If you use Internet Explorer as your default internet browser on computers and mobile devices, there are several ways to clear your browsing history. If you wish, you can also choose to delete only certain items (websites or web pages) from the history. Depending on the version of the program you are using you will be able to delete the entire browsing history of Internet Explorer (desktop version) both from the "Security" menu and from the "Internet Options" panel. Performing the same operation on mobile devices involves accessing the "Settings" menu using the relevant touchscreen.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using the Mobile App (Internet Explorer 10 and 11)
Step 1. Launch the Internet Explorer app
Touch the relative icon located on the Home of the device or in the list of installed applications to open it exactly as you would to browse the web.
Step 2. Enter the "Settings" menu
Swipe your finger on the screen from the right edge towards the center, then choose "Settings" from the menu that appears.
If you are using the mouse, move the cursor to the lower right corner of the screen, then choose the "Settings" option from the menu that appears
Step 3. Access the "History"
Choose "Options", then tap the "Select" link located in the "History" section.
Step 4. Delete your browsing history
First select the "Browsing history" checkbox, then press the "Delete" button when you have finished selecting the items to delete. This way the chosen websites will be deleted from the history.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Security Menu (Internet Explorer 8-11)
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
To do this, click the program icon available on the desktop, in the Start menu or in the app list.
Step 2. Access the "Tools" menu
It is located at the top right of the screen and features a gear icon.
If you are using Internet Explorer 8, the "Tools" menu is located within the menu bar located at the top of the program window
Step 3. Clear your internet browsing history
After opening the "Tools" menu select the "Security" item.
Step 4. Click the "Delete Browsing History" item
A dialog box will be displayed where you can select the type of information to be deleted.
Step 5. Select the data you want to delete
To be able to delete your browsing history make sure you select the "Browsing history" (or simply "History") checkbox.
- Note that you may also need to clear other information stored by the browser, such as cached images, temporary files, cookies, download history, form data, passwords, favorites, tracking protection data, ActiveX Filtering, and DNT (Do Not Track).
- If you are using Internet Explorer 8 or later, you will notice the "Keep data on favorite websites" entry. If you do not want the information (cookies and files) relating to the sites in the "Favorites" list to be deleted, be sure to select this check button.
Step 6. To proceed with deleting the history, press the "Delete" button
Step 7. To exit press the "OK" button
In this way the history of the websites you have visited will be deleted.
Method 3 of 4: Use the Internet Options Panel (Internet Explorer 7-11)
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
To do this, click the program icon available on the desktop or in the Start menu.
Step 2. Go to the "Internet Options" panel
You can find it in the "Tools" menu.
- If you are using Internet Explorer 9, locate the gear icon in the upper right corner of the program window.
- Alternatively, you can access the "Internet Options" panel from the Windows "Control Panel". At this point, select the "Network and Internet" category and click the "Internet Options" icon.
Step 3. Go to the "General" tab
It is located within the "Internet Options" panel. It should be the first tab on the left, as well as the one that is automatically selected when the window opens.
Step 4. Press the "Delete" button
.. ". It is located within the" Browsing History "section of the" General "tab.
Step 5. Choose the data you want to delete
To do this, simply select the check button for the categories of information you want to delete. To be able to delete your browsing history, make sure you select the "Browsing history" (or simply "History") checkbox.
- Note that you may also need to clear other information stored by the browser, such as cached images, temporary files, cookies, download history, form data, passwords, favorites, tracking protection data, ActiveX Filtering, and DNT (Do Not Track).
- From Internet Explorer 8 onwards, the "Keep data on favorite websites" option was introduced. If you do not want the information about the sites in the "Favorites" list to be cleared, be sure to select this check button.
Step 6. Press the "Delete" button
If prompted, confirm your action by also pressing the "Yes" button.
Step 7. To exit, press the "OK" button
In this way the history of the websites you have visited will be deleted.
Method 4 of 4: Clear History for Specific Websites (Internet Explorer 10 and 11)
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
Click the program icon on the desktop or in the Start menu.
Step 2. Access the "Favorites" window
Tap or click the "Favorites" icon at the top right of the screen. It is characterized by a small star.
Step 3. Go to the "History" tab
Tap or click the "History" tab header found on the "Favorites" screen.
Step 4. Choose how to view the contents of the "History" tab
To do this, use the drop-down menu located inside the tab to determine how the data stored by the browser will be filtered. You can choose from the following categories "View by date", "View by site", "View by number of visits" or "View by order of visits today".
Note that if you have chosen to consult the history sorted "by site", you may have to select each website in the list with the right mouse button to expand the list of its contents in search of the specific pages you have visited and want to delete
Step 5. Delete a specific website from your browsing history
Select the desired item with the right mouse button (if you are using a touch device you will have to hold it down with your finger), then choose the item "Delete" from the context menu that appeared.
If you want to remove the entire history of a specific site, select it with the right mouse button without expanding it, then choose the "Delete" option from the menu that appeared
Advice
- With the release of Windows 10, Internet Explorer has been replaced by Microsoft's new browser: Edge. Users of Windows 10 systems may still be able to use Internet Explorer by searching within the computer or by taking advantage of the Cortana virtual assistant using the keywords "Internet Explorer".
- Using Internet Explorer 11, you can automatically access the "Delete Browsing History" dialog box by pressing the hotkey combination Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Del.
- Using Internet Explorer 11 you have the option to automatically delete your browsing history. To do this, open the "Internet Options" panel and go to the "General" tab, then select the "Delete history on exit" checkbox.
- To delete the other files related to the use of the browser (images and web pages stored in the cache) Internet Explorer 11, open the "Internet Options" panel, choose the "Advanced Settings" tab, then select the check button "Empty the folder for temporary Internet files when the browser is closed ".
