How to use Google’s express delete browsing history feature? Remove the trace of your Google searches for the last 15 minutes in three easy steps.
Privacy was one of the most important topics discussed during Google I/O 2021, the event held in May where Google presented its latest developments. Among the new privacy features, there was one that particularly caught our attention: the quick deletion of the last 15 minutes of Google’s browsing history.
To make your data even more secure, the company allows you to wipe the slate clean with your most recent searches. It’s not just about being able to delete the last 15 minutes, the relevance of this tool is also based on its easy access since you only need three taps on the screen to delete the information. Let’s learn how to use this express deletion function step by step.
How to delete the last 15 minutes of your Google browsing history?
Google’s idea with this tool is to offer more options to delete the history to users and, above all, to make it even easier to do so. So far, you could delete searches made during the last hour in Google Chrome, but you could not use more recent options.
Until the “Quick Delete” feature appeared, presented during Google I/O 2021 as a new privacy control to make your private information even more secure. Other controls announced at that event included creating a locked folder in Google Photos to protect your most private images and sending reminders that Google Maps location history is turned on.
Before using the feature, you must update the Google app from the Play Store. Just enter the store app, click on your profile picture at the top left and go to “My apps and games”. Finally, check if the Google app has any pending updates.
Once you have verified that you have the latest version, it’s time to find out how to delete the last 15 minutes of your browsing history:
- Open the Google app.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Tap on the “Delete last 15 minutes” option, which appears under “Search history”. If you regret it, the app shows you a small window where you can undo this express deletion.
In addition to this new tool, you should know that the basic options to clear cache, history, and cookies from Google Chrome on Android are still available. Remember to regularly delete this information to maintain the privacy of your data. If the last 15 minutes deletion tool is not yet available for you, just wait until you get the necessary update.
