You can delete Netflix watch history in two ways: remove individual titles one at a time, or clear your entire history at once
Netflix keeps a record of everything you watch so it can recommend shows and remember where you stopped. If you want to remove specific titles from that record — or wipe it completely — you can do this directly in your account settings on any device. The process takes less than a minute and doesn't affect your Netflix subscription or saved lists.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using a phone, computer, or TV, but the end result is the same: those titles disappear from your profile's history and stop influencing your recommendations.
Key Takeaways
- You can remove individual shows or movies from your history by clicking the X next to each title in your viewing activity, or delete everything at once through account settings.
- Deleting history from one device doesn't affect your history on other devices — you're clearing your profile's record across all of Netflix.
- Netflix stores your watch history indefinitely unless you manually delete it, and it uses this data to generate personalized recommendations.
- Removing a title from history stops it from influencing your recommendations, but Netflix may still suggest similar content based on other viewing patterns.
How to remove individual titles from your watch history
Open Netflix on any web browser or the mobile app and go to your account menu. On a computer, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Account". On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and choose "Account". Then look for "Viewing activity" or "Profile & parental controls" — the exact wording depends on your device.
Once you're in your viewing activity, you'll see a list of everything you've watched, with the most recent at the top. Find the title you want to remove and click or tap the X button next to it. The title disappears immediately. Repeat this for any other shows or movies you want to remove from your history.
This method works on phones, tablets, and computers, but not on TV apps or streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV. If you're using a TV, you'll need to delete history from a phone or computer instead.
How to delete your entire Netflix watch history at once
If you want to clear everything rather than remove individual titles, go to your account settings the same way: profile icon (or menu) and then "Account". Look for "Viewing activity" and scroll to the bottom of the page. You should see a link or button that says "Clear all viewing activity" or similar wording.
Click that button and Netflix will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, your entire watch history is deleted. This happens instantly, and there's no way to undo it — Netflix doesn't keep a backup of deleted history that you can restore.
Clearing your history doesn't delete your saved lists, ratings, or watchlist. It only removes the record of what you've watched. Your recommendations will start fresh and become more personalized again as you watch new content.
What happens to your recommendations after you delete history
When you delete a title from your history, Netflix stops using that specific show or movie to personalize recommendations for you. However, if you've rated titles or added them to your watchlist, Netflix still knows about those and will factor them into suggestions.
If you clear your entire history, your recommendations page will look mostly empty at first. As you watch new shows and movies, Netflix will begin building a fresh recommendation profile based on your current viewing. This usually takes a few days to a week before personalized suggestions start appearing again.
Deleting history doesn't prevent Netflix from recommending similar content — if you watched a lot of sci-fi before clearing history, Netflix might still suggest sci-fi shows based on patterns it detected. But removing specific titles does reduce the weight of those individual shows in the recommendation algorithm.
Why Netflix keeps your watch history
Netflix stores your watch history for two main reasons: to remember where you stopped in a show or movie, and to power its recommendation system. When you start watching something, Netflix saves your progress so you can pick up where you left off on any device. The same data also trains the algorithm that suggests new content.
Your watch history is tied to your profile, not your device. If you share a Netflix account with family members, each person has their own profile and their own separate history. Deleting history from one profile doesn't affect anyone else's viewing record.
Netflix doesn't share your watch history with third parties or use it for advertising purposes. It's stored on Netflix's servers and used only within the Netflix app and website to personalize your experience.
Deleting history on shared accounts and multiple profiles
If you share a Netflix account with other people, each profile has its own separate watch history. Deleting your history only affects your profile — it doesn't touch anyone else's viewing record. This is useful if you want to keep your watching private from other household members.
To delete history on a different profile, you need to sign into that profile first. Log out of your profile, then log back in as the other person (or switch profiles if you know their PIN). Then follow the same steps to delete that profile's history.
If you're the account owner and want to see or manage other profiles' history, you can't do that directly. Each profile can only manage its own history. If a child's profile is watching content you want to monitor or remove, you'll need to ask them to delete it, or you can use parental controls to restrict what that profile can watch going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my Netflix history delete it from all my devices?
Yes. Your watch history is stored on Netflix's servers and tied to your profile, not to individual devices. When you delete a title or clear your history, it's removed from your profile everywhere — phone, computer, TV, and any other device you use Netflix on.
Can I delete history on my TV or streaming device?
No. Netflix's TV and streaming device apps don't have a built-in option to delete history. You have to use a phone, tablet, or computer to manage your viewing activity. Log into your account on any of those devices, go to viewing activity, and delete from there.
Will deleting my history stop Netflix from recommending similar shows?
Deleting a specific title stops that show from influencing recommendations, but Netflix may still suggest similar content based on other patterns in your viewing. If you want to reset recommendations completely, you need to clear your entire history, which takes a few days to take full effect.
If I delete history, can I get it back?
No. Once you delete a title or clear your entire history, Netflix doesn't keep a backup. The deletion is permanent. However, you can always re-watch something and it will appear in your history again.
Does deleting history affect my saved lists or ratings?
No. Deleting your watch history only removes the record of what you've watched. Your watchlist, saved shows, ratings, and any lists you've created stay exactly as they are.