How to Delete Facebook Search History on iPhone, Android, and Desktop

Quick answer

Open Facebook and select the search icon or search bar without typing. Open the recent-search controls, often labelled Edit or See all. Use the remove control beside one entry, or Clear searches if that option is available. Review any confirmation before continuing.

These controls remove saved searches from the history you can see. They do not guarantee that Facebook will stop showing suggested people, pages, or other search results.

Clear Facebook searches on iPhone, iPad, or Android

1. Open the Facebook app and check that you are using the right account and profile.
2. Tap the search icon or search bar, leaving the field empty so you can see recent searches.
3. Look for Edit, See all, or another control for managing recent searches.
4. To remove one entry, use the X or remove option beside it.
5. To clear the list, choose Clear searches if shown, then confirm if prompted.

Facebook's labels and layout can vary by device and app version. If you cannot find the controls, try Activity Log below rather than deleting the app or your account.

For other device cleanup tasks, see our mobile privacy guides. If you visited Facebook in Chrome rather than the app, clearing Chrome history on Android is a separate task.

Clear Facebook searches on a computer

1. Open Facebook in your browser and sign in to the intended account.
2. Click the search field without entering a query.
3. Open the recent-search controls, such as Edit or See all.
4. Remove an individual entry, or select Clear searches if available and review the confirmation.

Deleting a Facebook search does not also clear the browser's record of pages you visited. Use the relevant browser history guide if you want to manage that record too.

Find searches in Activity Log

Facebook also lets you review search activity through Activity Log. Look for it in your profile menu or Settings & privacy. Within Activity Log, look for a Search history category or a related section such as Logged actions and other activity, if shown.

Open the search entries and use the deletion controls Facebook provides. The exact category names may differ for your account. Facebook's guide to accessing your information explains where Activity Log fits among its information-management tools.

Why search suggestions can still appear

Recent searches and search predictions are different. Facebook says that clicking an empty search field shows past searches, while results displayed as you type are predictions for the query. Clearing recent searches therefore does not mean the search box will become suggestion-free.

Before assuming deletion failed, check whether the entry appears with the search field empty or only after you type. See Facebook's explanation of search history and predictions.

If a saved entry still appears in the empty search field:

• Check that you cleared searches for the same account and profile.
• Reopen Facebook or refresh the browser, then inspect the recent-search list again.
• Check Activity Log for the entry and use any available removal control.
• If the controls are missing, update the app through its official app store or try Facebook in a browser.

Clearing an app cache is not a substitute for deleting account search history.

What clearing search history does not delete

This action is for Facebook search entries. It does not delete your Facebook account, Messenger conversations, posts, comments, or browser history. Other types of activity have their own controls.

It is also not a promise that every record held by Meta has been erased. For the broader distinction between visible history and other records, read why clearing history does not clear everything.

Who can see your searches?

Facebook describes Activity Log, including search activity, as visible only to you in its explanation of Activity Log. Someone using your signed-in account or unlocked device may still be able to open it.

Sign out on shared devices and review unfamiliar account sessions. For a broader check, use Facebook's privacy settings guidance and our privacy guides.

Related guides

• Delete Instagram search history
• Delete TikTok search history
• Delete Twitter/X search history
• Delete an old Facebook account, a separate decision from clearing searches

Browse all social-media privacy guides for other services.