Clear Windows Search history

Apply Now

Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.

• Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
• Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
• Impact: Minimum

  System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low

  This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

• Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
• Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
• Fully reversible

  You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

  The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

This script clears Windows search history to enhance privacy.

Windows records search keywords used on your device ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}. This data includes search terms and dates ^{1 2 4 5}. It's used in forensic analysis to study user behavior ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}.

Clearing search history improves privacy by removing this potentially sensitive information. It may also improve system performance by freeing up storage space.

Caution

Clearing search history may affect your ability to quickly find recently searched items.

Technical Details

The script enhances privacy by deleting this tracking information from the following locations:

• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru\* ^{1 3} 6: Used by Windows XP ^{1 3}. It stores search history in subkeys ^{6 6}. This location is not used in newer Windows versions ^{1 3}.
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery ^{1 2 3} 5: Used by Windows 7 and later versions ^{1 2 3 5}, including Windows 10 ^{2 5} and 11 ⁵ to store search history.
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SearchHistory ³ 4: Used by Windows 8 and later for search history ^{3 4}. Windows 8 utilizes Microsoft.Windows.FileSearchApp sub key ⁴.
• %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\History folder ^{3 4}. This directory is used by Windows 8.1 to store search history ^{3 4}.

Safe for General Use

All actions in this script is recommended for all users. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.

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.

• Computer Account Forensic Artifact Extractor. tzworks.com. (2024).
  Original: https://tzworks.com/prototype_page.php
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730101502/https://tzworks.com/prototype_page.php?proto_id=19
• Searched Strings Blog. forensafe.com. (2024).
  Original: https://forensafe.com/blogs/searchedstrings.html
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730125503/https://forensafe.com/blogs/searchedstrings.html
• Registry Artifacts. Villanova University – Department of Computing Sciences – D. Justin Price – Fall 2014. csc.villanova.edu. (2024).
  Original: http://www.csc.villanova.edu/~dprice/fall2014/slides/16_Registry%20Forensics.pdf
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730132214/http://www.csc.villanova.edu/~dprice/fall2014/slides/16_Registry%20Forensics.pdf
• windows-forensic-artifacts/user-activity/wordwheelquery.md at b0faf656761091e165b1c4fff74541ebeb29d306 · privacysexy-forks/windows-forensic-artifacts. github.com. (2024).
  Original: https://www.swiftforensics.com/2014/04/search-history-on-windows-8-and-81.html
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730133138/https://www.swiftforensics.com/2014/04/search-history-on-windows-8-and-81.html
• interesting windows forensic spots. www.mpauli.de. (2024).
  Original: https://www.mpauli.de/interesting-windows-forensic-spots.html
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730125955/https://www.mpauli.de/interesting-windows-forensic-spots.html

Apply Now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly

• No app needed
• Offline usage
• Easy-to-apply
• Free
• Open-source

Apply protection

Help

How to apply or restore "Clear Windows Search history" using script

• ≈ 2 min to complete
• Tools: Web Browser
• Difficulty: Simple
• ≈ 5 instructions

1. 1

   Download

   Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
   Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
2. 2

   Keep the file

   If warned by your browser, keep the file.
3. 3

   Open

   Open the downloaded file.
4. 4

   Exit

   Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
5. 5

   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
• Free
• Open-source
• Popular
• Offline/Online usage

Open privacy.sexy

Help

How to apply or restore "Clear Windows Search 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 script name: Clear Windows Search history
   2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
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.

