How to Clear Instagram Search Suggestions

Instagram’s search feature is indeed helpful for users.

Whether you want to search for a specific profile, post, location, or even reels, you can do that with the help of Instagram’s search bar.

But it also has a massive drawback that could potentially compromise your privacy.

If you hand over your phone or let anyone else use your Instagram profile, they will be able to see your past searches.

If your girlfriend or wife has access to your mobile phone or your Instagram profile, you’re screwed.

But don’t worry. We’re here for your rescue.

In this detailed guide, we will show you, how to clear Instagram search suggestions using two different methods.

We will also discuss what happens when you clear your search suggestions and why you should do it.

What Are Instagram Search Suggestions?

First, let’s understand what Instagram search suggestions actually are.

You probably already know what it is, but we have included this part to ensure we are on the same page and there is no confusion.

So, basically, Instagram search suggestions are a function that provides real-time search suggestions when you type something in the search tab based on your recent search history.

For example, let’s assume you have recently searched for “Soccer” on Instagram. 

Now, if you open the search section later on, it will show you the search term listed under the “Recents” section.

Even though the main goal of Instagram’s search suggestions function is to make search effortless, if anyone else has access to your device or profile, it could harm your privacy.

So, it’s better that you keep clearing your Instagram search suggestions regularly to avoid any privacy breaches.

How to Clear Instagram Search Suggestions

Clearing search suggestions on Instagram is extremely easy.

You can clear Instagram search suggestions by using two different methods. Let’s have a look at them one by one.

Method 1: Clear Instagram Search Suggestions Individually

So, the first and most basic method for clearing Instagram search suggestions is to remove them individually from the search bar.

Let’s understand how you can remove individual search suggestions:

Step 1. Open Instagram and tap on the “Search Icon.”

Under the “Recent” section, you can see all of the search terms or accounts you have recently searched on Instagram.

Step 2. Tap on the “X” (Cross) icon beside each search history to remove them instantly.

The only downside of this method is that if you want to delete all of your previous searches, you have to do so one by one. 

It’s also incredibly time-confusing if you have too many recent suggested searches.

But don’t worry, we have a better solution for that as well.

Method 2: Clear Instagram Search Suggestions in Bulk

Now, if you want to clear all of your Instagram search suggestions in one click, that’s also possible.

Here’s what you have to do to clear search history on Instagram:

Step 1. Open the Instagram app and head over to your profile.

Step 2. Tap on the “Three Lines” icon (also known as the Hamburger Menu) at the top right side of the screen. This will open up the Instagram settings page.

Step 3. Now, under the “How you use Instagram” section, tap on “Your Activity.”

Step 4. Scroll down and tap on “Recent Searches”. This page will show you all your recent searches on the platform.

Step 5. To remove them all in bulk, tap on the “Clear All” option and confirm your action.

This will remove all the search suggestions on your Instagram account in seconds. 

Unless you just want to remove a particular search suggestion, this method is better, more efficient, and time-saving than the earlier one.

What Happens When You Reset Instagram Search Suggestions?

Instagram generally stores your search history. This is an inbuilt mechanism that you can’t disable if you want to use Instagram.

But certainly, you can delete your search suggestions anytime you want without any restrictions.

When you reset Instagram search suggestions, all your recent search data gets deleted from the server. You can’t ever get access to that data and can’t undo the action.

Why Should You Remove Instagram Search Suggestions Regularly?

You should remove your Instagram search suggestions to protect your privacy and search history from getting revealed to others.

Especially if your device or profile is accessible to others, they can view what you have searched in the past.

I know it does not feel right if others can also get a sneak peek of your current state by looking at your search history.

That’s why it’s better to remove the search suggestions regularly to protect your search data from getting leaked.

Why Can’t I Delete Search Suggestions on Instagram?

If you’re unable to delete search suggestions on Instagram, it could be due to three major reasons:

• You have a poor internet connection.
• Your Instagram app has not been updated and is filled with glitches.
• Instagram is going through a server downtime.

If you have a poor internet connection, try switching to a better and faster one.

If your Instagram app is outdated, quickly update it from your App Store or Play Store.

If the issue is still unresolved, it’s likely a server downtime on Instagram’s end.

You can’t do much about it, so wait until Instagram fixes the issue on its own.

Conclusion

And that’s how to clear Instagram search suggestions quickly by following two different methods.

Whether you want to remove a particular search suggestion or reset your entire search history, Instagram allows you to do both.

If your device or Instagram account is accessible to others, you must regularly reset Instagram search suggestions to protect your privacy.