How to Clear Search History on Instagram

Never see that face again!

Instagram on mobile phone
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
by Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera has been a tech journalist since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader and several Microsoft certifications.
Updated June 06, 2019

Instagram keeps a record of your search history, allowing you to quickly locate accounts or hashtags that you've looked for in the past. While this personal record can come in very handy, it presents some potential privacy concerns. In the case of IG's suggested list, your past searches also have an impact on which people are presented to you.

Whether you're consistently seeing unwanted users appear in the recommended searches as soon as you log in or you want to wipe out your search history for other reasons altogether, follow the steps below. In addition to clearing your history, you can also prevent specific accounts from ever showing up on your Instagram page again.

How to Clear Instagram Search History

Instagram search history can only be deleted via the social media service's app, available for multiple platforms including Android, iOS, and Windows.

  1. Launch and log into the Instagram app.

  2. Click or tap on the Profile button, represented by a head and torso and located in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

  3. Your profile should now be displayed. Click or tap on the Menu button, located in the upper right-hand corner and represented by three vertically-aligned dots on iOS and Android or a gear icon on Windows phone.

  4. Tap the Settings gear near the bottom of the slide-out pane.

    Profile icon, three line menu, Settings Gear

  5. Tap the Security icon.

  6. Select Clear Search History, then confirm on the following screen.

    Security, Clear Search History, Confirmation button for Instagram

  7. You will now receive a message asking you to confirm this action. Press the Yes, I'm sure button. Your search history will be instantly cleared at this point.

It should be noted that search history isn't the only thing factored into the suggested list equation, so you may also want to take other measures such as unfollowing the account in question.