Clear your Google Maps search history in three steps
Google Maps stores every place you search for, every route you ask for directions to, and every location you view. You can delete this history from your phone or computer in minutes. The process is the same whether you use Android, iPhone, or a web browser — you go to your Google Account settings, find the Maps history section, and delete what you want to remove.
Your search history stays private to your account. If you share a device with someone else, clearing your history does not affect theirs unless you delete it from their account too. If you want to prevent Maps from recording future searches, you can turn off location history entirely, though this limits some of Maps' features.
Key Takeaways
- Google Maps search history is stored in your Google Account, not on your device, so deleting it removes it everywhere you use Maps.
- You can delete all your Maps history at once or remove individual searches one at a time from the app or website.
- Clearing search history is different from turning off location history — one deletes past searches, the other stops Maps from recording new ones.
- If you share a device, each person's history is separate as long as you each use your own Google Account to sign in.
Delete all your Maps search history at once
The fastest way to clear everything is through your Google Account settings on a computer or phone. Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with the Google Account you use for Maps.
On the left side, click Data & Privacy. Scroll down until you see My Activity and click it. At the top of the page, click the three-line menu (called a hamburger menu) on the left. Click Delete activity by. A box will appear with date options. Choose All time to delete everything, or pick a specific date range. Below that, click the dropdown that says All products and change it to Maps. Then click the trash icon or Delete. Google will ask you to confirm — click Delete again.
This removes all your Maps searches, routes, and viewed locations from your account. The deletion happens immediately, but it may take a few hours for the change to show up everywhere you use Maps.
Delete individual searches from the Maps app
If you only want to remove certain searches, you can do this directly in the Maps app on your phone. Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings.
Tap Maps history. You will see a list of every place you have searched for or visited. Find the search you want to delete, press and hold it (or swipe left on iPhone), and tap the trash icon. The search disappears immediately.
You can also delete multiple searches at once. Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the Maps history list and select Delete all. This removes everything from your history, and you will need to confirm the action.
Delete searches from the Google Maps website
You can also manage your history from maps.google.com on any computer or phone browser. Sign in to your Google Account, then click your profile picture in the top right and select Your places. Click the Your timeline tab.
Your timeline shows everywhere you have been and everywhere you searched. Click on any entry to see details. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Delete. To delete multiple entries, click the three-dot menu at the top of the timeline and choose Delete range. Pick your date range and confirm.
Turn off location history to stop recording new searches
Clearing your history removes past searches, but Maps will start recording new ones the moment you use it again. If you want to prevent Maps from storing future searches, you can turn off location history. Keep in mind that some Maps features — like traffic predictions and personalized recommendations — work better when location history is on.
On your phone, open Google Maps and tap your profile picture. Tap Settings, then Location settings. Toggle Location history off. On a computer, go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & Privacy, scroll to Web & App Activity, and uncheck the box next to it.
Turning off location history does not delete what you have already searched for — it only stops new activity from being recorded. You still need to manually clear your existing history using the steps above.
What happens when you clear your Maps history
When you delete your search history, Google removes it from your account permanently. You will no longer see those searches in your Maps app, on your timeline, or in your Google Account activity. The deletion applies to all devices where you are signed in with that account.
Clearing your history does not affect your saved places, starred locations, or reviews you have written. Those remain in your account unless you delete them separately. It also does not change what Google knows about you from other sources — Maps is just one part of your Google Account activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Maps history without deleting my Google search history?
Yes. When you delete activity by selecting Maps from the dropdown in My Activity, it only removes Maps searches. Your Google search history, Gmail, and other Google services stay unchanged. You can also delete individual Maps searches from the app without touching anything else.
If I clear my history on my phone, does it clear on my computer too?
Yes. Your Maps history is stored in your Google Account, not on your device. When you delete something from your phone, it disappears from your computer, tablet, and anywhere else you sign in with that account. The change may take a few hours to show up everywhere.
What is the difference between clearing history and turning off location history?
Clearing history deletes searches you have already made. Turning off location history stops Maps from recording new searches going forward. You can do both, but they are separate actions — turning off location history does not erase what you already searched for.
Will clearing my Maps history affect my saved places or starred locations?
No. Clearing your search history only removes the searches and routes you looked up. Your saved places, starred locations, and any reviews you wrote stay in your account. If you want to remove those too, you have to delete them separately.
Can I recover my Maps history after I delete it?
No. Once you delete your Maps history, it cannot be recovered. Google does not keep a backup of deleted activity. If you are unsure about deleting something, you can delete individual searches instead of clearing everything at once.