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If you’ve been using Google Maps to plan routes and navigate unfamiliar places, you might be wondering how to view your search history. When Web & App Activity is turned on, the Maps history presents places that you’ve searched for, shared, or reviewed.
Fortunately, this is a relatively straightforward process. In this article, we’ll outline how to view, delete, and edit your Maps search and location history when accessing the app via various devices.
How to View Google Maps Search History on Android/Tablet
To see directions and places you’ve searched for on an Android device, do the following:
- Access the Google Maps app.
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Settings > Maps history.
How to Delete Google Maps Search History on Android/Tablet
To delete some places:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Settings > Maps history.
- Select what you wish to delete then select Remove > Delete.
When deleting all of your Maps history, the places you’ve saved, shared, or were asked to review will still be there.
To delete a range of dates or delete everything:
- Select your picture or initials.
- At the search bar select More > Delete activity by.
- Under the Delete by date section:
- To delete a date: select a date range.
- To delete all history: select All time.
How to View Google Maps Location History on Android/Tablet
When your Location History is turned on, it tracks all the locations you’ve been to. It uses that information to create a Timeline based on estimates of visited places and routes taken. As well as looking back on a particular day, you have the option to delete your Location History and edit the details.
To view your location history via an Android device, do the following:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline; today’s travels will be displayed.
- To view a day or month Show calendar.
- Swipe left or right and select the day.
How to Delete Google Maps Location History on Android/Tablet
To delete some or all of your Location history, follow the steps below.
Note: Once you’ve deleted some or all of your location history you won’t be able to see it again and some personalized experiences may be lost.
To delete a day:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- Select Show calendar then select the day you want to delete.
- Select More > Delete day.
To delete a range of dates or delete everything:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- Select More > Settings.
- Under the Location settings section:
- To delete some of your history: select Delete Location History range.
- To delete everything: select Delete all Location History.
How to Change the Places You Visited, and Activities You Have Done on Android
To edit locations or activity details on your Timeline, Web & App Activity should be turned on. Follow the steps below to edit your Timeline:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- On your timeline, select the incorrect place then Edit place.
- Select the correct place or activity if listed in the suggestions, or enter criteria to search for.
- To change when you visited, select the time.
How to View Google Maps Search History on iPhone/iPad
The process is almost identical on the iPhone/iPad. To see directions and places you’ve searched for, follow these steps:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Settings > Map history.
How to Delete Google Maps Search History on iPhone/iPad
To delete some places:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Settings > Map history.
- Select the entry you want to delete.
- Select More > Delete.
Like with an Android device, when deleting all of your Maps history, the places you’ve saved, shared, or were asked to review will still be there.
To delete a range of dates or delete everything:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Settings > Map history.
- Select More > Delete activity by.
- Under the Delete by date section:
- To delete by date: select a date range.
- To delete all history: select All time.
How to View Google Maps Location History on iPhone/iPad
As with Android, when your Location History is turned on, it tracks all the locations you’ve been to. It uses that information to create a Timeline, based on estimates of visited places and routes taken. As well as looking back on a particular day, you have the option to delete your Location History and edit the details.
To view your location history on an iPhone device, do the following:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline; today’s activities will be displayed.
- Select Show calendar to see another day or month.
- Swipe left or right and select a day.
How to Delete Google Maps Location History on iPhone/iPad
Again, the rules are the same; once you’ve deleted some or all of your location history it’ll be gone as well as some of your personalized experiences. Follow the steps below to delete some or all of your Location history.
To delete a day:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- Select Show calendar, then select the day you want to delete.
- Select More > Delete the day.
To delete a range of dates or delete everything:
- Select your picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- Select More, then Settings.
- Under the Location Settings section:
- To delete some of your history:Select Delete Location History range set the range then Delete.
- To delete everything: Select Delete all Location History.
How to Change the Places You Visited, and Activities You Have Done on iPhone/iPad
Remember, you’ll need Web & App Activity turned on to change the details on your timeline. Follow the steps below to edit your Timeline:
- Select your profile picture or initials.
- Select Your Timeline.
- On your timeline, select the wrong place then Edit place.
- Either select Search for a place or address or select the right place by scrolling through the list.
- To change when you were there, select the time.
Additional FAQs
How Do I Find My Recent Google Searches?
If you want to view a website visited before using the Google App, but can’t remember the address and would rather not scroll through a whole list, do the following to view your recent searches:
On Android/Tablet:
• Access the Google Chrome app.
• At the top right-hand corner, select the three dots to open the menu.
• Select History, your most recent searches will be displayed.
On iPhone/Tablet:
• Access the Google Chrome app.
• At the bottom right-hand corner, select the three dots to open the menu.
• Select History, your most recent searches will be displayed.
How to Delete Your Google History?
To delete search activity from Google Maps, other Google products:
On Android/Tablet:
• Access your Google account and select Manage Your Account > Manage Your Data & Personalization.
• Under Activity and time, select My Activity.
• Click on the three dots to the right of the search bar.
• Select Delete activity by.
• Select the date or time you want to delete then delete.
On iPhone/iPad:
• Access the Gmail app, click on Menu > Settings then your account.
• Select Manage your Google Account.
• At the top, select Data & Personalization.
• Under Activity and time, select My Activity.
• Click on the three dots to the right of the search bar, then select Delete activity by.
• Select the date or time you want to delete then delete.
How Do I Retrieve Deleted Google Search history?
To recover deleted browsing history, do the following:
Chrome Android/Tablet:
• In a web page via Google Chrome type https://www.google.com/settings/.
• Once signed in, scroll down to Chrome Bookmarks, there you will see all the browsing history you’ve accessed including Bookmarks.
• Re-save the browsing history as Bookmarks.
Chrome iPhone/iPad:
• Go to Settings > Safari.
• Scroll down to the bottom and select Advanced.
• Select Website Data, there you’ll see some of your deleted websites listed.
• Then recover what you need via Chrome.
How to Stop Google Saving My Data (Private Browsing)
Google has a privacy feature that allows you to browse the internet without Chrome saving your browsing information, such as cookies and the forms you’ve filled out. It’s called Incognito mode. It doesn’t make you completely invisible on the web, only using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can do that.
To enable Incognito mode on an Android/Tablet:
• Open the Chrome browser and select the three vertical dots at the top.
• Select New Incognito Tab from the list and begin browsing privately.
On iPhone/iPad:
• Open the Safari browser and select the pages icon on the lower far right corner.
• At the lower-left corner select Private. Private browsing should be enabled.
• At the bottom select the Add (+) icon to open an incognito tab.
How Do I Look at My History on Google Earth?
To see how Google Earth’s images have changed over time, it gives you the option to view past versions on a timeline.
• Access Google Earth > Find a location.
• Select View > Historical Imagery or Click Time (above 3D viewer).
Your History of Searches
Your Google Maps search history lets you travel back in time; similar to looking over pictures but with more context. Now that we’ve shown you how to view and manage your search history, you can reminisce on the awesome places you once visited and will always know how to get there again.
Have you had any problems viewing the search history on Google Maps? How did you resolve issue? Let us know in the comments section below.