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To stop YouTube saving new searches, pause search history by turning off Include your searches on YouTube. On a computer, change the setting in Google My Activity; in the YouTube app, find it under Settings → Manage all history → Controls. Pausing does not erase searches already saved, so delete those separately if needed.
Pause YouTube search history on a computer
- Open YouTube’s search-history help for computers and go to the My Activity page. Sign in to the Google account you use for YouTube if prompted.
- Select Saving your search history.
- Unselect Include your searches on YouTube.
Pause search history in the YouTube app
Android
- Sign in to the YouTube app.
- Tap your profile picture, then select Settings → Manage all history.
- Open Controls and unselect Include your searches on YouTube. YouTube’s Android help page covers this setting.
iPhone and iPad
- Sign in to the YouTube app.
- Tap your profile picture, then select Settings → Manage all history.
- Open Controls and unselect Include your searches on YouTube. See YouTube’s iPhone and iPad help page.
YouTube says searches made while search history is paused are not saved in search history. App labels can vary by version or language; if yours differ, look for the equivalent History or Google My Activity controls.
Delete searches already saved
Pausing only affects future searches; it does not remove past entries. To clean up saved activity, open My Activity on a computer or choose Manage all history in the app. You can delete an individual search, find particular entries, browse a date range, or use a broader delete option.
Check the selected period before using DELETE: YouTube warns that deleting search history for a time range also deletes watch history from that period. Removing saved searches also clears them as search-box suggestions and means they will no longer influence recommendations.
#1 Best Overall
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Choose the right history control
| Option | Stops future searches being saved? | Removes earlier searches? | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pause search history | Yes, while paused | No | Turn off Include your searches on YouTube. |
| Delete searches or a time range | No | Yes | A broad delete for a selected period can also remove watch history from that period. |
| Incognito | YouTube says searches in Incognito are not saved in search history | No | Applies to the Incognito session, not searches saved earlier. |
| Automatic deletion | No immediate pause | Deletes according to the selected retention schedule | YouTube’s computer help page lists 3-, 18-, and 36-month intervals, as well as an option not to auto-delete. Check My Activity for the options currently available to your account. |
Search history and watch history are separate controls
YouTube has separate settings for search and watch history, but deleting one type for a selected time period can also delete the other for that period. Deleting watch history may also change recommendations based on the viewing activity removed. See YouTube’s watch-history help for computers for its watch-history controls.
Quick Recap
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Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
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