The Google Chrome browser on Android has a function to suggest search terms or websites as you type. Unfortunately this device sometimes proves capricious and can even in some cases infringe on your privacy. Here are some tips to help you remove certain search suggestions..
Clear specific URL suggestion in Google Chrome
The vast majority of Android smartphone owners hate entering text on the virtual keyboard of their device. Despite the progress made in recent years, most users feel more comfortable with a physical keyboard. Indeed the simple fact of typing a web address or a request in the bar of Google Chrome can quickly become very complicated.
To simplify navigation, the Chrome browser offers an automatic suggestion system allowing you to display search terms, applications, information (weather, stock market) and web addresses so that you don't have to type everything in. This technology is based on your browsing habits but also your favorites and regularly typed words..
Take a test by entering the first letters of the TechnoWikis site in the Chrome address bar. If you are one of our most loyal readers, the Google Chrome browser will suggest the web address of this site (prodigemobile.com) as you type. Note that the suggestion tool works quite similarly on a computer.
Today most Chrome users are so used to this autocomplete system that it would be very difficult to do without it. It should be said that this technology represents a very appreciable time saving in particular on smartphone..
Unfortunately it sometimes happens that the system offers inappropriate terms or websites, misspelled or when we no longer use. This affects browsing comfort, not to mention the frustration felt when Chrome suggests a phrase or keyword that doesn't match your search.
In these cases, the first thing to do is to remove the unwanted prediction. Rest assured, the operation presents no difficulty.
- Open Google Chrome browser
- Type in the address bar the first letters at the origin of the automatic suggestion
- Keep your finger pressed on the site title
- A pop-up window will appear on your phone screen and offer to delete the prediction
- Click on OK
Do not hesitate to clean up regularly and delete misspelled URLs or websites you would never return to. Unwanted autocomplete suggestions affect your convenience.
Clean up all the suggestions stored on your smartphone
Another more radical solution is to delete all the predictions saved in your phone memory. I do not recommend it. This may slow down your browsing on the Internet.
- Launch the Google Chrome app
- Press the Menu button
- Select the Confidentiality option
- Click on the option Clear browsing data
- Check the browsing history box
- Then finish by pressing the Clear data button
This method will erase the complete list of suggestions in the address bar as well as the complete history of the websites visited. It should therefore be used with caution. Note that all the tips presented above work on all smartphones with the Google browser.
Clean up search suggestions on a computer
What is true on mobile is also true on computer. When performing a search it is not uncommon to see an incorrect prediction appear in the list of suggestions in the address bar. Not to mention the websites visited late at night when everyone is asleep and that we would prefer not to appear in suggestion.
Whether you are on Windows, Mac or even Linux, it is possible to remove annoying addresses. Important detail, the procedure varies depending on the type of operating system used. In this example we will use a Windows PC.
- Type the first letters to bring up the suggestion to delete
- Highlight the term (blue) using the arrow keys on the keyboard
- Press the Shift and Delete keys simultaneously on your keyboard to clear the prediction
Disable autocomplete
Suggestions from Google Chrome can help you narrow down your search engine queries. The prediction service is generally activated by default on the browser. However, nothing prevents you from deactivating it.
- Launch Google Chrome on your computer
- Click on the menu button (three parallel lines)
- Select the Settings option
- Bring down the window
- Click on Show advanced settings
- Look in the list for the section Confidentiality and security
- Uncheck the box Use prediction service to complete the searches and URLs entered in the address bar
Now you just have to delete your browsing history to complete the operation. No suggestions will appear the next time you type the first letters of a query in the browser's address bar.