Access & control activity in your account

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, click Data & privacy.
Under "History settings," click 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.

Get details about activity

To view details about an item: At the bottom of the item, select 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.

Go to activity.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.

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 make sure 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, like 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 view 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 find other kinds of activity that are saved to your account:

Go to your Google Account.
On the left, click Data & privacy.
On the "History settings," click My Activity.
Above your activity, in the search bar, click More Other Google Activity.
Below the activity you want to view, select your option.

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:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members

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.

I'm an enthusiast with a profound understanding of online privacy and digital security. Over the years, I've delved into the intricacies of how major platforms handle user data, and Google's ecosystem is no exception. My insights are not just theoretical but rooted in practical knowledge and experience.

Now, let's dissect the concepts mentioned in the article about Google's activity tracking and management:

My Activity:
- Central hub for viewing and managing activity.
- Includes searches, visited websites, and watched videos.
How Activity Works:
- Personalizes user experience by saving data from services like Search, YouTube, or Chrome.
- Data saved includes location and depends on enabled Activity controls.
When Activity Gets Saved:
- Activity is saved when signed in to a Google Account.
- Activity controls manage most saved data.
Browsing Activity:
- Listed chronologically, accessible in Google Account settings.
- Details include date, time, reasons for saving, and additional information like location and device.
Deleting Activity:
- Users can delete past searches and browsing history.
- Automatic deletion settings for older activity.
Privacy Measures:
- Extra verification for viewing full history.
- Options to turn off and delete specific activity.
Temporary Stop on Activity:
- Users can temporarily stop saving activity.
- Private browsing tips to avoid storing search activity.
Problem Resolution:
- Troubleshooting guide for missing activity.
- Check sign-in status, online device, and Activity control settings.
Unfamiliar Activity:
- Activity from websites/apps using Google services.
- Predicted activity based on user preferences.
- Potential issues with multiple sign-ins or unauthorized access.
Other Google Activity:
- Not all saved data appears in My Activity.
- Location History data saved separately.
- Access to other account information in Google Account settings.
Google Activity Controls:
- Granular control over what activity is saved.
- Deleting and managing activity options.
Online Security Guidebook:
- Resources for protecting personal information.
- Guides on tools and practices for online security.

Understanding and managing your online activity is crucial for maintaining privacy, and Google provides users with a range of controls to navigate this landscape effectively. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.

Access & control activity in your account - Computer (2024)