Clear browsing history in three steps

To clear your browsing history on a Samsung tablet, open your web browser, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines or dots), select History or Clear browsing data, choose what time period you want to delete, and confirm. The exact steps depend on which browser you use — Samsung Internet, Chrome, or Firefox — but all three follow this same basic path.

Most Samsung tablets come with Samsung Internet as the default browser, though you may have installed Chrome or another option. The method takes less than a minute and removes the record of websites you have visited, searches you have made, and cookies stored on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Internet, Chrome, and Firefox all store your browsing history in their menu settings under History or Clear browsing data.
  • You can delete history from the last hour, day, week, month, or all time — choose the time range that matches what you want to remove.
  • Clearing history also removes cookies and cached images, which frees up storage space on your tablet.
  • If you want to prevent history from being saved in the first place, use your browser's private or incognito mode.

Clear history in Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet is the browser that comes pre-installed on most Samsung tablets. Open the app and look for the menu icon — it appears as three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner on most tablets. Tap it and scroll down to find History.

Tap History and you will see a list of websites you have visited. At the top of the screen, tap Clear browsing data. A popup will appear with options for what to delete. Check the boxes next to Browsing history, Cookies and site data, and Cached images and files if you want to remove all traces. Then tap the dropdown menu that says All time and choose your preferred time range — Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. Tap Clear to finish.

Clear history in Chrome

If you use Google Chrome on your Samsung tablet, the process is similar but the menu location is slightly different. Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap History, then tap Clear browsing data at the top of the list.

A popup will appear with checkboxes for Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, and other options. Make sure Browsing history is checked. Use the dropdown at the top that says All time to select your time range, then tap Clear data. Chrome will remove your history when ready.

Clear history in Firefox

Firefox stores its history in a slightly different location. Open Firefox and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap History, then tap Clear recent history.

A popup will show options for what to delete. Make sure Browsing & read history is checked. Use the dropdown that says Everything to choose a different time range if you prefer — options include Last hour, Last 2 hours, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, or Last 4 weeks. Tap Clear to remove your history.

What gets deleted when you clear history

When you clear browsing history, you remove three main things: the list of websites you visited, the cookies that websites store on your device, and the cached images and files that your browser saved to load pages faster next time. Clearing all three frees up storage space on your tablet and removes the digital footprint of your browsing.

Clearing history does not delete your saved passwords, bookmarks, or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes in the clear data menu. If you want to keep your bookmarks but remove everything else, make sure those checkboxes stay unchecked.

Use private or incognito mode to avoid saving history

If you want to browse without saving any history in the first place, use your browser's private browsing mode. In Samsung Internet, tap the menu icon and select Secret mode. In Chrome, tap the menu and select New incognito tab. In Firefox, tap the menu and select New private tab.

When you use private mode, your browser does not save your history, cookies, or search terms. Once you close the private tab or window, nothing is recorded. This is useful if you are shopping for gifts, researching sensitive topics, or using a shared tablet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing history delete my saved passwords?

No. Clearing browsing history removes only your visited websites, cookies, and cached files. Your saved passwords and autofill information stay on your device unless you specifically check the box for passwords in the clear data menu. Check what boxes are selected before you tap Clear.

Does clearing history free up storage space on my tablet?

Yes, especially if you have been browsing for a long time. Cached images and files take up the most space. Clearing history, cookies, and cached data can free up several hundred megabytes or more, depending on how much you have browsed. This is one reason to clear history regularly on tablets with limited storage.

Can I clear history for only one website?

In most browsers, you can delete individual entries from your history list. Open History, find the website you want to remove, and tap and hold it until a delete option appears. However, if you want to remove all traces of a website — including cookies — you will need to clear all browsing data and choose a time range that includes when you visited it.

What is the difference between clearing history and using private mode?

Clearing history removes what your browser already saved. Private mode prevents your browser from saving anything in the first place. If you want to browse without a record, use private mode before you start. If you want to erase what you have already browsed, clear your history after the fact.

Will clearing history on my tablet affect my history on other devices?

No. Clearing history on your Samsung tablet removes only the history stored on that device. If you use Chrome and have signed into your Google account, your history may sync across devices — but clearing it on your tablet will not automatically clear it on your phone or computer. You would need to clear history on each device separately.