Clear your Chrome history in three steps

To delete your browsing history in Chrome, open the browser, press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac, then click Clear browsing data in the top left. A window will open showing what Chrome can delete — by default it selects browsing history, cookies, and cached images. Choose the time range at the top (Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, All time), make sure the boxes next to what you want deleted are checked, then click Clear data. That's it. Your history is gone.

The keyboard shortcut is the fastest way, but you can also reach the same screen by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, selecting Settings, then clicking Privacy and security on the left side, then Clear browsing data. Both routes open the exact same deletion window.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac) to open your history, then click Clear browsing data in the top left corner.
  • Select the time range you want to delete — Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time.
  • By default Chrome selects browsing history, cookies, and cached images; you can uncheck any category you want to keep.
  • Deleting history does not sign you out of websites or remove saved passwords unless you specifically check those boxes.
  • You can set Chrome to delete history automatically every time you close the browser if you want.

What each deletion option actually removes

The Browsing history checkbox removes the list of websites you visited. This is what most people think of as "history" — the pages that show up when you start typing in the address bar or click the history button. Unchecking this box keeps that list intact.

Cookies and other site data removes small files that websites store on your computer to remember you. This signs you out of most websites automatically. If you uncheck this box, you stay logged in to Gmail, Facebook, and other sites you were already signed into. Cached images and files removes temporary copies of pictures and other content Chrome saved to load pages faster next time. Deleting this frees up disk space but does not affect your login status.

Other options appear if you click Advanced. Passwords and other sign-in data removes saved passwords — Chrome will ask you to type them again next time. Autofill form data removes information Chrome remembers from forms you filled out, like your address or phone number. Site settings removes permissions you granted to websites, like allowing a site to use your camera or location. Most people leave these unchecked unless they have a specific reason to delete them.

Choosing the right time range

The dropdown at the top of the deletion window controls how far back Chrome looks. Last hour deletes only the past 60 minutes. Last 24 hours deletes the past day. Last 7 days deletes the past week. Last 4 weeks deletes the past month. All time deletes everything Chrome has recorded since you started using this browser.

If you only want to hide a few recent sites you visited, pick Last hour or Last 24 hours. If you're selling or giving away your computer, use All time. Most people who delete history regularly pick Last 7 days or Last 4 weeks as a middle ground.

Delete history from specific websites only

You don't have to delete everything at once. Open your history by pressing Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac), and you'll see a list of websites organized by date. Find the site you want to remove, hover over it, and click the X button that appears on the right. This deletes just that one entry without touching anything else.

If a website appears multiple times in your history, you can click the three dots next to the date heading (like "Today" or "Yesterday") and select Remove all entries from [website name] to delete every visit to that site at once. This is faster than clicking the X on each entry individually.

Set Chrome to delete history automatically

If you want Chrome to delete your history every time you close the browser, go to Settings (three dots, top right), click Privacy and security on the left, then turn on the toggle next to Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. From that point on, your browsing history, cookies, and cached files disappear automatically when you close the browser completely — not just when you close a tab.

This setting does not delete passwords or autofill data unless you turn on additional toggles below it. Read what each one says before turning them on, because some choices (like deleting passwords) mean you'll have to type them in again every time you visit a site.

What deleting history does not do

Clearing your Chrome history does not erase your activity from Google's servers. If you're signed into a Google account while browsing, Google still records what you searched for and what sites you visited. To control that, you need to visit myactivity.google.com and delete your Google account activity separately — that's a different process from clearing Chrome history.

Deleting history also does not hide your browsing from your internet service provider, your employer's network, or anyone else monitoring your connection. It only removes the record from your own computer. If you need privacy from network monitoring, you would need to use a VPN or Tor Browser instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing history sign me out of websites?

It depends on what you delete. If you check the box for Cookies and other site data, you'll be signed out of most websites. If you uncheck that box and only delete browsing history, you stay logged in. Passwords are separate — deleting history does not remove saved passwords unless you specifically check that box.

Can I recover history after I delete it?

No. Once you click Clear data, Chrome removes it permanently from your computer. You cannot undo the deletion. If you're not sure whether you want to delete something, use the time range dropdown to delete only the last hour or day instead of everything.

Why does Chrome still show a website in my history after I deleted it?

You may have visited that site multiple times across different time periods. If you deleted only the last 24 hours, visits from earlier days remain. Use All time to delete every visit to a site, or click the three dots next to the date heading and select Remove all entries from [website].

What's the difference between clearing history and using Incognito mode?

Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving history in the first place — when you close an Incognito window, nothing from that session is recorded. Clearing history removes what Chrome already saved. Incognito is useful if you know in advance you don't want something recorded; clearing history is what you do after the fact.

Does clearing Chrome history delete my downloads list?

No. Your downloads list is separate from browsing history. To remove it, press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + Shift + J (Mac) to open the downloads page, then click Clear all in the top left. You can also delete individual downloads by clicking the X next to each one.