YouTube keeps a record of every search you make on the platform, and you can delete it whenever you want
YouTube stores your search history by default so it can show you recommendations and remember what you were looking for. This history is tied to your Google account, not just your device. You can clear it all at once, delete individual searches, or turn off search history recording entirely. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet.
Clearing your search history does not affect your watch history, subscriptions, or any other YouTube data. It only removes the record of what you've searched for. If you want to delete those other things, you'll need to do them separately.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete all your YouTube search history at once through your Google Account settings, or remove individual searches directly from YouTube.
- Clearing search history on one device clears it across all devices where you're signed into the same Google account.
- You can pause search history recording so YouTube stops saving new searches, though this does not delete what's already saved.
- YouTube search history is separate from your watch history, so clearing one does not affect the other.
How to clear all your YouTube search history at once
The fastest way to delete everything is through your Google Account settings. Sign in to your Google account on any device, then go to myactivity.google.com. This page shows all your activity across Google services, including YouTube searches.
On the left side, click YouTube Search. This filters the page to show only your searches. At the top, click the three-dot menu icon, then select Delete all. Google will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, all your YouTube searches are deleted. This happens across all devices where you use that Google account.
If you want to delete searches from a specific date range instead of everything, click the three-dot menu and choose Delete by date. You can then pick a range — the last hour, the last day, the last week, the last month, or all time.
How to delete individual YouTube searches
If you only want to remove certain searches, you can do this directly from YouTube. Open YouTube and look at the search bar. Start typing in the search box and your past searches will appear as suggestions below it. Hover over any search you want to delete and an X icon will appear on the right side. Click the X to remove that single search from your history.
You can also delete searches from your activity page. Go to myactivity.google.com, click YouTube Search, and find the search you want to remove. Click on it, then click the trash icon or the three-dot menu and select delete. This removes just that one search.
How to pause YouTube search history recording
If you don't want YouTube to save your searches going forward, you can turn off search history. Go to myactivity.google.com and look for the settings icon (a gear) in the top right. Click it and select Web & App Activity. You'll see a toggle switch next to "Web & App Activity" — click it to turn it off.
When you turn this off, YouTube stops recording new searches. However, this does not delete searches you've already made. You'll need to clear your history separately if you want to remove past searches. Also note that turning off Web & App Activity affects all Google services, not just YouTube — Google will stop recording your searches, maps activity, and other browsing across Google products.
If you want to keep YouTube search history off but allow Google to record activity in other services, there's no middle ground in the main settings. Your only option is to clear searches manually each time, or to use YouTube in Incognito mode (on Chrome) or Private Browsing mode (on Safari, Firefox) so searches aren't saved at all.
Clearing search history on mobile devices
On the YouTube app for iPhone or Android, tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Privacy. Tap Clear search history. The app will ask you to confirm, and then all your searches are deleted.
To delete individual searches on mobile, open the YouTube app and tap the search icon at the top. Your past searches appear below the search bar. Swipe left on any search (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) and a delete option will appear. Tap it to remove that search.
Clearing search history on the YouTube app removes it from your Google account everywhere, just like clearing it on a computer does. You don't have to clear it separately on each device.
What happens when you use private browsing or incognito mode
If you use Chrome's Incognito mode, Safari's Private Browsing, or Firefox's Private Window, YouTube searches are not saved to your account at all. When you close the private window, the search history from that session disappears. This is useful if you want to search without creating a record, but it means your recommendations won't improve based on those searches.
Private browsing mode only works when you're actually in that mode. If you switch back to a regular window and search on YouTube, those searches will be saved normally. Also, your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see what you're doing — private mode only hides your activity from your browser and your Google account.
The difference between search history and watch history
YouTube keeps two separate records: what you've searched for and what videos you've watched. Clearing your search history does not touch your watch history. If you want to remove videos you've watched, you need to go to myactivity.google.com, click YouTube (not YouTube Search), and delete from there.
You can also clear watch history directly from YouTube. Click your profile picture, go to History, and click Clear all watch history. This removes the record of videos you've watched but leaves your search history intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing YouTube search history delete my recommendations?
No. Your recommendations are based on videos you've watched, not searches you've made. Clearing search history won't change your recommendations. If you want to reset recommendations, you need to clear your watch history instead.
Can I see my YouTube search history if I'm not signed in?
No. Search history is only saved when you're signed into your Google account. If you search on YouTube while signed out, nothing is recorded. You can sign out of YouTube by clicking your profile picture and selecting "Sign out."
If I clear search history on my phone, does it clear on my computer too?
Yes. Because search history is stored in your Google account, not on your device, clearing it anywhere removes it everywhere. You only need to clear it once and it's gone from all your devices.
Will YouTube know I cleared my search history?
YouTube will know that you cleared it — the deletion is recorded in your account activity. However, the actual searches themselves are gone and cannot be recovered by you or anyone else with access to your account.
What if I only want to hide my search history from other people using my device?
Clearing history helps, but the best approach is to use a separate user account on your device or use private browsing mode. If someone else has access to your device and your YouTube account, they can see your history unless you clear it regularly or use private mode.