How to Clear History on an iPad: 4 Simple Methods

To clear history on an iPad, use the app that recorded it. Safari history can be removed in Settings or from Safari’s History view; Chrome has its own delete controls; Google searches may be saved separately in the Google app or your Google Account. Clearing one place does not automatically clear the others.

Safari’s main clear-history control also removes website data such as cookies, which can sign you out of sites. If you only want to remove a bookmark, remember that bookmarks are saved links, not the list of pages you visited.

1. Clear Safari history from Settings

1. Open Settings on the iPad.
2. Tap Apps, then Safari. On some older iPadOS versions, Safari appears directly in the Settings list.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. Choose the timeframe you want to remove, then tap Clear History to confirm.

This is the quickest option when you want to clear Safari’s browsing record and website data together. Cookies can keep you signed in, so some sites may ask you to log in again. Clearing Safari history does not change AutoFill information. If the button is dimmed, there may be no Safari data to clear, or a Screen Time web-content restriction may be affecting it.

Want to keep your history but remove cookies and cache? Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, tap Remove All Website Data, then tap Remove Now. This separate control clears website data without using the history-clearing button.

2. Clear a time range from Safari

You can clear history without leaving Safari. This is useful if you want to pick a shorter period instead of using Settings.

1. Open Safari and tap the Show Sidebar button.
2. Tap History. If it is not listed, tap the Back button at the top of the sidebar first.
3. Tap the More button, then tap Clear.
4. Under Clear Timeframe, choose a period such as Last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, or All time. Tap Clear History.

If Safari profiles are set up, choose a profile to clear only its history, or choose All Profiles. This changes the history Safari keeps on your device; it does not remove records kept independently by websites or activity in other apps. Apple’s current iPad Safari guide documents the in-app steps.

3. Delete Chrome browsing history

Safari’s controls do not affect Chrome. To clear the pages you opened in Chrome:

1. Open Chrome, tap More (the three-dot menu), then tap Delete Browsing Data. You can also open More > History > Delete Browsing Data.
2. Open Time Range and select the period. The default may be a short recent interval, so check it before continuing.
3. Tap Browsing Data, select Browsing History, and confirm the selection.
4. Tap Delete Browsing Data.

Chrome keeps a History list of pages visited in the last 90 days, and when Chrome history sync is enabled, that list can include pages from your other devices. Review the selected data types carefully: deleting cookies or other categories can affect site sign-ins and settings. Google explains the current iPhone and iPad controls in its Chrome history guide.

4. Remove Google Search history

Searches made in the Google app can be stored as Google Account activity, independently of Safari or Chrome’s page history. To remove account search history:

1. Open the Google app and tap your profile picture or initial.
2. Tap Search history.
3. Tap the Delete menu and choose Delete all time. You can also delete a custom range, a day, or one search.

If you used the Google app while signed out, searches may be stored on the device instead. In that case, open the app’s profile menu, tap Settings > Privacy & Safety > Clear app history, then tap Clear all. Device history and account history are separate: deleting one may leave the other intact. Google’s Search history instructions explain both routes.

Choose the right history to clear

If history still appears after you clear it, check which app or account saved it. Safari cleanup will not remove Chrome history, and deleting Google Search activity will not clear a browser’s History list. For a borrowed iPad, also sign out of your personal browser or Google account when you are finished; clearing history by itself is not the same as signing out.