Ever typed “my activity” to find out what Google remembers about you? You’re not alone. This guide shows you exactly what My Activity is, how it works behind the scenes, and the practical steps to take control—whether you want smarter suggestions or a leaner digital footprint. You’ll learn the pros and cons, common examples, NZ-specific privacy tips, and quick fixes you can do in minutes.
What is
My Activity is Google’s dashboard that shows the actions linked to your signed-in account—searches, YouTube views, voice commands, app use, and, if enabled, where you’ve been. Think of it as a logbook of your interactions with Google services.
You can visit it at myactivity.google.com when signed in. From there, you can review entries, delete them, set auto-delete, pause certain types of tracking, and download your data. In short: My Activity lets you see and manage what Google stores about your activity.
For New Zealanders, My Activity also connects to your privacy rights. Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to access and request correction of personal information. Google provides tools to view, export, and delete data, which aligns with those rights.
How it works
When you’re signed in to your Google account, your interactions with Google services can be saved to My Activity, depending on your settings. The main controls are:
- Web & App Activity: Searches, site visits via Google services, and activity in apps that use Google features
- Location History: Where you go with devices that share location
- YouTube History: Videos you watch and searches you make on YouTube
Google uses this information to personalise results—faster suggestions, more relevant search answers, better Maps routing, and YouTube recommendations. Data is tied to your account, not just one device, so it follows you across phone, tablet, and laptop.
You control what’s saved. You can pause activity types, delete entries, and set auto-delete to 3, 18, or 36 months (or keep until you remove it). Incognito mode in Chrome or private browsing reduces what’s saved to your device, but signed-in activity may still appear in My Activity unless the relevant tracking is paused.
What My Activity includes (in plain terms)
- Search and browsing through Google services (e.g., Google Search and Discover)
- YouTube plays, likes, and searches
- Google Assistant prompts and voice interactions
- Maps searches, routes, and visits if Location History is on
- App interactions where Google services are embedded
What it doesn’t include: content of private emails in Gmail or files in Drive shown as activity items (though metadata may inform features). Your browser history also exists separately on your device unless you sync it with your Google account.
Types / examples
Here are everyday examples of what can appear in My Activity, using Kiwi life as context:
- Google Search: “best surf spots near Raglan,” “Auckland to Wellington flights,” “GST calculator NZ”
- Maps: Driving to Te Papa in Wellington; checking the timetable around Britomart
- YouTube: Watching highlights from the All Blacks, or a tutorial on repairing a heat pump
- Assistant: “Hey Google, set a reminder for rates payment,” or “What’s the weather in Queenstown?”
- Web & App Activity: Reading news via Google Discover, using Google Lens to identify a native plant
Quick comparison of activity types
| Activity Control | What’s Saved | Why It’s Useful | Privacy Impact | Auto-Delete | Typical NZ Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web & App Activity | Searches, interactions in Google services, some app data | Faster results, smarter suggestions, better Assistant | Moderate: detailed interest/profile signals | Yes (3/18/36 months) | Quicker search for tradies, recipes, Consumer NZ reviews |
| Location History | Places you visit with signed-in devices | Timeline, commute predictions, improved local results | Higher: records movement over time | Yes (3/18/36 months) | Logging tramps, cafes, or petrol stops on a road trip |
| YouTube History | Videos watched, channels, searches | Tailored recommendations and resume watching | Moderate: reveals interests and habits | Yes (3/18/36 months) | Curating music mixes or DIY how-to playlists |
Pros and cons
Benefits of using my activity
- Better personalisation: search answers and YouTube suggestions that fit your interests
- Convenience: resume where you left off across devices
- Location insights: helpful travel timelines, local tips in Maps
- Transparency: see exactly what’s stored and remove it any time
- Control: pause features, set auto-delete, export data for your records
Downsides to consider
- Privacy exposure: detailed logs can feel intrusive if kept long-term
- Security risk if your account is compromised (mitigate with strong passwords and 2FA)
- Data accumulation: large histories can build up over years without auto-delete
- Shared devices: other users of the same signed-in account could see your activity
How to use or choose
Step-by-step: check and adjust my activity
- Go to myactivity.google.com and sign in.
- On the left, select “Activity controls.”
- Toggle on/off: Web & App Activity, Location History, YouTube History.
