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How can I clear my search history in Firefox?

I just noticed that when I start to type in a search query in Google that it pops up with suggestions based on my partial typing fragment. This isn't so useful and actually bugs me because my wife occasionally uses my computer too and, well, I don't want her to see all my random searches. How can I fix it? I'm using Firefox on a Mac, if that makes a difference.


Dave's Answer:

I am resisting making a sarcastic comment about hiding your tracks after visiting porn sites, but, oh, there I went, saying it anyway. Okay, whatever. You visit what you want to visit, you look up whatever you want to look up, but remember that it's hard not to leave tracks on the Internet, as you're learning, hard to really be completely anonymous and not leave a trail behind you.

One thing you might want to consider is to learn a bit about what the Mozilla Firefox team refers to as "Private Browsing". The developers describe it thusly: "Firefox 3.5 and later provide "Private Browsing," which allows you to browse the Internet without Firefox retaining any of data about which sites and pages you have visited."

To use it, just look on the Tools menu:

mac firefox tools private browsing

Choose it and you'll get a confirmation:

mac firefox start private browsing

Now you're good. Well, now you can avoid having your Web browser retain your history, at least. You still aren't anonymous on the Web, nor would your Google searches not be saved by the system automatically.

To accomplish what you're asking me about, clearing your search cache in Firefox for Mac OS X, you need to go somewhere else...

Before I go there, though, let me show what you're talking about.

You go to the Google search home page and see a nice empty box (and, if you're lucky, Bert and Ernie):

google search sesame street

Type in a letter or two and suddenly:

google search sesame street r

Not so good if you don't want your search history overtly visible.

To fix it, on the same Tools menu, you need to choose "Clear Private Data..." (or, in the newer versions, "Clear Recent History"):

mac firefox tools clear recent history

You'll get a helpful window with a variety of options:

mac firefox clear recent history

At this point you can quickly delete everything that you've done for the last hour, or, if you click on that menu, you'll find more options for two hours, four hours, today and everything. Notice that you need to pick which caches you want erased too. To get rid of the Google search history, make sure you select "Form & Search History".

Click on "Clear Now" and you've removed your tracks. For now.

Good luck to you, hope this helps your exploration of the wild blue Web yonder.



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Comments

Consider separate user accounts, so each can have their own history, bookmarks, as well as general computer preferences.

Posted by: Terry at November 9, 2009 12:02 PM

Just as Dave said clear history is the best option,you can also setup an option to clear your history,cookies,passwords etc every time you close firefox browser

Tools>Options>Privacy>Select "always clear private data when i close firefox"

Posted by: Steve at November 11, 2009 2:28 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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