Where to find your Google search history
Your Google search history lives in your Google Account, not on your computer or browser. Google stores a record of nearly every search you make when you are signed into your account, even if you clear your browser history. To see this record, you go to myactivity.google.com — this is Google's activity dashboard, and it shows searches, videos you watched on YouTube, places you looked up on Maps, and other activity tied to your account.
When you land on that page, you will see your activity listed by date, with the most recent at the top. You can scroll back weeks or months. The page also has a search box at the top where you can type a word to find specific searches you made. If you have multiple Google accounts, you will need to sign into each one separately to see its history.
Key Takeaways
- Google search history is stored in your Google Account at myactivity.google.com, not in your browser, so clearing browser history does not erase it.
- You can delete individual searches, delete all searches from a specific date range, or turn off activity recording entirely going forward.
- Deleting your search history from Google does not affect your browser history — you may need to clear both if you want to remove all traces of your searches.
- If you use Incognito mode in Chrome or Private Browsing in other browsers, Google does not record those searches in your account history.
How to delete individual searches or a date range
On myactivity.google.com, you can delete searches one at a time or in bulk. To delete a single search, hover over it and click the trash icon that appears on the right side. The search disappears when ready.
To delete multiple searches at once, use the filter menu on the left side of the page. Click "Date & product" and select a date range — you can choose today, yesterday, a custom range, or all time. Once you filter to the dates you want, click the trash icon at the top of the activity list. Google will ask you to confirm, and then all activity from that range is deleted from your account.
Turning off activity recording for the future
If you do not want Google to record your searches going forward, you can pause Web & App Activity. On myactivity.google.com, look for the blue toggle switch in the upper left that says "Web & App Activity." Click it to turn recording off. When it is off, Google will not save your searches to your account history.
Keep in mind that pausing activity does not delete what is already recorded — it only stops new searches from being saved. If you pause activity and then sign out of your Google Account before searching, Google will not connect those searches to your account at all. However, your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see what you search for.
The difference between Google history and browser history
Many people think clearing their browser history erases their Google searches, but it does not. Your browser history is stored on your device and shows the websites you visited. Your Google search history is stored on Google's servers and tied to your account. You can clear one without touching the other.
If you want to remove all traces of your searches, you need to delete both. Clear your browser history through your browser's settings (usually under History or Privacy), and separately delete your activity on myactivity.google.com. Doing both ensures that neither your device nor your Google Account holds a record of what you searched for.
Why Google keeps your search history
Google stores your search history to personalize your results and show you ads based on your interests. The longer your history, the better Google can predict what you might want to search for next. This is why your search suggestions improve over time — Google is drawing on years of your past searches.
Your search history also syncs across devices. If you search for something on your phone while signed into your Google Account, that search appears in your history on your computer too. This makes it convenient to pick up where you left off, but it also means your account is tracking you across all your devices.
Using private browsing to avoid recording searches
If you do not want a specific search recorded in your Google Account, use your browser's private mode. In Chrome, this is called Incognito mode. In Firefox, it is Private Window. In Safari, it is Private Browsing. When you search in private mode while signed into your Google Account, Google does not add that search to your account history.
Private mode does not make you anonymous on the internet — your internet service provider, your employer if you are on their network, and the websites you visit can still see what you search for. But it does prevent Google from tying that search to your account. Your browser also does not save cookies or temporary files from private sessions, so the search does not appear in your browser history either.
Downloading a copy of your search history
Google lets you read all your data, including your complete search history, through a tool called Google Takeout. Go to takeout.google.com, select the products you want to read (search history is under "Search"), and choose your file format and delivery method. Google will create a file with all your data and email you a link to read it.
This is useful if you want to keep a record of your searches before deleting them, or if you are switching away from Google and want to take your data with you. The file is large if you have years of history, so downloading may take a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my browser history delete my Google search history?
No. Clearing your browser history only removes the list of websites you visited from your device. Your Google search history is stored in your Google Account and remains there until you delete it separately on myactivity.google.com.
Can I see my search history if I am not signed into my Google Account?
No. Your search history is tied to your account, so you must be signed in to view it. If you search while signed out, Google does not record that search in your account history.
If I delete my search history, can Google still see it?
Once you delete your search history from myactivity.google.com, it is removed from the activity dashboard you can see. However, Google's servers may retain copies for their own purposes. Deleting your history removes your access to it, but does not may provide Google has no record.
Does private browsing prevent Google from recording my searches?
Private browsing prevents your browser from saving the search in your local history, and it prevents Google from adding that search to your account history — but only if you are signed into your Google Account while using private mode. Your internet service provider can still see what you search for.
What happens to my search history if I delete my Google Account?
When you delete your Google Account, your search history and all other activity associated with that account is deleted as well. Google gives you a grace period to recover your account before the deletion is permanent, usually around 20 days.