Ah, Google! This giant that makes our lives easier, but which, as we know, also likes to pry into our affairs a little too much. Well, what can you do, it's the price to pay for all these free services... but all is not lost! Let's see together how to delete google search and location history.
Google has gotten into the annoying habit of tracking your every move, for better, but also for worse! For better, because it often allows it to adapt your user experience based on your habits, but also for worse, because it comes at the expense of your privacy.
Because, you might be surprised to discover everything Google knows about you accurately, not only in your search history, but also in the places you have been!
Delete search and location history in Google
Fortunately, Google still allows you to control some of the information it collects and stores about you. You can actually control what types of activity are associated with your account to personalize your experience on Google services. This includes search history, browsing history, YouTube, and location history.
These options are available on a page called “Activity Controls” which you will be able to find on your Google account So let's see how to limit Google's recording of this data and how to delete your history.
- To find it, log in to your Google account (via one of its services: Gmail, Drive, etc.).
- Click on your photo at the top right and select the blue button Manage your Google account
- Then go to the page Data and privacy
- Scroll down to the section Your activities and the places you visited and History Settings
- There, click on My activity
You will then access the section of your account titled My Google Activity. This page summarizes everything that Google records about your online activity (Gulp).
- In the left menu, click Activity-related commands
On this new page, you will have access to a certain number of files which will allow you to control what Google will save: Web and App Activity, Position History, YouTube History and Personalized Ads.
Each of these tabs has a button that allows you to enable, disable, or disable and delete the activity. Choose the option that suits you best and adjust any secondary settings. By selecting Disable and delete activity, you will be able to wipe the slate clean of data archived by Google and disable future collection.
It is also on these cards that you will be able to view your activity history (and see how much Google is tracking you). At the bottom of each one, you will be able to click on "Manage all activity" or "Manage history"
Set up automatic deletion of your data
If you have chosen to enable recording of your activity, location or YouTube history, Google still gives you the possibility to do housework at regular intervals.
Indeed, still on these famous Activity sheets, Google offers an option to program the automatic deletion of collected data.
For it :
- Go to the card you want to control (activity, location or YouTube)
- At the bottom of the sheet, click on Select an automatic deletion option
- In the window that opens, select Automatically delete activity older than
- And choose a time interval (3 months, 18 months or 36 months) then click on Next
- Confirm your choice in the next window
Please keep in mind that if you use multiple user accounts on Google, you will need to repeat the process each time to delete your search and location history in Google.
And while you're at it, take advantage of being on this dashboard to check all your privacy settings... I'm willing to bet you won't be disappointed!
