Do you know your Android gadget retains your Google searches? Quite a few websites and companies can use that information to personalize advertisements and different varieties of suggestions.
For some, that stage of personalization makes utilizing the platform simpler. However on this fashionable period, the place firms and websites can use that info to color a really specific image about you and your net utilization, that may very well be thought-about an invasion of privateness. This may be problematic if you happen to unintentionally seek for the mistaken factor, solely to then discover the associated advertisements to fall beneath the class of, “Why am I seeing this?” I’ve witnessed different folks’s eyes go huge when an add pops up on their telephones they both should not or did not need to see. For many who worth privateness, it is very important reclaim management over how a lot of a browser’s search historical past is saved and when it is deleted.
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I’ll stroll you thru the method of each — manually deleting that search cache and configuring Android to auto-delete saved information.
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Tips on how to manually clear the Google search cache
What you may want: To do that, you may want an Android gadget that’s related to your Google account. I will be demonstrating on a Pixel 6 Professional working Android 14 with the newest safety patch utilized.
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This course of ought to work the identical on most fashionable Android gadgets. If, nonetheless, you discover the directions do not apply to your gadget, it would take a little bit of analysis to find the way it’s executed on an older model of Android.
Let’s get to work.
Out of your Android App Drawer, open the Google app. Within the ensuing window, faucet your profile picture on the top-right nook.
The Google app working on a Pixel 6 Professional.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
From the ensuing menu, faucet Search historical past.
The Google app menu makes it straightforward to rapidly delete the final quarter-hour of your search historical past.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Earlier than you may acquire entry to the Delete drop-down, it’s a must to confirm it is you. To try this, faucet the Confirm button and you will be prompted for both your PIN, sample, password, fingerprint, or face scan (relying on how you’ve gotten Android configured for the unlocking course of).
After a profitable verification, it is best to then see a Delete drop-down.
As soon as you have verified it is you, the Delete drop-down will change into obtainable. Choose the time-frame for which you need to delete (Delete Right this moment, “Delete customized vary,” “Delete all time,” or “Auto-delete.”) and Android will empty the cache for that specified vary. You’ll not be prompted to okay the deletion, it’ll simply occur. As soon as deleted, that cache is gone.
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From this identical window, you may undergo your historical past and delete particular searches.
You should first confirm it is you earlier than persevering with.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Auto-deletion setup
When you desire to have issues executed automagically, Google has made it doable to set the cache to be auto-deleted. To do that, return to the identical place you ran the handbook deletion and faucet the Auto-delete (Off) entry. Within the ensuing window, faucet to allow Auto-delete exercise older than after which, from the drop-down, choose the date vary to be deleted.
Enabling auto-delete so you do not have to fret about manually taking good care of the method.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You may select from three, 18, or 36 months. As soon as you have made your choice, faucet Subsequent after which faucet Verify to complete the setup.
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And that is all there may be to deleting your Google search cache (both manually or routinely). When you’re involved about your on-line privateness, take into account this a must-do. And bear in mind, since you may solely set auto-delete for no less than three months, you would possibly need to commonly return to the display and manually delete your cache (to maintain your Android gadget from saving cached objects that aren’t greater than three months outdated).
