How to delete your Google Maps history and reset all your recommendations

March 2024 · 3 minute read

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By default, the Google Maps app tries to track your location history. It records the places you visit, so if you visit the same locations multiple times, it knows to recommend those places to you in the future.

This can be an incredibly useful feature, but for privacy-minded users, knowing that Google is recording your every move probably outweighs the benefits.

Luckily, you can clear Google Maps' location history via the website or mobile app. This not only erases all the data that Google has saved about where you go, but also clears your Google Maps search history.

How to delete your Google Maps history on a computer

1. Go to maps.google.com on your Mac or PC and click the three stacked lines in the top-left corner.

2. Select Your data in Maps.

Location history is counted as "Your data." Google; William Antonelli/Insider

3. Under Google-wide Controls, you'll see Location History — click the See and delete activity in that section.

Find your search history by clicking "See & delete activity." Google; William Antonelli/Insider

4. Click the red box in the bottom-left corner of your Timeline that shows how many places you've visited and saved.

5. Click the trashcan icon to delete all your saved locations.

Open your Google Maps history and delete it with the trashcan icon. Google; William Antonelli/Insider

How to delete your Google Maps search history on a mobile device

1. Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or Android phone and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.

2. In the menu that opens, tap Settings.

Open your app's Settings menu. Google; William Antonelli/Insider

3. Select Maps History.

Head to your "Maps history" page. Google; William Antonelli/Insider

4. Find the Search your activity bar and tap the three dots next to it, then select Delete activity by.

You'll get to select how much history you want to delete. Google; William Antonelli/Insider

5. You'll have to choose a timeframe for the history you want to delete. Selecting All time here really does mean all time — it'll go back to when you first created your Google account.

6. Once you've selected a timeframe, tap "Delete."

Select what you want to delete, then confirm your choice. Google; William Antonelli/Insider
Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino. Read more Read less Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@businessinsider.com. Read more Read less

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