Delete your search history in Chrome in three steps
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac. This opens your History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up with options for what to delete and how far back to go. Select All time at the top if you want to remove everything, check the box next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data.
That removes your search history from Chrome itself. If you also want to delete the searches you made through Google's servers — the ones Google stores in your Google Account — you need a separate step. Go to myactivity.google.com, sign in with your Google Account, and you will see every search you have made while logged in. Click the trash icon or use the delete options there to remove individual searches or all of them at once.
The two are different because Chrome stores a local copy of what you searched for on your computer, while Google stores a copy on its servers tied to your account. Clearing one does not clear the other.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's local history clears with Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac), then clicking Clear browsing data and selecting All time.
- Google Account search history is stored separately at myactivity.google.com and requires its own deletion step.
- Clearing your browser history does not remove searches from Google's servers if you were signed into your Google Account.
- You can set Chrome to delete history automatically when you close the browser by going to Settings and turning on "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome."
What gets deleted when you clear browsing data
When you click Clear browsing data in Chrome, you are removing several things at once. The main ones are your browsing history (the list of websites you visited), cookies (small files websites use to remember you), cached images and files (copies of web pages stored on your computer to load faster next time), and autofill data (addresses and payment info Chrome remembers).
You can uncheck any of these if you want to keep some. For example, you might want to clear your history but keep cookies so you stay logged into your email. The checkboxes let you choose. The time range dropdown at the top lets you delete only the last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all time.
The difference between Chrome history and Google Account history
Chrome keeps a record on your computer of every site you visit and every search you perform in the address bar. This is local history — it lives only on your device. Deleting it removes what Chrome displays when you start typing in the address bar or click the History menu.
Google Account history is different. If you are signed into your Google Account while you use Chrome, Google also records your searches on its servers. This includes searches you do through Google.com, searches in the Chrome address bar, and searches on other Google services like Gmail or Maps. This history is tied to your account, not your device, so it follows you across computers and phones.
Clearing Chrome's local history does not touch your Google Account history. Someone who uses your computer after you clear it will not see your browsing history in Chrome, but your searches are still stored in your Google Account. To remove those, you must go to myactivity.google.com and delete them there.
How to automatically delete history when you close Chrome
If you want Chrome to delete your history every time you close it, go to Settings (the three-line menu in the top right), then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Turn on the toggle for Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. You can also turn on Clear browsing history when you quit Chrome if you want that deleted automatically too.
This does not delete your Google Account history — only your local Chrome history. It also does not affect other browsers on your computer. If you use Firefox or Edge, you would need to set up the same feature in those browsers separately.
Deleting individual searches instead of everything
You do not have to delete all your history at once. In Chrome, you can delete individual sites from your history by going to History (Ctrl + H or Command + Y), finding the site you want to remove, and clicking the X next to it. This removes just that one entry.
For Google Account history, go to myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to delete, and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select Delete. You can also delete by date range — for example, delete everything from a specific day — by using the date filter on the left side of the page.
What to know about private browsing mode
Chrome has an Incognito mode (Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac) that does not save your browsing history locally. When you close an Incognito window, Chrome automatically forgets the sites you visited and searches you made in that window.
Incognito mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you are on a work network, or the websites you visit. It only prevents Chrome from storing a record on your computer. Your Google Account history is still recorded if you are signed in, so Google still knows what you searched for even in Incognito mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing my Chrome history delete my Google Account history?
No. Clearing Chrome's browsing data removes only the local copy stored on your computer. Your Google Account history remains on Google's servers. You must go to myactivity.google.com and delete it separately to remove it from your account.
Can I delete my search history if I am not signed into my Google Account?
Yes. If you are not signed in, Chrome still keeps local history on your computer. You can clear it the same way — Ctrl + H, then Clear browsing data. However, if you were signed in at any point, those searches are already stored in your Google Account and require a separate deletion at myactivity.google.com.
Will deleting my history remove it from Google Search results?
No. Deleting your history only removes it from your own Chrome browser and Google Account. It does not remove your searches from Google's index or change what appears in search results for other people. Your searches are private to you.
Does Incognito mode prevent Google from tracking my searches?
Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your history locally, but Google still records your searches if you are signed into your Google Account. To prevent Google from storing your searches, you would need to sign out before using Incognito, or use a different search engine.