- How to see your link history on Instagram
- What gets saved and what doesn't
- How to turn link history on or off
- How to clear one link or all of them
- The ads trade-off you should know about
- Link history vs browsing data vs search history
- Other things you can change in Browser settings
- My advice
- Frequently asked questions
Instagram link history is a list of the websites you've opened in Instagram's in-app browser over the last 30 days. To see it, go to your profile, tap Menu, tap Your activity, then tap Link history. It's off by default, so if the list is empty you probably haven't switched it on.
Everything on this page comes from Instagram's own Help Centre articles on link history and browser settings, read as of October 2026. The feature lives in the Instagram app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Instagram says it isn't available on computers, so you won't find it on instagram.com.
The detail most people miss: links you open from chats aren't saved. Instagram's help page says links visited in chats are left out of link history. So if you're hunting for a website a friend sent you in a DM, link history won't have it, even when the feature is on. Scroll back through the chat instead.
How to see your link history on Instagram
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Below How you use Instagram, tap Your activity.
- Tap Link history.
- Scroll the list and tap any link to open that page again.
If you don't see Link history in Your activity, Instagram notes the feature is being introduced globally over time and may not be available in your location yet.
What gets saved and what doesn't
| Situation | Saved to link history? | What Instagram says |
|---|---|---|
| You tap a link inside Instagram and it opens in the in-app browser | Yes, if link history is on | Saved for 30 days |
| You open a link someone sent you in a chat | No | Links visited in chats aren't saved |
| Link history is switched off | No | Nothing is saved and it isn't used for ads |
| You're using Instagram on a computer | No | The feature isn't available on computers |
| A link is older than 30 days | No longer listed | The list covers the last 30 days |
How to turn link history on or off
The switch isn't in your main Settings. It sits inside the in-app browser, so you need to open a link first.
- Tap any link inside the Instagram app so it opens in Instagram's in-app browser.
- Tap Options in the top right, then tap Browser settings.
- To turn it on, tap the toggle next to Allow link history, then tap Allow.
- To turn it off, tap the toggle next to Allow link history, then tap Don't allow.
Turning it off does more than stop new links being saved. Instagram says it immediately clears your link history, so you'll lose the whole list straight away. Meta also says it may take up to 90 days to complete the deletion process on its side, so the list vanishing from your screen and the data being gone from Meta's systems aren't the same moment.
How to clear one link or all of them
You don't have to turn the feature off to tidy it up. Inside Your activity, then Link history, you've got two choices:
- Remove a single link: tap the icon to the right of the link, then tap Clear.
- Remove everything: tap Clear all in the top right, then tap Clear.
Once a link is cleared, you can't see it in link history again. You can also clear the whole list from Browser settings by tapping Clear link history, then Clear. Instagram's browser settings page says Enhanced browsing needs to be on for the link history settings to show there.
The ads trade-off you should know about
This is the part I'd want any client to understand before they switch it on. Instagram says that when link history is on, Meta may use link history information from the in-app browser to improve your ads across Meta technologies. When you turn it off, Meta says it won't save your link history or use it to improve your ads.
So the feature is a convenience with a cost. If you often lose track of a product page you tapped from an ad, having a 30-day list is handy. If you'd rather your browsing inside Instagram didn't feed your ad profile, leave it off. Neither choice is wrong. It just shouldn't be an accident.
Link history vs browsing data vs search history
These three get mixed up, and they live in different places:
| Type of history | Where you clear it | What it removes |
|---|---|---|
| Link history | Your activity, Link history, or Browser settings | The list of websites you opened in the in-app browser |
| Browsing data | Browser settings, Clear cookies and cache | Cookies, cache and storage data from sites you visited inside Instagram |
| Search history | Your recent searches on Instagram | What you've searched for inside the app |
If you're clearing up after a shared phone, you'll probably want all three. For search, here's how to clear your Instagram search history for good. If the app itself feels slow, clearing the Instagram cache is a different job again. And if you use Facebook too, it has its own version, which I cover in this guide to Facebook link history.
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Other things you can change in Browser settings
While you're in Browser settings, it's worth a quick look at the rest. Instagram lists these options:
- Clear cookies and cache, then confirm with Clear browsing data.
- Auto-fill contact forms and Auto-fill payment forms, each with its own toggle.
- Safe website browsing, which warns you when Instagram thinks a site may be trying to steal your information. I'd keep this one on.
If you use Instagram on a laptop, see Instagram on desktop.
My advice
If you shop or research from Instagram ads, turn link history on for a while and you'll stop losing pages you meant to come back to. Just check the list now and then and clear what you don't need. If privacy matters more to you than convenience, leave it off, because switching it off clears everything and stops Meta using it for ads. Either way, remember it never captures links from chats, so it won't help you find something a friend sent.
Related: history: guidelines and how to pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Where is link history on Instagram?
Go to your profile, tap Menu, tap Your activity, then tap Link history. It's only in the Instagram app for iPhone, iPad and Android, not on computers.
Why is my Instagram link history empty?
Link history is off by default, so nothing is saved until you turn it on. Links opened from chats are never saved, and the feature may not be available in your location yet.
How long does Instagram keep link history?
Instagram saves the websites you open in its in-app browser for 30 days.
Does turning off link history delete it?
Yes. Instagram says turning it off immediately clears your link history, and Meta may take up to 90 days to complete the deletion process.
Does Instagram use link history for ads?
When link history is on, Meta may use it to improve your ads across Meta technologies. When it's off, Meta says it won't save it or use it for ads.
