You can delete individual items from your Facebook activity log, or clear your entire history at once
Facebook stores a record of almost everything you do on the platform — posts you've made, pages you've liked, videos you've watched, searches you've run. This record is called your activity log. You can remove items one at a time, or use Facebook's bulk delete tool to clear months or years of history in a few clicks. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're on a computer or phone, but both routes take less than five minutes.
Clearing your activity log does not delete posts your friends can see — it only removes them from your personal history and from Facebook's tracking of your behavior. If you want to delete a post so others cannot see it, you'll need to delete the post itself, not just remove it from your activity log.
Key Takeaways
- Your activity log records likes, searches, videos watched, and pages visited, but clearing it does not delete posts others can see.
- You can delete individual items by opening your activity log, finding the item, and clicking the X next to it.
- Facebook's bulk delete tool lets you clear months or years of history at once by selecting a date range and activity type.
- Deleting from your activity log removes the record from your personal history but does not prevent Facebook from storing data about your behavior.
How to delete individual items from your activity log on a computer
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Your information and permissions," then "Off-Facebook Activity." From there, click "Activity log" to see your full history.
Find the item you want to remove. Hover your mouse over it and click the X that appears on the right side. A menu will pop up asking what you want to do. Select "Remove" to delete that single item from your activity log. Repeat this process for each item you want to remove individually.
How to delete items from your activity log on a phone
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top right corner (on Android). Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Tap "Your information and permissions," then "Activity log."
Tap the item you want to remove. A menu will appear with options. Tap "Remove" to delete it from your activity log. You can remove items one at a time this way, though the process is slower on a phone than on a computer.
How to bulk delete your entire activity log
Facebook offers a tool to delete large amounts of history at once. On a computer, go to Settings, then "Your information and permissions," then "Off-Facebook Activity." Look for the option labeled "Clear history" or "Download your information." Click "Clear history."
A window will open asking you to select a date range. You can choose to clear the last 3 months, the last year, or all time. Select the range you want and click "Clear." Facebook will then remove all activity from that period from your activity log. This process can take a few minutes if you have years of history to clear.
On a phone, the bulk delete option may not be available in all versions of the Facebook app. If you cannot find it, use a web browser on your phone to access the computer version of Facebook, then follow the steps above.
What gets deleted and what stays
Removing items from your activity log deletes the record that you liked a page, watched a video, or searched for something. It removes these actions from your personal history view. However, Facebook still stores data about your behavior for advertising and other purposes — clearing your activity log does not stop that.
Deleting from your activity log does not delete posts you made that are visible to your friends or the public. If you want to remove a post so others cannot see it, you must delete the post itself by going to your timeline, finding the post, clicking the three dots, and selecting "Delete post."
Messages, photos you're tagged in, and comments you've made also remain even after you clear your activity log. You would need to delete those separately if you want them gone.
Why Facebook keeps an activity log
Facebook maintains your activity log to track your behavior on the platform. This information helps Facebook show you ads based on your interests, recommend pages and groups you might like, and improve its services. The activity log is also a record you can use to see what you've done on Facebook over time.
Even after you clear your activity log, Facebook continues to collect new data about your actions. Clearing your history does not change how Facebook tracks you going forward — it only removes the visible record of past activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my activity log delete my posts?
No. Clearing your activity log only removes the record from your personal history. Posts you made remain visible to your friends and the public unless you delete them separately. To delete a post, go to your timeline, find the post, click the three dots, and select "Delete post."
Will people see that I deleted something from my activity log?
No. Deleting items from your activity log is private. Other people cannot see your activity log, and they will not be notified if you remove something from it. Only you can see your own activity log.
Can I undo a deletion from my activity log?
No. Once you delete an item from your activity log, it cannot be recovered. If you bulk delete months of history, all of it is permanently removed from your activity log. Make sure you want to delete something before you confirm the action.
Does deleting my activity log stop Facebook from tracking me?
No. Clearing your activity log removes the visible record of your past behavior, but Facebook continues to collect data about your actions going forward. To limit tracking, you can adjust your privacy settings or use Facebook's off-Facebook activity tool to see what data third-party websites send to Facebook about you.
Can I delete my activity log on a tablet?
Yes. On a tablet, use the Facebook app or a web browser. The steps are the same as on a phone. If the app does not show the bulk delete option, open a web browser and go to Facebook.com to access the full version with all options available.