How to delete your Google activity and set it to delete itself

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Google keeps a record of your searches, the websites and apps you use with your account, the YouTube videos you watch and, if switched on, the places you go. You can look at all of it, delete any part, and tell Google to delete it automatically after a set time.

Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones and Google's own apps on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them.

Step by step

1. Open My Activity

   In a browser, go to myactivity.google.com and sign in. On Android you also get there through Settings, Google, your name, Manage your Google Account, Data & privacy, My Activity.

   Done

2. Delete everything

   Tap Delete above the list of activity. Choose All time, tap Next and then Delete.

   Done

3. Or delete a period

   Tap the calendar icon and pick a day or a custom range, then delete the results. Last hour and Last day are offered directly under Delete.

   Done

4. Or delete by product

   Tap the search icon and tick the products, for example Search, YouTube or Maps, then delete what is shown.

   Done

5. Or delete single entries

   Scroll to the entry and tap the X or Delete next to it.

   Done

6. Set up auto-delete

   Open Settings, Google, your name, Manage your Google Account and tap Data & privacy. Under History settings, tap an activity type, such as Web & App Activity or YouTube History. Tap Auto-delete, choose 3, 18 or 36 months, tap Next and Confirm.

   Done

7. Or stop the recording

   On the same page you can switch an activity type off. Google then stops saving it. Some features, such as personal recommendations, become less useful.

   Done

Good to know

Deleting activity does not delete things you saved on purpose, such as emails, photos, files in Drive or the timeline in Maps. Those have their own places.

The history in your browser is separate from this. For Chrome on the phone: how to clear browsing history in Chrome on Android.

Google notes that some data goes sooner than the period you choose. Location and IP address details, for example, are removed from Web & App Activity after 30 days.

While you are in the account: how to turn on 2-Step Verification for a Google Account.

In short: myactivity.google.com, Delete, All time, Next, Delete. Auto-delete under Google Account, Data & privacy, History settings: 3, 18 or 36 months.