Delete a single search from Google in three steps

Open myactivity.google.com in your browser while signed into your Google account. Scroll through your activity or use the search box at the top to find the specific search you want to remove. Click the three-dot menu next to that search result and select "Delete" — the search disappears immediately from your history.

This method works whether you searched on Google.com, used Google Search on your phone, or searched through the Google app. The deletion is permanent and does not affect your other searches or activity.

If you have hundreds of searches to review, the search box at the top of My Activity saves time. Type a word or phrase you remember from the search, and Google filters your history to show only matching results.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to remove, click the three-dot menu, and select "Delete".
  • Deleted searches are gone from your history permanently, but this does not clear your browser's search bar suggestions or your device's local history.
  • If you want to stop Google from saving searches going forward, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings.
  • Deleting searches from My Activity does not remove them from Google's servers if you are not signed into your account when you search.

Where to find your search history

Your Google search history lives in My Activity, a Google account feature that stores everything you search for while signed in. You reach it by going to myactivity.google.com or by clicking your profile picture in the top right of Google.com, then selecting "Manage your Google Account" and the "Data & Privacy" tab.

My Activity shows your searches organized by date, with the most recent at the top. You can filter by product — for example, to see only Google Search history and hide YouTube or Gmail activity — by clicking the filter icon on the left side.

If you do not see a search you remember making, it may not have been saved. Searches made while signed out of your Google account do not appear in My Activity, even if you were using a device where you normally sign in.

Deleting multiple searches at once

To delete more than one search without clicking each one individually, use the checkboxes on the left side of My Activity. Check the box next to each search you want to remove, then click "Delete" at the top of the page. Google asks you to confirm before permanently removing them.

You can also delete all searches from a specific date range. Click the trash icon at the top of My Activity, select "All time" or choose a custom date range, and confirm. This removes every search from that period, not just the ones visible on your current screen.

Be careful with this option — there is no undo. If you are not sure whether you want to delete everything from a date range, delete searches one at a time or by category instead.

Stopping Google from saving future searches

If you do not want Google to record your searches going forward, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings. Go to myactivity.google.com, click "Web & App Activity" on the left, then toggle the switch to "Off".

When Web & App Activity is off, Google does not save your searches, the websites you visit, or the apps you use — at least not to your My Activity history. Google still processes your searches to show results and may use them for other purposes like showing you ads, depending on your other account settings.

You can turn Web & App Activity back on at any time. Turning it off does not delete searches you have already made; it only stops new ones from being saved.

What deleting a search does and does not do

Deleting a search from My Activity removes it from your Google account history. The next time you sign into Google on any device, that search will not appear in your activity. However, deletion from My Activity does not clear the search from your browser's own history or from your device's local records.

If you used Chrome and want to remove a search from Chrome's suggestions, you also need to clear your browser history. In Chrome, press Ctrl+H (or Cmd+H on Mac), find the search in your browser history, and delete it there. The same applies to Safari, Firefox, or any other browser — each one keeps its own separate history.

Deleting a search from My Activity also does not remove it from Google's servers if you were not signed into your Google account when you performed the search. Unsigned searches are not tied to your account and do not appear in My Activity at all.

Deleting searches on your phone or tablet

The process is the same on mobile devices. Open myactivity.google.com in your phone's browser, sign in if needed, and find the search you want to delete. Tap the three-dot menu next to it and select "Delete". On some phones, you may need to scroll right to see the three-dot menu.

Alternatively, open the Google app on your phone, tap your profile picture, select "Manage your Google Account," go to the "Data & Privacy" tab, and tap "My Activity." From there, the deletion process is identical to the desktop version.

Deleting a search from My Activity on your phone removes it from your account across all devices. If you also want to remove it from your phone's browser history or search suggestions, you need to clear that separately in your phone's browser settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a search if I am not signed into my Google account?

No. Searches made while not signed in are not saved to your Google account and do not appear in My Activity. To delete them, you need to clear your browser history instead. In most browsers, press Ctrl+H (or Cmd+H on Mac), find the search, and delete it.

Does deleting a search from My Activity remove it from Google's search results?

No. Deleting a search from your history does not affect Google's index or remove any websites from search results. It only removes the record of that search from your personal account history.

If I turn off Web & App Activity, will my old searches disappear?

No. Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from saving new searches, but it does not delete searches you have already made. You need to delete them manually from My Activity if you want them removed.

Why do I still see search suggestions after deleting from My Activity?

Google's search suggestions come from multiple sources — your browser history, your device's local history, and your Google account history. Deleting from My Activity only removes it from your Google account. You need to also clear your browser history and your device's local search history to remove it from suggestions everywhere.

Can someone else see my searches if they use my device?

If you are signed into your Google account on a device, anyone using that device can see your My Activity by going to myactivity.google.com. To prevent this, sign out of your Google account when you are done, or use your browser's private or incognito mode for searches you do not want saved.