How to Delete Information Google Collects About You

Did you know that the average cost of a data breach reached a staggering $4.45 million in 2023?¹ As concerns over data privacy continue to grow, many users are taking proactive steps to protect their personal information.

Companies like Google collect vast amounts of data, so it’s essential to know how to manage and delete this information to safeguard your privacy.

Step-by-Step Process to Deleting Your Google Data

Whether it’s your search history, location data, or other personal information, Google stores a vast amount of data about you.

While this data can enhance your online experience, it also raises privacy concerns. Here’s a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the various methods of deleting your Google data.

Option 1: Manual Deletion by Item

Manual deletion is a great option for those who want precise control over what gets deleted. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Sign In: Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
2. Navigate to Data & Privacy: Click on the “Data & Privacy” tab.
3. Select Your Data: Choose the specific data types you want to delete, such as search history, location history, and more.
4. Delete: Follow the prompts to delete the selected data items.

This method allows you to keep some data while removing other sensitive information.

Option 2: Date-Based Deletion

If you prefer to delete data from a specific time period, you can use date-based deletion:

1. Access Activity Controls: Again, start by signing into myaccount.google.com.
2. Go to Data & Privacy: Click on “Data & Privacy.”
3. Find Your Activities: Scroll until you find the “My Activity” tab.
4. Set Date Range: Choose the “Activity controls” section and set the desired date range for the data you wish to delete.
5. Delete Data: Confirm and delete data from that specific time frame.

This is particularly useful if you want to remove recent activities while keeping older records intact.

Option 3: Automatic Deletion

For a more hands-off approach, set up automatic deletions:

1. Sign In: Head over to myaccount.google.com.
2. Enable Auto-Delete: Under “Data & Privacy,” you’ll find “History Settings” with “Web & App Activity, “Location History” and “Youtube History.” Click on each one and find the “Auto-delete” option.
3. Set Time Frame: Choose how long you want Google to retain your data (e.g., 3 months, 18 months).
4. Confirm: Save your settings to ensure that data older than your specified time frame is automatically deleted.

This method ensures your data doesn’t linger longer than necessary.

Additional Tips: Download Before Deleting

Before you start deleting, it’s a good idea to download your data. Google’s Takeout feature allows you to backup your emails, photos, documents, and more. Here’s how:

1. Visit Google Takeout: Go to the Google Takeout page.
2. Select Data to Download: Choose the data you want to keep.
3. Choose Delivery Method: Decide how you want to receive your data (e.g., email link, add to Drive).
4. Export Data: Start the export process and wait for Google to prepare your files.

Deleting your Google data doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose to delete data manually, by date, or automatically, you’re taking important steps to protect your privacy.

Don’t forget to download your data before you delete it, ensuring you don’t lose any important information.

Source:

1. IBM