HomeWinBuzzer TipsHow to Delete History on a Chromebook

How to Delete History on a Chromebook

We show you how to clear Chromebook browser history completely or by page and time range while removing or keeping autofill, login, and other browsing data.

-

The browser history on a is a record of all the websites you have visited, the searches you have made, the downloads you have done, and the forms you have filled out with . You might want to consider deleting the history on your Chromebook partially or fully for various reasons.

Should I Delete the History on My Chromebook?

There are some drawbacks and risks associated with keeping your browser history on Chromebook. Your Chromebook history might slow down your browser performance and taking up storage space over time. If you let others use your device  you might also be exposing your personal information and preferences and all the pages you visited previously. If your device or account gets hacked or stolen, the browser history is also a neat log others might use to obtain more personal data and private information about you.

Google might also use your Chromebook history and other ad-networks to show you targeted ads and recommendations. Therefore, it makes sense to delete your chrome browser history regularly or periodically. It will help you to:

– Improve your browser speed and performance by freeing up storage space and memory
– Protect your personal information and preferences from others who use your device or account
– Enhance your online security and privacy by preventing hackers or thieves from accessing your browsing data
– Maintain your online reputation and credibility by avoiding unwanted or embarrassing exposure of your browsing history
– Diversify your online experience and behavior by reducing the influence of targeted ads and recommendations based on your browsing history

How to Find Chromebook Browser History

As Chromebook browser history equals history, you have to use the following steps in Google Chrome.

  1. Open Google Chrome on your Chromebook and click on the three-dot icon at the top right
     
    This will open a drop-down menu with various options.
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots
  2. Select “History” from the menu
     
    You can also hover over “History” and click “History” again to open a new tab with your browsing history.
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History
  3. Review Chromebook history and open or delete web-pages
     
    On the History tab, you will see a list of websites and searches that you have visited or made recently. You can scroll down to see more entries or use the search box at the top to find something specific.
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Chrome History
  4. Access Google Chrome history from other synced devices
     
    To show browser history from other devices you sync with your Google account, click “Tabs from other devices”
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Tabs Other Devices

How to Clear Chromebook Browsing History Completely

Open Google Chrome history as shown above or via the hotkey “CTRL+H”. Then continue as shown below.

  1. Click “Clear browsing data” on the left side
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data
  2. Select what to delete from browsing history
     
    You can choose to also delete “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” apart from the visited pages. Click “Clear data” to remove the selected information/data.
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data - Basic - Uncheck Cookies - Clear Data
  3. When deleted, your Chromebook browsing history will be empty afterward.
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data - Basic - Uncheck Cookies - Clear Data - Result

How to Clear Chromebook Browser History by Page

If you don't want to remove all of the browsing history you have in Google Chrome, you can delete only specific websites. Just select the pages you want to remove from your Chromebook history and click “Delete”.
 
Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Select - Delete

How to Delete Google Chromebook History by Date While Keeping Cookies, Passwords, Autofill Data

You can remove traces of your visited pages for a specific timeframe by removing Chromebook history for a certain period while at the same time keeping some page-related data still stored on your Chromebook, such as browser cache and login information.

  1. Open Google Chrome history and click “Clear browsing data” on the left side
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data
  2. Select “Advanced” and choose what to remove from Chromebook history and what to keep
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data - Advanced - Uncheck
  3. Select the “Time range” and click “Clear data”
     
    Chromebook - Google - 3Dots - History - Clear Browsing Data - Advanced - Time Range - Clear Data

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Chromebook History

How can I schedule regular history deletions on my Chromebook?

Currently, Chrome OS does not offer a built-in feature to automatically schedule history deletions. As an alternative, you might consider using browser extensions that provide this functionality, but it's crucial to review their permissions and privacy policies thoroughly to ensure they're trustworthy. Regular manual deletion remains the most straightforward and secure method, accessible through Chrome's “Clear browsing data” option.

Can deleting my Chromebook history affect my saved passwords and autofill information?

Deleting your browsing history will not directly affect your saved passwords or autofill information. These elements are stored separately within Chrome's settings. If you're clearing browsing data and choose to remove “Cookies and other site data” or “Passwords and other sign-in data,” then you might lose saved login details and autofill data. To preserve these while deleting history, ensure you uncheck these options in the “Clear browsing data” menu.

How can I delete specific items from my autofill information on Chromebook?

Chrome allows you to manage and delete specific autofill entries directly from its settings. Navigate to Chrome´s Settings > Autofill section, where you can find categories like Passwords, Payment methods, and Addresses and more. Click on the category you wish to edit, find the specific entry, and you'll see an option to delete it. This lets you remove outdated or incorrect autofill information without affecting the rest of your saved data.

Is there a way to hide my browsing history on a Chromebook without deleting it?

Chromebooks don´t not offer a feature to hide your browsing history within the standard browsing mode. The most effective way to prevent your browsing activity from being recorded is by using Incognito Mode. In this mode, Chrome does not save your browsing history, cookies, or site data. Remember that Incognito Mode only prevents Chrome from saving your session data and does not make you invisible on the internet.

How do I view and manage site-specific permissions and data storage on my Chromebook?

To view and manage site-specific settings, go to Chrome Settings, then navigate to “Privacy and security” and select “Site Settings“. Here, you'll find a list of permissions (like Camera, Location, Cookies) and features that you can manage globally or on a per-site basis. Clicking on a permission shows you which sites have been granted or denied that permission, and you can adjust these settings as needed. This is useful for managing how websites interact with your Chromebook and the data they store.

Can I delete history from Google's servers, not just my Chromebook?

To manage history stored on Google's servers, you need to visit your Google Activity controls. This online dashboard allows you to view and delete various types of data that Google has collected from your activities, including web and app activity, location history, and history. You can delete items individually, by date range, or set up auto-delete to regularly clear your activity after a certain period.

What impact does clearing my cache and cookies have on website load times?

Clearing your cache and cookies can lead to longer load times initially as websites will need to redownload assets and data previously stored in your cache. However, this can also resolve issues with outdated content and free up storage space on your Chromebook. Over time, as you revisit websites and they cache new data, load times will decrease again. Regularly clearing your cache can ensure you're seeing the most up-to-date content and can also help maintain your privacy and security online.

How can I prevent certain websites from being recorded in my Chromebook's history?

The most effective method to prevent specific websites from being recorded in your browsing history is to use Incognito Mode when visiting them. Chrome does not offer a feature to selectively exclude certain sites from being recorded in history during standard browsing sessions. Remember that Incognito Mode sessions do not save any browsing data, cookies, or site information once the window is closed.

Can I export my Chromebook browsing history before deleting it?

Chrome does not offer a direct feature to export browsing history from within the browser. However, there are third-party tools and browser extensions that can facilitate this, allowing you to save your browsing history to a file before deletion. It's important to exercise caution and conduct thorough research when choosing to use third-party solutions, as they can pose privacy and security risks.

How does deleting my history help protect against malware and phishing attacks?

Regularly clearing your browsing history, along with cookies and cached data, can help mitigate the risk of malware and attacks by removing potentially malicious data that may have been stored on your device during browsing sessions. This practice can also hinder trackers and malicious actors from collecting data that could be used to tailor phishing attacks or scams specifically targeted at you.

Will using a VPN on my Chromebook keep my browsing history private?

A VPN encrypts your internet connection and can hide your browsing activity from external observers like your ISP or network administrators, but it does not prevent Chrome itself from recording your browsing history. For complete privacy that includes not saving your browsing activity, use Incognito Mode in conjunction with a VPN. This combination ensures your activity is not logged by Chrome and is also encrypted and hidden from external parties.

How can I check if my Chromebook is syncing history with other devices?

To verify your sync settings, navigate to Chrome's Settings and select “You and Google” followed by “Sync and Google services“. Here, you'll find your sync settings, where you can see if “Sync everything” is enabled, which includes history, or manage what specific types of data to sync. Disabling history sync will prevent your Chromebook's browsing history from being shared with other devices logged into the same Google account.

Can browser extensions access my Chromebook's history, and how can I manage this?

Some browser extensions may request access to your browsing history as part of their functionality. It's vital to review the permissions requested by an extension before installation. To manage or review permissions of installed extensions, navigate to Chrome's Extensions page (chrome://extensions) and inspect the details of each extension. Regularly auditing your extensions and removing those that are no longer needed or seem suspicious can help maintain your privacy and security.

What are the consequences of never deleting my Chromebook browsing history?

Not regularly clearing your browsing history can lead to a cluttered browser experience, slower search and browsing performance due to excessive data storage, and increased vulnerability to privacy breaches, especially if your device is accessed by others. Over time, a large accumulation of history data can also contribute to a decrease in overall browser responsiveness.

How can I tell if someone else has deleted history on my Chromebook?

Detecting if someone else has deleted your browsing history can be challenging, particularly if you don't have a specific reference point or expected history entries. Unexplained gaps in your browsing history or the absence of expected records could indicate that history has been cleared. Regular monitoring of your browsing history and using a personal or guest profile can help manage and maintain awareness of your browsing data.

Extra: How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook

The screenshot function of Chromebooks used to be limited and only accessible using a weird keyboard shortcut. That changed a a while ago when Google released a dedicated tool to capture screenshots and videos of what is visible on your Chromebook. Our other tutorial shows you everything you need to know about taking screenshots on a Chromebook.
 
Featured - how to screenshot on Chromebook

Extra: How to Screen Record on a Chromebook

Google has included a native screen recorder for Chromebooks in 2020, and the feature has been on the stable channel for over two years. Not to mention, Google has also created a screencast software on Chrome OS, bringing enhanced screen recording with annotation, camera view, transcription, and other features to Chromebooks. You can find out how to record the screen on a Chromebook in our other guide.
 
Featured - how to screen record on chromebook

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus is the founder of WinBuzzer and has been playing with Windows and technology for more than 25 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and previously worked as Lead Windows Expert for Softonic.com.