How to delete your web search history.
Removing search history is a two part process. First there’s the browser history that’s stored on your computer. Then there’s the web search history that’s saved by search engines such as Google.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to clear the web browser history on your PC and how to remove the search history from Google.
How To Delete Browser Search History
All web browsers maintain a history of the web pages that you visit. It’s called the browser cache.
Your browser history helps you to easily return to pages you that you’ve visited previously. It also helps to load websites more quickly, since at least some of the webpage will be cached and so won’t need downloading.
The downside to maintaining a web browser cache is that it can also reveal exactly which websites you’ve visited.
On shared computers, it’s a good idea to clear the web browser history every now and then.
How To Remove Search History From Google Chrome.
To delete your search history from Google Chrome, open Chrome and then click the 3 vertical dots in the top right hand corner.
On the menu that opens, hover your pointer over History and then click History on the second menu.
On the Chrome History page, click Delete Browsing Data in the left hand panel.
Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Shift +Del.
If You Don’t Use Google Chrome.
If you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser click here Delete History In Edge
On the other hand, if you don’t use either Chrome or Edge, then follow the instructions for Chrome since most browsers are based on Chrome.
Clear Search history – Google Chrome.
The Clear Browsing Data window will open. Across the top of the window you’ll see two tabs, Basic (which is the default) and Advanced.
The Advanced tab gives you a few more options of what type of data to delete. Below the 2 tabs is the Time Range box. Click in the Time Range box to see more options.
If you want my advice I’d click the Advanced tab and select everything except Passwords. For the Time Range I’d choose All Time.
When you’ve made your selections, click the Clear Data button.
After clicking the Clear Data button, all the selected search history will be removed from Chrome.
Close the browser and then re-open it and you’re all done.
Delete Browser History In Edge.
To clear the web browser history in Edge, launch the program and then click the 3 horizontal dots in the top right hand corner of the screen.
On the menu, click Delete Browsing Data. You might have to scroll down the menu to find it.
Alternatively use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Shift + Delete.
Delete Browsing Data.
The Delete Browsing Data window will open.
Use the drop down options box to select a time range.
Then scroll through all the options and select the ones that you want to remove the history for.
If you want my advice, Choose All Time for the date range and delete everything except for passwords.
How To Remove Web Search History From Google.
Google keeps a record of everything you’ve ever searched the Internet for. And it will keep these records forever. It doesn’t matter what you searched for or why, Google will simply note it down and keep it. Unless you specifically request that the data be removed.
To clear your web search history from Google, click the link below
https://myactivity.google.com/product/search
When you get to the web page, you may need to sign in with your Google account details (email address and password).
Once you’re signed in, the Google History page will load.
Scroll down a little and you’ll find a Delete button.
Click the Delete button and then select the date range that you want to remove from Google.
Choose What Data To Clear
Google will ask what search history activities you want to remove. Select the ones that apply to you and click the Next button.
You’ll see a confirmation window open, Click the Delete button.
“The activity you selected is being permanently deleted from your account and no longer tied to you”.
That’s all there is to it.
Summary.
There are many reasons why you might want to clear your search history. Privacy, security and avoiding targeted ads to name a few.
Whatever the reason is, it’s good to know how to delete your search history.
Going Forward.
There are more privacy based web browsers that you could use instead of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. But I find them more inconvenient than helpful for normal web surfing.
A better alternative would be to set up a virtual machine to use when you want to keep your web browsing private. For more information about VMs click here What Is A Virtual Machine.
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