Google and YouTube store your search history even after you delete it from your browser – but there’s a simple settings change that clears it completely and stops it being saved
You can also modify your settings so that Search history auto-deletes
No matter how innocent your mind is, the chances are you’ve Googled something uncomfortable over the years.
From checking gory health symptoms to researching into your guilty pleasures, the tech giant is storing plenty of search data that could make you cringe.
Thankfully though, there are ways to delete these mortifying queries from existence if they’re something you’d rather keep private.
So, to help protect your privacy, we’ve compiled this straightforward guide on how to properly wipe your search history from both Google and YouTube.
While a record may still exist somewhere, following these steps will certainly provide an additional layer of protection to your online activity.
How to delete YouTube search history on your phone
There are several methods available to remove your YouTube search history.
To begin with, you can erase individual search queries directly within the app in just a few taps.
Simply open the YouTube app, tap the Search bar, then press and hold any suggested searches displaying the History icon alongside them. (This resembles a small clock face). Then, simply tap ‘Remove’ on the resulting pop-up.
Should you wish to adjust your settings so that YouTube stops recording your search history altogether, this can also be done through the YouTube app.
Tap your profile picture, then navigate to Settings > Manage all history. When you locate an option labelled Saving YouTube history, simply toggle off ‘Include your searches on YouTube’.
How to clear Google search history on Android
The Google search app ranks amongst the most convenient features on Android, enabling any Android user to swiftly obtain search results by merely tapping the search bar on the Home Screen.
Much like YouTube, you can tap and hold on particular search results to remove them from your phone history. However, to erase these entirely, you’ll need to delete Search history from your Google account by following these steps:
- Open the Google app on your Android phone then tap your Profile picture and open Search history.
- To delete all your search history, tap Delete > Delete all time
- To delete searches from a specific time period, just tap Delete > Delete custom range.
You can also modify your Settings so that Search history auto-deletes. Return to the Search history menu then select Controls. Locate the ‘Web and App Activity card’ and tap Auto-delete (On).
Your Google account should now be free of search history results – but be sure to bookmark this guide because you’ll probably need to clear it again in the near future!
