How to Clear Your Browser History on Your Phone
Learn how to delete your browsing history, cookies, and saved data in Safari and Chrome on your phone. A simple guide to protect your privacy.
What you will learn
You will learn how to clear your browsing history, cookies, and cached data in Safari (iPhone) and Google Chrome (Android and iPhone). This helps protect your privacy and can fix some browser problems.
What you need
- A smartphone (iPhone or Android)
- Safari or Google Chrome browser
Step 1: Clear history in Safari (iPhone)
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Apps, then tap Safari. Scroll down to find Clear History and Website Data. Tap it. A message will ask you to confirm. Tap Clear History to delete your browsing history, cookies, and cached data.
Step 2: Choose what to clear in Safari
If you want more control, open the Safari app. Tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap the clock icon to see your history. Tap Clear at the bottom and choose a time range: Last Hour, Today, Today and Yesterday, or All Time. This lets you delete only recent history instead of everything.
Step 3: Clear history in Chrome (Android or iPhone)
Open the Chrome app. Tap the three dots icon in the top-right corner (Android) or bottom-right corner (iPhone). Tap History, then tap Clear Browsing Data.
Step 4: Choose what to delete in Chrome
You will see checkboxes for different types of data: Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. Check the boxes for what you want to delete. At the top, choose a time range: Last Hour, Last 24 Hours, Last 7 Days, Last 4 Weeks, or All Time. Tap Clear Data to confirm.
Step 5: Use private browsing to avoid saving history
If you do not want your browsing history saved in the first place, use private browsing mode. In Safari, tap the tabs icon at the bottom-right, then tap Private. In Chrome, tap the three dots icon and select New Incognito Tab. Websites you visit in private mode are not saved to your history.
Step 6: Clear data for a single website
Sometimes you only need to clear data for one website. In Safari, go to Settings, then Apps, then Safari, then Advanced, then Website Data. Find the website and swipe left to delete its data. In Chrome, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Clear Browsing Data, or visit the site and tap the lock icon in the address bar to manage its permissions and data.
Tips
- Clear your history before lending your phone to someone else
- Use private browsing mode when searching for personal topics like health or finances
- If a website is not loading correctly, clearing cookies and cached data for that site often fixes the problem
- Remember that clearing cookies will log you out of websites — make sure you know your passwords before clearing
- Set a reminder to clear your history regularly if privacy is important to you
Useful links
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Frequently asked questions
Will clearing my history log me out of websites?
If you clear cookies and website data, yes -- you will be logged out of most websites and will need to sign in again. If you only clear browsing history, your logins usually stay.
Will clearing history delete my bookmarks?
No. Bookmarks and saved favorites are not affected when you clear your browsing history. They will still be there.
How often should I clear my history?
There is no fixed rule. Some people clear it weekly for privacy, others only when their browser feels slow. If you share your phone with others, clearing history more often helps protect your privacy.
Does clearing history free up storage space?
Yes, a small amount. Clearing cached data and cookies can free up some storage, especially if you have not done it in a long time. It will not free a large amount, but every bit helps.
Can someone still see my history after I clear it?
After clearing, the history is removed from your phone. However, your internet provider or employer (if you use their network) may still have records. For more privacy, use private browsing mode.
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