Where to find and clear your browsing history

On a Samsung tablet, the steps to clear your internet history depend on which browser you use. Most Samsung tablets come with either Samsung Internet (the default browser) or Google Chrome pre-installed, and each has its own history storage and deletion process. The good news is that both are straightforward once you know where to look.

Your browsing history is stored locally on your tablet — it's a record of every website you've visited, kept so the browser can suggest sites and load them faster next time. Clearing it removes that record from your device, though it does not affect your activity on the websites themselves or any records kept by your internet service provider.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Internet and Google Chrome both store history in their settings menu, accessible through a three-dot icon or menu button.
  • You can delete all history at once or set your browser to clear history automatically every time you close it.
  • Clearing history does not delete saved passwords or autofill information unless you specifically choose those options.
  • If you use multiple browsers on your tablet, you will need to clear history in each one separately.

Clearing history in Samsung Internet

Open Samsung Internet and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings, then tap Privacy. You will see an option labeled Delete browsing data — tap it.

A popup will appear with checkboxes for different types of data. Browsing history is checked by default. You can also check Cookies and site data if you want to remove stored login information and preferences from websites, though this means you will have to log back into sites the next time you visit. Leave Passwords unchecked unless you want to delete saved passwords. At the top, choose the time range: All time will clear everything, while Last hour, Last day, or Last week let you delete only recent history. Tap Delete to confirm.

Clearing history in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap History, then tap Clear browsing data at the top of the screen. A popup will show several options with checkboxes.

Make sure Cookies and site data and Browsing history are checked. The Passwords and other sign-in data box is unchecked by default — leave it that way unless you want to delete saved passwords. At the top, use the dropdown menu to select your time range: All time clears everything, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, and Last 90 days give you more control. Tap Clear data to finish.

Setting your browser to clear history automatically

If you want your history deleted every time you close the browser, you can 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, tap Clear browsing data, and toggle on Delete browsing data on exit.

When this setting is on, your history, cookies, and cached files are removed automatically — though you can choose which types of data to keep by adjusting the checkboxes in the same menu. Saved passwords are not deleted unless you specifically enable that option.

What gets deleted and what stays

Clearing your browsing history removes the list of websites you have visited, but it does not affect your saved passwords, autofill information, or bookmarks unless you check those boxes during deletion. It also does not remove your activity from Google's servers if you are signed into a Google account — that requires a separate step in your Google Account settings on a computer or phone.

Cached files (temporary copies of images and pages stored on your tablet to load sites faster) are usually deleted along with history, which means websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing. This is temporary and normal.

Clearing history from other browsers

If you use Firefox, Opera, or another browser on your Samsung tablet, the process is similar but the menu locations differ. In Firefox, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings > Delete browsing data. In Opera, tap the menu button and look for Clear browsing data or History. Each browser stores its history separately, so you will need to clear it in each one if you use multiple browsers.

Some third-party browsers also offer their own privacy features — check your browser's settings menu if you are unsure where the history deletion option is located.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?

No, not by default. When you clear browsing data, passwords remain saved unless you specifically check the box for passwords or sign-in data during the deletion process. If you want to keep your passwords but delete everything else, make sure that box stays unchecked.

Will clearing history speed up my tablet?

Clearing old browsing data may free up a small amount of storage space, but it will not noticeably speed up your tablet's performance. The main reason to clear history is privacy, not performance. If your tablet feels slow, the issue is usually something else — too many apps running at once, low storage space, or an older device.

Can I recover history after I delete it?

Once you clear browsing history from your browser, it cannot be recovered from the tablet itself. If you are signed into a Google account and used Chrome, you may be able to see some activity in your Google Account history on a computer, but the local copy on your tablet is gone.

What if I only want to delete history from one website?

Most browsers do not offer a way to delete history from a single website. You can delete all history within a specific time range (like the last hour), or you can manually remove individual sites by long-pressing them in your history list — though this varies by browser. Check your browser's history menu to see if this option is available.

Do I need to clear history if I use private browsing mode?

No. Private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome and Private in Samsung Internet) does not save history, cookies, or cached files at all. When you close a private browsing tab, that activity is automatically deleted. You only need to clear history for regular browsing sessions.