How to view and delete your browsing history in all browser types

by Alyssa Schmitt

What is your browser history?

When you use an internet browser to visit a website, it keeps a record of your visit. This not only applies to an internet browser on your computer, but on mobile devices such as smartphones as well. This record of visited websites is known as your “history”, “browsing history” or “browser history”. The history contains the names and URLs of the sites visited, and is usually organized by date. Most browsers save this information by default because it helps users quickly find and return to pages they have visited in the past.

Why clear your browser history?

Sometimes there are reasons that you may want to delete your browser history:

• Browser is slow: If you don't clear your browsing history regularly, it will log the web pages you have visited for weeks or even months. This can lead to too much information being stored over time and your browser slowing down.
• Privacy: If other people have access to your computer, tablet, or phone, they can go to your browser history to see what websites you’ve visited recently. Clearing the history can protect your privacy.
• Data risk: If your computer is hacked, the hackers can gain information about you from your browsing history, like where you have online accounts. This is especially dangerous if you have any active logins.

Does private or incognito browsing save history?

Most web browsers offer an Incognito or Private browsing mode that keeps your browsing history private without you having to manually delete it. If you are browsing in this mode, once you exit all your Private or Incognito browsing windows, the browser will not save your browsing history, website cookies, or data you entered into forms while in this mode.

However, even though your activity won’t be logged on your device, private browsing does not keep your internet service provider (ISP) or the operator of your network – like your employer or school – from seeing where you’ve been. Bookmarks you save while in private or incognito mode won’t be deleted when you exit that mode. Any files you download will not be visible in your browser, but they will still be saved in your computer’s Download file.

How do I clear my browser history?

To view or delete your browser history, head to your web browser’s settings. Generally, there will be a tab or category called “History” where you can view a list of all websites you have visited, organized by date. There are often options here to clear your entire history or to delete individual sites or dates from the list.

In addition, some browsers will offer a “Delete history” option under the Privacy or Security section of their settings. You should be able to choose between deleting your entire history or deleting a specific period, and there will also be options for clearing cookies and your cache as well. Since the process differs from browser to browser, we have listed the steps for specific browsers below.

How to delete browser history – by browser type:

Click a link below to jump to instructions for clearing the history in the browser that you use:

1. Google Chrome
2. Mozilla Firefox
3. Microsoft Edge
4. Safari on MacBook
5. iPhone or iPad
6. Android device

Delete browser history in Google Chrome

1. Click the three dots in the menu bar in the top right corner.
2. Click History to open a menu, then select History in the menu
3. Cleck to Delete browsing data. A new tab will open.
4. To clear all history, go to Time range and select the period All time
5. Alternatively, you can select another time period, such as the last hour
6. Check the Browsing history box
7. Click Delete data

Good to know: If you sync your history to your Google account, deleting your browser history will take effect on all your devices where you are signed into Chrome.

Delete browser history in Mozilla Firefox

1. Open menu at the top right (three horizontal bars)
2. Click History
3. Select Clear recent history…
4. To clear your entire browsing history, set the time range to Everything and select Browsing & download history
5. Click Clear Now

Good to know: If you’d like to view your browsing and search history in Firefox, in the top right menu click History > Manage history to open the Library window. You can also find and clear your history under Settings > Privacy & Security – just scroll down to History and click Clear History to open the menu.

Delete browser history in Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the three dots in the menu bar at the top right
2. Click History. A menu will open.
3. Click the trash can icon at the top of the menu
4. Set time range to All time and select Browsing history and Download history
5. Click Clear now to delete your history
6. Please note: If you are logged into Edge with your Microsoft account, this action will clear your browser history on all synced devices.

Edge also gives you the option to automatically clear some or all of your browser history whenever you close the browser. Simply select the option Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and a new menu will open. Toggle everything you would like to delete every time you exit.

Good to know: If you would simply like to view your browsing history in Edge, in the top right browser menu select History, then in that window’s menu select Open history page. Here you can also delete individual web pages from your browsing history.

Delete history in Safari on MacBook

1. Click Safari in the top menu bar
2. Find Clear History in the expanded menu.
3. Alternatively, click History > Clear History and Website Data
4. Select the time period and confirm by clicking Clear History

Good to know: If you have iCloud set up for Safari on your Mac, clearing your browsing history will remove it from other devices with the same iCloud setup, e.g., your iPhone.

Clear history on iPhone or iPad

1. Open your Settings
2. Scroll to Safari and tap to open
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data
4. Select the timeframe you would like to clear
5. Confirm by tapping Clear History

Good to know: If you’d like to delete a specific website from your history without clearing everything, open to the Safari app. Tap the Bookmarks icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap the History button (clock icon). You can delete individual websites by holding your finger on them and swiping left, or tap Clear to clear all websites from your Safari history.

Delete browser history in Andoid

Google Chrome is the default browser on Android phones, so most Android users are Chrome users. To clear your Chrome browser history on your phone:

1. Open the Chrome app
2. Tap the three-dots menu
3. Tap Clear browsing data
4. To completely clear your browsing history, select All time
5. Tap More options
6. Select the box next to Browsing history
7. Confirm by tapping Clear data

Good to know: If you use Samsung Internet on your Android phone rather than Google Chrome, you can clear your browsing history in the Internet app under Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data.
   
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This article first appeared on May 22, 2022, and was updated on July 18, 2024.

Images: 1&1/Shutterstock