How to Delete Shortcuts on Google: Chrome, Search, and More

Google shortcuts show up in several places — your Chrome new tab page, Google Search suggestions, the Chrome address bar, and even Google Drive. Knowing which type of shortcut you're dealing with determines exactly how to remove it.

This guide covers each scenario clearly, so you're not hunting through menus for the wrong setting.

What "Google Shortcuts" Actually Means

The phrase means different things depending on context:

• Most visited shortcuts — thumbnail tiles on the Chrome new tab page
• Search shortcuts — autocomplete or suggested queries that appear as you type in Google Search
• Custom shortcuts — manually added links on the Chrome new tab page
• Omnibox suggestions — URLs or searches that appear in the Chrome address bar dropdown
• Google Drive shortcuts — file aliases inside Drive folders

Each one has its own removal method. Mixing them up is the most common source of confusion.

How to Delete Shortcuts on the Chrome New Tab Page

When you open a new tab in Chrome, you'll see a row of site thumbnails beneath the search bar. These are your "shortcuts" — either auto-suggested based on browsing history or manually added.

Removing a Most Visited Shortcut

1. Open a new tab in Chrome
2. Hover over the shortcut tile you want to remove
3. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) that appears in the corner of the tile
4. Select "Remove"

This removes the tile from view. It does not delete your browsing history for that site — it only stops Chrome from displaying it as a suggestion.

Removing a Custom Shortcut You Added Manually

If you previously clicked "Add shortcut" on the new tab page and entered a URL manually:

1. Hover over the custom tile
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮)
3. Select "Edit shortcut" or "Remove"

Choosing Remove deletes it immediately. Choosing Edit lets you update the name or URL before deciding.

Hiding All Shortcuts at Once

If you want to remove the entire shortcuts section from your new tab page:

1. On the new tab page, click the "Customize Chrome" button (bottom-right corner, or the pencil icon)
2. In the panel that opens, locate the Shortcuts toggle
3. Switch it off

This hides all shortcuts without permanently deleting your history or custom entries. You can re-enable them at any time.

How to Delete Google Search Suggestions 🔍

When you start typing in the Google Search bar, you'll see a dropdown of suggested queries. Some are based on trending searches, others are pulled from your personal search history.

Removing Individual Search History Suggestions

1. Start typing a query in Google Search
2. In the dropdown, hover over the suggestion you want to delete
3. Click the X or trash icon that appears to the right of it

This removes that specific query from your personal search history so it no longer appears as a suggestion.

Clearing All Google Search History

If you want a broader reset:

1. Go to myactivity.google.com (you must be signed in)
2. Select "Delete activity by" from the left menu
3. Choose a time range — today, last 7 days, all time
4. Confirm deletion

Once cleared, those queries won't resurface as personalized suggestions. Note that trending searches (generic suggestions based on what many users are searching) are not tied to your history and cannot be removed this way.

How to Delete Suggestions from the Chrome Address Bar (Omnibox)

The Chrome address bar (omnibox) remembers URLs and searches you've typed before. To remove a specific suggestion:

1. Start typing in the address bar
2. Use your keyboard arrow keys to highlight the suggestion you want to remove
3. Press Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Shift + Fn + Delete (Mac)

The entry disappears from the dropdown immediately. This works for both URL history and typed search queries stored locally in Chrome.

How to Delete Shortcuts in Google Drive

In Google Drive, a shortcut is a reference to a file or folder stored elsewhere — similar to an alias or symbolic link. Deleting the shortcut does not delete the original file.

1. In Google Drive, locate the shortcut (indicated by a small arrow icon on the thumbnail)
2. Right-click the shortcut
3. Select "Remove" or "Move to trash"
4. To permanently delete it, go to Trash, right-click the item, and select "Delete forever"

This is an important distinction for shared drive environments — removing your shortcut has no effect on the original file or anyone else's access to it.

Variables That Affect the Process 🖥️

Your experience may differ based on a few factors:

The Spectrum of Use Cases

Someone managing shortcuts on a shared family computer has different priorities than someone working in Chrome across five synced devices. A user who relies heavily on Drive shortcuts for collaborative folders will approach deletion differently than someone who just wants to clean up a cluttered new tab page.

The mechanics are straightforward — but which shortcut type applies to your situation, and whether clearing it affects other devices or collaborators, depends entirely on how your Google account and Chrome environment are set up. ⚙️