How to Clear History in Chrome

To clear history in Chrome, open More > Delete browsing data, choose a time range, select Browsing history, review any other selected data types, then choose Delete data. On a phone or tablet, the same control is under Chrome’s More menu, though labels and available options can differ by device.

Before confirming, check the time range and checkboxes. If Chrome history sync is on, deleting history can also remove it from other devices signed in with that history synced. Clearing browser history does not automatically erase Google Account search activity.

Clear Chrome history on a computer

Open Chrome.
At the top right, select More (the three-dot menu), then Delete browsing data.
Choose a time range. Choose All time to remove the history in Chrome’s available history list.
Select Browsing history. Review the other data types and uncheck anything you want to keep.
Select Delete data.

Chrome’s History page lists pages visited in Chrome in the last 90 days. It does not include pages visited in Incognito mode or Chrome internal pages. With history sync enabled, it can also show visits from other synced devices. This describes the History list in Chrome, not every record that might exist in a Google Account or elsewhere. Google’s computer instructions explain the available deletion categories and sync behavior.

Remove specific visits instead of a time range

If you want to remove only a few entries, open More > History > History, find the entries, select them, and remove them. This keeps you from deleting the rest of the selected period. See Google’s guide to checking or deleting Chrome browsing history.

Clear Chrome history on Android

Open Chrome and tap More > Delete browsing data.
Choose the time range. The default shown in Google’s Android instructions is 15 minutes; check the duration displayed on your device.
Select Browsing history. Untick other categories you want to keep.
Tap Delete data and confirm if prompted.

Android’s available categories can differ from desktop and iOS. For example, the Android instructions include saved passwords among selectable data. Review the screen on your device before deleting. Google’s Android steps describe the mobile controls.

Clear Chrome history on iPhone or iPad

Open Chrome and tap More > Delete browsing data.
Choose a duration and select the data types you want to remove.
Review the selection, then tap Delete browsing data and confirm if prompted.

Google’s iPhone and iPad guidance manages passwords and passkeys separately. Do not assume that the checkboxes match the desktop or Android screen. Follow the options shown in your version of Chrome. See Google’s iPhone and iPad instructions.

What clearing Chrome history does and doesn’t delete

Data type	What to expect
Browsing history	Removes visited addresses from Chrome’s History page, related New Tab shortcuts, and address-bar predictions for those sites.
Download history	Removes the list of downloaded files from Chrome; it does not delete the files from the device.
Cookies and site data	A separate category. Deleting it can sign you out of sites and remove saved site preferences.
Cached images and files	A separate category. Clearing it may mean images and pages need to load again.
Autofill data	A separate category. Removing local autofill data does not remove autofill entries stored in a Google Account.
Passwords and passkeys	Managed separately on desktop and in Google’s iPhone/iPad guidance; Android may show saved passwords among selectable data. Check your platform’s screen.
Google Account activity	Searches and other activity on Google services have separate account controls. Clearing Chrome history alone does not delete them.

On a computer, Google says Chrome refreshes Google cookies when cookies are deleted while you are signed in to Chrome. If your goal is to delete Google cookies, Google advises signing out of Chrome first. This applies to cookie deletion, not to clearing browsing history alone. See Google’s cookie instructions.

Understand history sync before deleting

If Chrome history is synced to your Google Account, deletion can propagate to devices signed in to Chrome with that history synced. Google Chrome Help states: “When you delete your browsing history in Chrome, it’s also deleted on your devices where you’re signed in to Chrome and have your history synced to your Google Account.” If you intend to clear only one device, check sync settings and the account currently signed in before deleting.

Google Account search history and other activity on Google services are controlled separately. Use Google’s privacy and activity controls if you mean to manage account activity rather than Chrome’s local browsing history.

Choose the right deletion method

Remove a few visits: use History > History and delete the individual entries.
Remove visits from a period: use Delete browsing data, set the time range, and select browsing history.
Keep cookies, passwords, or cached files: inspect the other checkboxes and clear only browsing history.
Clear data across synced devices: confirm which Google Account is signed in and whether history sync is enabled.
Manage searches tied to Google services: use the Google Account activity controls, separately from Chrome’s history menu.

Troubleshooting

“Delete browsing data” isn’t where I expect

Menu placement and wording vary by platform and Chrome version. Open Chrome’s three-dot More menu and look for Delete browsing data. On mobile, use the menu inside Chrome rather than the device’s system settings.

History is still visible on another device

Check whether that device is signed in to the same Google Account and has history sync enabled. Sync state, account state, or a delay in updating can affect what you see. Confirm the account and sync settings on both devices, then check Chrome History again.

A website still remembers me

Clearing browsing history does not necessarily clear cookies or site data. If you want to remove remembered sessions, select the cookies and site data category too. That can sign you out and remove site preferences.

A downloaded file is still on my device

That is expected: deleting download history clears Chrome’s download list, not the downloaded file. Delete the file separately using your device’s file manager if that is your goal.

Google searches still appear in my account activity

Chrome history and Google Account activity are separate controls. Manage account searches and other Google-service activity through Google’s account activity controls.

I don’t see a password option, or the options differ

Data categories vary by platform. Desktop and iPhone/iPad guidance treats passwords or passkeys separately, while Android may offer saved passwords as a deletion category. Use the password manager or the platform-specific Chrome control when needed.

Performance, reliability, and privacy notes

Review before confirming: the time range and selected categories determine what is removed. Deletion is not a way to recover data later, so verify both.
Expect site changes only if you clear additional categories: cookies can sign you out, and clearing cached files can cause sites to fetch those resources again.
Do not treat Chrome History as a complete activity archive: Incognito visits and Chrome internal pages are excluded, and account activity is managed separately.
Managed devices may have different controls: a work or school policy, account state, or Chrome version can affect available choices.

Or skip the browser setup

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FAQ

Does clearing Chrome history clear Incognito history?

Chrome’s History page does not list pages visited in Incognito mode. The history deletion control described here is for the browsing history Chrome lists.

Will clearing history delete bookmarks?

Browsing history is a separate data category from bookmarks. Review the categories shown in the deletion dialog before confirming.

Can I clear Chrome history without clearing cookies?

Yes. Select browsing history and leave cookies and site data unchecked.

Does “All time” include every record Google has?

No. It applies to the Chrome data available through that deletion dialog. Google Account activity has separate controls.