like your address and credit card), and your bookmarks. If you want those gone too, you can check those boxes in the same Clear browsing data window before you click Clear data. Most people leave those unchecked because they want to keep their passwords and bookmarks.
If you are signed into your Google account on the Chromebook, Chrome may also sync your history to Google's servers. Clearing your local history does not automatically remove it from Google's servers — you would need to go to your Google Account settings separately to do that. We explain how below.
Setting Chrome to delete history automatically
If you want Chrome to wipe your history every time you close the browser, you can turn on a setting called Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. Click the three-line menu in the top right corner of Chrome, then go to Settings. On the left, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data.
Toggle on the switch next to Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. From now on, every time you fully close Chrome (not just a tab), your cookies and site data will disappear. Your history list will still show in the History page until you manually clear it, but websites will not be able to use cookies to track you between sessions.
This is useful if you share your Chromebook with other people or if you want websites to treat you as a new visitor each time you open the browser. It does not delete your passwords or bookmarks, and it does not affect your Google account history stored on Google's servers.
Removing history from your Google account
If you are signed into a Google account on your Chromebook, Chrome sends a copy of your browsing history to Google's servers. Clearing history on your Chromebook only removes the local copy — the one stored on the device itself. To remove it from Google's servers, you need to go to your Google Account settings.
Open a new tab and go to myactivity.google.com. Sign in with the same Google account you use on your Chromebook. You will see a list of your activity across Google services, including your Chrome browsing history. Click the three-line menu on the left and select Delete activity by. Choose your date range and click Delete. This removes the history Google has stored about you.
You can also turn off Chrome history syncing entirely so Google never stores a copy in the first place. In Chrome Settings, go to Privacy and security and look for Sync and Google services. Toggle off Sync everything or uncheck History if you want to keep other sync features on. After that, your browsing history will only exist on your Chromebook, not on Google's servers.
Clearing history from a specific website
If you only want to remove history from one or two websites instead of clearing everything, you can delete individual entries. Open your History page with Ctrl + H. Find the website you want to remove — you can search for it using the box at the top. Hover your mouse over the entry and a checkbox will appear on the left. Check the box next to each entry you want to delete, then click Delete at the top.
This removes only those specific visits from your history list. It does not clear cookies or cached files from that website, so the site may still recognize you if you visit again. If you want to remove all traces of a website, use the full Clear browsing data method and search for that site's name to make sure it is gone.
Clearing history on a shared Chromebook
If multiple people use the same Chromebook, each person has their own user account, and each account has its own separate history. When you clear history, you only clear the history for the account you are currently signed into. Other users' histories remain untouched.
If you are the owner of the Chromebook and want to manage what other users can see, you can set up parental controls through your Google Family Link account. This lets you see activity on child accounts and set restrictions on what sites they can visit. For a shared device where all users are adults, the simplest approach is to remind each person to clear their own history when they are done using the device.
If you are concerned about someone else seeing your history on a shared device, the safest option is to use Guest mode. Click your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen and select Browse as Guest. In Guest mode, nothing you do is saved — no history, no cookies, no cache. When you close Guest mode, all traces of your activity disappear automatically.
Troubleshooting: History that will not clear
Sometimes you clear your history and it comes back, or certain sites stay in your history even after you delete them. This usually happens because Chrome is syncing your history to your Google account, and the sync is re-adding entries from Google's servers.
To fix this, first clear your history on your Chromebook using the method at the top of this article. Then go to myactivity.google.com and clear your activity there too. Make sure you are signed into the same Google account. If history keeps reappearing after that, turn off sync temporarily: go to Chrome Settings, click Sync and Google services, and toggle off Sync everything. Wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. This forces Chrome to resync without the old history.
If you are using a work or school Chromebook, your administrator may have set policies that prevent you from clearing certain history. In that case, you will see a message saying "Some settings are managed by your administrator" when you try to clear data. Contact your IT department or school tech support — they control what you can delete on a managed device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
No. Clearing history removes only your browsing history, cookies, and cached files. Your saved passwords stay on your Chromebook unless you specifically check the box for "Passwords and other sign-in data" in the Clear browsing data window. Most people leave that unchecked because they want to keep their passwords.
Can someone recover my history after I clear it?
Once you clear your local history on the Chromebook, it is gone from the device. However, if you are signed into a Google account, a copy may still exist on Google's servers. To remove it completely, go to myactivity.google.com and delete your activity there as well. After that, recovery is not practical for a typical user.
Will clearing history sign me out of websites?
Clearing history alone will not sign you out. However, if you also check the box for "Cookies and other site data" (which is checked by default), websites will forget you and treat you as a new visitor next time. You will need to sign back in. Your saved passwords will still work, so signing in again is quick.
What is the difference between clearing history and using Guest mode?
Clearing history removes past activity from your account. Guest mode prevents any activity from being saved in the first place — nothing is recorded while you are in Guest mode, and it all disappears when you close it. Guest mode is better if you want zero traces of your session; clearing history is better if you want to keep using your account but remove old activity.
Why does my history still show up after I cleared it?
This usually means Chrome synced your history back from your Google account. Clear your history on the Chromebook, then go to myactivity.google.com and delete your activity there too. If it keeps happening, turn off sync in Chrome Settings under Sync and Google services, wait a few minutes, and turn it back on to force a clean resync.