Netflix stores everything you watch, and you can delete it all at once or remove individual titles
Netflix keeps a record of every show and movie you start, whether you finish it or not. This history appears in your "Continue Watching" row, feeds your recommendations, and stays on your account unless you remove it. You can clear your entire watch history in a few clicks, or delete specific titles one at a time. The process is the same whether you use Netflix on a phone, computer, or TV — you just need to access your account settings from a web browser.
Your watch history is stored on Netflix's servers, not on your device. This means clearing it from one device clears it everywhere, and it happens when ready. Netflix does not send you a confirmation email or ask you to verify the deletion — once you confirm, the history is gone.
Key Takeaways
- You can clear all watch history at once or remove individual titles from your account settings on Netflix's website.
- Deleting watch history removes titles from your "Continue Watching" row and stops them from influencing your recommendations.
- The deletion happens when ready across all devices signed into your account, and Netflix does not ask for confirmation a second time.
- Clearing history does not delete your account, change your password, or affect your subscription — it only removes the record of what you watched.
How to clear all your watch history at once
Go to Netflix.com and sign in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account" from the menu. On the Account page, scroll down until you see "Profile & Parental Controls" and click the profile name you want to clear history for. Scroll down again to find "Viewing activity" and click it.
On the Viewing Activity page, you will see a list of everything you have watched. At the bottom of the page is a link that says "Clear all viewing activity." Click it, and Netflix will ask you to confirm. Click "Clear" again, and your entire watch history is deleted. This removes all titles from your "Continue Watching" row and resets your recommendations to start fresh.
How to delete individual titles from your history
If you only want to remove specific shows or movies, go to the same Viewing Activity page. Next to each title is a small X icon. Click the X next to any title you want to remove, and it disappears from your history when ready. You do not need to confirm — the deletion happens right away.
This method is useful if you watched something by accident, started a show you did not like, or want to hide a title from your recommendations without clearing everything else. You can remove as many individual titles as you want, one at a time.
What happens to your recommendations after you clear history
Netflix uses your watch history to suggest new shows and movies. When you clear your history, your recommendations reset. The next time you open Netflix, the homepage will show fewer personalized suggestions and more popular or trending titles instead. As you watch new things, Netflix will start building a new recommendation profile based only on what you watch going forward.
If you cleared history because you watched something you do not want affecting your suggestions, removing just that one title is often better than clearing everything. That way, Netflix still remembers what you actually liked and can recommend similar content.
Clearing history on shared accounts and profiles
If multiple people use the same Netflix account, each person can have their own profile with separate watch history. When you clear history, you only clear it for the profile you are signed into — other profiles keep their own history. This is useful if you share an account with family members and want to keep your viewing private.
To clear history for a different profile, sign out and sign back in as that profile, then follow the same steps. You need to be signed into the profile whose history you want to clear. Netflix does not let you clear another person's history from your own profile.
Why Netflix keeps your watch history
Netflix stores your watch history for three main reasons: to show you where you left off in a show, to recommend new content based on what you like, and to track viewing patterns for their own data. The "Continue Watching" row relies on your history to know which episodes to suggest next. Recommendations depend on knowing what you have watched and rated.
Netflix also uses viewing data to decide which shows to renew and which to cancel. They track how many people watch each title and how far they get before stopping. This data is aggregated and does not identify you personally, but it comes from your individual watch history.
Clearing history does not affect your account in other ways
Deleting your watch history is separate from other account actions. It does not change your password, cancel your subscription, remove your payment method, or delete your profile. It only removes the record of what you watched. Your saved titles, ratings, and watchlist stay exactly as they are.
If you want to fully delete your Netflix account, that requires a different process in Account Settings. Clearing watch history is reversible only in the sense that Netflix will start recording new history as soon as you watch something else — the old history cannot be recovered once deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I clear watch history on my TV or phone app?
No, you have to use a web browser and go to Netflix.com. The Netflix app on phones and TVs does not have a viewing activity page. Sign into Netflix.com on any computer or phone browser, go to your Account settings, and clear history from there. The deletion applies to all devices when ready.
Does clearing history delete my saved titles and watchlist?
No. Clearing watch history only removes the record of what you watched. Your saved titles, ratings, and watchlist remain unchanged. Only the viewing activity is deleted.
Will Netflix stop recommending shows I used to watch?
Yes. Once you clear history, Netflix no longer knows you watched those shows, so they will not appear in your recommendations. Netflix will start suggesting content based only on what you watch after you clear history. If you want to keep recommendations based on your old viewing, delete only the specific titles you want hidden.
Can I see my watch history after I delete it?
No. Once you clear viewing activity, Netflix does not keep a backup. The history is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you think you might want it back, consider removing only specific titles instead of clearing everything.
Does clearing history on one profile affect other profiles on the same account?
No. Each profile has its own separate watch history. When you clear history for your profile, other people's profiles keep their own viewing records. You can only clear the history for the profile you are currently signed into.