Delete individual search keywords from Chrome's address bar

When you type in Chrome's address bar, the browser suggests searches and websites you've visited before. To remove a single suggestion, start typing the word or phrase, then use your arrow keys to highlight the suggestion you want to delete. Press Shift + Delete on Windows, or Shift + Fn + Delete on Mac. The suggestion disappears immediately and Chrome stops showing it.

This works for any suggestion in the dropdown — search terms, website addresses, or autofill entries. You do not need to complete the search or visit the site. The deleted suggestion will not reappear in future searches from that device.

Clear your entire search history at once

If you want to remove all search keywords and browsing history rather than one at a time, open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Cmd + Y on Mac. This opens your History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data.

A window appears with options for what to delete. Make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked if you want a complete wipe. At the top, choose your time range — All time removes everything, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days let you keep older history. Click Clear data when you're ready.

Chrome will also stop suggesting these searches and websites in your address bar after you clear them. This action cannot be undone on that device, though if you're signed into a Google account, your history may still exist in your Google Account settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Shift + Delete (Windows) or Shift + Fn + Delete (Mac) while a search suggestion is highlighted in the address bar to remove just that one keyword.
  • Open your History page with Ctrl + H (Windows) or Cmd + Y (Mac), then click Clear browsing data to remove all keywords and history at once.
  • When clearing data, choose your time range at the top — All time removes everything, while Last 24 hours or Last 7 days keeps older history intact.
  • Deleted keywords stop appearing in address bar suggestions immediately, but if you're signed into Google, your history may still exist in your Google Account online.

Prevent Chrome from saving keywords in the first place

If you do not want Chrome to remember your searches at all, you can turn off search history. Open Chrome's menu (three dots in the top right), click Settings, then select Privacy and security on the left. Click Cookies and other site data.

Uncheck the box next to Improve search suggestions. This stops Chrome from storing your search terms for suggestions. You can also turn off Sync entirely by clicking Sync and Google services in Settings and toggling off the sync option. Without sync, Chrome stores less data on Google's servers, though it still keeps a local record on your device.

Use Incognito mode to search without saving keywords

Chrome's Incognito mode does not save search keywords, browsing history, cookies, or site data. Open a new Incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Cmd + Shift + N on Mac. Any searches you perform in this window disappear when you close it.

Incognito mode is useful for one-time searches you do not want saved, or for testing whether a website works without your stored login information. Your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see your activity, but Chrome itself does not record it.

Remove keywords from your Google Account

If you are signed into Chrome with a Google account, your search history syncs to your Google Account online. Deleting keywords from Chrome on one device does not remove them from your account. To delete them from your account, visit myactivity.google.com in any browser.

Sign in with your Google account if prompted. You will see all your Google activity, including Chrome searches. Click the three-dot menu at the top and select Delete activity by. Choose your date range and click Delete. You can also delete individual items by clicking the three dots next to each entry and selecting Delete.

Removing activity from your Google Account stops it from appearing in Chrome suggestions across all your devices that use that account. This does not affect the local history stored on each individual device — you still need to clear browsing data on each one separately.

Understand what Chrome saves and where

Chrome stores keywords in two places: on your device in local browsing history, and in your Google Account if you are signed in and have sync turned on. When you delete keywords from the address bar using Shift + Delete, you remove them from local suggestions only. When you clear browsing data, you remove them from your device. When you delete from myactivity.google.com, you remove them from your Google Account.

If you are signed into Chrome and sync is on, deleting from your device does not automatically delete from your account, and vice versa. You may need to do both to fully remove a keyword from all places. Check your sync status in Chrome Settings under Sync and Google services — if it says "Sync is on," your history is being stored in your Google Account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a keyword from the address bar delete it from my Google Account?

No. Pressing Shift + Delete removes the suggestion from Chrome on that device only. If you are signed into a Google account with sync on, the keyword still exists in your Google Account. You need to visit myactivity.google.com and delete it there separately to remove it from your account.

Will clearing browsing data delete my saved passwords?

Only if you check the box for Passwords and other sign-in data in the Clear browsing data window. By default, this box is unchecked, so your saved passwords remain even after you clear history. Uncheck it if you want to keep your passwords.

Can someone else see my deleted keywords?

Once deleted from Chrome, keywords do not appear in address bar suggestions on that device. However, your internet service provider, network administrator, or the websites themselves may have records of your visits. Deleting from Chrome only removes them from Chrome's suggestions.

What is the difference between clearing history and using Incognito mode?

Clearing history removes past searches after they have been saved. Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving them in the first place. If you want to keep your current history but prevent future searches from being saved, use Incognito mode. If you want to remove searches you have already made, clear your browsing data.