Where to find and delete your Google search history

Your Google search history lives in your Google Account settings, not on your device. To delete it, you log into your account at myactivity.google.com, find the search records there, and remove them. Google stores this history separately from your browser history — deleting one does not delete the other.

The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you search on a computer, phone, or tablet, as long as you are signed into your Google Account. If you have never signed in, Google is not storing your searches in your account, though your browser may still have a record.

Key Takeaways

  • Google search history is stored in your account at myactivity.google.com, separate from your browser history.
  • You can delete all your search history at once or remove individual searches one by one.
  • You can set Google to delete your search history automatically after three months, 18 months, or 36 months.
  • Deleting your search history from Google does not delete your browser history or searches saved on your device.
  • If you are not signed into a Google Account, Google does not store your searches in your account.

Delete all your search history at once

Go to myactivity.google.com and sign in with your Google Account. On the left side, click Delete activity. A menu will appear asking what time period you want to delete — you can choose today, yesterday, all time, or a custom date range.

Select All time to remove everything, then click the dropdown that says All products. Uncheck everything except Search, so you only delete search history and not other Google activity like YouTube views or Gmail. Click Delete at the bottom. Google will remove all your search records within a few minutes.

Delete individual searches

If you only want to remove certain searches, go to myactivity.google.com and sign in. You will see a list of your recent searches with dates and times. Find the search you want to delete, hover over it, and click the three dots that appear on the right side. Select Delete.

You can also use the search box at the top of the page to find a specific search before deleting it. This method works well if you remember roughly what you searched for and when, but it is slower than deleting everything at once if you have hundreds of searches to remove.

Set automatic deletion of search history

Google can delete your search history automatically on a schedule you choose. Go to myactivity.google.com, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Manage your Google Account. Click the Data & privacy tab.

Scroll down to Web & App Activity and click it. You will see a toggle for Web & App Activity — make sure it is on. Below that, click Auto-delete and choose how often you want Google to remove old searches: every 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months. Google will then automatically delete searches older than your chosen timeframe.

The difference between Google search history and browser history

Google search history is what you searched for using Google's search engine, stored in your Google Account. Browser history is what your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) recorded about every website you visited, stored on your device. Deleting one does not affect the other.

If you delete your Google search history but not your browser history, your browser will still show that you visited google.com on certain dates — it just will not show what you searched for. To remove that record too, you need to delete your browser history separately. Each browser has its own process for this.

What happens when you delete your search history

Once you delete your search history from Google, it is removed from your account and Google's servers. Google will no longer use those searches to personalize your search results or show you targeted ads based on what you searched for. The deletion is permanent — you cannot undo it.

Other people who use your device will not see your deleted searches if they sign into their own Google Account, because search history is tied to your account, not your device. However, if someone else signs into your Google Account on your device, they will see your remaining search history.

If you are not signed into Google

If you search on Google without signing into an account, Google does not store that search in your account history. However, your browser still records that you visited google.com. To prevent Google from storing searches at all, you can use private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Safari, Private Window in Firefox).

In private browsing mode, your browser does not save your history, and Google does not link your searches to your account. When you close the private window, the browser forgets you were there. This is useful if you want to search without leaving a record, but it does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or network administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting my Google search history delete my browser history too?

No. Google search history and browser history are separate. Deleting searches from your Google Account does not remove the record from your browser. You need to delete your browser history separately through your browser's settings.

Can I see what Google knows about me besides my search history?

Yes. At myactivity.google.com you can see your YouTube watch history, Gmail activity, location history, and other Google services you have used while signed in. You can delete any of these the same way you delete search history.

If I delete my search history, will Google stop showing me personalized ads?

Deleting your search history removes that data from your account, so Google cannot use those specific searches to target ads. However, Google may still personalize ads based on other information, like your location or the websites you visit.

What is the difference between deleting search history and turning off Web & App Activity?

Deleting search history removes past searches you have already made. Turning off Web & App Activity stops Google from recording new searches going forward. You can do both — delete old history and prevent new history from being recorded.