Introduction
While being able to go through your Amazon browsing history is generally a good thing, there are some circumstances where it’s probably a good idea to turn it off. For example, if you’re shopping for a surprise gift for your spouse and they have access to your Amazon account and can easily look at your recent browsing history. Thankfully, Amazon makes it easy to find and delete either individual items from your browsing history, delete all items from your browsing history, or turn off and stop Amazon from showing your recent browsing history altogether.
Some of the images associated with the steps are included inline below. All images associated with these steps can be seen in the embedded YouTube video. Also, please note that you’re not able to leave a comment directly on this article. If you have a question or feedback, please leave it on the YouTube video.
Steps to Find and Delete Your Browsing History in Amazon App
- Launch the Amazon app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. You’ll land on your Amazon home screen.
- Tap the “Profile” icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen. Your Amazon profile screen opens.
- Tap “Your Account” at the top of this screen.
- Scroll down to the Personalized Content section, and then tap “Browsing History.” You’ll arrive at the Your Browsing History screen where you can see a list of the items you’ve recently viewed on Amazon.
- If you want to remove a single item from your recently viewed browsing history, navigate to that item, and then click “Remove from View.” The item image will be faded into the background and a Removed message will be displayed.
- Alternatively, you can tap “Remove All Items from View” at the top of this screen to immediately remove all of your recently viewed items on Amazon.
- And finally, if you want to stop Amazon from showing all of your recently viewed items in your browsing history, you can tap “Turn Recently Viewed Items Off” at the top of this screen.
You’ll see a message warning you that items you click on or search going forward will not be displayed in your Amazon browsing history. Tap “Turn Off Browsing History” to stop your Amazon browsing history from being presented in this section going forward.
You’ll now see a note on the Your Browsing History screen that the feature is turned off.
5 Reasons to Clear Your Amazon Browsing History
1. Privacy Concerns
Amazon’s vast ecosystem means that your browsing history can reveal a lot about your personal preferences and interests. If your account is accessible to others on shared devices, clearing your history helps keep your searches private. It prevents anyone who might use your device from seeing what you’ve been looking at. This is crucial if you’re planning surprises like gifts or personal purchases that you want to keep a secret. Moreover, it’s about maintaining a level of personal security, especially when browsing items that could inform others about your lifestyle, finances, or health.
2. Personalized Recommendations
Amazon uses your browsing history to tailor product recommendations. If your recent searches aren’t things you’re genuinely interested in purchasing, these recommendations can become less relevant, cluttering your feed with unwanted items. Clearing your browsing history resets this aspect of Amazon’s algorithm, giving you a chance to start fresh and potentially refine the types of products it suggests in the future. This is particularly useful if you’ve been looking at gifts for others, or if different family members use the same account, leading to a mishmash of unrelated recommendations.
3. Ad Targeting
Your browsing activity on Amazon influences the ads you see across the web. Amazon shares data with various advertising networks, which use your search history to target ads. If you’re tired of seeing repetitive or irrelevant ads, clearing your history can help mitigate this. It essentially provides a short-term reset on the personalized ads, offering a break from seeing the same products or types of products you’ve previously searched for. This can be a breath of fresh air, especially if you’ve been researching specific items like medications or personal products.
4. Save on Storage Space
On mobile devices, Amazon stores cache and cookies that can take up precious storage space. Over time, this data accumulates, potentially slowing down your device. Clearing your history and associated data helps free up space and can improve device performance. It’s an easy maintenance step that ensures your app runs smoothly, reducing lag and loading times, which enhances your overall browsing experience. This is particularly important for users with older devices or those with limited storage capacity.
5. Prevent Accidental Purchases
If you frequently browse Amazon without the intention to buy immediately, clearing your history can help prevent accidental purchases. It’s easy to accidentally click on items, especially if they remain in your recently viewed products. Clearing your history removes these temptations and reduces the risk of buying something inadvertently, especially in households with children or other individuals who might use your device and make unintended purchases. This is a practical step for managing your budget and avoiding the hassle of returns.
