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How to clear search history?

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I tried using the "Clear Recent History" option, but when I type anything in the Search Box field Firefox still offers past search phrases/words. The list is becoming quite long and I'd like to clear it.

I tried using the "Clear Recent History" option, but when I type anything in the Search Box field Firefox still offers past search phrases/words. The list is becoming quite long and I'd like to clear it.

All Replies (7)

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Hi Eiffel, in the "Clear Recent History" dialog, there is a details panel that lists various categories of data to clear or not clear. Could you expand that and make sure "Search & Form History" is selected? Screen shot illustration attached.

Does that work?

If not, what (search) box is it, exactly, that you're using?

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Thnx jscher2000,

Yes, "Search and Form History" box was c;checked as well as Time Range "Everything". The other boxes that were checked (i.e Cache) did clear, but when I enter a letter in the search box numerous related past search words/phrases are still offered.

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Hello there,

This issue could be caused by add-ons / extensions installed in your browser.

Can you disable the add-ons and see if that solves the issue. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/disable-or-remove-add-ons

1. Click the menu button and choose Add-ons. 2. In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the Extensions or Appearance panel. 3. Select the add-on you wish to disable. 4. Click its Disable button. 5. Click Restart now if it pops up. Your tabs will be saved and restored after the restart.

If the above doesn't work then please see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1010211

Give those steps a try and keep us posted.

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Hi Eiffel, which search box?

By default, Firefox's "search bar" (the dedicated search box on the main toolbar) will show suggestions from your preferred search engine. If there are suggestions based on your history, those have a little clock icon next to them so you can distinguish them.

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Use these steps to remove saved (form) data from a drop-down list:

  1. click the (empty) input field on the web page to open the drop-down list
  2. highlight an entry in the drop-down list with the mouse or cursor Down key
    do not click the mouse or press the Enter key
  3. press the Delete key (on Mac: Shift+Delete) to delete the highlighted entry

Make sure you do not get confused by "Search suggestions".

The "Search Suggestions" are not your search history. The search suggestions are loaded in real time by querying the (Google) search engine site based on what you typed so far in the search bar.

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Thnx again jscher2000,

I've tried this before. Doesn't work. I've deleted each suggested (hi-lited) entry, but after deleting all of them if I return and re-enter any letter or word in the search box the history suggestions still remain. These are not Google Search suggestions - they are definitely historical items I've entered in the past. Is there a file somewhere in Firefox that can be purged???

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Try to rename/remove the formhistory.sqlite file in the Firefox profile folder.

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder: