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Your Android device retains your Google searches, enabling varied websites and providers to make use of that knowledge to personalize advertisements and different kinds of suggestions.
For a few of us, that stage of personalization makes utilizing the platform simpler. Nonetheless, on this trendy period, with corporations leveraging such info to create a extremely personalised image of you and your internet utilization, one might take into account this observe an invasion of privateness. This may be particularly problematic if you happen to unintentionally seek for the incorrect factor, solely to be inundated with advertisements that fall below the class of, “Why am I seeing this?“
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I’ve witnessed folks’s eyes go broad when an advert pops up on their telephones that they both should not see — or did not need to see. For individuals who worth privateness, it’s attainable to reclaim management over how a lot of a browser’s search historical past is saved and when it is deleted.
I will stroll you thru two processes:
- Manually deleting that search cache.
- Configuring Android to auto-delete saved knowledge.
Tips on how to manually clear the Google search cache
What you will want: To do that, you will want an Android system that’s linked to your Google account. I will first be demonstrating on a Pixel 6 Professional working Android 14 (with up to date directions afterward for newer software program variations).
This primary course of works equally throughout most Android releases. If, nevertheless, you discover that the directions do not apply to your system, it might take some analysis to find the way it’s completed on an older model of Android. I can even describe a way of clearing the Google search cache that ought to work on most gadgets.
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 simple to rapidly delete the final quarter-hour of your search historical past.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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 now, “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 OK the deletion; it would simply occur. As soon as deleted, that cache is gone.
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From this identical window, you possibly can undergo your historical past and delete particular searches.
You will need to first confirm it is you earlier than persevering with.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Another methodology
As I discussed, this is how the identical factor is achieved on a Pixel working on newer Android software program.
1. Open Settings > Apps
Pull down the Notification Shade twice and click on the gear icon within the bottom-right nook. As soon as you have completed that, find and faucet Apps inside Settings.
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2. Find the Google app
Faucet “See all X apps” (the place X is the variety of apps you’ve gotten put in). On the ensuing web page, scroll down till you discover the entry labeled, Google. Faucet that entry.
3. Clear the cache
On the ensuing web page, faucet “Storage & cache” after which faucet “Clear cache.” That can clear the search cache out of your system.
You can too clear the storage in case your system is getting full.
Sreenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Auto-deletion setup
In case you desire to have issues completed automagically, Google has made it attainable to set the cache to be auto-deleted. To do that, go to the Google app, faucet your profile picture, and faucet Settings from the drop-down. Within the ensuing window, faucet “Search historical past,” after which faucet Auto-delete. 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.
Allow auto-delete so you do not have to fret about manually taking good care of the method.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You’ll be able to 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 mechanically). In case you’re involved about your on-line privateness, take into account this a must-do. And keep in mind: Since you possibly can solely set auto-delete for at least three months, you would possibly need to usually return to the display screen and manually delete your cache (to maintain your Android system from saving cached gadgets that aren’t greater than three months outdated).
