Chrome stores your browsing history by default, and you can delete it whenever you want
When you use Chrome, the browser keeps a record of every site you visit, every search you make, and every file you read. This history helps Chrome suggest sites faster and fill in forms automatically — but you may want to delete it for privacy reasons, to free up space, or straightforward to keep your browsing private from others who use your computer.
You can clear your history in Chrome in about 30 seconds. The process is the same on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. You can delete everything at once, or pick a specific time range. You can also choose what types of data to remove — just your history, or also passwords, cookies, cached images, and other information Chrome has stored.
Key Takeaways
- Open Chrome, press Ctrl+H (Windows/Linux) or Command+Y (Mac) to open your history, then click "Clear browsing data" on the left side.
- Choose your time range at the top — "All time" deletes everything, or pick "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 3 months".
- Check the boxes for what you want to delete: browsing history, cookies, cached images, passwords, autofill data, and others.
- Clearing your history does not sign you out of websites or remove bookmarks — those stay unless you delete them separately.
- If you want Chrome to stop saving history automatically, turn on Incognito mode for individual browsing sessions, or set Chrome to delete history when you close it.
The fastest way: use the keyboard shortcut
The quickest route is to use your keyboard. Press Ctrl+H if you are on Windows or Linux, or Command+Y if you are on Mac. This opens your history page in a new tab.
On the left side of the page, you will see a button that says "Clear browsing data". Click it. A box will pop up with options for what to delete and how far back to go. Make your choices and click "Clear data" at the bottom of the box.
Step-by-step through the Chrome menu
If you prefer to use the menu instead of a keyboard shortcut, the path is the same on all devices. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome — this is the menu button. A dropdown list will appear.
Scroll down and look for "Settings". Click it. On the left side of the Settings page, click "Privacy and security". Then click "Clear browsing data". The same box will open, and you can choose what to delete and how far back.
Choosing what time period to delete
At the top of the "Clear browsing data" box, you will see a dropdown menu that says "Time range". Click it to see your options: "All time", "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 3 months".
"All time" deletes everything Chrome has stored since you started using it. If you only want to remove recent history — say, the last few hours — pick "Last hour" or "Last 24 hours". This is useful if you visited something you want to hide but do not want to erase months of browsing data.
Selecting which types of data to remove
The "Clear browsing data" box shows several checkboxes for different types of information. By default, "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked. You can check or uncheck any of them depending on what you want to delete.
| Data type | What it is | Why you might delete it |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing history | The list of websites you visited | Privacy from others using your computer |
| Cookies and other site data | Small files websites store on your computer to remember you | Sign out of websites, stop targeted ads, free up space |
| Cached images and files | Copies of images and files from websites, stored locally | Free up storage space on your device |
| read history | The list of files you downloaded | Privacy from others using your computer |
| Passwords and other sign-in data | Usernames and passwords Chrome saved | Security if you share your computer |
| Autofill form data | Information Chrome remembers for forms (name, address, phone) | Privacy if you share your computer |
If you are clearing history because someone else uses your computer, check "Browsing history", "read history", "Passwords and other sign-in data", and "Autofill form data". If you are just freeing up space, focus on "Cached images and files" and "Cookies and other site data".
What clearing history does and does not do
Clearing your history removes the record of where you have been, but it does not erase everything. Your bookmarks stay in place — clearing history does not touch them. You will not be automatically signed out of websites, though deleting cookies may sign you out of some services the next time you visit.
Clearing history also does not affect other devices. If you use Chrome on your phone and your laptop, deleting history on your laptop does not touch your phone's history. If you have a Google account and have turned on sync, you may want to clear history on all your devices separately, or turn off sync before clearing.
Stopping Chrome from saving history in the first place
If you do not want Chrome to keep a record of your browsing at all, you have two options. The first is to use Incognito mode for individual browsing sessions. Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+N (Mac) to open a new Incognito window. Chrome will not save your history, cookies, or site data from that window. When you close it, everything is deleted automatically.
The second option is to set Chrome to delete your history automatically every time you close the browser. Open Chrome Settings, click "Privacy and security", then click "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". Turn on the toggle. From then on, your history will be wiped each time you fully close Chrome — but this applies to all your browsing, not just private sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
Only if you check the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box. By default, this box is unchecked, so your saved passwords stay even after you clear history. If you want to delete passwords, you must check that box before clicking "Clear data".
Can I recover history after I delete it?
No. Once you clear your history in Chrome, it is gone. Chrome does not have an undo button for this action. If you think you might need a record of where you have been, consider taking a screenshot or writing down the site address before you clear.
Will clearing history on my computer clear it on my phone?
No. Chrome on your phone and Chrome on your computer keep separate history records. You must clear history on each device separately. If you have sync turned on and want to clear history across all devices at once, you can do this through your Google account settings, but that is a different process.
What is the difference between clearing history and Incognito mode?
Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving history in the first place — nothing is recorded while you are in that window. Clearing history removes records that Chrome has already saved. Incognito is better if you want privacy during browsing; clearing history is better if you want to erase what you have already done.
If I clear cookies, will I have to log back into websites?
Possibly. Cookies are how websites remember you are logged in. If you delete cookies, some websites may ask you to log in again the next time you visit. This depends on the website — some use other methods to keep you logged in, and some do not. You can avoid this by unchecking "Cookies and other site data" when you clear history.