How to Clear Keyboard History on Android

This guide shows you how to clear the learned words, autocorrect data, and typing history stored by your Android keyboard. You’ll also learn how to clear the search history inside the keyboard’s own search bar, if your keyboard has one. You only need your Android phone or tablet and a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

Your Android device (phone or tablet)
Access to the Settings app (the gear icon)
If you use a third-party keyboard (like Gboard, SwiftKey, or Samsung Keyboard), make sure it’s installed and set as your active keyboard

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Find the Settings app on your home screen or in the app drawer. It usually looks like a gear or cog icon.
Go to System settings. Scroll down and tap System (on some devices, this might be called General Management or simply Language & Input). If you don’t see “System,” look for “Language & Input” directly.
Tap “Language & Input.” This section manages everything related to typing, including your keyboard settings.
Select “On-screen keyboard.” You’ll see a list of keyboards you have installed. Tap On-screen keyboard (or Virtual keyboard).
Choose your active keyboard. Tap the keyboard you are currently using, such as Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, or SwiftKey.
Find the “Dictionary” or “Text Correction” settings. Look for an option called Dictionary, Text Correction, Smart Compose, or Typing. The exact name varies by keyboard.
Clear the learned words. Inside that menu, look for “Clear learned words”, “Clear personal dictionary”, or “Reset dictionary.” Tap it.
Confirm the action. A pop-up will ask if you’re sure. Tap OK or Clear to confirm. This removes all the words you’ve typed that the keyboard has learned.
If your keyboard has a search bar, clear its history. Open the keyboard in any app (like Messages or Chrome). Tap the search icon or the “G” logo (for Gboard) to open the search bar. Look for a clock icon or a history icon. Tap it, then tap the three-dot menu and select Clear history.
Restart the keyboard (optional). To make sure everything resets, you can close and reopen any app that uses the keyboard, or restart your phone. This isn’t always necessary, but it can help.

Common Mistakes

Clearing the wrong keyboard. If you have multiple keyboards installed, you might clear the dictionary of one you aren’t using. Make sure you select the one that is actually active when you type.
Forgetting the keyboard’s own search history. Many people clear the learned words but forget that the keyboard’s built-in search (like Gboard’s Google search) has its own history. That history is stored separately and needs to be cleared from within the keyboard’s search interface.
Assuming “Clear data” in app settings is the same. Going to Settings > Apps > [Keyboard] > Storage > Clear Data will reset the keyboard entirely, but it also removes your settings, themes, and layouts. It’s a heavy-handed approach. Use the in-keyboard dictionary reset instead.
Not checking if autocorrect is still learning. After clearing, the keyboard will start learning new words again. If you want to stop it from learning, you need to turn off “Personalized suggestions” or “Learn from my typing” in the same settings menu.

Tips

Use the “Personal dictionary” to add words you want to keep. If you have words that you frequently type (like your name or a technical term), add them to the personal dictionary after clearing. That way, the keyboard won’t have to learn them from scratch.
Turn off “Learn from my typing” if you want privacy. If you don’t want the keyboard to store any new words, go to the same settings and disable options like “Improve suggestions” or “Learn from my typing.” This prevents future history from being saved.
Clear both learned words and search history regularly. If you share your phone, make it a habit to clear both after a long typing session.
For Samsung Keyboard, look for “Reset settings.” On Samsung devices, you might find “Reset settings” which clears the dictionary and also resets other keyboard preferences. Use it if you want a full clean slate.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the “Clear dictionary” option. The exact path varies by keyboard and Android version. Try searching in Settings for “dictionary” or “learned words.” If you still can’t find it, open the keyboard app’s own help section (often found in the keyboard’s settings menu).
Autocorrect still suggests old words. Sometimes the keyboard caches suggestions in memory. Force-stop the keyboard app: go to Settings > Apps > [Keyboard] > Force Stop. Then reopen any app that uses the keyboard. This clears the temporary cache.
The keyboard search history won’t clear. If you’re using Gboard, make sure you’re signed into the same Google account that you use for search. Sometimes the history is tied to your Google account and can be cleared from your Google Activity page (myactivity.google.com) under “Search history.”
After clearing, the keyboard is slow to learn common words. That’s normal. The keyboard has to start fresh. If you want to speed it up, type common words a few times and add them to your personal dictionary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will clearing keyboard history delete my saved passwords?
A: No. Keyboard history is only about words you’ve typed, not passwords. Passwords are stored in your password manager or Google account, not in the keyboard’s dictionary.

Q: Does clearing the dictionary affect my saved contacts or messages?
A: No. It only removes the words the keyboard has learned. Your contacts, messages, and other data are untouched.

Q: How often should I clear keyboard history?
A: There’s no fixed rule. If you notice autocorrect suggesting old words you no longer use, or if you’re concerned about privacy (especially on a shared device), it’s a good idea to clear it every few months.

Q: Will clearing the dictionary also clear my emoji shortcuts?
A: Usually yes, because emoji shortcuts are part of the learned words. If you have custom shortcuts, you may need to re-add them after clearing.

Q: Can I recover cleared keyboard history?
A: No. Once you confirm the clear, the learned words are gone permanently. There is no undo option.

Q: Does clearing the keyboard dictionary free up storage space?
A: The dictionary file is very small, so you won’t notice a significant change in storage. But it can help if the keyboard app is behaving oddly.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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