Netflix stores every show and movie you watch, and you can remove individual titles or clear your entire history

Netflix keeps a record of everything you watch so it can recommend shows and resume where you left off. If you share your account with others, want to hide what you've been watching, or straightforward don't want Netflix to remember a particular show, you can delete specific titles from your history. You can also wipe your entire viewing history at once. Both actions take less than a minute and work the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.

Deleting a title from your history does not cancel your subscription, remove the show from Netflix's servers, or affect anyone else's account — it only removes that title from your personal viewing record on your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete individual shows or movies from your history by finding them in your profile and selecting the remove option, which takes about 30 seconds per title.
  • Clearing your entire viewing history at once requires going to your account settings and using the "Clear viewing activity" button, which erases everything but takes only one click.
  • Deleting history from your profile does not affect recommendations for other people who share your account — each profile has its own separate history.
  • Netflix will start recording your viewing activity again when ready after you clear your history, so you will need to repeat the process if you want to hide future viewing.

How to remove a single show or movie from your history

Open Netflix and go to your profile. On a computer or phone, click or tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account" or "Your account". On a smart TV, navigate to your profile name at the top of the screen and select it.

Find "Viewing activity" or "My activity" in the account menu — the exact name varies by device. Click or tap it. You will see a list of everything you have watched, with the most recent at the top. Scroll through until you find the title you want to remove.

Hover your mouse over the title (on a computer) or tap and hold it (on a phone or tablet). A circle with an X or a trash icon will appear. Click or tap it. The title disappears from your history when ready. Repeat this step for each show or movie you want to remove.

How to clear your entire viewing history at once

Open Netflix and go to your account settings. On a computer or phone, click your profile icon in the top right, then select "Account". On a smart TV, navigate to your profile and select "Account settings".

Look for a section called "Profile" or "Settings" and find the option labeled "Clear viewing activity" or "Clear all viewing activity". Click or tap it. Netflix will ask you to confirm — select "Yes" or "Clear" to proceed. Your entire viewing history will be deleted within seconds.

After you clear your history, Netflix will have no record of what you have watched. Your recommendations will reset, and Netflix will begin building a new history based on what you watch from that point forward. This does not affect other profiles on your account.

Why Netflix keeps your viewing history

Netflix uses your viewing history to power its recommendation system, to let you resume shows where you stopped watching, and to populate your "Continue Watching" row. The company also uses this data to understand viewing patterns — which shows are popular, when people stop watching, and what types of content perform well. This information helps Netflix decide which shows to renew and which to cancel.

Your viewing history is tied to your profile, not your device. If you watch Netflix on your phone, your computer, and your smart TV, all three devices pull from the same history. This is why clearing history on one device clears it everywhere.

Hiding your history from people who share your account

If you share your Netflix account with family members or roommates, each person should have their own profile. When everyone uses a separate profile, their viewing histories stay separate, and their recommendations do not affect each other. You can create a new profile by going to "Manage profiles" in your account settings and selecting "Add profile".

If you do not want to create a separate profile, deleting individual titles from your history is your only option. Clearing your entire history will remove everything, but Netflix will start recording again as soon as you watch something new. There is no way to hide your viewing from other people on your account without using a separate profile.

What happens to your recommendations after you delete history

When you remove a single title from your history, Netflix stops using that one show to make recommendations, but your other viewing history remains. Your recommendations will shift slightly based on what you have watched besides that one title.

When you clear your entire history, Netflix has nothing to base recommendations on, so your home screen will show only popular or trending content until you watch more. As you watch new shows, Netflix will begin recommending similar titles. This process takes a few days — Netflix needs to see a pattern in what you watch before it can make personalized suggestions.

Clearing history on shared devices

If you watch Netflix on a shared device like a family TV or a roommate's computer, clearing your history from your profile will not affect the device itself. Netflix stores your history on Netflix's servers, not on the device. When you log into your profile on any device, you see your history from Netflix's records.

If you want to prevent someone from seeing what you watched on a shared device, you must delete it from your profile through your account settings — clearing your browser history or the device's cache will not remove it from Netflix. The only way to keep your viewing completely private is to use a separate profile that other people do not access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting my history delete the show from Netflix?

No. Deleting a title from your viewing history only removes it from your personal record. The show remains on Netflix and available to watch. Other people on your account can still see and watch it.

If I clear my history, will my recommendations come back?

Your recommendations will reset and start over. Netflix will show trending and popular content until you watch enough new shows for it to build a new pattern. After a few days of watching, personalized recommendations will return based on your new viewing activity.

Can I see what other people on my account have watched?

Only if you have access to their profile. Each profile has its own separate history. You cannot see another person's viewing activity unless you log into their profile directly. This is why creating separate profiles for each household member is the best way to keep viewing private.

Does Netflix keep a backup of my deleted history?

Netflix does not restore deleted history. Once you remove a title or clear your entire history, it is gone from your profile. Netflix may keep internal records for business purposes, but you cannot recover your deleted viewing history through your account.

Will clearing my history affect my billing or subscription?

No. Deleting your viewing history has no effect on your subscription, your billing, or your account status. You will continue to be charged the same amount, and your subscription will work exactly as before.