How to Delete Google Search History on iPhone, Android & Chrome (2023 Guide)

With how much technology and the internet have been integrated into our daily lives, it’s important to learn how to delete Google search history on iPhone, Android, and Chrome.

Through our search history, social media usage, and time spent on the internet as a whole, a lot of our personal interests and details get picked up along the way.

It isn’t uncommon to hear of issues such as data breaches of our personal information, and a lot of the information we give to various websites can be found in our search history.

It’s essential to keep track of your digital footprint and clean it up every once in a while.

This article will dive into how to minimize your digital footprint and keep your personal information secure.

How to Delete Google Search History On iPhone, Android & Chrome in 2023

Many people don’t consider the traces of information that get left behind with every internet search.

Of course, some individuals care more than others, but it’s vital to understand what potential harm could be done if your personal information and search history become compromised.

Moreover, an extensive search history can add plenty of clutter to your online experiences, as it can generate endless targeted ads, spam, and other unwanted pieces of content. 

There are numerous benefits to keeping your search history clean, but some of the most important bits of data are your passwords, payment information, or even your home address, all of which can be picked up by entering queries into Google.

Thankfully, clearing your search history is relatively easy no matter what device, browser, or operating system you use.

You might think you’re in the clear because you don’t search for anything that pertains to your personal information, but it’s common for Google and many other websites to ask you to share your location or ask to save your passwords permanently. 

These small actions can add up over time, creating a timeline of your preferences, interests, questions, and many other detailed factors about your life.

From our computers to our cell phones, many people execute multiple searches every day without thinking twice about what’s being tracked in the process.

Although deleting your search history is relatively easy, achieving this tends to look a little different based on which browser or device you use.

For the first step, you want to make sure you start on Google’s home page as if you were going to enter a search query.

With Android phones, you should see three dots in the top right of your screen, and once you tap that, you’ll then want to navigate to the history section.

From here, tap “clear browsing data,” and you’re good to go. If you don’t want to delete all of your search history, you’ll find an “X” next to each search so you can delete them individually.

If you’re an iPhone user, the process looks a little different.

You’ll want to start on Google’s “my activity” page and make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.

Similar to Android phones, you’ll find a button with three dots in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Tap that, and then move forward to the history page near the bottom of the menu.

For the next step, tap “clear browsing data,” and all of your search history will be removed from Chrome and your Google account.

It’s a good thing the process doesn’t take too much effort because most of us stack up a long list in our search history on a daily basis.

Still, if this happens to be too much of a hassle for you, Google does give you the option of setting up auto-delete for your search history.

If you’re using the Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer, you can either press Ctrl+H or select the three dots and then history in the top right corner of your screen.

The browser will open a new window to display your search history, and on the left side of your computer screen, you should see an option that says “clear browsing data.”

This method generally gives you a more detailed look at your search history, allowing you to delete specific parts or all of it at once.

It also lets you choose the time range so you can customize how much of your browsing data gets deleted.

Activate Auto-Delete For Your Search History

If you’d rather your search history be automatically deleted, it can be easily set up with the Google account of your choice.

You’ll want to start on Google’s ‘my activity” page, and before anything else, make sure you’re signed in to your account.

In the navigational menu on the left of your screen, you’ll want to tap on “activity controls.” 

Next, you should see a section that says “auto-delete (off),” Once you switch this feature on, you can choose to have your search history deleted in 3, 18, or 36-month intervals.

Once you’ve set these parameters, you can tap “next” and then confirm your auto-delete settings.

It’s a great way to ensure your digital footprint is minimized without having to constantly remind yourself to do it manually.

Keep in mind that every time this feature is used, all of your search history will be deleted.

So, if you only want to remove certain parts of your search history, you’ll still need to take the manual approach.

Why Is Search History Recorded?

Google may make it sound like it saves your search history for convenience purposes, but in reality, it’s their best tool for targeted advertisement.

A lot of data can be taken from your search history to drive ads that align with your interests, but as mentioned above, this can be easily mitigated.

In our modern era, it’s best to assume that your search history is being used against you in some way.

Even if you think you’re staying relatively safe when using Google, it isn’t too difficult for hackers to get a hold of bits and pieces of your information.

You might think Google’s servers are air-tight, but even they have been subject to numerous data breaches.

If you were to actually check if your personal information has been compromised, many people would be shocked to find out that they’ve probably been a victim of more than one data breach over the years.

Keep in mind that you’re adding to your search history consistently, so it’s best to stay on top of it with a consistent schedule to minimize your chances of being picked up by someone else with malicious intent.

There are also numerous angles to your search history, and another important aspect is your activity storage.

Manage Your Google Activity Storage

This section pertains to voice and audio activity, location history, device information, and more.

Google tracks much more than what you type in the search box, and it’s a good idea to limit what Google has access to.

If you visit your “data and personalization” section of your Google settings, you’ll find a section called “activity controls.” Here, you can activate or pause certain aspects of your activity on Google. 

It’s understandable that you may need to use some of these services, but they don’t need to be activated twenty-four hours per day.

It helps to manage your digital footprint and minimize the chance of your personal information being compromised.

You can take your online security one step further by visiting “other Google activity” on your activity page, and this is where you can customize ad settings on Google.

Once you click on “ad settings,” you should find an option that allows you to turn off ad personalization, which will help with the clutter that Google throws your way based on your search history.

Although there are many different methods to manage your search history, some people prefer not to have to deal with it altogether.

Thankfully, you have a few options for this, but one of the most effective would be to use a VPN while you’re browsing the internet.

Use A VPN To Protect Your Search History 

The best way to ensure you’re staying safe on the internet is to use a VPN which will protect your personal information from multiple angles.

There are a ton of VPNs to choose from, and if you read through reviews alone, you’ll find that many people prefer certain VPNs over others.

If you’re new to VPNs, there are a handful you can rely on without having to do too much research.

A good choice would be to choose NordVPN, which has been a longstanding solution for many people who prefer to hide their digital footprint online. 

NordVPN

They offer over 5,500 VPN servers, WireGuard for fast browsing speeds, and live chat customer support if you need any assistance. NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 68% off their 2-year plan. 

👉 Get NordVPN Here

👉 Get 63% OFF NordVPN!

Not only is it a great deal, but it’s one of the most used and trusted VPNs on the market.

The internet comes with a vast number of potential dangers that can take a toll on your life if the wrong person gets a hold of your information, so it’s always a good idea to protect yourself the best you can to ensure your safety in the long run.

In Conclusion

Managing your Google search history is more important than many people recognize.

Thankfully, there are multiple solutions for cleaning up your digital footprint with ease.

If you’d rather not take the risk at all, VPNs are a great way to ensure your information is safe no matter what you do on the internet. 

There used to be a time when the internet wasn’t filled with so many dangers to your security, but unfortunately, that isn’t the reality of our modern era.

Nevertheless, this article broke down how to delete Google search history on iPhone, Android, and Chrome, along with a VPN solution you can trust.