How to Delete the Browser History Folder

Web browsers typically keep track of websites visited and other browsing information. History features are particularly useful when you want to revisit a website that you found days ago, but forgot the address. While history is useful, it can be viewed by anyone who opens the browser on your computer. Fortunately, the four popular web browsers Safari, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox, allow you to delete your browsing history to maintain your privacy.

Instructions

  1. Apple Safari

    • 1
      Safari with the starting page "about:blank."

      Open Safari by double-clicking its icon.

    • 2

      Click the Safari settings icon, shaped like a gear, and open "Preferences."

    • 3

      Set "Remove history items" to "Manually."

    • 4

      Return to the Safari settings and open "History."

    • 5

      Highlight the items under History, then press "Delete" on your keyboard. The browsing data you selected are now erased.

    Microsoft Internet Explorer

    • 6
      Internet Explorer with the starting page "about:blank."

      Open Internet Explorer by double-clicking its icon.

    • 7

      Click "Tools." The "Tools" menu presents several options for how Internet Explorer functions.

    • 8

      Click "Delete Browsing History."

    • 9

      Click any of the buttons for deleting data to get rid of that type of data. If you only want to erase saved passwords, click "Delete passwords. . ." then confirm. Internet Explorer offers a variety of options when it comes to deleting browsing data.

    • 10

      Click "Delete All." When the confirmation window appears, click "Yes" to erase all browsing data stored in Internet Explorer.

    Google Chrome

    • 11
      Chrome with the starting page "about:blank."

      Open Chrome by double-clicking its icon.

    • 12

      Click the wrench-shaped icon to access the settings for Chrome.

    • 13

      Click "History." Chrome organizes browsing history by day.

    • 14

      Click "Delete history for this day" to clear the browsing history for a particular day.

    • 15

      Click the wrench-shaped icon again then click "Clear browsing data." Deleting the history for a particular day does not erased saved passwords or other online data.

    • 16

      Check off which type of data you want deleted, select the time period then click "Clear Browsing Data." The "Clear browsing data" window allows you to preserve certain data or just delete browsing data from the previous week. When you are finished, close the browser.

    Mozilla Firefox

    • 17
      Firefox with the starting page "about:blank."

      Open Firefox by double-clicking its icon.

    • 18

      Click "Tools" to open the "Tools" menu.

    • 19

      Click "Options" to open the "Options" window.

    • 20

      Click the Privacy tab, check "Clear history when Firefox closes," then click "Settings" to access settings for what information is deleted when Firefox is closed. Click "OK" when done.

    • 21

      Click "File," then "Exit" to close Firefox. The history will be cleared, and the settings will be in effect the next time you open Firefox.

Tips & Warnings

  • For Internet Explorer: Click "Tools," "Internet Options," then "Settings" under the Browsing history section to access the settings for browsing history. For Google Chrome: The browser allows you to clear your browsing history from the settings menu. For Mozilla Firefox: The Private Browsing mode prevents any history of your browser use from being saved.

  • Once deleted, the browsing history cannot be recovered. Stored passwords and field entries are usually deleted along with browsing history unless excluded.

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