To clear recents on Snapchat, go to My Account, tap the gear icon to open Settings, scroll to App and Privacy, tap My Privacy and Data, tap Clear Data under Manage My Data, then tap Delete Search History and confirm. That wipes every past search, but Snapchat keeps logging new ones, so repeat it whenever you want a clean slate.
The recent searches list on Snapchat is handy until someone else looks at your phone, or you're fed up seeing the same names every time you tap the search bar. Snapchat doesn't call it Recents in the settings, which is why people struggle to find it. It's filed under search history, in the same menu as a handful of other things you can wipe.
How to clear your recent searches on Snapchat
- Open My Account and tap the gear icon to open Settings.
- Scroll down to App and Privacy and tap My Privacy and Data.
- Under Manage My Data, tap Clear Data.
- Tap Delete Search History and confirm.
Snapchat's help page is clear about the limit: deleting your search history removes all your past searches, but it won't stop future searches being logged. There's no setting to switch search history off, so you'll need to clear it again from time to time.
Everything else you can clear in the same menu
The Clear Data screen does more than search history. Snapchat lists all of these as things you can delete from there:
| Data you can clear | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Search History | Your past searches, the recent names and terms you see under search |
| Sticker Searches | What you've searched for in stickers |
| Scan History | Things you've scanned with the camera |
| Conversations | Clears conversations from your Chat feed |
| Contact Data | Contacts you've synced |
| Lenses | Lens data |
| Photoshoot Snaps | Snaps made with Photoshoot |
| Autofill | Saved autofill details |
| Shopping History | Shopping activity |
| My Cameo Selfie | The selfie used for Cameos |
| Top Locations | Places Snapchat lists as your top locations |
| Cache | Temporary files that help the app run faster |
If the recents that bother you are the stickers you've searched for, that's Sticker Searches, a separate item in the same list, so pick that one as well. Scan History is separate too, if you use the camera to scan things.
The labels in the second column are my plain-English reading of each item's name. The steps are the same for all of them: Settings, My Privacy and Data, Clear Data, then pick what you want gone.
Clearing recents is not the same as clearing cache
People often try Clear Cache first, expecting it to wipe the recent list. It's a different job. Snapchat says the cache holds data that helps the app run faster, and clearing it frees up storage or fixes some glitches. It won't delete your Memories, Snaps or Chats, and it isn't the same as deleting search history.
The menu path for cache differs slightly by phone:
| Phone | Clear Cache path |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings, My Privacy and Data, Clear Cache under Manage My Data, then Clear |
| Android | Settings, My Privacy and Data, Clear Data under Manage My Data, then Clear Cache, then Clear |
On an iPhone, Snapchat also lets you clear some individual caches separately instead of the whole cache at once.
Why recent people might still show up
Clearing search history removes the searches themselves. It doesn't change your friends list or your Chat feed, so the people you message most will still be near the top of Chat. If you're trying to tidy those, you're looking at a different tool: clearing a conversation from your feed, which I've covered in clearing a chat on Snapchat. And if you want to find someone again after wiping your searches, finding someone on Snapchat shows the search, Snapcode and contacts routes.
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Want to see what Snapchat has kept first?
Before you start wiping things, it's worth knowing you can request a copy of what Snapchat holds on your account. My guide to downloading your Snapchat data explains how, and what the download leaves out.
My verdict
Recents on Snapchat means search history, and the Delete Search History button in Clear Data is the one you want. It takes a few seconds, but it isn't a permanent off switch, so if privacy is the reason, make it a habit. Leave Clear Cache for when the app is slow or misbehaving, because it won't touch your recent searches.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear recents on Snapchat?
Open Settings from My Account, tap My Privacy and Data, tap Clear Data, then tap Delete Search History and confirm.
Does clearing search history on Snapchat stop it saving new searches?
No. Snapchat says deleting your search history removes past searches but won't keep future ones from being logged, so you need to repeat it.
Does clearing cache delete my Snapchat recents?
No. Clear Cache removes temporary app data and won't delete your Memories, Snaps or Chats. Recent searches are cleared with Delete Search History.
What else can I delete in Snapchat's Clear Data menu?
Conversations, Contact Data, Lenses, Photoshoot Snaps, Search History, Scan History, Sticker Searches, Autofill, Shopping History, My Cameo Selfie, Top Locations and Cache.
Will clearing search history remove people from my Chat feed?
No. It only removes your searches. Your friends list and Chat feed stay as they are.
