Delete your Google Maps search history directly in the app

Open Google Maps on your phone or computer. Tap or click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings. Go to Maps history or Location history depending on what you want to remove. You'll see a list of places you've searched for or visited. Tap the trash icon next to individual searches to delete them one at a time, or select Delete all to remove everything at once.

On a computer, the process is similar but slightly faster. After clicking your profile picture and opening Settings, look for Your data in Maps. You can delete searches from the past hour, day, month, or all time. Choose your timeframe and confirm the deletion.

Google Maps keeps two separate histories: your search history (places you looked up) and your location history (places Google tracked you visiting). Deleting one does not delete the other, so check both sections if you want to clear everything.

Key Takeaways

  • Search history and location history are stored separately in Google Maps, so you must delete each one independently.
  • You can delete individual searches or your entire history at once using the trash icon or the "Delete all" option.
  • Google keeps a copy of your Maps history in your Google Account settings, which you can also clear from there.
  • Deleting history from the Maps app does not automatically delete it from your Google Account — you may need to clear both places.

Clear history from your Google Account settings

Your Google Maps history is also stored in your Google Account, separate from the app itself. Go to myactivity.google.com in a web browser. You'll see all activity across Google services, including Maps. Filter by Maps to see only your location and search history there.

Click the three-dot menu icon and select Delete to remove individual entries. To delete everything at once, click the three-dot menu at the top left, select Delete activity by, and choose your timeframe. This method is useful if you want to delete Maps history from multiple devices at once, since it clears the account-level record.

Clearing history from myactivity.google.com removes it from your Google Account but may not immediately remove it from the Maps app on your phone or computer. Refresh the app or sign out and back in to see the changes reflected.

Turn off location history to stop Google from tracking you

If you want to prevent Google Maps from recording your location going forward, you can turn off location history entirely. In the Maps app, go to Settings and find Location settings or Location history. Toggle the setting to Off. On a computer, the same option appears in Settings under your account preferences.

Turning off location history stops Google from tracking where you go, but it does not delete your existing history. You still need to manually delete past searches and locations using the methods above. Keep in mind that some Maps features — like real-time traffic updates and personalized recommendations — work better when location history is on.

Understand what gets deleted and what stays

When you delete your Maps history, Google removes the record of places you searched for and routes you took. However, other Google services may still have related information. For example, if you searched for a restaurant in Maps and then emailed a friend about it, the email remains in Gmail. Your Google Photos may still contain pictures taken at locations you visited.

Deleting Maps history also does not remove saved places or starred locations. If you've marked a restaurant as a favorite or saved it to a list, those remain in your account. You must delete saved places separately if you want them gone. Similarly, reviews you've written in Maps stay on your account even after you delete your search history.

Delete history on shared devices or accounts

If you share a device with family members or colleagues, each person's Google account maintains its own separate history. Deleting your history does not affect anyone else's Maps activity. However, if someone is signed into your Google Account on a shared device, their searches will appear in your history and vice versa.

To keep histories separate on a shared device, make sure each person signs into their own Google Account. On Android, you can set up multiple user profiles. On iPhone, each person should use their own Apple ID and Google Account. If you've already mixed histories together, the only way to separate them is to delete the shared account from the device and have each person sign in with their own account.

Recover deleted history if you change your mind

Google does not offer a built-in undo button for deleted Maps history. Once you confirm deletion, the history is removed from your account. However, if you deleted history very recently — within the last few minutes — closing the app without fully syncing might prevent the deletion from taking effect across all your devices.

If you need to keep a record of your Maps activity, take screenshots or export your data before deleting. You can download your Google data, including Maps history, from takeout.google.com. This creates a file you can save to your computer for your own records, though it does not restore deleted history to your Maps account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting Maps history delete it from all my devices?

Yes, if you delete history from your Google Account at myactivity.google.com, it removes the history from all devices signed into that account. However, the Maps app on each device may take a few minutes to sync the change. Deleting history directly in the app may only remove it from that specific device until it syncs with your account.

Can I delete only certain types of searches, like addresses but not restaurants?

Google Maps does not offer filtering by category when you delete history. You can delete individual searches one at a time by tapping the trash icon next to each one, or delete everything at once. If you want to keep some searches and remove others, you must delete them individually.

Will deleting my Maps history affect my Google Maps recommendations?

Yes, deleting your history removes the data Google uses to personalize recommendations and suggestions. After deletion, Maps will show more generic results until you build up new search and location history. This is temporary — as you use Maps again, personalization will return.

What happens to my location history if I stop using Google Maps?

Your location history remains in your Google Account even if you stop using Maps. It does not automatically delete after a certain time period. You must manually delete it through the Maps app or myactivity.google.com if you want it removed.

Can someone else see my Maps history if they have my password?

Yes, anyone with access to your Google Account can view your Maps history, searches, and saved places. This is why it's important to use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication on your Google Account. If you suspect someone has accessed your account, change your password immediately and review your recent activity.