Clear browsing history in Samsung Internet in three steps
Open Samsung Internet, the browser that comes built into most Samsung tablets. Tap the three-line menu icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Select Settings, then tap Privacy. Choose Delete browsing data, check the boxes next to Browsing history, Cookies and site data, and any other data you want to remove, then tap Delete.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Your tablet will not ask you to confirm — the data disappears as soon as you tap the final button. If you use a different browser like Chrome or Firefox, the steps are similar but the menu locations differ slightly.
You can also set your tablet to delete history automatically every time you close the browser. In the same Settings menu, look for Delete browsing data on exit and toggle it on. After that, your history clears without any action from you.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Internet stores your browsing history by default, but you can delete it manually through Settings > Privacy > Delete browsing data in under a minute.
- You can choose which types of data to clear — browsing history, cookies, cached images, and site data can be removed together or separately.
- Turning on Delete browsing data on exit clears your history automatically every time you close the browser, with no manual steps needed.
- Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers on your tablet have their own history-clearing menus, but the process is similar across all of them.
- Clearing history does not affect your bookmarks, saved passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes.
What data gets deleted when you clear history
When you tap Delete browsing data, your tablet shows you a list of checkboxes. Browsing history removes the list of websites you visited. Cookies and site data removes small files that websites store on your device — these files remember your login information, preferences, and tracking data. Cached images and files removes temporary copies of pictures and pages that speed up loading on repeat visits.
You do not have to delete all of them at once. If you only want to hide which websites you visited but keep your login information, uncheck Cookies and site data. If you want to clear everything, check all the boxes. The choice is yours each time you delete.
One important note: clearing history does not touch your bookmarks or saved passwords unless you specifically check those boxes. Your autofill information stays in place too. Only the data you mark gets removed.
How to clear history in Chrome on your Samsung tablet
If you use Chrome instead of Samsung Internet, the steps are slightly different. Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings, then tap Privacy and security. Choose Clear browsing data.
A popup window appears with a time range dropdown at the top. By default it shows All time, which clears everything. You can change this to Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 90 days if you only want to remove recent history. Check the boxes for the data types you want to remove, then tap Clear data.
Chrome also syncs your history across devices if you are signed into a Google account. Clearing history on your tablet does not automatically clear it on your phone or computer — each device has its own history that you must clear separately.
How to clear history in Firefox on your Samsung tablet
Firefox uses a different menu structure. Open Firefox and tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and select Settings. Tap Delete browsing data.
Firefox shows you options to delete browsing history, site data, cookies, cached files, and other information. Check the boxes for what you want to remove, then tap Delete browsing data at the bottom. Unlike Chrome, Firefox does not offer a time range option — it clears all data for the categories you select.
If you want Firefox to clear your history automatically, go back to Settings and look for Delete browsing data on quit. Toggle this on, and Firefox will clear your history every time you close the app completely.
Set up automatic history clearing so you do not have to do it manually
Most browsers on Samsung tablets let you turn on automatic clearing. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle on Delete browsing data on exit. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and turn on Delete cookies and site data when you close all tabs. In Firefox, go to Settings and toggle on Delete browsing data on quit.
Once you turn this on, your tablet clears the selected data types every time you fully close the browser. You do not have to remember to do it manually. The clearing happens in the background without any notification.
Be aware that automatic clearing means you lose your history when ready. If you ever need to look back at a website you visited, you will not be able to find it in your history. Some people turn this on only when they share their tablet with others, then turn it off when they are the only user.
What happens if you clear your history by accident
Once you delete browsing history, it is gone. Your tablet does not keep a backup or a trash folder where you can recover it. If you cleared data you needed, you cannot undo the deletion.
The best way to avoid this is to be careful when you tap the final delete button. Take a moment to check which boxes are marked before you confirm. If you are worried about clearing something important, you can always clear only browsing history and leave cookies and site data in place — that way you keep your login information and preferences.
If you share your tablet with family members and want to protect your history from accidental deletion, consider using a different browser for each person, or ask them to clear only their own history rather than all history on the device.
Clearing history on a shared Samsung tablet
If multiple people use the same tablet, each browser stores a shared history. When you clear history in Samsung Internet, you clear it for everyone who uses that browser on that tablet. There is no way to clear only your own history and leave someone else's history in place.
If privacy matters in your household, the best approach is to have each person use a different browser. One person uses Samsung Internet, another uses Chrome, and a third uses Firefox. That way, each person can clear their own history without affecting the others.
Another option is to use private or incognito mode while browsing. In Samsung Internet, tap the menu and select New secret tab. In Chrome, tap the menu and select New incognito tab. In Firefox, tap the menu and select New private tab. Websites you visit in these modes do not appear in your history at all, even if you do not clear it afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
No. Clearing browsing history does not touch your saved passwords unless you specifically check the box for passwords or login data. Most people leave that box unchecked so they can stay logged into their favorite websites. If you want to delete a specific password, go to Settings and find the Passwords section in your browser instead.
Can I clear history from just one website?
Most browsers do not let you delete history for a single website. You can only clear all history within a time range, or clear everything. If you want to hide that you visited one site, your best option is to use private or incognito mode from that point forward, or clear all history and accept that you lose everything from that time period.
What is the difference between clearing history and using private mode?
Private or incognito mode prevents your browser from storing history in the first place. Websites you visit in private mode do not appear in your history, and cookies are deleted when you close the tab. Clearing history removes data that was already stored. Private mode is better if you want to browse without leaving a trace; clearing history is better if you already visited sites and want to remove them afterward.
Will clearing my history on my tablet clear it on my phone too?
No. Each device has its own separate history. If you use Chrome and are signed into the same Google account on both devices, your history syncs between them, but clearing it on one device does not automatically clear it on the other. You have to clear history on each device separately.
Why does my browser keep asking me to clear history?
Your tablet may be running low on storage space. Cached images and files take up room on your device. Clearing this data frees up space. If you get frequent storage warnings, turn on automatic history clearing or clear cached files more often. You can also delete old photos, videos, or apps you no longer use to free up space.