While Facebook search suggestions or history makes our life easier, they also bring the risk of potential privacy breaches. Accumulated over time, the search history may reveal sensitive or outdated information. Thankfully, you can clear Facebook search suggestions, and here’s how to do it.

Facebook lets you do a lot of things from changing your profile picture without anyone knowing to create a restricted list. However, it doesn’t let you directly manage the search suggestions. You’ll have to change the tack and we’re gonna show you how that is done.
Clear Facebook Search Suggestions from iPhone or Android
Facebook uses your search history to show better search results and suggestions. So, to get rid of search suggestions, you’ll have to erase your Facebook search history. Now. there are four routes to clear Facebook search suggestions from your mobile, let’s explore them both.
Clear Your Recent Searches From Your Search Bar
Step 1: Launch the Facebook app.
Step 2: Tap the search bar from the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Here, a list of recent search suggestions will appear, tap See all to view all searches.

Step 4: Now, either,
- Tap X to clear a particular search, or
- Tap Clear All and then Clear All again to clear your Facebook search history.

Now your Facebook app will not offer you search suggestions for the removed item or anything (if you’ve erased the complete history).
Clear Facebook Search History From the Accounts Center
Step 1: Launch the Facebook app → tap the Menu icon from the bottom-right corner (iPhone/iPad), top-right corner (Android).
Step 2: Scroll down and select Settings & Privacy.

Step 3: Tap Settings from the menu.
Step 4: Next, tap ‘See more in Accounts Center’.

Step 5: Here select ‘Your information and permissions.’
Step 6: Tap Search history.

Step 7: You can either,
- Tap Clear all searches, or
- Select the account and tap X to clear the individual search.

Note: If your searches still appear after taking these steps, log out and log in to Facebook. Your searches will be cleared.
Delete a Search From Your Facebook Activity Log
Step 1: Launch Facebook → tap your profile picture from the top-right corner.
Step 2: Tap the three-dot icon under your profile.

Step 3: Select Activity log and then scroll down to Logged actions and other activity, and tap View logged actions.

Step 4: Tap Filters and select Categories.
Step 5: Select Search history.

Step 6: You can either,
- Delete all searches – Tap Clear searches at the top.
- Delete one search – Tap the three-dot icon next to it → Delete.

Alternatively, you can launch Facebook → three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) from the bottom-right corner (iPhone/iPad), top-right corner (Android) → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Privacy → Activity Log → Logged actions and other activity → Filter → Search History.
How to Automatically Delete Facebook Search History
Just like Well if you don’t want to manually remove Facebook search history ever again, you can schedule it to auto-delete.
Step 1: Open Facebook → menu (three-line) icon → Settings & Privacy.
Step 2: Select Settings and tap ‘See more in Accounts Center’.
Step 3: Next up, tap ‘Your information and permissions’ and then Search history.

Step 4: Tap Keep searches for.
Step 5: Select a preferred option and tap confirm.

Clear FB Search Suggestions on macOS or Desktop
If you like to use Facebook’s web version more than the mobile app, then the next section is for you. The great thing is that the overall process is similar to a mobile device and easy to follow.
Clear Your Recent Searches From Your Search Bar
Step 1: Open the browser of your choice, and log in to your Facebook account.
Step 2: Click the search bar from the top-left corner to view your recent searches.
Step 3: From the drop-down menu, click Edit.

Step 4: Here, you can
- Delete all searches – Click Clear searches at the top.
- Delete one search – Click the three-dot icon next to it → Delete.

Clear Search History From the Accounts Center
Step 1: Open the browser of your choice, and log in to your Facebook account.
Step 2: Click your profile picture from the top-right corner and click Settings and Privacy.
Step 3: Next click Settings.

Step 4: Select ‘See more in Accounts Center’.

Step 5: Click Your information and permissions and then search history.

Step 7: You can either,
- Click Clear all searches, or
- Select the account and click X to clear the individual search.

How to Automatically Delete FB Search History
Step 1: Open Facebook → Profile image → Settings & Privacy.
Step 2: Select Settings and click ‘See more in Accounts Center’.
Step 3: Click ‘Your information and permissions’ and then Search history.
Step 4: Click Keep searches for.
Step 5: Select a preferred option and click confirm.

How to Remove Suggested for You on Facebook
Suggested for You is a separate feature that employs the search history to give you suggestions of pages or people. And delete search history doesn’t really help you manage this feature. Although you can’t turn off the feature, you do have some choices in your hand.
On your iPhone
Open your Facebook app and scroll down to the Suggested for You post in your timeline. Tap the three-dot icon next to the post and select either of the following options,
- Show More – To see more suggested posts in your feed.
- Show less – To see lesser suggested posts in your feed.
- Hide Post – Stop seeing posts similar to the suggested post.
- Snooze (account name) for 30 days – Stop seeing posts from the account temporarily, i.e., for the next 30 days.
- Hide all from (account name) – Permanently block any post from this account.

- Manage Your Feed – To view and manage what posts show up on your feed.

On Web Browser
Log in to your FB account and find the Suggested for You post you want to manage. Click the three-dot icon next to it and select a preferred option.

Note: You can also remove someone from suggested on Facebook Messenger, click the link for detailed instructions.
FAQs About Removing Suggestions From Facebook
No, clearing search suggestions will not affect the autocomplete feature on Facebook. Regardless of the status of your search history, autocomplete will work based on your recent and frequent searches.
Unfortunately, Facebook does not provide an option to disable search suggestions entirely right now. Although, you can regularly clear your search history or automate it, to keep your search bar free from unwanted suggestions.
FB search history and in turn search suggestions are only visible to you. Erasing them would not impact your account settings, privacy, or profile information.
While FB’s algorithm might draw ideas from search suggestions, both features are managed separately. So, clearing your search suggestions does not affect the suggestions you see in your News Feed or other sections of Facebook.
Since FB’s search suggestions are based on your search history and activity, you can’t customize it per se. However, you can plan and engage with specific types of content or adjust ad preferences from settings to influence the types of suggestions.
Delete Facebook Search Suggestions for a Smoother Experience
Managing your Facebook search suggestions is not just essential for maintaining privacy, but also for keeping your FB clutter-free. Whether to remove your ex’s name from the list or hide the recipe you searched for, hope this article helped you to sort and personalize your Facebook experience.
If you face any issues or want some help, feel free to connect with us in the comments section below.
Last updated on 18 July, 2023
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