Before you start
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
Method 1 Google Chrome
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Step 1: Open site data settings
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > On-device site data (wording varies by version).
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Step 2: Delete on close
Choose Delete data sites have saved to your device when you close all windows.
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Step 3: History
Chrome has no automatic history deletion. Use Incognito windows for browsing you don’t want saved, or clear history with Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
Method 2 Microsoft Edge
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Step 1: Open Delete browsing data
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Delete browsing data.
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Step 2: Choose what to clear on close
Click Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and turn on Browsing history, Cookies and other site data and others you want.
Method 3 Mozilla Firefox
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Step 1: Cookies on close
Settings > Privacy & Security, tick Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
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Step 2: History on close
Under History, choose Use custom settings for history and tick Clear history when Firefox closes.
Method 4 Safari and your Google account
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Step 1: Safari
Safari doesn’t clear automatically on close. Use Private Browsing, or on Mac set Safari > Settings > General > Remove history items to After one day.
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Step 2: Google activity
History synced to Google is separate. At myactivity.google.com, set Auto-delete for Web & App Activity to 3 months.
Troubleshooting
History isn’t deleted after closing
The browser must fully close. Check it isn’t running in the background (Chrome: Settings > System > Continue running background apps).
Frequently asked questions
Is private browsing the same?
Private/Incognito windows don’t save history or cookies after closing, but only for that window.
Does clearing cookies affect saved passwords?
No, passwords are stored separately unless you choose to clear them.
Summary
Turn on clear on close in Edge or Firefox, set Chrome to delete site data when you close all windows, and use Google’s Auto-delete for account activity. Add exceptions for sites you want to stay logged in to.
