How to Clear History in Internet Explorer

Tahneet Kanwal

Posted On: December 19, 2024

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Read time4 Min Read

When using Internet Explorer, your browsing activity is automatically saved through the history feature. While this can be helpful for revisiting sites, there are times when you must clear history in Internet Explorer is necessary.

Managing your browsing history is important for maintaining privacy and improving browser performance and many users don’t know how to manage their browser history or why it’s important to clear it.

Steps to Clear History in Internet Explorer

To clear history in Internet Explorer, follow the steps given below:

  1. Launch Internet Explorer.
  2. Click the gear icon and click on Internet options to open the settings window, or press (Alt + X) as a quick shortcut.
  3. Internet options

  4. In the General tab, you will find the Browsing history section; click on the Delete button. A new window will pop up with options to delete various types of data.
  5. Browsing history

  6. Mark the checkboxes for the browsing history you want to remove.
  7. If you want to preserve your favorite websites, make sure to uncheck Preserve Favorites website data.
  8. After selecting the data you want to clear, click Delete again to confirm. Internet Explorer will then remove the selected items from your history.
  9. click Delete

And that’s how your Internet Explorer browser history is cleared!

Steps to Clear History in Internet Explorer With Keyboard Shortcuts

You can quickly clear your browser history using a keyboard shortcut in Internet Explorer:

  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard. This shortcut immediately opens the Delete Browsing History dialog.
  3. Use the Tab key to move through options and the Space key to select the browser history and other data.
  4. Press the Tab key to go to the Delete button, then finally press Enter to delete.

Delete button

Conclusion

Clearing your browser history in Internet Explorer is essential for your privacy, browser performance, and the protection of personal information. By following the steps provided in this blog, you can easily manage your browsing data and reduce potential risks associated with stored information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will clearing browser history log me out of websites?

Yes, clearing your browser history can log you out of websites, especially if you also delete cookies. If you want to stay logged in to sites, avoid selecting the Cookies option while deleting browsing data.

Is clearing browser history the same as clearing cache?

Similar, but not identical. Clearing history removes visited site records while clearing cache removes temporary website files.

How do I reset my Internet Explorer browser?

To reset Internet Explorer, close all windows, open Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet options, select the Advanced tab, and click Reset. Confirm to reset the browser settings.

Does clearing browser history delete saved passwords?

No, clearing browsing history does not delete saved passwords by default. However, if you select Passwords when deleting data, your saved login credentials will be removed.

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Tahneet Kanwal

Tahneet Kanwal is a software engineer with a passion for frontend development and a keen eye for user experience. With a strong foundation in web technologies, she brings a practical perspective to her writing. As a technical content writer at LambdaTest, Tahneet combines her engineering expertise with her communication skills to craft engaging, SEO-friendly articles. Her work spans various topics in web development, software testing, and emerging tech trends, keeping readers informed and inspired.

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