The feature originally was announced during May’s Google i/O event as an additional option to Google Search’s auto-delete feature. You’ll be able to delete the last 15 minutes of your search history with a single tap from the Google Account Menu. Google said the feature is only available if you have the Google app for iOS, and that it will come to the Android app later this year. Other auto-delete controls Google announced on Thursday include the ability to choose to automatically delete your Search history after three, 18, or 36 months. It’s important to note that new accounts automatically delete after 18 months, but you can update these settings. Other search updates Google announced on Thursday include the ability to lock your My Activity page behind an extra sign-in page. This feature is especially handy if you share a device with someone else, such as your kids, so others won’t have access to what you’ve been searching for on Google. Google’s push to prioritize privacy this year also includes other recent updates like a new safety section within Google Play to provide more transparency into the data that apps collect and share. The tech giant said the new safety section will make developers disclose what information is collected and stored within their apps and how that data is used (i.e., for app functionality or personalization). Earlier this year, Google also introduced a new app policy restricting “broad app visibility” to specific apps to provide more security for Android users. Experts say this means that apps will have a harder time getting access to information from the other apps on your phone, increasing your phone’s security.