Run commands

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge

Apply

Apply changes

:: Clear registry values from "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru" (recursively)
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$rootRegistryKeyPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru'; function Clear-RegistryKeyValues { try { $currentRegistryKeyPath = $args[0]; Write-Output "^""Clearing registry values from `"^""$currentRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $formattedRegistryKeyPath = $currentRegistryKeyPath -replace '^([^\\]+)', '$1:'; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Registry key not found: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; return; }; $directValueNames=(Get-Item -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); if (-Not $directValueNames) { Write-Output 'Skipping: Registry key has no direct values.'; } else { foreach ($valueName in $directValueNames) { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -Name $valueName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output "^""Successfully deleted value: `"^""$valueName`"^"" from `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all direct values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Iterating subkeys recursively: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop; if (!$subKeys) { Write-Output 'Skipping: no subkeys available.'; return; }; foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) { $subkeyName = $($subKey.PSChildName); Write-Output "^""Processing subkey: `"^""$subkeyName`"^"""^""; $subkeyPath = Join-Path -Path $currentRegistryKeyPath -ChildPath $subkeyName; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $subkeyPath; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all subkeys in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to clear registry values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $rootRegistryKeyPath"
:: Clear registry values from "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery" 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$rootRegistryKeyPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery'; function Clear-RegistryKeyValues { try { $currentRegistryKeyPath = $args[0]; Write-Output "^""Clearing registry values from `"^""$currentRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $formattedRegistryKeyPath = $currentRegistryKeyPath -replace '^([^\\]+)', '$1:'; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Registry key not found: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; return; }; $directValueNames=(Get-Item -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); if (-Not $directValueNames) { Write-Output 'Skipping: Registry key has no direct values.'; } else { foreach ($valueName in $directValueNames) { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -Name $valueName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output "^""Successfully deleted value: `"^""$valueName`"^"" from `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all direct values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to clear registry values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $rootRegistryKeyPath"
:: Clear registry values from "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SearchHistory" (recursively)
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$rootRegistryKeyPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SearchHistory'; function Clear-RegistryKeyValues { try { $currentRegistryKeyPath = $args[0]; Write-Output "^""Clearing registry values from `"^""$currentRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $formattedRegistryKeyPath = $currentRegistryKeyPath -replace '^([^\\]+)', '$1:'; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Registry key not found: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; return; }; $directValueNames=(Get-Item -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); if (-Not $directValueNames) { Write-Output 'Skipping: Registry key has no direct values.'; } else { foreach ($valueName in $directValueNames) { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -Name $valueName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output "^""Successfully deleted value: `"^""$valueName`"^"" from `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all direct values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Iterating subkeys recursively: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop; if (!$subKeys) { Write-Output 'Skipping: no subkeys available.'; return; }; foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) { $subkeyName = $($subKey.PSChildName); Write-Output "^""Processing subkey: `"^""$subkeyName`"^"""^""; $subkeyPath = Join-Path -Path $currentRegistryKeyPath -ChildPath $subkeyName; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $subkeyPath; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all subkeys in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to clear registry values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $rootRegistryKeyPath"
:: Clear directory contents  : "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\History"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\History'; if ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\*')) { $directoryGlob } elseif ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { "^""$($directoryGlob)*"^"" } else { "^""$($directoryGlob)\*"^"" } )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"

Revert

Restore changes

IiI=

Help

How to apply or restore "Clear Windows Search history" using commands

• ≈ 2 min to complete
• Tools: Command Prompt
• Difficulty: Medium
• ≈ 3 instructions

View step-by-step guide with screenshots

---

1. 1

   Open Command Prompt

   Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. 2

   Copy code

   Copy the code:

   Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
3. 3

   Paste & run

   Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

   Some changes require a system restart to take effect

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 recent activity

This category includes scripts that erase traces of recent user activities on Windows. These scripts enhance privacy by removing records of accessed files, used ap...

Visit category page

Privacy cleanup

Privacy cleanup to protect your data with support of proper personal data control on Windows — Read along, this system calibration illustrates just that. What's eq...

Visit category page

Same Goal

Other guides in Clear recent activity 

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.

See all 12 guides

Clear Quick Access lists

Clear Windows Registry recent activity

Clear recent application history

Clear Adobe recent file history

Clear Microsoft Paint recent files history

Clear WordPad recent file history

Clear network drive mapping history

Clear recent files and folders history

Clear Windows Media Player recent activity history

Clear DirectX recent application history

Clear Windows Run command history

Clear File Explorer address bar history

---

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

• Public review by large community

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other 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