When it comes to our privacy, our browsing history can be a treasure trove of personal information. This is especially true for the App Store, which keeps a detailed log of every app you’ve ever downloaded, updated, or searched for. While this data can be useful for tracking your app usage and making personalized recommendations, it can also be a security risk if it falls into the wrong hands.
Fortunately, Apple makes it easy to delete your App Store history. In just a few simple steps, you can clear out your search history, download history, and update history. This will help protect your privacy and keep your personal information safe. So if you’re concerned about your App Store history, read on to learn how to delete it.
Deleting your App Store history is a simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes. However, it’s important to note that once you delete your history, it cannot be recovered. So before you proceed, make sure that you’re okay with permanently deleting this data. If you’re unsure, you can always back up your App Store history before you delete it.
Clearing Purchase History
The App Store maintains a record of every purchase you make, which can be useful for tracking your spending or retrieving apps you’ve downloaded in the past. However, if you’re concerned about privacy or simply want to clear out your history, it’s easy to do.
To clear your purchase history, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select “Purchased” from the menu.
- Tap on the “All” tab at the top of the screen.
- Find the purchase you want to delete and swipe left on it.
- Tap on the “Delete” button that appears.
You can also delete your entire purchase history by following these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select “Purchased” from the menu.
- Tap on the “Edit” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select “Delete All” from the menu that appears.
- Tap on the “Delete” button that appears.
Once you’ve deleted your purchase history, it will be permanently removed from your account. You won’t be able to recover deleted purchases, so be sure you’re okay with losing them before you delete them.
Removing Recently Viewed Apps
There are two ways to remove recently viewed apps from the App Store. The first method is to use the “Clear” button. To do this, open the App Store and tap on the “Updates” tab. Then, tap on the “Recently Updated” section and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will see a “Clear” button. Tap on this button to remove all of the recently viewed apps from the list.
The second method is to use the “Hide Purchases” feature. To do this, open the App Store and tap on the “Purchased” tab. Then, tap on the “My Purchases” section and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will see a “Hide Purchases” button. Tap on this button to hide all of the purchased apps from the list. You can also use the “Hide Purchases” feature to hide individual apps. To do this, tap on the app that you want to hide and then tap on the “Hide Purchase” button.
Removing Individual Recently Viewed Apps
To remove an individual recently viewed app, open the App Store and tap on the “Updates” tab. Then, tap on the “Recently Updated” section. Find the app that you want to remove and swipe left on it. You will see a “Delete” button. Tap on this button to remove the app from the list.
You can also remove individual recently viewed apps from the “Purchased” tab. To do this, open the App Store and tap on the “Purchased” tab. Then, tap on the “My Purchases” section. Find the app that you want to remove and swipe left on it. You will see a “Delete” button. Tap on this button to remove the app from the list.
Disabling App Suggestions in Search
If you’re tired of seeing app suggestions in your search results, you can easily disable them. Here’s how:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the “Search” tab.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap “Turn Off App Suggestions”.
You can also disable app suggestions in the Settings app:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “iTunes & App Store”.
- Toggle off the “App Suggestions” switch.
Advanced Customization Options
For even more control over your app suggestions, you can use the following advanced customization options:
Allow App Suggestions in Search
This option allows you to disable app suggestions in search results while still allowing them to appear in other areas of the App Store, such as the “For You” and “Trending” tabs.
Show App Suggestions from Developers
This option allows you to disable app suggestions from specific developers. This can be useful if you’re seeing suggestions from developers whose apps you’re not interested in.
Hide App Suggestions from Specific Apps
This option allows you to disable app suggestions from specific apps. This is useful if you’re seeing suggestions for apps that you don’t use or that you don’t want to appear in your search results.
To access these advanced customization options:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the “Account” icon in the upper-right corner.
- Tap “App Suggestions”.
- Toggle off the switches for the options you want to disable.
Deleting Search History
To clear your search history from the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap the “Search” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the “Clear” button next to the search bar.
- Confirm that you want to clear your search history by tapping “Clear History”.
Deleting Purchased History
To clear your purchased history from the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap the “Account” button in the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap the “Purchased” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap the “Edit” button in the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap the red “Delete” button next to the purchases you want to delete.
- Confirm that you want to delete the purchases by tapping “Delete”.
Deleting App Store App History
To clear your app history from the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap the “App Store” tab.
- Tap the “Clear History” button under the “History” section.
- Confirm that you want to clear your app history by tapping “Clear History”.
Deleting Siri App Store History
To clear your Siri App Store history, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap the “Siri & Search” tab.
- Tap the “App Store History” tab.
- Tap the “Clear History” button.
- Confirm that you want to clear your Siri App Store history by tapping “Clear History”.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Settings app. |
| 2 | Tap the “Siri & Search” tab. |
| 3 | Tap the “App Store History” tab. |
| 4 |
There are two options to clear your Siri App Store history: |
| 5 | Confirm that you want to clear your Siri App Store history by tapping “Clear History”. |
Hiding Purchased Apps
Once you’ve downloaded and installed apps on your iOS device, they can be accessed from your App Library or from within the App Store. While it’s convenient to have a list of your apps always available, there may be times when you want to hide certain apps from view. This could be for various reasons, such as wanting to keep your app library organized or to prevent others from seeing what apps you have installed.
There are a few different ways to hide purchased apps on your iOS device. Here are the steps for each method:
Method 1: Hide apps from the App Library
1. Open the App Library by swiping left on the Home screen.
2. Tap and hold on the app that you want to hide.
3. Tap on the “Hide App” button.
Method 2: Hide apps from the App Store
1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap on “Purchased”.
