my activity.google.com That’s because it does—and it keeps a detailed log of almost everything you do online through its platforms. From your Google searches to YouTube views, from Maps directions to Assistant commands, every interaction is tracked, stored, and categorized. The central hub where all this data lives is my activity.google.com.
It might sound overwhelming, but here’s the deal: Google isn’t hiding this from you. In fact, it provides full access to your history and even gives you the tools to control, delete, or pause tracking. The problem?
This guide breaks down exactly what Google My Activity is, how to access it, what it’s tracking, and how you can take back control of your personal data.
What Is my activity.google.com?
The Purpose Behind Google Activity Tracking
my activity.google.com is a dashboard where Google shows you a detailed history of how you’ve used its products and services. Think of it as a private diary—one that logs every Google search, voice command, video viewed, and place visited (if location tracking is on).
Google collects this information to:
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Improve search results and app performance
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Personalize your experience across devices
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Serve you more relevant ads
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Learn your habits to recommend content, routes, and more
It’s part convenience, part marketing—but it’s also a huge repository of your digital footprint.
How It Works Across Devices
The tracking is synced to your Google Account, not just your device. So if you’re logged into your account on multiple devices—like your phone, laptop, tablet, or smart TV—Google will consolidate activity across all of them. That means a YouTube search from your smart TV and a Maps search on your phone both show up in one place: my activity.google.com.
This synchronization makes Google services feel seamless. But it also raises serious questions about privacy and transparency, which is why understanding how to manage this data is crucial.
my activity.google.com Types of Data Collected by Google
Search History and Web Activity
Every time you Google something, click a result, or interact with a product using your Google account, it’s logged. This includes:
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Search terms you used
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Sites you visited via Google
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Interactions with Google Discover
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Activity within Google apps
Google labels this data as “Web & App Activity”, and it’s one of the most comprehensive logs of your online behavior.
YouTube Watch and Search History
Google also keeps a record of:
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Every video you’ve watched on YouTube
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Your search queries on YouTube
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Videos you’ve liked, shared, or commented on
This helps Google recommend videos based on your interests, but it also creates a profile of your viewing preferences, which could be accessed if your account isn’t secure.
Location History and Maps Usage
If you’ve ever used Google Maps or allowed your phone to track your location, then you’ve likely got a full location history timeline waiting for you.
This includes:
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Routes taken and places visited
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Times and dates of visits
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Duration of stays at locations
Google Maps even uses this to recommend restaurants, alert you to traffic, and tell you where you parked—but it also builds a map of your daily habits.
Google Assistant and Voice Interactions
Spoken commands and questions asked via Google Assistant are also stored—sometimes including the actual voice recordings. These can be played back, transcribed, and deleted if needed.
Examples include:
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“Hey Google, what’s the weather?”
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“Play jazz music on Spotify.”
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“Set a reminder for 3 PM.”
This voice data improves Assistant accuracy but is another layer of personal information you might not want stored long-term.
How to Access my activity.google.com
Logging In and Navigating the Dashboard
To access your activity:
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Go to https://my activity.google.com
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Log in using your Google account credentials
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Once inside, you’ll see a timeline of your activity sorted by day, time, and product
The home screen displays entries like “You watched a video on YouTube” or “You searched for X on Google.” You can filter this data by:
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Date range
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Google product (Maps, Search, YouTube, etc.)
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Keyword
It’s shockingly detailed—but also easy to search and manage.
Understanding Your Activity Timeline
The timeline breaks down into:
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Bundle View: Groups related actions (e.g., all search queries within a few minutes)
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Item View: Individual actions with full timestamp details
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Product View: See what you’ve done on each Google service
Each entry can be clicked to view more details or deleted individually. You’ll also see options to delete by topic or product, making it easier to clear data in bulk.