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When you perform a search on Google, your search history is saved. This can be helpful if you want to review what you’ve searched. Or disastrous if you don’t want prying eyes seeing what you’ve searched.
Perhaps you’re searching for locations to host a surprise birthday party for your spouse. Or maybe you’re searching for the perfect gift for your teenager. Or maybe you’re researching a new employment opportunity that you don’t want your current boss to find out about.
There are ways to prevent someone from seeing your Google search history, such as not giving that person access to your phone. Or searching using incognito mode in Google.
But most solutions involve some planning or too many steps for you to avoid suspicion. If someone asks to borrow your phone, you may want a quick and easy way to delete your most recent Google searches.
When you’re asked to hand over your phone, you don’t want to be fumbling around trying to remember how to delete your most recent searches. Ideally, you want a quick and easy way to delete your Google search history.
Also see => How to Get Your Entire Google Search History — and Delete It!
How to Delete Your Most Recent Google Searches
The good news is that Google just announced a quick and easy way to delete your recent search history using the Google app. No more need to panic if someone asks to use your phone. Just a few taps and the last 15 minutes of your Google search history will be deleted.
This new feature, called Quick Delete, is available in the Google App for iOS (iPhone and iPad) and will be coming later this year to the Google app for Android devices.
To use Quick Delete, open the Google app and tap your profile photo in the upper right corner of the screen. A menu will appear.
Tap Delete last 15 minutes and your search history for the last 15 minutes will be deleted from the Google app on your phone or tablet.
Other Ways to Protect Your Google Search History
You can also protect your Google search history other ways. These involve a few more steps and you may seem a bit suspicious if you try to use them when someone asks to borrow your phone.
To access these deletion options, tap your profile photo in the upper right corner of the Google app, then tap Search history.
Auto-delete Google Searches
Turn on auto-delete in your Google app to automatically delete your Google search history at regular intervals. Your choices are to automatically delete your search history every 3, 18, or 36 months. Or you can turn auto-delete off to preserve your search history.
Don’t miss => How To Find Out What Google Knows About You
Manual Delete
Google also lets you delete your searches manually. You can delete an individual search in Search history by tapping the X next to a term you searched. The first time you delete a search term you’ll receive a confirmation request from Google.
You can delete messages over time by tapping the Delete button, then choosing the time period for which you’d like to delete your searches. Using this tool, you can delete your entire Google search history.
Require Extra Verification
You can add extra protection to your search history by requiring extra verification to review your search history. In Search history, tap Manage My Activity verification.
With extra verification turned on, you’ll need to enter your password or use two-factor verification to view your search history.
Your Thoughts
Have you ever been worried about someone seeing your Google search history? Do you like having an easy way to delete your Google search history? Will you be turning on auto-delete for your Google search history?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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Worried Emoji image (edited) courtesy of DavidRockDesign and Pixabay
Yes, as you said, I was worried that someone would see my Google search history because it was an embarrassing thing. Now that I see the article you shared, I think I don’t have to worry about it. Thank you for the method.
Hi Weber, Yes, there are many reasons why you may want to keep your search history private. Now Google has made it easier to do that.
Time to get deleting and protect your privacy.
Hi Susan, Yes, if you’re concerned about your search history, you can delete it more easily now. But if you find it helpful to look back at previous searches, then you might want to preserve your search history. The good news is that you have the choice what you want to do.