Delete your Netflix watch history in three steps

Netflix stores every show and movie you watch so it can recommend things later. You can remove individual titles from your history, or clear your entire watch history at once. Both options take less than a minute and work the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs — you just need to be signed into your account.

The steps are the same whether you want to hide one embarrassing show or wipe your entire viewing record. Netflix does not delete the data from its servers, but it stops showing those titles in your "Continue Watching" row and stops using them to suggest new content.

Key Takeaways

  • You can remove individual shows or movies by going to your account settings and selecting "Viewing activity" under your profile.
  • To clear everything at once, open the "Viewing activity" page and click "Clear all viewing activity" at the bottom.
  • Removing a title from your history does not unsubscribe you from notifications about that show or delete it from your list of saved titles.
  • Each profile on your Netflix account has its own separate watch history, so clearing one profile's history does not affect other people's profiles.

Remove a single show or movie from your history

If you only want to hide one or two titles, you can delete them individually without touching the rest of your history. Open Netflix on any device and go to your account menu — usually a circle with your profile picture or initials in the top right corner.

Select "Account" or "Settings" (the exact wording depends on your device). Look for a section called "Profile and Parental Controls" or just "Your Profile." Click on your profile name, then find and click "Viewing activity." You will see a list of everything you have watched, with the most recent at the top.

Hover your mouse over any title (or tap and hold on a phone) until an X button appears. Click or tap the X to remove that title from your history. It disappears immediately. Repeat for any other titles you want to hide.

Clear your entire watch history at once

If you want to wipe your history clean, follow the same steps to reach your "Viewing activity" page. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. You will see a button or link that says "Clear all viewing activity" or "Clear viewing activity."

Click it. Netflix will ask you to confirm — this is your chance to change your mind. Once you confirm, your entire watch history disappears. Netflix stops recommending based on what you watched before, and your "Continue Watching" row empties out.

This action is permanent. Netflix does not keep a separate backup of your history that you can restore, so make sure this is what you want before you confirm.

Where to find your viewing activity on different devices

The location of your account settings changes slightly depending on what you are using. On a computer or phone browser, go to netflix.com, click your profile picture in the top right, and select "Account." On the account page, find "Profile and Parental Controls," click your profile, then click "Viewing activity."

On the Netflix app for phones and tablets, tap the profile icon at the bottom right (usually labeled "More" or showing your picture), then tap "Account" or "Settings." Look for "Profile" or "Your Profile," select your profile name, and tap "Viewing activity."

On a smart TV or streaming device, the menu is usually in the top left or top right corner. Select your profile, then look for "Account," "Settings," or "Your Profile." The exact path varies by device, but "Viewing activity" or "Viewing history" is always in the same place once you reach your profile settings.

What happens when you delete your history

Removing titles from your history stops Netflix from using them to recommend new shows. If you watched three seasons of a cooking show and then deleted it from your history, Netflix will not suggest similar cooking shows based on that viewing. Your recommendations will shift based on whatever you watched that is still in your history.

Deleting a title does not remove it from your "My List" or any lists you created. If you saved a show to watch later, it stays saved even after you clear it from your history. You have to remove it from your list separately if you want it gone from there too.

Clearing your history also does not stop Netflix from sending you notifications about shows you watched. If you watched season one of a show and Netflix notified you when season two came out, you will still get that notification even after you delete the show from your history. You have to turn off notifications for that title in a different menu.

Why Netflix keeps your watch history

Netflix uses your watch history to build a recommendation engine. The more you watch, the better Netflix understands what you like, and the more accurate its suggestions become. This is why your recommendations improve over time — Netflix is learning your taste.

Your watch history is also used to populate your "Continue Watching" row, which shows you shows you started but did not finish. Without your history, Netflix would have no way to know where you left off or what to suggest next time you open the app.

Netflix also uses viewing data to decide which shows to renew and which to cancel. If millions of people watch the first episode of a show but stop after that, Netflix sees the drop-off and may not order a second season. This is why your viewing choices, in aggregate with everyone else's, influence what Netflix produces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting my history delete the show from Netflix's servers?

No. Deleting your history only removes it from your account. Netflix keeps records of what you watched for its own business purposes. Removing a title from your history just tells Netflix to stop using it to recommend things to you.

Can I delete my history on one device but keep it on another?

No. Your watch history is tied to your Netflix account, not to individual devices. When you clear your history, it clears across all devices you use. If you share your Netflix account with other people, clearing your history does not affect their profiles — each profile has its own separate history.

What if I want to hide my history from someone who shares my account?

Netflix does not have a private browsing mode or a way to hide individual titles from other people on the same account. Your only option is to use a separate profile. Create a new profile for yourself, and other people will not see what you watch on that profile. They will only see the history on their own profile.

Will clearing my history affect my saved shows and movies?

No. Your "My List" and any custom lists you created are separate from your watch history. Clearing your history does not remove anything from your lists. You have to delete titles from your lists manually if you want them gone.

Can I undo clearing my watch history?

No. Once you clear your history, it is gone. Netflix does not have an undo button or a way to restore deleted history. If you change your mind, you would have to watch those shows again for them to reappear in your history.