- Choose “Auto-delete” and set a timeframe (3, 18, or 36 months).
- Return to “My Activity” to review items by date or product.
- Use the search bar to find and delete specific entries.
- Select the three-dot menu beside an item to “Delete.”
- For bulk actions, choose “Delete” at the top and pick “Last hour,” “Last day,” or a custom range.
- Visit “Data & privacy” in your Google Account to manage ad personalisation and related settings.
- Enable two-factor authentication under “Security” to protect your account.
On your phone (quick pointers)
- Android: Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & privacy > History settings
- iPhone: Google app > profile photo > Manage your Google Account > Data & privacy
Choosing the right setup for you
- Privacy-first: Pause Location History and YouTube History; keep Web & App Activity with 3-month auto-delete.
- Balanced (recommended for most): Enable all three with 18-month auto-delete; review deletions quarterly.
- Max personalisation: Enable all three with 36-month auto-delete; use ad personalisation controls to tune what you see.
Extra controls that matter
- Ad personalisation: Decide which interests Google can use for ads. Turn off categories you dislike.
- Voice & Audio: Choose whether audio recordings improve voice recognition (available under Web & App Activity settings).
- Incognito: Reduces local traces, but check My Activity if you were signed in—some items may still appear unless paused.
- Download data: Use Google Takeout to export your My Activity logs for your own archive.
NZ-specific tips
- Your rights: Under the Privacy Act 2020, you can request access and correction of your personal information. My Activity and Google’s account tools help you exercise this.
- Complaints: If you have an unresolved privacy concern, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) in New Zealand.
- Schools and work: If you use a Google Workspace account managed by your organisation, some My Activity features may be controlled by your admin.
FAQ
Is my activity the same as browser history?
No. Browser history lives in your browser and may or may not sync to your Google account. My Activity is the record tied to your signed-in Google services. You can delete one without necessarily deleting the other.
Who can see the information in my activity?
You, when signed in. Google uses it to provide services and personalisation under its privacy policy. If someone gets access to your account or device where you’re signed in, they could see it—use a screen lock, strong password, and two-factor authentication.
What happens if I delete items from my activity?
They’re removed from your account view and will no longer be used for personalisation. Google may keep certain data for legal or operational reasons as described in its policies, but it won’t be linked to your account for personalisation.
Does incognito mode stop entries from appearing in my activity?
Incognito prevents the browser from saving local history and cookies after you close the session. If you’re signed in and have activity controls on, some interactions may still be saved to My Activity unless you pause those controls.
How do I stop location tracking?
Turn off Location History in Activity controls. Also check device-level settings for Location Services on your phone. You can delete past locations from the Timeline view in Google Maps or from My Activity by filtering for Location History.
How long does Google keep my activity?
You choose. Set auto-delete to 3, 18, or 36 months, or keep until you delete manually. Shorter windows reduce long-term data exposure while preserving some personalisation.
Can I download a copy of my activity?
Yes. Use Google Takeout, select “My Activity,” and export in a readable format (like JSON with HTML). Keep the file secure—it may contain sensitive details.
Will changing my activity affect ads?
Yes. Deleting history or turning off Web & App Activity and YouTube History can reduce ad personalisation. You can also manage ad topics directly in your Google Account’s Ad settings.
Is using my activity compliant with NZ privacy law?
Google provides tools for access, correction, and deletion, which support your rights under the Privacy Act 2020. Your data may be stored overseas. Review Google’s privacy policy and consider using auto-delete to limit retention.
What about children’s accounts?
For supervised accounts via Family Link, parents can manage certain settings, including some activity controls. Check the Family Link app for available options.
What if I use a work or school (Workspace) account?
Your admin may set policies that limit or control My Activity. Some data may be visible to your organisation. Use a personal account for private searches and YouTube viewing when appropriate.
Is “my activity” only for Google?
Many people search “my activity” to reach Google’s dashboard. Other platforms have similar tools, but this guide focuses on Google’s My Activity at myactivity.google.com.
Putting it all together
My Activity gives you a clear window into what your Google account remembers and the power to change it. If you value personalisation, keep it on and set auto-delete to 18 months. If you prefer minimal traces, pause Location History and trim the rest to three months. Either way, review your settings a few times a year and secure your account. Two minutes in My Activity can tidy years of digital footprints—and make tomorrow’s searches and maps work better for you.