What Web & App Activity does and where to find it
Web & App Activity is a Google setting that records your searches, websites you visit, and apps you use on devices signed into your Google Account. When it is turned on, Google stores this history in your account so you can search through it later, and it also helps personalize your search results and ads across Google services.
The setting lives in your Google Account settings, not in Chrome or individual apps. You control it from one place, and the choice affects all devices where you are signed in with that account. Turning it on or off does not delete any history you have already recorded — it only changes whether new activity gets saved going forward.
Key Takeaways
- Web & App Activity is found in your Google Account settings under Data & Privacy, not in your browser or phone settings.
- Turning it on records your searches, websites, and app use across all devices signed into that account.
- The setting does not delete old history when you turn it off — it only stops recording new activity.
- You can pause the setting temporarily without deleting what has already been saved.
- Turning it off means Google will not personalize results based on your browsing history, though you will still see ads.
How to turn on Web & App Activity on a computer
Go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser and sign in if you are not already. On the left side menu, click Data & Privacy. Scroll down to the section labeled Web & App Activity and click on it.
You will see a toggle switch. If the switch is gray and positioned to the left, the setting is off. Click the switch to turn it on — it will turn blue and move to the right. Google will ask you to confirm by clicking a button that says Turn on. After you confirm, the setting is active and Google will begin recording your activity on all devices signed into that account.
How to turn on Web & App Activity on an Android phone
Open the Google app (the main search app, not Chrome). Tap your profile picture or initial in the top right corner, then tap Manage your Google Account. Swipe to the Data & Privacy tab at the top. Scroll down to Web & App Activity and tap it.
You will see the same toggle switch. If it is off, tap it to turn it on. The switch will turn blue. Tap Turn on to confirm. The setting will then be active across all your devices.
How to turn on Web & App Activity on an iPhone
Open the Google app and tap your profile picture in the top right. Tap Manage your Google Account, then swipe to Data & Privacy. Scroll to Web & App Activity and tap it. If the toggle is off, tap it to turn it on, then confirm by tapping Turn on.
The process is the same as Android because Google uses the same account settings across all devices. Once you turn it on from your phone, the setting takes effect on your computer and any other device signed into that account.
What happens when you pause instead of turning it off
Google offers a middle option: you can pause Web & App Activity without turning it off completely. When you pause it, Google stops recording new activity, but all your existing history stays in your account. You can resume recording at any time without losing what you have already saved.
To pause instead of turn off, go to the Web & App Activity page and look for a button or option that says Pause rather than the toggle switch. This is useful if you want a temporary break from tracking without making a permanent change. Pausing is not the same as turning off — turning off the toggle completely disables the feature, while pausing just stops new recordings temporarily.
How Web & App Activity affects your Google experience
When Web & App Activity is on, Google uses your history to personalize your search results, show you more relevant recommendations, and tailor ads to your interests. Your activity is stored in your Google Account, which means you can search through your own history by visiting myactivity.google.com. You can also delete specific items or entire date ranges from that page.
If you turn Web & App Activity off, Google will not record new searches or browsing history, and your search results will be less personalized. You will still see ads, but they will be based on less information about your interests. Turning it off does not make you anonymous to Google or prevent the company from collecting other data — it only stops this particular type of recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Web & App Activity delete my old history?
No. Turning off the toggle only stops Google from recording new activity. Everything you have already recorded stays in your account until you delete it manually. To remove old history, visit myactivity.google.com and delete the items or date ranges you want removed.
Will turning off Web & App Activity make me anonymous online?
No. Turning off this setting only stops Google from storing your activity in your account. Your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and other companies can still see your activity. This setting does not affect your privacy outside of Google's services.
Can I turn on Web & App Activity for only some devices?
No. Web & App Activity is an account-level setting, not a device-level one. When you turn it on or off, the change applies to all devices signed into that Google Account. If you want different settings on different devices, you would need to use different Google Accounts.
What is the difference between Web & App Activity and search history?
Web & App Activity is broader — it records your searches, websites you visit, and apps you use. Search history is only your Google searches. Both are stored in your account, but Web & App Activity captures more types of activity. You can turn each one on or off separately in your Data & Privacy settings.
If I pause Web & App Activity, can I turn it back on later?
Yes. Pausing is temporary and reversible. You can pause and resume as many times as you want without losing any history. Go back to the Web & App Activity page and tap or click the button to resume whenever you are ready.