Delete your search history in three steps
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H (or Cmd + H on a Mac Chromebook). This opens your History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up asking what time range you want to clear — choose All time if you want everything gone, or pick a specific range like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days". Make sure the box next to Cookies and other site data is checked, then click Clear data.
That removes your search history from Chrome itself. But if you use Google Search, your searches are also stored in your Google Account — separate from your browser. To clear those, go to myactivity.google.com, click the three-line menu on the left, select Delete activity by, choose your time range, and click Delete. This step matters if you share your Chromebook with others or if you want Google to stop showing you ads based on what you searched.
If you want Chrome to stop saving your history going forward, you can use Incognito mode for individual browsing sessions. Press Ctrl + Shift + N to open an Incognito window — Chrome won't save your history, cookies, or site data from that session once you close it.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting your Chrome history removes what your browser remembers, but Google Search keeps a separate record in your Google Account unless you delete it there too.
- Use Ctrl + H to open your History page, then click Clear browsing data and choose your time range.
- Visit myactivity.google.com to delete searches stored in your Google Account, which is where Google tracks what you searched for across devices.
- Incognito mode (Ctrl + Shift + N) prevents Chrome from saving your history for that session, but it does not hide your activity from your internet provider or network administrator.
Why your search history is stored in two places
When you search on Google, two different systems are recording what you did. Your Chromebook's browser (Chrome) keeps a local record of every page you visited and every search you typed. Your Google Account keeps a separate record of every search you performed while signed in, even if you clear your browser history. Google uses this account-level history to personalize your search results, show you targeted ads, and power features like "Did you mean" suggestions.
This matters because clearing one does not clear the other. If you delete your Chrome history but leave your Google Account history intact, anyone who signs into your Google Account on any device can still see what you searched for. Similarly, if you clear your Google Account history but not your Chrome history, your local browser still remembers every page you visited.
The difference between browser history and Google Account history
Browser history is what Chrome remembers about the websites you visited and the searches you typed into the address bar. It lives on your Chromebook. If you delete it, Chrome forgets those pages — but the websites themselves still have logs of your visit if you were signed into an account on them (like Gmail or Facebook). Clearing browser history also removes cookies, which are small files websites use to remember you.
Google Account history is what Google's servers remember about your searches and the pages you visited through Google Search. It is tied to your Google Account, not to your Chromebook. Even if you use a different device, sign into your Google Account, and search for something, it gets added to this history. Google uses it to build a profile of your interests for ad targeting and to improve search results. This history is separate from your browser history and requires a separate deletion step.
How to clear history on a shared Chromebook
If you share your Chromebook with family members or roommates, each person has their own user account on the device. When you delete your Chrome history, it only deletes the history for your account — other users' histories stay intact. To delete your history, sign into your account, press Ctrl + H, click Clear browsing data, and proceed as normal.
However, if someone else uses your Google Account on a shared Chromebook, they can see your Google Account history and activity. If you want to prevent that, you have two options: use a separate Google Account for shared devices, or regularly clear your Google Account history at myactivity.google.com. You can also turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings, which stops Google from recording your searches and browsing — though this also disables some Google features like personalized results.
What Incognito mode does and does not do
Incognito mode is useful for one specific thing: preventing Chrome from saving your browsing history on your device. When you open an Incognito window and browse, Chrome does not store your history, cookies, or temporary files. Once you close the Incognito window, Chrome forgets everything you did in it. This is helpful if you want to search for something without it appearing in your Chrome history or affecting your personalized search results.
Incognito mode does not hide your activity from Google, your internet provider, or your network administrator. If you are signed into your Google Account while using Incognito, Google still records your searches in your Google Account history. Your internet provider can still see which websites you visited. If you are on a school or work network, the network administrator can still see your traffic. Incognito only hides your activity from other people who use the same Chromebook.
Controlling what Google remembers about you
Beyond deleting your history, you can control how much Google records in the first place. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & privacy, and look for Web & App Activity. If it is turned on, Google is recording your searches, websites you visit, and apps you use. Turning it off stops Google from adding to your history — but it also disables features like personalized search results and voice command history.
You can also set an auto-delete policy so Google automatically deletes your activity after a certain period. In the same Data & privacy section, click Web & App Activity, then Auto-delete, and choose 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months. This way, your history is automatically cleared without you having to remember to do it manually.
What happens to your history if you sign out or reset your Chromebook
If you sign out of your Google Account on your Chromebook, your Chrome history stays on the device under your user account — it does not disappear. The next time you sign back in, your history is still there. Signing out only disconnects your account; it does not erase local data.
If you reset your Chromebook (which wipes it completely), your local Chrome history is deleted. However, your Google Account history remains on Google's servers. If you sign back into your Google Account on any device, your search history is still there. To permanently remove it, you must delete it at myactivity.google.com before or after the reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my Chrome history delete my Google Account history?
No. Clearing your browser history only removes what Chrome remembers on your Chromebook. Your Google Account history — the searches and pages Google recorded while you were signed in — stays on Google's servers. You must delete it separately at myactivity.google.com.
Can someone see my search history if they use my Chromebook?
If they sign into your user account, they can see your Chrome history by pressing Ctrl + H. If they sign into your Google Account on any device, they can see your Google Account history at myactivity.google.com. To prevent this, delete both before handing over your device, or use a separate user account for shared devices.
Does Incognito mode hide my activity from my internet provider?
No. Incognito mode only prevents Chrome from saving your history on your device. Your internet provider, network administrator, and any websites you visit can still see your activity. If you want to hide your activity from your provider, you would need a VPN, which is a separate tool not built into Chrome.
What is the fastest way to delete everything?
Press Ctrl + H, click Clear browsing data, select All time, make sure Cookies and other site data is checked, and click Clear data. Then go to myactivity.google.com, click the menu, select Delete activity by, choose All time, and click Delete. Both steps take about two minutes combined.
Can I delete history from just one website?
In Chrome, you can delete history from a specific date range, but not from a single website. However, you can click on individual entries in your history and delete them one at a time by pressing Ctrl + H, finding the entry, and clicking the X next to it. For Google Account history, you can delete activity by website at myactivity.google.com by clicking on a specific search or visit.