Delete your browsing history in three steps

You can delete your Google browsing history — the record of websites you've visited — directly from your browser in under a minute. The exact steps depend on which browser you use, but the process is the same idea: open your browser's history menu, select a time range, and confirm the deletion. Once deleted, that history is gone from your device and from your Google account if you're signed in.

This guide covers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you use a different browser, the menu names and locations will vary slightly, but you'll be looking for a "Clear browsing data" or "Clear history" option in the settings or menu.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete browsing history from your device alone, or from your Google account across all devices if you're signed in.
  • Most browsers let you choose what time period to delete — just today, the last week, all time, or a custom range.
  • Deleting history does not remove saved passwords or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes.
  • If you want to prevent history from being saved in the first place, use your browser's private or incognito mode.

Delete history in Google Chrome

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. At the top, choose your time range from the dropdown menu — "All time" will delete everything, "Last hour" deletes only the past hour, or you can pick "Last 7 days" or "Last 4 weeks". Below that, make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked if you want a thorough deletion. Leave Passwords and other sign-in data unchecked unless you want to delete saved passwords too. Click Clear data.

If you're signed into your Google account in Chrome, this also deletes your history from your Google account across all your devices. If you're not signed in, it only deletes history on this device.

Delete history in Mozilla Firefox

Press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac to open the history sidebar. Right-click anywhere in the history list and select Clear Recent History. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac.

A window opens with a time range dropdown at the top. Select Everything to delete all history, or choose a specific range like "Last Hour" or "Last 7 Days". Below that, check Browsing & Download History — it should already be checked. You can also check Cookies and Cache if you want those cleared too. Click Clear Now.

Firefox does not sync history to a central account the way Chrome does, so this deletion only affects your current device. If you use Firefox on multiple devices, you'll need to repeat this on each one.

Delete history in Safari

Open Safari and click History in the top menu bar. Select Clear History.

A dropdown menu appears asking how far back you want to clear. Choose All history to delete everything, or pick a shorter range like "the last hour" or "today". Click Clear History to confirm.

Safari stores history locally on your device. If you use iCloud to sync Safari across your Apple devices, clearing history on one device will clear it on the others too, but only if iCloud sync is turned on in your Safari settings.

Delete history in Microsoft Edge

Press Ctrl + H on Windows to open your history. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. On Mac, click the three-dot menu in the top right, then Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, then Clear browsing data.

A window opens with a time range dropdown. Select All time to delete everything, or choose a specific range. Make sure Browsing history is checked. You can also check Download history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files. Leave Passwords unchecked unless you want those deleted. Click Clear now.

If you're signed into your Microsoft account in Edge, this deletion syncs across your devices. If you're not signed in, it only affects this device.

Prevent history from being saved with private browsing

If you don't want your browser to save history in the first place, use private or incognito mode. In Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. In Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + P on Mac. In Safari, click File and select New Private Window. In Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows.

When you browse in private mode, your browser does not save the websites you visit, the searches you make, or the files you download. Cookies are also not saved. However, bookmarks you create and files you download are still saved — only the history is hidden. When you close the private window, nothing from that session remains in your history.

Private mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you're on a work network, or the websites you visit. It only hides your activity from other people using the same device.

Manage your Google account history separately

If you're signed into a Google account, Google also keeps a separate record of your activity in your Google account settings, separate from your browser history. This includes searches you've made, videos you've watched on YouTube, and places you've looked up on Google Maps.

To delete this account-level history, go to myactivity.google.com in any browser. Click Delete activity by on the left side. Choose your time range, then click Delete. You can also delete specific items by clicking on them and selecting delete.

Deleting your browser history does not automatically delete this Google account history, and vice versa. You need to manage them separately if you want both cleared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone recover my history after I delete it?

Once you delete browsing history from your device, it is not recoverable through normal means. However, your internet service provider keeps records of which websites you visited, and that cannot be deleted by you. If your device is seized or examined by someone with technical skills, deleted files can sometimes be recovered, but standard deletion is permanent for practical purposes.

Does deleting history also delete my saved passwords?

No. When you delete browsing history, saved passwords remain unless you specifically check the box for passwords during the deletion process. If you want to delete a single saved password, go to your browser's settings, find the passwords section, and delete it from there.

Will deleting history sign me out of websites?

Deleting history alone will not sign you out. However, if you also delete cookies during the process — which many people do — you may be signed out of some websites because cookies store login information. You can uncheck the cookies option if you want to keep your logins.

What's the difference between deleting history and using private mode?

Private mode prevents history from being saved in the first place, while deleting history removes history that has already been saved. Private mode is useful if you want to browse without a record being created. Deleting history is what you do after the fact if you want to remove a record that already exists.

If I delete history on my phone, does it delete it on my computer too?

Only if you're signed into the same account and that browser syncs across devices. Chrome and Edge sync history across devices when you're signed in. Firefox and Safari do not sync history by default, so you'd need to delete it separately on each device. Check your browser's sync settings to see what's being synced.