Clear GNOME Web (Epiphany) history

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Works with any Linux distroWorks with any Linux distribution that can run bash scripts.

• Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
• Linux onlyThis script improves your privacy on Linux
• Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
  This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
  This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
• Bash (Shell script)These changes use Linux system commands to update your settings.
• 4 scripts
• IrreversibleYou can restore parts of this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

Overview

GNOME Web (called Epiphany until 2012) is a free and open-source web browser based on the GTK port of Apple's WebKit rendering engine, called WebKitGTK ¹. It is developed by the GNOME project for Unix-like systems ¹. It is the default and official web browser of GNOME ¹.

It has been the default browser of elementary OS since 5.0 ² Bodhi Linux since 5.1.0 ³.

See also: GNOME Web source code

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Sources

PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

• GNOME Web source code. (2022).
  Original: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221029214415/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany
• GNOME Web. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org. (2022).
  Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Web
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221029143523/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Web
• elementary OS 5 Juno is Here. medium.com. (2022).
  Original: https://medium.com/elementaryos/elementary-os-5-juno-is-here-471dfdedc7b3
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221029211521/https://medium.com/elementaryos/elementary-os-5-juno-is-here-471dfdedc7b3
• Bodhi Linux 5.1.0 Released. bodhilinux.com. (2022).
  Original: https://www.bodhilinux.com/2020/03/25/bodhi-linux-5-1-0-released
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221029211555/https://www.bodhilinux.com/2020/03/25/bodhi-linux-5-1-0-released/

Apply Now

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly

• No app needed
• Offline usage
• Free
• Open-source

High

High — Advanced Privacy

• For advanced privacy-conscious users
• May affect some features

Read more about High and other protection levels

Apply protection

Undo protection

Maximum

Maximum — Strongest Possible Privacy

• Military-grade privacy protection
• Major system impact
• Consider having system backup.

Read more about Maximum and other protection levels

Apply protection

Undo protection

Help

How to apply "Clear GNOME Web (Epiphany) history" using script

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: Web Browser
• Difficulty: Medium
• ≈ 6 instructions

1. 1

   Choose protection

   Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

   • High

     Some advanced scripts with high system impact.
   • Maximum

     Some not recommended scripts with very high system impact.

   Learn more about protection levels

2. 2

   Download

   Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
3. 3

   Keep the file

   If warned by your browser, keep the file.
4. 4

   Open

   Open the downloaded file.
5. 5

   Exit

   Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
6. 6

   Restart

   Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks

• Recommended for most users
• Includes safety checks
• Shows the code
• Free
• Open-source
• Popular
• Offline/Online usage

Open privacy.sexy

Help

How to apply "Clear GNOME Web (Epiphany) history" using privacy.sexy

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: privacy.sexy
• Difficulty: Simple
• ≈ 4 instructions

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.

1. 1

   Open or download

   Open or download the desktop application
2. 2

   Choose script

   1. Search for the category name: Clear GNOME Web (Epiphany) history
   2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

   Applying High to limit the impact.

3. 3

   Run

   Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

   This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide

• 4 Privacy settings

Choose what to protect based on your needs:This script already includes these options.
You can review, apply or reverse each option individually.
Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.

• Clear GNOME Web cache

  This script clears the temporary cache and does not cause any user data loss.

• Clear GNOME Web browsing history

  Your browsing history consists of the web pages that you have visited. The history database is ephy-history.db and uses -shm and -wal fil...

• Clear GNOME Web cookies

  cookies.sqlite file is used to store cookies in WebKit-based browsers. See also: [What are cookies? | GNOME Web | gnome.org](https://web.arch...

• Clear GNOME Web bookmarks

  Bookmarks are evidently stored in a file called bookmarks.gvdb. See also [Bookmarks design | GNOME Wiki](https://web.archive.org/web/20221029...

Similar Guides

Wider Goal

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

Clear browser history

A web browser (commonly just called a browser) is software that is used to visit websites. The browsing history, cache entries, and other potentially sen...

— Clear browser history

Privacy cleanup

These scripts allow you to increase privacy by deleting collected data about you and your behavior.

— Privacy cleanup

Same Goal

Another guide in Clear browser history See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

Clear Firefox history

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About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

• 

  undergroundwires

  • Certified security professional
  • 7+ years experience securing banks
  • Open-source developer since 2005
  • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
• Open-Source Contributors

  • Hundreds across the globe
  • Testers, reviewers, developers
  • Companies, military agencies
  • Community since 2017

About Us

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

• Expert review by undergroundwires

  • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
  • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
  • Audited and verified using automated security tests

• Public review by large community

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
  • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process