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(Pocket-lint) – Google makes it easy to erase your search history – for good.
The search engine notoriously stores a record of everything you search on Google.com, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account. Although you can clear your local browser history, Google always keeps track of it on its own servers. You can still browse your Google Account page to locate your search history activity stream, but now Google is simplifying that process.
It allows you to view and delete recent search history in Google search itself, rather than going through settings. It also offers quick access controls. Here’s what you need to know.
What changed?
When you use Google.com, you generate data about your activity, including the terms you search, the links you interact with, and other data points such as your location when you search. Previously, if you did a Google search and wanted to manage this data, you had to visit your Google account and dig around. Now you can find these exam checks directly in Google search.
Here’s how Google explained the change in a blog post:
“We make it easier for you to make decisions about your data right in the Google products you use every day, starting with [Google Search]. Without ever leaving Search, you can now review and delete your recent search activity, quickly get to the most relevant privacy controls in your Google Account, and learn how search works with your data. “
Why is Google doing this now?
Simply put: people are more aware of their personal data and how it can be collected without their explicit consent and maybe used against them and their own interests. As a result, giant tech companies face a lot of criticism and feel pressure to better protect the privacy of their users. In addition, regulations are falling on them, like the GDPR, forcing them to act now.
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How to delete your Google search data
By following the steps below, your account’s full search activity page will be displayed, where you can view all of your recent search activity and delete specific results or full days of history. Just use the three dot menus next to each search term. Or, on the Your Data in Search page, you’ll see a button that lets you either delete your search activity in the last hour or clear your entire search history.
From a phone
Sign in to your Google account in the Chrome browser app.
After launching a search, tap the hamburger menu next to the Google logo.
Select Your data in research.
Scroll to Your recent activity.
Press on All research activities.
From an office
Sign in to your Google Account in Chrome.
Click on the link Control your data in Google search (under the Google Search and I’m Lucky buttons) on the Google home page.
Otherwise, go to Settings and select the option Your data in the search at from a search results page.
When will these privacy controls be available?
Google is making these changes to search on desktop and mobile browsers now, with iOS and Android updates to follow for the Google app in the coming weeks. Google also plans to expand these same changes to Google Maps and other products next year.
Written by Maggie Tillman. Edited by Britta O’Boyle. Originally published on .
