This guide will show you how to remove Google search suggestions that appear while typing on a mobile device, allowing you to customize your search experience and enhance your privacy.
Follow these instructions to manage your autocomplete settings within the Google app, your mobile browser, and by clearing your activity history.
To turn off Google search suggestions on your phone, there are three methods you can use. The first method involves using the Google app. To do this, open the Google app on your Android or iOS device. Tap on your profile picture, which is typically located in the top-right corner of the screen. From the menu that appears, select the Settings option. Navigate to “Other settings” or a similarly named section related to search preferences. Look for the option labeled “Autocomplete with trending searches” and tap on it. Toggle the switch next to “Show trending searches” to the off position to disable these suggestions.
The second method involves using the Google Chrome browser. To do this, launch the Google Chrome app on your mobile device. Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top-right corner to open the main menu. Select “Settings” from the dropdown list. Tap on “Sync and Google services”. Find the setting named “Autocomplete searches and URLs” and toggle it off to prevent Chrome from showing predictions.
The third method involves clearing your search history. Within the Google app’s settings menu, locate and select the “Search history” option. This screen allows you to manage and delete your past search activity, which influences personalized suggestions. Choose to delete your history for a specific time range or turn off Web & App Activity tracking entirely. Note that this permanently removes your search data and can impact personalization across other Google services.
For a quick search without suggestions or history tracking, use Incognito mode in your browser. This opens a temporary private session that doesn’t save your activity on your device.
Taking control of your Google search suggestions provides a cleaner and more focused search experience. Without automatic predictions, you can avoid the distraction of trending topics or irrelevant queries, allowing you to formulate your own thoughts without interruption or influence from what others are searching for.
This practice also enhances your digital privacy. Since suggestions are often based on your past activity, location, and popular searches, disabling them reduces the amount of personalized data that is actively surfaced in real-time. It is a simple but effective step toward a more private and intentional browsing habit on your mobile device.
