X

Google brings browsing History to Android, iPhone

A new History link in Google's mobile-optimized Web site for iPhone and Android can track your browsing history for serving up to you at a later time.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
See full bio
Jessica Dolcourt
Google's new History link on iPhone
If you've got search history enabled and you're signed in, Google can track your URL journey. Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

One of the "smartest" features of an iPhone and Android phone is the capability to pull up as search suggestions previously visited URLs when you begin typing your destination into the browser.

On Tuesday, Google offered its own take for the Android- and iPhone-optimized version of Google.com in the form of a new History link.

If you're signed in to Google and you've also enabled search history in the Settings (Settings > Search History > Save Searches), then tapping the new History link that's sandwiched between your username and the "Sign out" link will produce a list of your previously visited URLs.

The Starred Items tab also gives you quick access to a list of places you've starred from either your smartphone or from the desktop. A thumbnail image of a map is icing on the cake.

The caveat is that History will only save those searches you did while signed in--it won't be able to capture URLs you visited as an anonymous surfer.

You can remove old history items by pressing an "Edit" button while you're reviewing your cache, and then deleting those unwanted records one by one.

On iPhone, Firefox Home offers a similar concept for tracking past searches made on the desktop Firefox browser.

Mobile Guides

Phones
Foldable Phones
Headphones
Mobile Accessories
Smartwatches
Wireless Plans
Mobile coupons