Google Adds New History and Personalisation Controls Across Search Services

Google is updating its settings to give users even more control over saved history and personalised recommendations across Google Search services, including Search, Maps, Shopping, Hotels, Flights, Translate and News. You'll see this change in your Google Account in the next few days.

A Major Update to Google Accounts

Google's this significant update to its account settings, giving users more control over how their search history and personalised recommendations are managed. The changes affect multiple services including Search, Maps, Shopping, Hotels, Flights, Translate, and News. These updates will appear in Google Accounts over the coming days.

Transition from Web & App Activity

Previously, history and personalisation were controlled through the Web & App Activity setting. Google is now introducing two distinct options: Search Services History and Personalised Recommendations. This separation allows users to revisit past searches, decide whether their experience should be personalised, and manage saved media such as images, audio, and video from interactions with tools like Lens or Search Live.

Search Services History Explained

Search Services History will store queries and interactions across Google’s search ecosystem. It also introduces a new “Save Media” subsetting, which retains files, images, and audio generated during searches. This feature supports interactive experiences such as revisiting Lens searches or continuing a live conversation about a song. Users can turn off this setting at any time or delete individual pieces of media.

Personalised Recommendations

The new Personalised Recommendations setting determines whether Google tailors search results based on past activity. When enabled, it can reorder results to highlight preferred formats, such as videos or shopping links. Importantly, users can toggle this feature on or off independently of their history settings.

Privacy and Auto-Delete Controls

Google has confirmed that existing auto-delete preferences from Web & App Activity will carry over to Search Services History. Users can continue to set custom retention periods, delete history manually, or disable saving altogether. The company emphasises that saved media and history are protected by robust privacy and security measures, and are also used to improve Google’s AI models and safety systems.

Impact on Users

For most users, the transition will be seamless. If Web & App Activity was previously enabled, the new settings will default to “on.” If it was disabled, the new settings will remain “off.” After the change, Web & App Activity and Search Services History will operate independently, ensuring that adjustments to one do not affect the other.

Managing Preferences

Users can manage these new settings directly from their Google Account under the Search Services History and Personalisation pages. This update reflects Google’s broader strategy to give users more transparency and control over their data while supporting evolving search behaviours, including visual and interactive queries.