Auto History WipeHow to Clear History Automatically When You Close Your Browser
Written by Jem Jack · Published September 4, 2026
The most reliable privacy habit is the one you never have to think about. Setting your browser to clear history on exit means your browsing data wipes itself the moment you close the window — no menus, no remembering, no trail left behind. Here’s how to set it up in each browser, what it does and doesn’t cover, and how to get a complete clean-up.
Why “on exit” beats clearing by hand
Clearing manually only works if you remember to do it, and most people don’t. When it runs automatically on close, the browser does it for you every single session. It’s ideal for shared computers, work laptops, or anyone who just wants a consistently clean slate.
Clear cookies on exit in Chrome
Chrome has a built-in option, though it’s limited to cookies. Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies and turn on Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows. Note what this covers: cookies and site data only — not your full history or cache.
Clear on exit in Edge and Firefox
In Edge, go to Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data → Choose what to clear every time you close the browser — Edge actually lets you pick history, cache and cookies. In Firefox, open Settings → Privacy & Security → History → Use custom settings and tick Clear history when Firefox closes.
What each browser clears on close
| Browser | Clears on exit |
|---|---|
| Chrome (built-in) | Cookies & site data only |
| Edge (built-in) | History, cache, cookies — your choice |
| Firefox (built-in) | History, cookies, cache — your choice |
The gap in Chrome — and how to fill it
Chrome’s native option is handy but only covers cookies, leaving your history and cache behind. To close that gap you need a dedicated tool. Reasons people go beyond the built-in setting:
- They want history gone on close, not just cookies.
- They want the cache and downloads list cleared too.
- They want the same behaviour across every browser they use.
A complete clear-on-exit setup
Auto History Wipe can clear history, cache, cookies and downloads on startup or exit — filling the gap Chrome’s built-in option leaves. For the full walkthrough, see how to delete browsing history automatically.
Clear history on exit across all your devices
If you switch between a desktop, a laptop and a phone, remember that the “on close” setting lives in each browser separately — turning it on in one place doesn’t sync to the others. Set it up wherever you browse, and pick the same items each time so your behaviour stays consistent: history and cache everywhere, cookies where you’re happy to sign out. On a work or family machine this is especially worthwhile, because it guarantees nothing is left behind for the next person who sits down. Spend two minutes per device once, and every session on every device starts and ends clean — without a single manual step from then on.
Frequently asked questions
Can Chrome clear history on exit, not just cookies?
Not on its own — Chrome’s built-in “on close” option only clears cookies and site data. To wipe history and cache on exit too, you need an extension that adds that behaviour.
Will clear-on-exit sign me out of my sites?
If it clears cookies, yes — you’ll start each session signed out. Many people prefer that on a shared device; if not, clear history and cache but leave cookies.
Does clearing on exit slow down my browser?
No. The clean-up runs as you close the window, so you never notice it. The next session simply starts fresh.
Set this up once, and privacy stops being a chore — every time you close the window, the slate is wiped clean by itself.