Why and how to delete your browsing record

Clearing your browser history removes the record of websites you have visited. When you clear history, your browser deletes the list that appears when you start typing in the address bar, removes saved passwords and form data if you choose, and erases temporary files that websites store on your computer.

Most people clear history for privacy — so household members or coworkers cannot see where you have been online. Others do it to free up storage space or to stop their browser from suggesting sites they no longer visit. The steps differ slightly between browsers, but the process takes less than a minute in any of them.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you clear history from a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac (Safari uses Command+Y then Edit menu).
  • You can choose to clear only the last hour, day, week, or all time — you do not have to delete everything.
  • Clearing history does not sign you out of websites, but it does remove saved passwords and autofill data if you select those options.
  • Your internet service provider and websites you visit can still see your activity even after you clear your browser history.

Clear history in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open immediately.

At the top, you will see a dropdown menu that says "All time" or shows a time range. Click it to choose how far back to delete: Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. Select the range you want.

Below that are checkboxes for what to delete. Browsing history is checked by default — this is the list of websites you visited. Leave it checked. The other options are Cookies and other site data (removes login information and preferences) and Cached images and files (temporary copies of web pages). Check or uncheck these based on what you want removed. Most people check all three.

Click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will delete your history in a few seconds and show a confirmation message.

Clear history in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete Mac. The "Clear Recent History" window opens.

At the top left, click the dropdown that says "Everything" to choose your time range: Last Hour, Last 2 Hours, Last 4 Hours, Today, or Everything. Select what you need.

Below that, you will see checkboxes for what to clear. Browsing & Download History is checked by default. You will also see Cookies, Cache, and other options. Check the boxes for data you want to remove — most people check Browsing & Download History, Cookies, and Cache.

Click the blue Clear Now button. Firefox removes your history immediately.

Clear history in Safari

Open Safari and press Command+Y to open your history sidebar on the right side of the window. At the top of the sidebar, click Edit.

A dropdown menu appears with options: "Clear All History", "Clear History from the Last Hour", "Clear History from the Last Day", and "Clear History from the Last Week". Choose the time range you want and click it.

A confirmation dialog will ask "Are you sure?" Click Clear History to confirm. Safari removes your browsing record in a moment.

If you want to remove cookies and cached files as well, go to Safari menu at the top, click Settings, select the Privacy tab, and click Manage Website Data. Select the websites you want to remove data for and click Remove.

Clear history in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows. The "Clear browsing data" window opens.

At the top, you will see a dropdown showing a time range. Click it and choose: Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time.

Below that are checkboxes for Browsing history, Download history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files. Browsing history is checked by default. Check the other boxes if you want them removed as well.

Click the blue Clear now button. Edge deletes your history within seconds.

What clearing history does and does not do

Clearing your browser history removes the record stored on your computer, but it does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer's network, or the websites you visit. Those organizations can still see which sites you accessed because they receive that information directly from your device, not from your browser's history file.

Clearing history also does not sign you out of websites automatically. You will still be logged into Gmail, Facebook, or other services unless you sign out manually. If you checked the "Cookies" or "Cookies and other site data" box during clearing, you may be signed out of some sites the next time you visit them.

If you saved passwords in your browser and checked the option to clear them, you will need to type your password the next time you log into those sites. Your browser will not remember it until you save it again.

Set your browser to clear history automatically

All four browsers can be set to clear history automatically when you close them. This means you do not have to remember to clear it manually.

Chrome: Click the three-dot menu at the top right, go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Check the box next to "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome".

Firefox: Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the top right, go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and scroll to "Cookies and Site Data". Check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed".

Safari: Click Safari at the top, select Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check the box next to "Remove all website data when quitting Safari".

Edge: Click the three-dot menu at the top right, go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and toggle on "Clear browsing data" under "Clear browsing data". Then choose what to clear from the dropdown below it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?

Only if you check the box for passwords or cookies during the clearing process. By default, most browsers clear history but leave passwords alone. If you want to keep your passwords but delete your browsing history, uncheck the password option before you clear.

Can I recover my history after I clear it?

No. Once you clear your browser history, it is permanently deleted from your computer. You cannot undo the action. If you are unsure whether you want to delete something, clear only the last hour or day instead of all time.

Will clearing my history speed up my browser?

Slightly, but not noticeably for most people. Clearing cached files and cookies removes temporary data that takes up storage space, which can free up a small amount of memory. The main reason to clear history is privacy, not performance.

What is the difference between clearing history and using private browsing?

Private browsing (Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox) prevents your browser from saving history in the first place. When you close a private window, nothing is saved. Regular browsing saves everything until you manually clear it. Private browsing is useful if you do not want any record created; clearing history is useful if you have already browsed normally and want to remove the record afterward.

If I clear my history, can websites still track me?

Yes. Websites track you through cookies, pixels, and other methods that work even if you clear your history. Clearing history removes cookies stored on your computer, but websites can create new ones the next time you visit. To reduce tracking, use private browsing mode or install a privacy extension.