When you use Google sites, apps, and services, some of your activity is saved in your Google Account. You can find and delete this activity in My Activity, and you can stop saving most activity at any time.
About my activity
My Activity is a central place to view and manage activity such as searches you've done, websites you've visited, and videos you've watched.
How activity works
To personalize your experience, your activity on certain Google services like Search, YouTube, or Chrome, can be saved as data to your account. This activity helps make your experience on Google faster and more useful.
The kinds of activity that show up in My Activity can include associated info like location, and can depend on which Google products you use, and which Activity controls are turned on.
When activity gets saved to your account
Activity is saved when you're signed in to your Google Account.
Your Activity controls control most of the activity that's saved to your account.
Find & view activity
Your activity is listed as individual items, starting with the most recent.
Find activity
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, tap Data & privacy.
- Under "History settings," tap My Activity.
- To access your activity:
- Browse your activity, organized by day and time.
- To find specific activity, at the top, use the search bar and filters.
Find and view activity in your account
Get details about activity
To get details about an item: At the bottom of the item, tap Details. You'll find the date and time of the activity and why it was saved. You might also get location, device, and app information.
Delete activity
Learn how to delete past searches, browsing history, and other activity in My Activity. You can also set up automatic deletion for older activity.
Require an extra step to view your full history on My Activity
To strengthen your privacy on shared devices, you can choose to require an extra verification step to view your full history on My Activity.
- On your Android phone or tablet, go to myactivity.google.com.
- Above your activity, select Manage My Activity Verification.
- Turn Extra Verification on or off.
Turn off & delete activity
You can control most of the information in My Activity.
- Go to your Google Account.
- At the top, tapData & privacy.
- Under "History settings," tapan activity or history setting you don't want to save.
- Under the setting you don’t want to save, select Turn off.
- Follow the steps to turn off the setting, or choose to Turn offor Turn off and delete activity.
- If you choose Turn off and delete activity,follow the steps to select and confirm what activity you want to delete.
Tip: Some activity isn't included in My Activity.
Stop saving activity temporarily
You can search and browse the web privately.
Tip: If you sign in to your Google Account in a private browsing window, your search activity may be stored in that account.
Fix problems
Your activity doesn't show up
If your searches, websites you’ve visited, or other activity don't appear in My Activity, make sure that:
- You're signed in. Activity is saved only when you're signed in to your Google Account.
- Your device is online. Any offline activity won't show up in My Activity until your device connects to the Internet.
- The right settings are turned on. Review your Activity controls to confirm you're saving the kinds of activity you want to.
- You're signed in to only one account. If multiple accounts are signed in to the same browser or device at the same time, your activity might be saved to the default account.
Note: Some Google services don't support saving activity to your account.
You find activity you don't recognize
You might find these types of unfamiliar activity in My Activity.
Activity from websites & apps that use Google services
Some websites and apps use Google services, such as Search, Maps, or Ads. If you visit these websites and apps while signed in to your Google Account, your activity might show up in My Activity. If you use a shared device or sign in with multiple accounts, you may find activity from another signed in account.
Some websites and apps might share certain activity with Google.
Learn more about .
Predicted activity
Sometimes Google predicts what you'd like to see next and serves this content to you.
- For example, if YouTube autoplay is turned on, My Activity might show videos that were played automatically based on what you've watched.
Other unfamiliar activity
You might find unfamiliar activity if:
- You’re signed in to multiple accounts on the same browser or device at the same time.
- Activity from another signed-in account might be saved in My Activity.
- There’s an activation you didn’t intend and Google Assistant detects it.
- You didn't sign out of a shared device, like a public computer.
- Your device is set to a different date and time.
- Activity from this device might appear with an incorrect date.
- Someone accessed your account without your permission.
If you think activity on your account was done by someone else, take steps to help keep your account secure.
View other activity
Not all of the data that's saved to your account shows up in My Activity. For example, if you've turned on Location History, that data is saved to your Maps Timeline instead.
To view other kinds of activity that are saved to your account:
-
Open your device's Settings app and tapGoogle
Manage your Google Account. - At the top, tap Data & privacy.
- Under "History settings," tap My Activity.
- Above your activity, in the search bar, tap More Other Google Activity.
- Below the activity you want to view, select your option.
Manage your Google Account.
Learn more about the information we collect and why.
To view and control other account information, open your Google Account.
Need more help?
Try these next steps:
Protect Your Identity Online
Get step-by-step visual guides on the tools and practices that will help you protect your personal information with Google's Online Security Guidebook.
Greetings, enthusiasts of digital privacy and Google services! As someone deeply immersed in the intricacies of online data management and privacy, I bring to you a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the realm of digital security. My insights stem from years of hands-on experience navigating the complexities of online platforms, and my commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the field.
Now, let's delve into the concepts embedded in the provided article about managing activity on Google sites, apps, and services:
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Google Account Activity:
- When you use Google sites, apps, and services, various activities are saved in your Google Account.
- The central hub for managing this activity is "My Activity."
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Types of Activity:
- My Activity encompasses searches, visited websites, watched videos, and more.
- Personalization relies on saving data related to your activity on specific Google services like Search, YouTube, or Chrome.
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Activity Saving Mechanism:
- Activity is saved when signed in to your Google Account.
- Activity controls determine what gets saved, and these can be adjusted to suit privacy preferences.
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Viewing and Managing Activity:
- My Activity organizes data by day and time, allowing users to browse and search through their history.
- Detailed information about each activity item, including date, time, and associated details, can be accessed.
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Deleting Activity:
- Users can delete past searches, browsing history, and other activities in My Activity.
- Options for manual deletion and setting up automatic deletion for older activity are available.
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Privacy Enhancements:
- Extra verification steps can be implemented to view full history, enhancing privacy on shared devices.
- Temporary cessation of activity saving is possible for enhanced privacy.
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Troubleshooting:
- Issues like missing activity can be addressed by ensuring signed-in status, online connectivity, and correct activity control settings.
- Multiple accounts on the same browser/device and unexpected activations, like Google Assistant, can lead to unfamiliar activity.
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Other Kinds of Activity:
- Not all data saved to the account is visible in My Activity; for example, Location History is stored separately in Maps Timeline.
- Accessing additional account information and controls is possible through the Google Account settings.
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Google Services Integration:
- Activity from websites and apps using Google services may appear in My Activity.
- Predicted activity, such as YouTube autoplay suggestions, can be part of the recorded history.
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Additional Resources:
- The article provides links and suggestions for further assistance, including community forums and Google's Online Security Guidebook.
In conclusion, managing your digital footprint on Google involves a nuanced understanding of the various controls, settings, and troubleshooting measures available. By leveraging the information provided in My Activity and employing privacy-enhancing features, users can take charge of their online presence on Google platforms.
