Windows 11 comes with a feature called Activity History that tracks your interactions on the device, such as apps you use, websites you visit, and files you open. This data is collected to offer a more personalized experience, such as resuming tasks across devices and receiving tailored recommendations. For instance, if you use Timeline or Microsoft services like Edge and Office, activity history helps you pick up where you left off.
While this feature is useful for productivity and continuity, there are scenarios where clearing activity history becomes important. If you share your PC with others, want to protect your privacy, or no longer require task tracking, clearing the history can be a smart move. Additionally, clearing activity history ensures sensitive information is not accessible from the activity timeline.
How to clear Activity History in Windows 11
Follow these simple steps to clear activity history on your Windows 11 PC:
- Press Win + I to open the Settings app. Alternatively, click the Start button, type Settings, and press Enter. This will open Windows Settings app.
- In the Settings app, select Privacy & security from the left sidebar.
- Under Privacy & security, locate and click on Activity history.
- On the Activity History page, click the Clear history button next to the option Clear activity history for this account. This action will remove all the activity related data stored under your Windows user account.
Optional: Disabling Activity History
On the same page, you can choose to disable activity history by unchecking the option Store my activity history on this device. When disabled, Windows will stop tracking your activities and will not upload this data to Microsoft servers if you have signed in with a Microsoft account. This is useful for users who prioritize privacy over convenience.
Conclusion
Clearing and managing activity history is a quick and straightforward process that allows you to maintain control over your personal information while still enjoying the features that Windows 11 has to offer. Even though there are professional cleaning software like CCleaner available, we can follow simple steps to clear some user history ourselves.