Delete your search history in Chrome in three steps
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 with options for what to delete and how far back to go. Select All time from the dropdown at the top, check the box next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data. Your search history is now gone.
If you want to delete only certain searches instead of everything, you can click the X next to individual items on your History page. This removes them one at a time without touching the rest of your history.
Chrome also stores searches you made in the address bar (called the omnibox). Clearing browsing data removes those too, but if you want to delete just one address bar search, start typing in the address bar, highlight the search result with your arrow keys, then press Shift + Delete.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac) to open your History page, then click Clear browsing data on the left.
- Select All time from the dropdown and check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files before clicking Clear data.
- You can delete individual searches by clicking the X next to them on your History page without clearing everything.
- Searches in the address bar are also stored in history and will be deleted when you clear browsing data.
- Clearing history does not sign you out of your Google account or delete your saved passwords unless you check those boxes too.
What gets deleted when you clear browsing data
When you click Clear data, Chrome removes your search history, the list of websites you visited, and the URLs you typed into the address bar. It also deletes cookies (small files websites use to remember you) and cached files (copies of images and pages Chrome saved to load them faster next time).
By default, Chrome does not delete your saved passwords, payment methods, or autofill information when you clear browsing data. If you want those gone too, check the boxes for Passwords and other sign-in data and Autofill form data before you click Clear data. Clearing passwords will sign you out of most websites.
Choose what time period to clear
The dropdown menu at the top of the Clear browsing data window lets you pick how far back to go. All time deletes everything. Last hour removes only searches from the past 60 minutes. Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, and Last 3 months are also options.
If you want to clear history from a specific date range that does not match these presets, select All time and then manually delete individual searches from your History page. There is no way to clear a custom date range all at once.
Turn on automatic history deletion
Chrome can delete your history automatically every time you close the browser. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, go to Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left. Under Clear browsing data, turn on the toggle for Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
This setting only deletes cookies and site data, not your full browsing history. If you want Chrome to delete your entire history automatically, you will need to clear it manually each time, or use Incognito mode for browsing you do not want saved at all.
Use Incognito mode to avoid saving history
If you do not want Chrome to save your search history in the first place, open an Incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. Anything you search for or visit in Incognito mode is not added to your history, and Chrome does not save cookies from those sites.
Incognito mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you are on a work network, or the websites you visit. It only keeps Chrome from storing your history locally on your computer. When you close an Incognito window, Chrome deletes temporary files from that session.
Delete history synced to your Google account
If you are signed into Chrome with a Google account, your search history may be synced to your Google account across all your devices. Clearing history in Chrome on one device does not remove it from your Google account or from other devices where you are signed in.
To delete synced history, go to myactivity.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Click Delete activity by on the left, choose the date range, and select what types of activity to remove. You can delete all activity or just searches from specific dates. Changes here affect your Google account history on all devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history in Chrome delete my Google account search history?
No. Clearing history in Chrome only removes searches stored on your computer. If you are signed into a Google account, your searches are also saved to your Google account separately. You must go to myactivity.google.com and delete them there to remove them from your account across all devices.
Will clearing history sign me out of websites?
Clearing cookies and site data will sign you out of most websites because cookies are how sites remember you are logged in. Clearing just your search history without checking the cookies box will not sign you out. If you want to stay logged in, uncheck Cookies and other site data before you clear data.
Can I recover search history after I delete it?
No. Once you clear browsing data in Chrome, it cannot be recovered from your computer. If your history was synced to your Google account, you can still see it at myactivity.google.com until you delete it there too. After that, it is permanently gone.
Does Incognito mode hide my activity from my internet provider?
No. Incognito mode only stops Chrome from saving your history on your computer. Your internet service provider, network administrator, or employer can still see what websites you visit. Incognito does not encrypt your connection or hide your activity from anyone monitoring your network.
What is the difference between clearing history and clearing cookies?
History is the list of websites and searches you visited. Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember your preferences and login status. Clearing history removes the list but keeps cookies, so websites can still recognize you. Clearing cookies signs you out and removes saved preferences, but does not delete your history list.