The hidden history that Google keeps on each user: what data it records and how to delete it, step by step

Every time you search for something, watch a video on YouTube, or ask for directions on Google Maps, you leave a trail . That digital footprint is stored in your Google account without most users even noticing. But it has enormous value: it's the basis of the business model with which the company monetizes the use of its free services.

What for many is a useful tool—such as being able to retrieve a page visited weeks ago—is actually also an example of the level of information a tech company can store about your life. And it goes far beyond a simple search history.

Google records your location every time you activate GPS, the videos you watch, the emails you open, the online purchases you make, and even the questions you ask its voice assistant. All of this, combined, allows it to build a detailed profile of your interests , your daily habits , and even your personal relationships .

Beyond Google's commercial use of this data—primarily to show you targeted ads —the underlying problem is another: the concentration of so much private information in one place. If this database were to fall into the wrong hands or be used maliciously , it could expose very intimate aspects of your daily life.

That's why deleting your Google history isn't just a good idea: it's a way to protect your digital identity , reduce the risk of cyberattacks , and maintain at least some of your privacy . The good news is that it's easier than it seems.

The process for clearing your account is simple and can be done from any computer or mobile phone. It's only five steps .

The first step is to go to myactivity.google.com and sign in to your account. There you'll see all your activity history: searches, videos, maps, apps, images, and interactions with the Assistant. Everything is sorted by date and service .

On that same page, you can scroll through everything Google has stored day by day. You can also apply filters by product (such as YouTube, Maps, or Chrome) or by specific time periods.

Google offers several removal options :

• All history: You can select “Delete activity by” and then “All time.”

• Specific dates: allows you to delete specific days, weeks, or months.

• By service: If you only want to delete YouTube or Maps, that's also possible.

• One by one: Each entry has an icon to delete it individually.

If you prefer not to do it manually, Google offers an automatic deletion feature. You can set it to delete data every 3, 18, or 36 months . This way, you can prevent your account from accumulating information indefinitely.

In addition to deleting, you can prevent certain data from being recorded. In the "Activity Controls" section, you have the option to disable Location History, Web and App Activity, and YouTube History. This doesn't prevent you from using those services, but it does prevent your activity from being saved .

In times of increasingly scarce digital privacy , controlling what data we leave in the hands of big tech becomes crucial. Google allows users to delete and limit the collection of personal information, but it's up to each user to decide whether to do so.

More and more experts suggest preventing your account from becoming a database of your entire life. Review your history, delete what you don't want to keep, and, if possible, set your account to record as little as possible.