How to Clear Activity History in Windows 11?

Windows 11 stores your activity history to provide a more personalized experience across devices. This history includes apps you use, files you open, and websites you visit. While it can be helpful, some users prefer to clear this data for privacy reasons. This write up explains how to clear activity history in Windows 11, covering all available methods for a complete and secure approach.

Related: Enable Or Disable Store Activity History On Device In Windows 11

Clearing your activity history enhances privacy by removing traces of your recent activities. If you share your device or are concerned about Microsoft storing your data, clearing activity history ensures your information remains private.

Method 1: Using the Settings App

The Settings app provides a straightforward way to clear activity history in Windows 11. Follow these steps:

• Open Settings by pressing Winkey + I on your keyboard.

• Navigate to Privacy & security in the left pane.
• Scroll down and select Activity history under the Windows permissions section.

• Locate the Clear activity history button and click on it.
• Confirm the action by clicking OK or Clear when prompted.

This will delete your activity history stored locally on your device.

Method 2: Using Your Microsoft Account

If your activity history is synced to your Microsoft account, you’ll need to clear it online. Here’s how:

• Open a web browser and go to the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard at account.microsoft.com/privacy.

• Sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your Windows 11 device.

• Navigate to the Empower your productivity section.

• Expand the option Apps and Services.

• Expand the option Apps and Service activity option.

• Select the types of activity history you want to delete, such as Search history, Location history, or Browsing history.

• Click on the Clear button for each section to delete the corresponding data.

Tip: Regularly review your privacy settings in the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard to ensure your data is managed according to your preferences.

Method 3: Using File Explorer to Delete Activity History Files

For advanced users, Windows stores some activity history locally in system files. You can manually delete these files via File Explorer:

• Open File Explorer by pressing Winkey + E.
• Navigate to the following directory:
  • C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\ConnectedDevicesPlatform
• Delete all the files and folders within this directory. Note: Replace [YourUsername] with your actual username.

• Empty the Recycle Bin to ensure the files are permanently deleted.

Important: Ensure you back up any critical data before manually deleting files, as this process cannot be undone.

Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor

For users on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, the Group Policy Editor provides a method to disable and clear activity history:

• Press Winkey + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
• Navigate to:
  • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > OS Policies

• Locate and double-click “Allow publishing of User Activities”.
• Set the policy to Disabled and click Apply, then OK.

• Restart your computer to clear existing activity history and prevent new data from being stored.

This method is ideal for system administrators or users who want to enforce privacy settings across devices.

Method 5: Using PowerShell Commands

For a faster approach, PowerShell can clear activity history with specific commands:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

• Enter the following command to clear activity history:
  • Remove-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ActivityCache\*"

• Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

PowerShell provides a quick and automated way to manage activity history, especially for advanced users.

Conclusion

Clearing your activity history in Windows 11 is a simple yet effective way to enhance privacy and security. Whether you prefer using the Settings app, Microsoft Privacy Dashboard, or advanced methods like Group Policy Editor and PowerShell, you have multiple options to manage your data. Regularly clearing your activity history ensures your personal information stays private, especially if you share your device with others.

Related: Enable Or Disable Send Activity History To Microsoft In Windows 11

Commonly Asked Queries:

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