Where Google stores your search and browsing history
Google keeps two separate records of what you do online. Your search history is every search you've typed into Google.com or the Google search bar. Your browsing history is every website you've visited — but only if you're signed into a Google account and have history recording turned on. Both are stored in your Google Account, not on your device.
To see either one, you need to sign into your Google Account and go to your activity page. This is different from your browser history (which lives in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge). Your Google Account history follows you across devices — if you search on your phone, that search shows up when you check on your computer, as long as you're signed in to the same account.
The easiest way to access your history is through myactivity.google.com. This is Google's central dashboard for everything your account has done. You can view it, search through it, and delete parts of it from there.
Key Takeaways
- Your Google search history and browsing history are stored in your Google Account at myactivity.google.com, not in your browser.
- You must be signed into your Google Account for Google to record your activity — if you browse in Incognito mode or while signed out, nothing is saved.
- You can view your entire history, filter it by date or product, and delete specific entries or everything at once.
- Deleting your Google history does not delete your browser history — you need to clear both separately if you want them gone.
How to view your Google search history
Go to myactivity.google.com in any browser while signed into your Google Account. You'll see a list of your recent activity, with the newest at the top. Each entry shows what you searched for, what website you visited, or what you did in a Google product, along with the date and time.
To narrow down what you're looking for, use the search box at the top of the page. Type a word or phrase and Google will show only the activity that matches it. You can also filter by date using the calendar icon on the left side — click it to pick a specific date range, like "last week" or "last month".
If you want to see only searches (not all your other Google activity), click the filter icon on the left and select "Search" from the list of products. This hides everything else and shows only what you searched for.
How to view your browsing history across devices
Your browsing history — the websites you visited — appears in myactivity.google.com under "Chrome" if you use Chrome as your browser. This only shows up if you were signed into your Google Account while browsing and if you have Web & App Activity turned on in your account settings.
To check whether Web & App Activity is on, go to myactivity.google.com, click "Web & App Activity" on the left side, and look for the toggle switch at the top. If it's gray, it's off and Google isn't recording where you go. If it's blue, it's on.
Keep in mind that this shows only websites you visited while signed in. If you browsed in Incognito mode, used a different browser, or were signed out of your Google Account, those visits won't appear here. To see those, you need to check your browser's own history — that's stored locally on each device.
How to delete your Google history
You can delete your Google history in three ways: delete a single entry, delete everything from a specific date range, or delete everything ever. Go to myactivity.google.com and choose which approach fits what you need.
To delete one entry, hover over it and click the trash icon that appears. To delete everything from a date range, click "Delete activity by" on the left side. Pick your date range (like "all time" or "last hour"), choose what type of activity to delete (searches, browsing, or everything), and click "Delete". To delete everything at once, select "All time" and "All products" and click "Delete".
Deleting your Google history does not delete your browser history. If you also want to clear what your browser remembers, you need to do that separately in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge settings. The two histories are completely separate.
Why your Google history might be empty or incomplete
If you don't see much history, check whether you're signed into your Google Account. Open any Google page and look at the top right corner — you should see your profile picture or email address. If you see "Sign in" instead, you're not logged in, and Google isn't recording your activity.
You might also have Web & App Activity turned off. Go to myactivity.google.com and click "Web & App Activity" on the left. If the toggle is gray, turn it on. From that moment forward, Google will start recording what you do.
If you use Incognito mode in Chrome (or Private Browsing in Firefox or Safari), Google doesn't record that activity at all — that's the whole point of those modes. The same goes for any browsing you do while signed out of your Google Account. Those visits only show up in your browser's local history, not in your Google Account.
The difference between Google history and browser history
Your Google history (at myactivity.google.com) is what Google's servers know about you. It follows you across all your devices as long as you're signed in. It includes searches, websites you visited, videos you watched on YouTube, and other Google product activity.
Your browser history is what your individual browser remembers. It's stored on that specific device — Chrome history on your computer doesn't show up in Chrome on your phone unless you sync them. It includes every website you visited in that browser, whether you were signed into Google or not. You can see it by pressing Ctrl+H (Windows) or Command+Y (Mac).
You need to clear both if you want to remove traces of your browsing. Clearing one doesn't clear the other. Many people clear their browser history but forget about their Google Account history, or vice versa.
How to control what Google records going forward
If you don't want Google to record your activity, you have two main options. The first is to turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings. Go to myactivity.google.com, click "Web & App Activity" on the left, and toggle it off. Google will stop recording your searches and browsing from that point on.
The second option is to use Incognito mode in Chrome (or Private Browsing in Firefox, Safari, or Edge). When you browse in Incognito, your browser doesn't save your history, cookies, or passwords. Google also doesn't record your searches or browsing in Incognito mode, even if you're signed in. This is useful if you want to search for something without it appearing in your Google history.
You can also delete your history on a schedule. Some people delete everything older than 3 months or 1 year to keep their account from becoming a complete record of their life. Go to myactivity.google.com, click "Delete activity by", and set it up however you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my Google history if I'm signed out?
No. Your Google history is tied to your account, so you must be signed in to see it. If you try to visit myactivity.google.com while signed out, Google will ask you to sign in first. Once you do, you'll see all the activity from that account.
Does deleting my Google history delete it from Google's servers?
When you delete your history from myactivity.google.com, it's removed from your account and you can't see it anymore. However, Google may keep copies for legal or security reasons. Deleting it from your account is the only control you have as a user.
Why do I see activity in my Google history that I don't remember doing?
This usually means someone else used your account, or an app or website made a request while signed into your Google Account. Check your account security by going to myaccount.google.com and reviewing your connected apps and devices. If you see something suspicious, change your password immediately.
Can I see someone else's Google history?
No. Each Google Account's history is private to that account. You can only see the history of accounts you have the password for. Parents can set up Family Link to monitor children's activity, but that requires setting it up in advance.
Does my Google history include everything I search for?
It includes searches you do on Google.com and in the Google search bar, but only if you're signed in and Web & App Activity is on. Searches you do in Incognito mode, while signed out, or in other search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo won't appear in your Google history.