Google has begun notifying users of significant changes to how they manage their search history and personalization settings. The tech giant is moving away from the consolidated ‘Web & App Activity’ framework, opting instead to provide more granular control through two distinct new settings: ‘Search services history’ and ‘Personalized Recommendations.’
Transitioning to a New Management System
Previously, Google users managed their search behaviors under the umbrella of ‘Web & App Activity.’ This broad setting controlled everything from location history to search queries. With this update, Google is decoupling these features to offer users better transparency and control.
Starting in the next few days, users will find:
- Search services history: Dedicated to tracking and revisiting past search queries.
- Personalized Recommendations: A focused toggle to decide whether search results should be tailored to individual user habits.
How Your Data Transitions
Google has assured users that their current privacy preferences will be honored during this transition. If your ‘Web & App Activity’ was enabled, your new settings will default to ‘on.’ Conversely, if you had previously opted out, these new settings will remain disabled. Crucially, any future modifications to one setting will no longer affect the other, providing a clearer distinction between history storage and personalization features.
Expanded Media and AI Integration
One of the most notable aspects of this update is how Google handles media files. The new ‘Search services history’ will now include visual and audio data, such as images, files, and recordings from Google Lens or voice-based ‘Search Live’ conversations. Google states that this data is utilized to enhance product functionality and train AI models, though it emphasizes that users can delete individual items or turn off the ‘Save media’ subsetting entirely.
Privacy and Control
Auto-delete preferences previously configured for ‘Web & App Activity’ will carry over to the new system, ensuring that existing privacy safeguards remain in place. As always, Google encourages users to review their Google Account settings frequently to manage how their data is stored, processed, and used for personalized experiences.