Want to burst your own search bubble—from inside? Find out here how to use private search on Google (without personalization of results and without having your search history saved).
First, the Watched Coffeepot
In 1991, Cambridge University’s computer science department ran on a centralized coffee distribution system: one percolator (just outside the Trojan teaching room) supplied half the faculty across labs and floors with caffeine.
If a trip is far, it better be successful. When, all too often, researchers went to grab a cup only to find the pot already empty, there was only one solution: a camera that let one check the percolator from the comfort of one’s networked desk’s computer.
Just two years later, another all too often decaffeinated member of the faculty put the camera’s view on the web for all to see (he was on campus but not on the university network).
Now, do you sometimes feel like a coffeepot permanently watched when you search online—results tailored to your preferences and all? You can search on Google without Google recording your actions and meddling with future results:
How to Search Google in Private and without Personalization
Not Signed into Google
Time needed: 5 minutes
To use Google Search in private without having results tailored to you and remembered:
- Optional: Open a new private browsing window in your browser.
Here’s how: Typically, select File | New Private Window or File | New Incognito Window from the menu or press Ctrl Shift N (Windows) or Command Shift N (Mac).
With a Google account: See below for preventing personalization with a Google account. - Open the Google home page.
- Click Settings in the lower right corner.
- Select Search settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Go to the Privacy & Safety category.
- Click Search customization under Activity.
Logged in: If you are signed into a Google (or Gmail) account, you will not see Search customization; see below for searching without personalization.
- Disable Search customization.
- Return to the Google home page.
- Optional: Pick a region and language for search results.
Here’s why: Google will prefer results relevant to your (assumed) location and language; by picking these, you can control these results by picking the search region.
Use Private Search with a Google Account
To use Google search without personalization if you are signed into a Google account:
- Go to the Google home page in a browser.
- Click Settings and select Search settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Select Search history under Activity controls.
- Go to Controls.
- Click Turn off for Web & App Activity.
- Now click Pause under Pause Web & App Activity to confirm.
YouTube: What you watch on YouTube is saved independently and will still influence search results and suggestions on YouTube. - Optional: Click Delete old activity if you see the link and follow up with All Time and Select All..
Here’s why: Google turns off saving for new activity, but old actions may still influence your search results; delete old data to get rid of that influence and make your Google searches more private. - Optional: Choose a search region and language for results.
How to Search Google in Private and without Personalization: FAQ
Can I turn off search history and personalization in the Google app for Android or iPhone?
Yes.
To disable personalization and saving your searches in Google for iOS and Android:
- Tap your initials or avatar in the top right corner.
- Now tap Search history.
- Turn off Web & App Activity as above.
(How to search Google in private (without personalization or search history) updated January 2024)