Where to find and delete your search history
To delete your search history on a Chromebook, open Google Chrome and press Ctrl + H (or Cmd + H on a Mac Chromebook). This opens the History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data. A window will appear with options for what to delete and how far back to go.
The fastest method is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete, which opens the Clear browsing data window directly without stopping at the History page first. Either way, you reach the same deletion screen.
If you prefer using the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, hover over History, then click Clear browsing data.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear browsing data window directly, the fastest route on any Chromebook.
- You can delete all history or choose a specific time range — the last hour, day, week, month, or all time.
- Clearing history removes your search queries and visited websites, but does not sign you out of your Google account or delete saved passwords unless you check those boxes.
- Deleting history on your Chromebook does not remove it from your Google Account activity across other devices unless you also clear it from your account settings.
Choosing what time period to delete
When the Clear browsing data window opens, the first dropdown at the top lets you pick how far back to delete. The default is All time, which removes everything. If you only want to clear recent searches, click the dropdown and choose Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time.
Selecting a shorter time period is useful if you want to keep older history but remove searches from today or this week. Once you pick your time range, the deletion applies only to that window.
Selecting what types of data to delete
Below the time range dropdown, you will see checkboxes for different types of data. Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked by default. To delete only your search history and visited websites, uncheck those boxes and make sure Browsing history is checked.
If you also want to remove passwords you have saved, check the Passwords and other sign-in data box. Clearing this will sign you out of most websites. Leaving it unchecked keeps you logged in to sites you visit regularly.
The Autofill form data option removes information Chrome remembers from forms you have filled out, like your name or address. Most people leave this unchecked unless they share the Chromebook with others.
Deleting history from your Google Account across all devices
Clearing history on your Chromebook only removes it from that device. If you are signed into a Google Account, your search history is also stored in your Google Account activity, which syncs across all your devices. To remove it from there, you need to visit your Google Account settings separately.
Go to myactivity.google.com in Chrome. Sign in if prompted. On the left, click Search and Browse. You will see a list of your searches across all devices. Click the three dots next to any search to delete it, or click the trash icon at the top to delete all activity from a specific date range.
Deleting from your Google Account activity does not happen automatically when you clear your Chromebook's history. You must do both steps if you want the searches removed everywhere.
Using Incognito mode to avoid saving history
If you want to browse without saving any search history, use Incognito mode. Press Ctrl + Shift + N to open a new Incognito window. Anything you search or visit in Incognito mode is not saved to your browsing history or your Google Account activity.
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 prevents Chrome from storing the history locally on your Chromebook and in your Google Account.
When you close an Incognito window, all cookies and temporary files from that session are deleted automatically. If you open a new Incognito window later, it starts fresh with no memory of the previous one.
Automatically deleting history when you close Chrome
You can set Chrome to delete your history automatically every time you close the browser. Click the three vertical dots in the top right, then go to Settings. On the left, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data.
Check the box next to Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome. From now on, your browsing history, cookies, and cached files will be deleted each time you fully close Chrome. This does not affect your Google Account activity — that still syncs unless you turn off sync in your account settings.
What happens to history if you share your Chromebook
If multiple people use the same Chromebook, each person should have their own user account. Each account keeps its own separate browsing history. When you sign in as a different user, you see only that user's history.
If someone else is signed into your user account on the Chromebook, they can see your history and search queries. The safest approach is to create a separate user account for each person who uses the device, or to use Incognito mode if you do not want your activity saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my history sign me out of websites?
Not unless you check the Cookies and other site data box when clearing your history. If you only delete browsing history, you stay logged into most sites. To stay logged in while clearing history, uncheck the cookies box and keep only Browsing history checked.
Can I delete history from just one website?
Yes. Go to your History page by pressing Ctrl + H. Find the website you want to remove, hover over it, and click the checkbox that appears. Then click Delete at the top. You can select multiple entries from different sites and delete them all at once.
Will deleting my Chromebook history remove it from Google Search?
No. Your Google Search history is separate from your Chrome browsing history. To remove searches from Google Search, go to myactivity.google.com, click Search and Browse, and delete from there. Clearing Chrome history does not affect Google Search history unless you also clear your Google Account activity.
What if I forgot to use Incognito mode and want to hide a search?
Open your History page with Ctrl + H, find the search or website, and click the checkbox next to it. Then click Delete. You can remove individual entries one at a time. If you also want it gone from your Google Account, repeat the same process at myactivity.google.com.
Does clearing history on my Chromebook clear it on my phone or computer?
No. Clearing history on your Chromebook only affects that device. Your other devices keep their own history. However, if you delete your Google Account activity at myactivity.google.com, that removes the searches from your account across all devices where you are signed in.