What clearing your history actually does
Clearing your computer history removes the record of websites you have visited, searches you have made, and files you have downloaded. It does not delete the websites themselves or erase your activity from your internet service provider's records — it only removes the local record stored on your device.
Most people clear history for privacy: so that other people using the same computer cannot see where you have been online. Some clear it to free up storage space, though the amount of space history takes up is usually small. Clearing history also removes saved passwords and cached files (temporary copies of web pages) unless you specifically choose to keep them.
The steps differ depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — and whether you want to clear everything or just a specific time period.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing history removes the local record on your device but does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or employer network.
- Each browser stores history in a different location and uses different menu names, so you need to follow the steps for the specific browser you use.
- You can clear all history or choose a specific time range — last hour, last day, last week, or a custom date range.
- Clearing cookies and cached files at the same time removes more data than history alone, but may log you out of websites you visit regularly.
How to clear history in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac. This opens the History page. On the left side, click Clear browsing data.
A window will appear with options. At the top, select the time range from the dropdown menu: All time, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 90 days. Check the boxes next to the data you want to remove. Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are unchecked by default. Browsing history is checked by default. Click Clear data when you are ready.
If you want to prevent Chrome from saving history going forward, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy and security, then Cookies and other site data. You can choose to delete cookies when you close Chrome or block all cookies, though blocking all cookies may break some websites.
How to clear history in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and press Ctrl + H on Windows or Command + Y on Mac to open the History sidebar. At the top right of the sidebar, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Clear Recent History.
A window will appear. Use the dropdown at the top to select the time range: Everything, Last Hour, Last 2 Hours, Last 4 Hours, Today, or Last 7 Days. Check the boxes for what you want to remove. Browsing & read History is checked by default. You can also check Cookies, Cache, and Active Logins. Click Clear Now.
To stop Firefox from storing history, click the menu icon in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy & Security. Under History, use the dropdown to choose Firefox will: Never remember history. This puts Firefox in a mode similar to private browsing every time you use it.
How to clear history in Safari
Open Safari and click History in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Clear History.
A dropdown menu will appear asking how far back you want to clear: the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history. Choose your time range and click Clear History. Safari does not show separate options for cookies or cache in this menu — clearing history removes browsing history only.
To remove cookies and cached data separately, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, then click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data to see and remove stored cookies and site data. To prevent Safari from storing history, go to Settings, click the General tab, and set Remove history items to After one day or Manually.
How to clear history in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows. This opens the Clear browsing data window directly.
At the top, select the time range from the dropdown: Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, Last 90 days, or All time. Check the boxes next to the data you want to remove. Browsing history is checked by default. You can also check read history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files. Click Clear now.
To clear history automatically when you close Edge, click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
What clearing history does and does not protect
Clearing your history protects your privacy from other people who use your computer. If you share a device with family members or coworkers, clearing history prevents them from seeing your browsing record. It also removes autofill suggestions based on your past searches.
Clearing history does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer (if you are on a work network), or the websites you visit. Those organizations can still see your traffic regardless of whether your local history is cleared. If you need privacy from your internet service provider or network administrator, you would need to use a virtual private network (VPN), which is a separate tool.
Clearing history also does not remove your activity from cloud services. If you use a Google account, Microsoft account, or Firefox account, your browsing history may be synced to the cloud. You would need to clear your history from those accounts separately through their settings pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing history delete my saved passwords?
No. Clearing history does not remove saved passwords by default. If you want to delete saved passwords, you must check that option separately in the clear data window. In Chrome, it is under Passwords. In Firefox, it is under Logins and Passwords. In Safari and Edge, passwords are not included in the standard clear history options and must be managed separately in Settings.
Will clearing history speed up my computer?
Clearing history frees up a small amount of storage space, but the effect on speed is usually not noticeable. Browser history typically takes up only a few megabytes unless you have years of data stored. If your computer is slow, clearing history alone will not fix it.
Can I clear history for only one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can right-click on a website in your history and select Delete or Remove from history. In Safari, you can click History in the menu bar, find the site, and click the X next to it. This removes only that site from your history without clearing everything else.
What is the difference between clearing history and private browsing?
Private browsing (called Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox, Private in Safari, and InPrivate in Edge) prevents your browser from storing history while you are using it. When you close a private window, nothing is saved. Clearing history removes data that was already saved. Private browsing is useful if you want to browse without a record from the start; clearing history is useful if you have already browsed and want to remove the record afterward.
Do I need to clear history if I use a VPN?
A VPN hides your activity from your internet service provider and network administrator, but it does not prevent your browser from storing local history. Other people using your device can still see where you have been. If you want privacy from both your ISP and other device users, you should use both a VPN and clear your history.