How Chrome keeps your URL & search data private

To provide suggestions and search results more quickly, Chrome may preconnect to your default search engine in the background.

If the "Improve search suggestions" setting is enabled, when you focus or type in the address bar, Chrome sends data to your default search engine. As you type, the text is sent, along with your IP address and search information stored on your computer as "cookies," in order to provide suggestions to autocomplete your search queries. Additionally, if Google is your default search engine and the "Make searches and browsing better" setting is enabled, the current URL of the page you're viewing is sent to improve the relevance of these suggestions.

If the "Help improve Chrome's features and performance" setting is enabled, Chrome also sends data back to Google to improve the suggestion feature. When you select a suggestion, Chrome sends information about the selected suggestion such as whether it was a search or a URL, how many characters you typed before you selected it and its position in the list of results. The data sent doesn't include exactly what you type or the URL you select.

If your default search engine isn't Google, your requests for suggestions and search queries are logged under that search engine's privacy policy.

If you enter certain types of sensitive information in the address bar like passwords, local filenames, or HTTPS URLs with paths, Chrome detects it. If Chrome determines that what you entered may contain sensitive information, it doesn't send the entered text for autocomplete suggestions.

If you sync your browsing history to your Google Account, Google uses your browsing history to provide relevant search suggestions to Chrome. If you delete a URL from your browsing history, it doesn't influence your personalized suggestions anymore. If you don't delete items in your browsing history, they're stored in your Google Account for up to one year based on your Google Account settings.

Change suggested web address and search settings

To control whether what you type is sent to your default search engine:

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, select More Settings You and Google.
3. Select Sync and Google services.
4. Turn Improve search suggestions on or off.

Tip: Even when this setting is turned off, Chrome may still offer suggestions based on your local search and browsing history. You can manage your search history in your search engine's settings. Learn how to manage your Chrome browsing history settings.