How to delete autocomplete history

Autocomplete is a default feature of many web browsers that attempts to anticipate what you are typing and suggests how to complete it. If you press Enter, the application automatically completes your typing with the remainder of the suggested text.

For example, if you type goog in your browser's address bar, the browser may suggest google.com by displaying the letters you haven't typed yet. If you press Enter, the browser goes to that website.

To delete your autocomplete history items, select your browser from the list below, and follow the instructions.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome's autocomplete feature suggests sites and words/phrases based on web pages you've previously visited and past search queries. To delete autocomplete entries for individual web pages or search queries that you've typed in previously, follow the steps below.

Deleting unwanted entries one at a time

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Locate the field where the unwanted item is being autocompleted. This field can be any search box or the address bar.
3. Start typing the unwanted phrase or web address, or press the down arrow key until it is highlighted.

4. Press Delete. If the entry is not removed, press Shift+Del.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox's autocomplete feature suggests sites and words/phrases based on the web pages you've previously visited and past search queries. The following sections show you how to delete specific search entries or suggested websites one at a time, or clear all the autocomplete data at once.

Deleting unwanted entries one at a time

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Locate the field where the unwanted item is being autocompleted. This field can be any search box or the address bar.
3. Start typing the unwanted phrase or web address, or press the down arrow key until it is highlighted.

4. Press Delete. If the entry is not removed, press Shift+Del.

How to delete all autocomplete history

The steps in this section clear your autocomplete history for all web addresses and search entries.

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.
4. In the window, click the Privacy & Security option in the left navigation pane.

5. Scroll down to the History section and click the Clear History... button.

6. In the prompt, choose a time range to clear (A), check the boxes next to Browsing & Download History and Form & Search History (B), and click OK (C).

7. Your autocomplete data is now erased for the selected time range.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge's AutoComplete feature suggests sites and words/phrases based on web pages you've previously visited and past search queries. The following sections show you how to delete specific search entries or suggested websites one at a time, or clear all of the autocomplete data at once.

Deleting unwanted entries one at a time

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Locate the field where the unwanted item is being autocompleted. This field can be any search box or the address bar.
3. Start typing the unwanted phrase or web address, or press the down arrow key until it is highlighted.

4. Press Delete. If the entry is not removed, press Shift+Del.

How to delete all autocomplete history

To clear all your autocomplete data at the same time, delete your browsing history. To learn how, see: How to clear Edge history.

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools in the upper-right corner.
3. In the menu, click Internet Options.

4. Under the Content tab, in the AutoComplete section, click the Settings button.
5. In the AutoComplete Settings window, using the checkboxes, select the fields where you want to store autocomplete data.
6. Once you've made your selections, click the Delete AutoComplete history button.
7. Check the boxes for areas whose history you'd like to clear, then click Delete.
8. Click OK twice to exit the two windows.

Safari

Safari's autocomplete feature suggests sites and words/phrases based on the web pages you've previously visited and past search queries. The following sections show you how to delete specific search entries or suggested websites one at a time, or clear all the autocomplete data at once.

Deleting individual history entries

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click History and choose Show All History from the drop-down menu. Or, press the keyboard shortcut Command+Y.

4. In the History window, websites you've visited are listed chronologically by day. Press and hold the control key, and click an entry. In the context menu, select Delete.

5. To delete an entire day's history, press and hold the Ctrl key, click the day, and select Delete.

How to delete all autocomplete history

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar, click to open the Safari menu, and select Clear History from the drop-down menu.

3. In the menu, select All History, then click the Clear History button.

Opera

Opera's autocomplete feature suggests sites and words/phrases based on web pages you've previously visited and past search queries. The following sections show you how to delete specific search entries or suggested websites one at a time, or clear all the autocomplete data at once.

Deleting unwanted search field entries one at a time

1. Open Opera.
2. Locate the search field where the unwanted item is being autocompleted.
3. Start typing the unwanted phrase or web address, or press the down arrow key until it is highlighted.

4. Press Delete. If the entry is not removed, press Shift+Del.

Deleting unwanted address bar entries one at a time

1. Open Opera.
2. In the upper-left corner of the browser window, click the icon.
3. Select History from the drop-down menu.

4. In the expanded menu, click History.

5. Move your mouse over the entry you'd like to delete and click the X that appears on the right side.

Clear all autocomplete entries at once

To clear all your autocomplete data at the same time, delete your browsing history. To learn how, see: How to clear Opera history.