Google Home is tremendously convenient, giving you the ability to know what's going on in your day, listen to the latest news reports, or pick up some music just by issuing a few simple voice commands.
But being Google, all data from your questions hangs from your account for analysis and processing. The premise, as with most Google services, is that the company uses that information to provide better services. While it may seem a little disconcerting, this means that every recorded instance of you talking to the Google Assistant Google Assistant is coming to more smartphones Google Assistant is coming to smartphones More Google is starting to expand Google Assistant to more smartphones . Unfortunately, most Android phones are not included in this initial release due to fragmentation. Read More
Fortunately, you're not locked out of being able to access or even delete all your saved voice commands The Master List of "OK, Google" Commands The Master List of "OK, Google" Commands Google now has a bunch of useful Commands, but how do you keep track of all of them? Here's a master list, organized by category, so you can control Google to your heart's content. Read more . At any time, you can go back and listen to them, see what voice interactions you had, and then delete them if you wish. The controls are there, so it's just a matter of knowing where to go to start reviewing all the data.
It can be a little disconcerting to think about all the things you've asked Google Home for that are now part of your search history. Maybe you just want to take a look at everything that is part of your story out of curiosity. Or maybe there are some things you'd rather not include in Google's algorithm. Whatever the reason, it only takes a few steps to remove the questions or commands you've given to Google's home page.
The place to adjust your search history is Google's My Activity page. It is available on the web and is mobile friendly so you can access all this information from a mobile device as well.
To view only Google Home activity, click or tap Assistant From the list of available services. This will stop all interactions you've had with Google Assistant.
Note that this page will also include any use of the Google Assistant from an Android smartphone, such as Google Pixel itself Get the New Google Pixel Features on any phone Get the New Google Pixel Features on any phone Want the features of Google Pixel without buying? a new phone? We got you. Read more.
There's currently no way to limit your Assistant's interactions to just Google Home, so pay attention to the details of each interaction.
You can then select one of your interactions. They will often be grouped together if they occurred in a short period of time. Click the arrow next to the grouping to see the individual elements. push Play to hear what was recorded when you spoke to your Google home page. If you don't want this to hang up, press the overflow menu key (three vertical buttons) and select Delete .
You can browse your timeline to hear or see other times you've taken an action with the Google Assistant. After listening, you can choose to leave the useful recordings or delete the ones you don't want to keep.
Maybe you just want to wash your entire story. Maybe you asked a few questions that you'd rather not be on your Google account, or you just want to stop seeing certain topics that appear in your Google feed.
This can also be a useful feature after a friend or family member asked Google a bunch of questions that completely messed up their algorithm.
This command is also found on the Google My Activity site. Once you've filtered by products and services (as above), select the overflow menu and choose Delete results . This will remove all questions you've asked and any other interactions with Google Assistant.
Keep in mind that doing so will affect how other Google services 7 Free Google Services That Cost You Battery Life and Privacy 7 Free Google Services That Cost You Battery Life and Privacy Here's what to tell you about how to protect your privacy and conserve battery life while using an Android device. Read More But for many users, losing some of this convenience is a small price to pay for improving their online privacy.
Of course, part of the idea behind a device like Google Home is that the search giant will be able to offer you a better experience across multiple products by using this information. For example, if you ask a frequently asked question on Google Home like, “When is the next Golden State Warriors game?,” you'll start seeing Warriors scores in your Google app. 5 New Google apps and features that will surprise you. 5 New Google apps and features that will surprise you. Google has been on a roll lately. The internet giant has released more new apps and features to make life easier for its users. Let's discover some of the best. Read more.
It's not a short read, but Google's privacy policy might be the next place to head if you want to better understand how Google uses the information you give to your Google Home. For some people, the convenience of these automatic suggestions is worth the trade-offs in privacy.
If you have a Google Home page, there are good reasons to partner with Google and keep asking and storing all your questions.
Google's goal is to build a "personal Google" just for you. Even though it sounds a bit awkward, you can't get to AI paradise without providing some information. In return, your searches and questions get more personalized answers over time.
As long as you agree to the privacy policy and know what you're getting into, you may want to leave your search history untouched, no matter the topic. This can help your Google Home know as much as possible about you, allowing you to streamline services and features that are simply impossible with privacy protections intact.
As ominous as it sounds, we're entering a bold new world where your information can offer you some very interesting experiences. But it's wise to understand exactly what you're getting into.
Fortunately, Google Home includes a system that allows you to dig in and take action if there's some data you don't want out there. A moderate approach is probably your best bet:keep truly identifying or embarrassing information private, while leaving daily requests untouched.
Do you actively monitor and delete past interactions with your Google Home account? Let us know what works best for you in the comments.
