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Your Android device stores your Google searches, enabling different sites and services to use that data to personalize ads and other types of recommendations.
For some of us, that level of personalization makes the platform easier to use. However, in this modern age, with companies taking advantage of such information to build a highly personalized picture of you and your web usage, one could consider this practice an invasion of privacy. This can be especially problematic if you accidentally search for the wrong thing, and are just inundated with ads that fall into the category of, “why am I seeing this?“
Also: How to clear your Android phone cache (and say goodbye to slow performance)
I’ve seen people go wide eyed when an ad pops up on their phone that they either shouldn’t see – or don’t want to see. For those who value privacy, it is possible to regain control over how much of the browser’s search history is saved and when it is deleted.
I am going to tell you about two processes:
- Deleting that search cache manually.
- Configure Android to automatically delete saved data.
How to clear Google search cache manually
what you’ll need: To do this, you will need an Android device that is linked to your Google account. I’ll be the first to demonstrate the Pixel 6 Pro running Android 14 (with updated instructions for the latest software versions later).
This first process works the same everywhere most of Android release. However, if you find that the instructions do not apply to your device, it may require some research to find out how to do this on an older version of Android. I will also describe a method of clearing the Google search cache that will work on most devices.
let’s get to work.
From your Android app drawer, open the Google app. In the resulting window, tap on your profile image at the top-right corner.
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Google apps running on Pixel 6 Pro.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
The Google app menu makes it easy to quickly delete the last 15 minutes of your search history.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Before you can access the Delete drop-down, you’ll need to verify that it’s you. To do this, tap the Verify button and you’ll be asked for your PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, or face scan (depending on how you’ve configured Android for the unlocking process).
Too: best android phones right now
After successful verification, you should see a delete drop-down.
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Once you’ve verified it’s you, the Delete drop-down will become available. Select the time range for which you want to delete (Delete Today, “delete custom range,” “delete all time,” Or “Auto-delete.”) and Android will clear the cache for that specified range. You will not be prompted to fix the deletion; It will just happen. Once deleted, that cache is gone.
Also: 12 settings I changed to boost my Android phone’s battery instantly
From the same window, you can view your history and delete specific searches.
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You must first verify that it is you before continuing.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
an alternative way
As I mentioned, here’s how to achieve the same thing on a Pixel running the latest Android software.
1. Open Settings > Apps
Pull down the notification shade twice and click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner. Once you do that, find and tap Apps within Settings.
Also: I changed this Android setting to instantly double my phone speed (and it works on any model)
2. Find Google Apps
“See all X apps” Tap (where X is the number of apps you have installed). On the resulting page, scroll down until you find the entry labeled Google. Tap that entry.
3. Clear the cache
On the resulting page, “storage and cache” Tap and then “clear cache” Tap on. This will clear the search cache from your device.
You can also free up storage if your device is getting full.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
auto-delete setup
If you prefer things to happen automatically, Google has made it possible to set the cache to delete automatically. To do this, go to the Google app, tap your profile image and tap Settings from the drop-down. In the resulting window, “search history” Tap , and then tap Auto-delete. In the resulting window, “Auto-delete activity older than” Tap to enable it and then, from the drop-down, select the date range to be deleted.
Enable auto-delete so you don’t have to worry about taking care of the process manually.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You can choose between three, 18 or 36 months. Once you’ve made your selection, tap Next and then Tap Confirm to complete setup.
Also: How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone Without Unlocking It
And that’s all there is to deleting your Google search cache (either manually or automatically). If you’re concerned about your online privacy, be sure to do this. And remember: Since you can only set auto-delete for at least three months, you’ll want to regularly go back to the screen and manually clear your cache (to prevent your Android device from saving cached items that aren’t older than three months).
