How to delete your Google search history: A complete guide

What is Google history?

Google history is a record of everything you do across Google’s services. It includes what you search for (called search history), the places you visit (if location services are on), the videos you watch on YouTube, and even the commands you give to Google Assistant.

Google collects this data to make your experience more personalized. This information helps Google suggest videos, tailor search results, and show ads that match your interests. While personally tailored content can be helpful, it also means that Google knows a lot about you — sometimes more than you’d like.

This level of tracking raises privacy concerns for many people. You might not want Google to store everything you search or track every place you go. If you decide to manage or delete your Google history, you’ll gain more control over your personal information.

How to download Google search history

If you would like to download your Google search history before deleting it — perhaps to keep a record or for reference — you can easily do so. Just follow these steps:

1. 1.Go to Google Takeout at takeout.google.com. Make sure that you are signed in to your Google account.
   
2. 2.Some data is selected by default. Check the boxes for the products whose data you want to download. To include all data, click or tap “Deselect all,” then choose “Select all” to ensure everything is included in the download.
   
   
3. 3.Select “Next step.”
   
4. 4.Choose where you want your file to be transferred.
   
5. 5.Select the frequency, file type, and file size, then click or tap “Create export.” 
   
6. 6.Now wait until Google is done with your request.
   

How to delete Google search history

Now, onto the main part of this article — deleting your Google search history. In this section, you’ll find step-by-step instructions to permanently delete your Google history across different platforms and devices.

How to delete Google search history via My Google Activity

To delete your Google history on any device with a browser, follow these steps:

1. 1.Go to My Google Activity at myactivity.google.com. Sign in if you need to.
   
2. 2.Select the three dots “⋮” on the search bar, then select “Delete activity by” from the drop-down menu.
   
3. 3.Choose to delete activity from the last hour, last day, all time, or a custom range. To delete everything, select “All time” (or “Always” on iOS and Android devices).
   
4. 4.To delete all Google history, keep all products selected and click or tap “Next.” To delete only your search history, deselect all products except “Search,” then click or tap “Next.”
   
5. 5.Select “Delete.”
   

How to delete Google search history on a phone

To delete your Google history on an iOS or Android device using the Google app, follow these steps:

1. 1.Open the Google app on your phone and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
   
2. 2.Select “Search history.”
   
3. 3.Tap “Delete” and choose a time range: “Delete today,” “Delete custom range,” or “Delete all time.” To delete your entire search history, select “Delete all time.”
   
4. 4.To delete your entire Google history, leave everything selected. To delete only your search history, ensure only “Search” is selected. Tap “Next.”
   
5. 5.Confirm your selection by tapping “Delete.”
   

How to set up auto-delete for Google history data

If you’re worried about forgetting to delete your Google search history regularly or prefer not to keep it long-term while still enjoying personalized results, you can update your privacy settings to let Google delete it automatically. Follow these steps:

1. 1.Go to the “My Google activity” at myactivity.google.com. Sign in if prompted. Once there, click on “Web & app activity.”
   
2. 2.Under “Auto-delete (Off),” click “Choose an auto-delete option.”
   
3. 3.Choose how long you allow the company to keep your data. You will have three options for how frequently you want to delete web and app activity: 3 months, 18 months, and 36 months. Choose one, then click “Next.”
   
4. 4.Click “Confirm.”
   

How to stop Google from saving your search history and tracking you

If you want to stop Google from saving your search history and tracking your activity, you can adjust your account settings to stop tracking altogether. Unlike deleting your history, which removes data already saved, turning off tracking prevents Google from collecting and storing any new data.

Follow these steps to stop Google from saving your search history and tracking you:

1. 1.Go to the “Google my activity” page at myactivity.google.com. Sign in if prompted. Once there, click on “Web & app activity.”
   
2. 2.Click “Turn off” and choose “Turn off and delete activity.”
   
3. 3.Click “Next.”
   
4. 4.Choose activity to delete. If you’re okay with deleting the activity for all products, click “Next.”
   
5. 5.Click “Delete.”
   
6. 6.Using the same steps, you can also turn off tracking for location history (“Timeline”) and YouTube history.
   

With tracking turned off, Google will no longer save your search or activity data. However, note that while this improves privacy, it also limits the personalization of services such as tailored search results, recommendations, or ads. For example, you may no longer see results that align with your preferences or location.

What else can you do to improve your privacy online?

You can’t stay completely anonymous while using Google products, but you can take steps to protect your personal information and improve your online privacy.

• Use complex passwords. Your first line of defense against privacy invasions is using strong, unique passwords. A password manager can help you create and securely store complex passwords, ensuring each account has a unique, hard-to-guess combination.
• Use privacy-focused browsers and search engines. Consider switching to privacy- and security-focused alternatives to Google products, such as private search engines, Gmail alternatives, and video streaming platforms that don’t collect excessive data.
• Opt out of data brokers. Use a data removal service like Incogni to remove personal information from data brokers. These companies collect and sell your data to advertisers, businesses, and even unknown third parties. By using Incogni, you can regain control over your information and reduce the risk of misuse or unauthorized data access. 
• Delete your Google accounts if you no longer wish to use them. For example, if you no longer want to use Gmail, follow our guide on how to permanently delete your Gmail account. You can also remove yourself from the internet by deleting your social media accounts and other platforms that store your data.
• Limit third-party app permissions. Social media apps like Facebook often ask for more information than they need. Regularly review the data each app can access and disable any unnecessary app permissions.
• Use a VPN. A reliable service like NordVPN encrypts your online traffic, protects your data from hackers and snoopers, and conceals your IP address and location. Note that this won't prevent Google from collecting data if you're logged into your account.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It requires a second verification step, like a code sent to your phone or email, making it much harder for hackers to gain access, even if they have your password.
• Block third-party trackers. With NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ feature, you can prevent third-party trackers from monitoring your online activity and ensure that your browsing habits, preferences, and data remain private.
• Clear cookies and cache regularly. Clearing cookies removes data websites use to track your activity and personalize your experience, while clearing cache can improve your privacy by deleting temporary files that may contain sensitive information about your browsing habits.