How to Turn Off Browsing History on Chrome

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Although Chrome does not include an option to disable the browsing history, there are still ways you can maintain your privacy. If you want to browse without saving your history, you can do so in Incognito Mode. If you forget to browse incognito, or just want to cover your tracks, you can delete your browsing history manually. You can also disable certain types of history logging in your Google activity settings—and while this prevent Chrome from logging your history, disabling Web Activity will prevent your history from also being saved to your Google account.

Things You Should Know

  • Use Incognito Mode so your browsing history isn't saved. [1]
  • Delete your browsing history in "Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data".
  • If you're on a phone or tablet, go to "History > Clear browsing data".
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Browsing in Incognito Mode on a Computer

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  1. If you don't want Chrome to log the sites you visit, you can browse in Incognito Mode. [2]
  2. The menu is at the upper-right corner of Chrome. This opens a new private browsing window.
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  3. The Incognito window has an icon of a hat and glasses in the upper-left corner—make sure you use this window to browse rather than any other open Chrome windows. [3] As long as you visit websites in this window only, your browsing history will not be saved in Google Chrome.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Browsing in Incognito Mode on a Phone or Tablet

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  1. If you don't want Chrome to log the sites you visit, you can browse in Incognito Mode. [4]
  2. It's at the top-right corner on an Android, and at the bottom-right on an iPhone or iPad.
  3. This opens a new Incognito browsing tab.
  4. You'll see an icon of a hat and glasses with the phrase "You've gone incognito" at the top of the new tab. As long as you visit websites using this tab, it will not save your browsing history. [5]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Disabling Google Activity

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  1. Go to https://myactivity.google.com in Chrome. If you're not already signed in with your Google account, you'll be asked to do so. [6]
    • You can use this method to disable history logging for Google Search, YouTube, Google-related app history (including Maps and Google Play), as well as your location history.
  2. It's in the left panel.
    • If you're using a phone or tablet, you may have to tap the menu at the top-left corner to see this option.
  3. Google breaks this page into three sections, and you can view each section's history content by clicking Manage activity beneath the option. The three options are:
    • Web & App Activity: This includes your Google search history, Chrome history (if selected), Maps, Android app activity, and all other Google services.
    • Location History: This is where you've used your device—even on non-Google services.
    • YouTube History: Includes videos you've watched and your searches.
  4. You can prevent Google from tracking any of the listed information. You'll get a popup that warns you about pausing logging after switching the feature off. [7]
    • If you just want to prevent your browsing and website history from showing up in your Google account, you can remove the checkmark from "Include Chrome history and activities from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services." This will still not prevent Chrome from tracking your browsing history, but it'll keep it a little more separate from your Google account.
  5. This disables history logging for the selected data type.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Deleting Browsing History on a Computer

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  1. Although there's no way to turn off browsing history, you can delete it manually. Try to get into the habit of deleting it after every session.
    • If you are signed in to Chrome with your Google account when you delete your browsing history, it will also delete your Chrome browsing history on other devices, such as your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
  2. The menu is at the top-right corner of Chrome.
  3. It's in the left panel.
  4. It's at the top of the page. [8]
  5. This ensures that you're deleting your entire browsing history, not just from a brief period of time.
  6. By default, your browsing history, cookies, site data, and cached files will all be marked for deletion. Use the checkboxes to toggle items on or off.
    • To delete more saved info, click the Advanced tab for additional options.
  7. A confirmation message will appear. Click Clear data again to confirm. This deletes the selected items.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Deleting Browsing History on a Phone or Tablet

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  1. Although there's no way to turn off browsing history, you can delete it manually. Try to get into the habit of deleting it after every session.
    • If you are signed in to Chrome with your Google account when you delete your browsing history, it will also delete your Chrome browsing history on other devices, such as your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
  2. It's at the top-right corner on an Android, and at the bottom-right on an iPhone/iPad.
  3. This displays your browsing history. [9]
  4. It's below your history.
  5. This ensures that you're deleting your entire browsing history, not just from a brief period of time.
  6. By default, your browsing history, cookies, site data, and cached files will all be marked for deletion. Use the checkboxes to toggle items on or off.
  7. A confirmation message will appear. [10]
  8. This deletes the selected items.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Does browser history take up space on my computer?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Browser history does take up some temporary file space. Back in the day, we used to really want to erase that, because we didn't have a lot of space on our computers. Our hard drive space was gold, but now we have terabytes of garage space that we can use. So deleting your browser history is more of a personal preference.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 17
  • Question
    I did all that but my history stll shows. What do I do?
    Phillip Graham
    Community Answer
    You could try going through all the steps again, and make sure you aren't just selecting the " Paused " option, as this stops any activity in the future from being recorded, but doesn't delete any previous activity.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 68 Helpful 18
  • Question
    I switched activity to pause' but Chrome is still keeping my search history and I have to manually delete it.
    Phillip Graham
    Community Answer
    If you have the paused setting on, it will keep any activity in the future from being recorded, but it won't delete any previous activity. It can also take up to a few hours for all of your activity to be deleted.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 87 Helpful 17
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      Tips

      • If you use a lot of Chrome extensions, they won't work in Incognito Mode by default. You can choose to allow certain extensions to function in Incognito Mode if you'd like. Click the top-right menu in Chrome, select Extensions , click Details on an extension, and then toggle on "Allow in Incognito."
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      • Google search history and Google Chrome browsing history are not the same thing.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/9845881?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/465?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/54068
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95589#zippy=%2Cclear-your-history
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95589?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=1#zippy=%2Cclear-your-history
      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95589?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en&oco=1

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Chrome.
      2. Click the three-dot menu and select New Incognito Window .
      3. Only browse the web from this window to avoid being logged.

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