Why Does Instagram Save Searches?
Instagram saves searches to provide quick access to things you recently searched for—accounts, hashtags, places, etc. Also, Instagram curates personalized ads and suggestions based on your searches, activities, and interactions on the app. If you use your Instagram search bar in front of a friend or a colleague, they might see your search history. Clearing your Instagram searches eliminates the chances of that happening. Likewise, doing so might reduce the number of search-based personalized ads you receive.
Why Clear Instagram Search Suggestions?
Your search suggestions or history can quickly turn into a threat to your privacy. For example, when someone else accesses your Instagram search and sees the entire list of the profiles you’ve recently visited on the Instagram app. Deleting your search history clears the “Search” tab and performs an Instagram search suggestions reset.
How to Clear Instagram Search History and Suggestions on Mobile
Follow the step-by-step guide below to delete your search data stored on Instagram. The instructions also apply to the Android and iOS Instagram applications.
How to Clear Individual Search Suggestions
You can remove individual search suggestions from Instagram instead of erasing your entire search history. Here’s how:
You can use the same method to remove tags and places from your IG search suggestions.
How to Clear Your Entire Instagram Search History
Follow these steps to clear all previous searches made on Instagram.
How to Clear Instagram Search Suggestions and History on Web
If you use Instagram on your desktop, you can clear your search history and suggestions through a web browser. As with the mobile app, you can remove an individual item from your recent searches or clear your entire search history. Here’s how to clear Instagram’s search suggestions on the web.
Clear Instagram Searches in the Search Tab
Clear Instagram Search History in Your Account Settings Menu
Here’s an alternative way to clear IG search suggestions and history on the web app.
As mentioned earlier, Instagram auto-deletes your search history after 30 days. You can change the “Auto clear search history” schedule to make Instagram delete your search history at an earlier date or timeframe. This will save you the stress of manual deletion.
How to Block Suggested Accounts on Instagram
Instagram may suggest certain accounts even after you’ve cleared them from your search history multiple times. When you start typing something in the search bar, Instagram immediately suggests an account you had previously searched for. Blocking and unblocking the person/account can stop this from occurring.
Now, when you search on Instagram, the app won’t suggest the account you just blocked and unblocked. Note that this method only works with accounts you don’t already follow.
Can’t Clear Instagram Search History/Suggestions? Try These Fixes
Sometimes the data and cache that Instagram stores won’t allow you to remove the search suggestions from your Instagram account altogether. Try the following fixes if specific search suggestions reappear in your search no matter how many times you remove them.
1. Force Close and Reopen Instagram
Close the Instagram app if it’s malfunctioning or won’t clear search suggestions and history. If you use an Android phone, consider force-stopping Instagram.
Relaunch Instagram and check if you can clear your search history. If the issue persists, delete Instagram’s cache date.
2. Clear Instagram Cache and Data
Corrupt cache data (also called temporary files) can cause issues with Android applications. Clearing Instagram’s cache data can get it working correctly again.
3. Update or Reinstall Instagram
Updates to the Instagram app can fix bugs that cause malfunctions. Check your device’s app store and update Instagram to the latest version. If you still can’t clear your search suggestions/history, delete and reinstall Instagram. Long-press the Instagram app on your phone and tap Uninstall/Remove (Android) or Delete App (iPhone). Reinstall the latest Instagram version, sign in to your account, and retry clearing your search suggestions/history.
Keep Your Instagram Search History Away from Prying Eyes
Your search history is linked to your account, not your device. When you clear your search data, Instagram syncs the deletion across devices connected to your account. Say you use Instagram on an iPhone and Android device. Deleting your search history on the iPhone also clears the search history on your Android phone. Instagram repopulates the Search page as you make newer searches. Ensure you occasionally clear your search history to prevent other people from seeing what you search for on Instagram.
