Clearing YouTube search history on mobile can be a tedious task. The search history stores all the keywords and videos watched, which can be a cause of concern. Users may want to keep their watching history private without any track record of the videos they watch on YouTube.
Moreover, clearing the search history will free up space on your mobile device, improving its performance. In this article, we will discuss the methods to clear YouTube search history on mobile and make sure it’s not traceable.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Clearing Youtube Search History on Mobile
YouTube search history on mobile is stored locally on the app. Due to this, many users find it challenging to clear it. To make it complicated, there are no clear instructions provided by YouTube on clearing search history from mobile devices.
However, it’s necessary to clear the search history, especially if you share your mobile device with others to maintain your privacy.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before beginning with the methods of clearing YouTube search history, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
– Ensure that you have a stable internet connection before clearing the search history.
– You should have the most recent YouTube app version installed on your mobile device.
– Make sure you log in to your YouTube account on your mobile app to clear the search history accurately.
Method 1: Clear Search History using YouTube App settings
Clearing YouTube search history from the app settings is one of the easiest methods. Follow these steps to do so.
1. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
2. Click on your profile avatar located in the top right corner.
3. Tap on "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
4. On the next screen, click "History & privacy."
5. Select "Clear watch history" for clearing video search history, and for removing the searched keywords from your search bar, click "Clear search history." You may clear both of the options simultaneously if you want.
6. Confirm action to clear the search history and tap "OK."
Pros:
– This method is convenient and effortless to clear YouTube search history on mobile.
– The instructions are clear and easy to follow.
Cons:
– The method only clears the search history from your mobile device. Your search history may still be stored on your Google account.
Method 2: Clear Your Search history from My Activity Settings
Google’s "My Activity" settings allow you to manage and view the activity of your Google account, including the YouTube search history. Follow these steps to clear the search history using My Activity settings.
1. Open the Google app on your mobile device or simply open google.com using any web browser on your mobile device.
2. Click on your profile avatar located in the top right corner.
3. Select "Google Account" from the dropdown menu.
4. Tap on "Data & personalization."
5. Scroll down to find "Activity controls."
6. Click on "Manage your activity controls."
7. Click on "YouTube history."
8. Tap on "More options" located at the top right corner and then select "Delete activity by."
9. Choose the time range you want to delete the video search history. Then select "Delete" and confirm your action.
Pros:
– This method clears your entire YouTube search history using your Google account.
– You can select the timeframe for deleting your search history.
Cons:
– This method will remove search history from all devices that are synced with your Google account.
Method 3: Clear YouTube Search History on iOS devices
If you have an iOS device and want to delete your YouTube search history, here’s how you can do so.
1. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on your profile avatar located in the top right corner.
3. Tap on "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
4. Select "Clear watch history" or "Clear search history" or both, depending on what you want to delete.
5. Confirm action to delete your search history and tap "OK."
Pros:
– This method is easy and quick to use as it only requires a few taps.
– It offers specific options to clear only watch or search history or both simultaneously.
Cons:
– This method only deletes the search history from your iOS device.
Method 4: Clear YouTube Search History on Android devices
Clearing YouTube search history on an Android device may differ based on your device and its manufacturer. However, many users are using stock Android on their mobile devices. Here’s how you can clear your YouTube search history on stock Android.
1. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on your profile avatar located in the top right corner.
3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on "History & Privacy."
5. Tap on "Clear watch history" or "Clear search history," depending on what you want to delete.
6. Confirm your action by tapping "OK."
Pros:
– This method is easy and quick to use.
– Options to delete Video and Search history separately.
Cons:
– Not suitable for those who are using manufacturer’s customized versions on their mobile devices.
Why Can’t I Clear My YouTube Search History?
Some users reported that they are unable to clear their YouTube search history. Here are some possible reasons and how to fix them.
1. You are not logged in to your YouTube account: You cannot clear your search history if you are not logged in to your account. Ensure that you are logged in to your account before trying to delete search history.
2. There’s a syncing issue between your devices: Sometimes, the syncing of your Google account can cause issues while deleting search history. Try logging out from YouTube in all devices and then log in again. This should fix your syncing issue.
3. Connection error: You may not be able to delete your search history if there’s an issue with your internet connection. Ensure that your device is connected to a stable internet connection before clearing search history.
Additional Tips
– If you want to delete your history frequently, we recommend that you clear your history at least once a week.
– Consider using a private mode while using YouTube so that search history is not stored in the first place.
– You can use YouTube in incognito mode to prevent any search history from being tracked.
5 FAQs
Q.1 How can I clear my search history if I don’t have access to my mobile device?
A.1 You can clear your YouTube search history by logging into your Google account on any device and following the steps mentioned in Method 2.
Q.2 Will clearing my search history also clear my watch history?
A.2 No, clearing your search history will only delete the keywords you searched for. If you want to delete your watch history, you will need to follow the steps mentioned in Method 1.
Q.3 Can I recover my deleted YouTube search history?
A.3 No, once you delete your search history, it cannot be recovered. It’s better to download your data before deleting it, in case you need it later.
Q.4 Why does YouTube store my search history?
A.4 YouTube stores your search history to improve your viewing experience by suggesting relevant videos based on your previous searches.
Q.5 Does clearing my search history erase my already viewed videos?
A.5 No, clearing your search history will only delete the keywords you searched for. Your viewed videos will still be displayed in your watch history.
Conclusion
Clearing your YouTube search history is a necessary step to maintain your privacy and ensure optimal app performance. We hope that the methods mentioned above would help you achieve the desired outcome. However, remember that clearing your search history doesn’t completely erase your digital footprint, and your account activity remains traceable. So, it’s better to use YouTube in incognito mode or private mode to prevent history storage in the first place.