Clear browsing history in three steps

Open the browser app on your Samsung tablet — usually called Internet or Chrome. Tap the menu button (three vertical dots in the top right corner). Scroll down and select History, then tap Clear browsing data. A window will appear with checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure Cookies and site data and Cached images and files are checked, then tap Clear data.

The exact wording and location of these buttons varies slightly depending on whether you use Samsung Internet, Google Chrome, or another browser. Samsung Internet tends to place the menu button in the bottom right instead of the top right. The process takes less than a minute once you find the menu.

If you want to prevent history from being saved in the future, you can also enable Private mode or Incognito mode before you browse. This stops the browser from recording your activity while that mode is on.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your browser, tap the menu button (three dots), find History, and select Clear browsing data to remove your browsing record.
  • Samsung Internet and Chrome have slightly different menu layouts, but both options are in the settings or menu area of the app.
  • You can choose what types of data to clear — browsing history, cookies, cached files — rather than clearing everything at once.
  • Turning on Private or Incognito mode before you browse prevents the browser from saving your activity in the first place.

Where the menu button is on Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet places its menu button at the bottom right of the screen, not the top. Look for three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) or three dots. Tap it, then scroll down until you see Settings. Inside Settings, look for Privacy or Browsing data. Tap Delete browsing data and confirm.

Samsung Internet also lets you set how often it clears data automatically. In the same Settings menu, you can choose to clear history every time you close the app. This is useful if you share your tablet with others or want a fresh start each session.

Where the menu button is on Google Chrome

Chrome's menu button is three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap it and scroll down to History. You will see a list of sites you visited recently. At the top of that list is a button that says Clear browsing data. Tap it, choose your time range (Last hour, Last 24 hours, All time), and make sure the boxes next to Cookies and Cache are checked.

Chrome also syncs your history across devices if you are signed into a Google account on your tablet. Clearing history on the tablet does not automatically clear it from your Google account. If you want to remove it from all your devices, you need to clear it from your Google account settings on a computer or through the Google Account app.

Clearing other types of data beyond history

Browsing history is just one type of data your browser stores. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember your login information and preferences. Cached files are images and text that the browser saves so pages load faster the next time you visit. Site data includes information that apps and websites store on your tablet.

When you tap Clear browsing data, you can usually choose which types to delete. If you only want to remove history but keep your login information, uncheck the Cookies box. If you want a complete wipe, check all the boxes. Most people benefit from clearing everything at least once a month, especially if they share the tablet.

What happens after you clear history

Once you clear your browsing history, it is gone from your tablet. Websites you visit will no longer appear in your browser's history list or in the dropdown menu when you start typing a web address. Your saved passwords and autofill information remain unless you specifically checked those boxes during the clearing process.

Clearing history does not affect your Google account, email, or any files stored on your tablet. It only removes the record of which websites you visited and when. If you are concerned about privacy, clearing history regularly is a good habit, but it does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or the websites themselves.

Using Private or Incognito mode to avoid saving history

Both Samsung Internet and Chrome offer a private browsing mode that does not save your history while it is active. In Samsung Internet, tap the menu button and select Secret mode. In Chrome, tap the menu button and select New Incognito tab. The browser will open a new window that looks slightly different — usually darker or with a different icon — to remind you that you are in private mode.

While you are in private mode, the browser does not save your history, cookies, or cached files. Once you close the private window, nothing from that session is stored. This is useful if you are using a shared tablet or if you want to browse without leaving a record. Keep in mind that your internet service provider can still see which sites you visit, and the websites themselves still know you visited them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my history delete my saved passwords?

No, not unless you specifically check the box for passwords or autofill data. When you tap Clear browsing data, you see checkboxes for different types of information. History, cookies, and cache are usually checked by default, but passwords are separate. You can clear history without touching your saved passwords.

Can I clear history for only one website instead of everything?

Most browsers do not let you delete history for a single site. You can clear all history within a time range — last hour, last day, all time — but not for one specific website. The workaround is to use Private or Incognito mode when you visit that site, so it never gets saved in the first place.

Does clearing history on my tablet clear it from my Google account?

No. If you are signed into a Google account on your tablet, your history syncs to that account. Clearing it on the tablet removes it from the tablet only. To remove it from your Google account across all devices, you need to go to myactivity.google.com on a computer or phone and delete it there.

What is the difference between history and cache?

History is the list of websites you visited. Cache is the images, text, and files the browser saved from those sites so they load faster next time. Clearing history removes the list of sites, but the cached files may remain. Clearing cache removes those files but does not erase the history list. Most people clear both at the same time.

Why would I want to keep some data when clearing history?

Keeping cookies and autofill data means you stay logged into websites and do not have to re-enter your information. If you clear everything, you will need to log back into email, social media, and shopping sites the next time you visit. Many people clear history and cache but leave cookies checked so they do not have to log in again.