For many of us, using Google services comes as naturally as using electricity. We use it to find answers, store photos and videos, get directions, browse the web, attend online meetings, send and receive payments, for entertainment and education, and so much more.
When you use these services, such as YouTube or Search, you leave a trail of info behind. This data is stored in your Google account and can be accessed and managed at any time. Let's see how you can view and manage your data via Google My Activity.
How to Access My Activity on Android
- Open your device Settings.
- Go to Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & privacy.
- Under History settings, select My Activity.
Once there, you can access the following settings:
- Web & App Activity: This includes your Google search history, conversations with Google Assistant, audio recordings, the apps you used, etc.
- Location History: This includes the places you recently visited, the cities you have been to, the trips you took, the time you have spent commuting, etc.
- YouTube History: This includes what you searched for on YouTube, the videos you watched, your uploads and playlists, the videos you liked and the comments you left, etc.
As you can probably tell, all of this is a lot of data—enough for Google to track your experience with Google products. This can include your search results, ads, travel recommendations, and suggestions on where to eat, what to buy, and more.
Related: Tips and Tricks for Using Google Search More Effectively
Control Your Data With My Activity
Google makes it easy for you to stay in control of your data and manage it whenever you want.
Under My Activity, you can see and manage your activity stored in your Google history, including your search history, YouTube history, and location history. You can view your Google history, pause it, delete certain bits of it, or wipe it clean entirely if you'd like.