4. Tap on the “Not on this iPhone” tab.
5. Find the app that you want to hide and swipe left on it.
6. Tap on the “Hide” button.
Method 3: Use Screen Time to hide apps
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on “Screen Time”.
3. Tap on “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
4. Tap on “Purchased Apps”.
5. Tap on the “Don’t Allow” button.
Once you have hidden an app using any of these methods, it will no longer be visible in your App Library or in the App Store. However, you can still access the app by searching for it in the Spotlight search bar.
Using the Privacy Settings
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on "Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases."
3. Tap on "Media & Purchases."
4. Tap on "View Account."
5. Tap on "Purchase History."
6. Clear Your Purchase History
To clear your purchase history, follow these steps:
- Tap on the "Clear" button next to "Purchase History."
- Confirm that you want to clear your purchase history by tapping on the "Clear Purchase History" button.
- Your purchase history will now be cleared.
Note: Clearing your purchase history will not delete any of the apps or content that you have downloaded from the App Store
.
Resetting App Store Preferences
If the above methods do not resolve the issue, you can try resetting the App Store preferences. Follow these steps:
- Close the App Store.
- Navigate to ~/Library/Preferences.
- Find the file named com.apple.appstore.plist.
- Move the file to the Trash.
- Restart the App Store.
This will reset the App Store to its default settings, including clearing the purchase history. Note that this will not delete any apps that you have purchased or downloaded.
Additional Information
Here are some additional tips for resetting the App Store preferences:
- If you are unable to locate the com.apple.appstore.plist file, you can use the Finder search function to find it.
- You can also reset the App Store preferences using Terminal. To do this, open Terminal and enter the following command:
| Command |
|---|
| defaults delete com.apple.appstore |
Press Enter and then restart the App Store.
Deleting App Cache and Data
Clearing cached data from apps can help free up storage space and potentially improve app performance. Here’s how to do it:
1. Find the App Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap on the app you want to clear the cache for.
2. Navigate to App Info
In the app’s settings, scroll down to the “Storage” section and tap on “App Info.”
3. Check Storage Usage
This will show you how much space the app is taking up on your device, including the cache size.
4. Clear App Cache
Tap on “Clear Cache” to remove all cached data from the app. Note that this will not delete any user data, such as documents or settings.
5. Confirm Deletion
A confirmation dialog box will appear. Tap on “Clear Cache” again to confirm the deletion.
6. Repeat for Other Apps
If needed, repeat these steps for any other apps that you want to clear the cache for.
7. Check App Size
Go back to the app’s “Storage” section to verify that the cache size has been reduced.
8. Important Considerations
| Consideration | Details |
|---|---|
| Data Loss | Clearing the cache will not delete any user data, but it may reset app preferences or saved settings. |
| App Functionality | Some apps may not function properly without a cache, so it’s recommended to only clear the cache if absolutely necessary. |
| Repeated Caching | Apps may accumulate cached data over time, so you may need to repeat these steps periodically to maintain optimal performance. |
Using Third-Party History Cleaners
For a more comprehensive and customizable solution to delete history from the App Store, you can utilize third-party history cleaner apps. These apps provide a range of features and tools specifically engineered for this purpose. Here’s how to use them:
1. Choose a Suitable App
There are numerous third-party history cleaner apps available, both free and paid. Research and select an app that meets your preferences and needs. Some popular options include App Cleaner & Uninstaller, MacKeeper, and CleanMyMac X.
2. Download and Install
Once you’ve chosen an app, download it from a reputable source and follow the installation instructions.
3. Scan Your App Store History
Once installed, open the history cleaner app and initiate a scan of your App Store history. The app will typically categorize and display your history, including apps you’ve downloaded, viewed, or searched for.
4. Select Items to Delete
Review the history and select the items you want to delete. You can choose to delete specific apps, search terms, or entire categories.
5. Preview Before Deleting
Some apps offer a preview feature that lets you review the selected history items before deleting them. This allows you to ensure that you’re not accidentally removing anything you wish to keep.
6. Confirm Deletion
Once you’re satisfied with your selections, click the delete or confirm button to permanently remove the history items from your App Store.
7. Repeat as Needed
You can use third-party history cleaner apps as often as you need to maintain your privacy and clear your App Store history.
8. Additional Features
Many third-party history cleaner apps offer additional features, such as:
- Scheduling regular scans and deletions
- Providing insights into your App Store activity
- Optimizing your Mac’s performance by removing unnecessary files
9. Compatibility
Ensure that the third-party history cleaner app you choose is compatible with your version of macOS.
10. Advanced Customization
Some apps allow you to customize your cleaning preferences by setting specific parameters, such as excluding certain apps or search terms from being deleted.
How To Delete History From App Store
To delete your history from the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the “Updates” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the “Purchased” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “My Purchases” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “All” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “Edit” button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Tap on the red “Delete” button next to the apps you want to delete from your history.
- Tap on the “Done” button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
People Also Ask About How To Delete History From App Store
How do I delete my search history on the App Store?
To delete your search history on the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the “Search” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the “Clear” button next to the search bar.
How do I delete my purchase history on the App Store?
To delete your purchase history on the App Store, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the “Updates” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the “Purchased” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “My Purchases” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “All” tab at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “Edit” button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Tap on the red “Delete” button next to the apps you want to delete from your purchase history.
- Tap on the “Done” button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
