Uncomplicated Pathways to Erase Google Search Records Across Devices
In today's digital age, maintaining privacy is more important than ever. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to clear your Google Search History on Android, iOS, and computers, as well as how to set Google to automatically delete your search and browsing history after a specified period.
First, let's start by clearing your Google Search History manually.
On a web browser:
- Navigate to myactivity.google.com and sign in with your Google Account.
- Swipe left on mobile devices or hover your mouse over a search to bring up the option to remove it from your search history. Click the trash can (mobile) or select Delete (desktop).
On a mobile device using the Google app:
- Open the app and tap your profile photo.
- Select "Search history."
- Tap the "Delete" menu and then select "Delete all time."
Now, let's move on to setting Google to automatically delete your search and browsing history after a set period of time. This is managed via your Google Account settings across all devices.
- Go to myactivity.google.com and sign in with your Google Account.
- From the left menu, select Activity controls.
- Click on Web & App Activity (this covers Google Search and Chrome activity).
- Find and select Auto-delete.
- Choose how long you want Google to keep your activity before deleting it automatically — options usually include 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.
- Confirm by clicking Next and then Confirm to activate automatic deletion.
It's important to note that this process works the same on Android, iOS (through browser or Google app), and computers.
For Chrome-specific local browsing history on a computer, you can use extensions like History AutoDelete to clear history automatically on browser exit or at intervals, as Chrome itself doesn't yet have a built-in auto-delete on exit setting.
Lastly, using Incognito mode in Chrome or the Google app disables saving your activity temporarily.
This article has been co-authored by Marc Crabbé, a translator and International Project Manager who has been working in Google Suite for project management since 2011, and Nicole Levine, MFA. The article has been fact-checked for accuracy.
Sources: GeeksforGeeks, 2025, ChromeStory, 2025
To deepen your knowledge in data-and-cloud-computing and technology, you might find it useful to read about how to automate the deletion of your browsing history in Google Chrome. This can be done by utilizing extensions like 'History AutoDelete', which allows for automatic clearing of history on browser exit or at intervals (ChromeStory, 2025).
In addition, staying informed about education-and-self-development and general news often involves keeping track of developments in the realm of privacy protection. As technology progresses and more data is stored in the cloud, it becomes increasingly important to learn how to safeguard your privacy (GeeksforGeeks, 2025).
