MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 15 (San Francisco News Online) — Google is rolling out a new Search-related privacy control called Search Services History. The setting decides whether Google saves activity from its Search services when someone is signed in to a Google Account.
For many users, that can mean more than typed search terms. Google’s documentation says Search Services History can include Google Lens images, voice search recordings, Search Live recordings and transcripts, Translate speaking-practice audio, uploaded files and other activity information.
What the new setting does
Google says Search Services History is a separate control from Web & App Activity. In other words, Google is splitting some search-related data controls into different settings instead of keeping them under one switch.
Google also says there is a Save Media sub-setting under Search Services History. When Save Media is turned on, Google can save media from Search services interactions.
The company says saved media may be used to develop and improve Google services and technologies, including AI models and safety measures.
Why people are paying attention
The change matters because it affects media people may not think of as “search history.” That can include images used in Google Lens, audio from voice searches, and files uploaded into search-style tools.
Google’s documentation says the feature applies across several services, including Search, Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, News, AI Mode and Ask Maps threads with file uploads.
Google also says Google Photos is excluded from this control. The setting appears to cover media actively shared through Search and related tools, not personal photos kept in a photo library.
Is it on by default?
Google’s rollout is gradual, so not every account will see the new control right away. Google says some users may still be on older settings while the change continues to reach accounts.
During that transition, Google says Web & App Activity may still control some Search services history until the new setting arrives.
How to turn it off
Google says users can review the setting in My Activity. From there, they can turn off Search Services History or uncheck Save Media.
That is the key point for users who do not want Google to keep search-related media for possible use in improving Google services.
What happens to media already saved
Turning off Save Media does not automatically delete media that was already saved, according to Google’s documentation.
Google also says media that has already been selected for AI model training is no longer connected to the account and may be kept for up to four years.
That means the switch can stop future saving, but it does not erase past data by itself. Users who want old saved media removed would need to delete it from the account.
The bottom line
Search Services History is Google’s new way to control whether search-related media is stored with a signed-in account. The setting covers more than search text, and Google says some of that saved material may help improve AI systems.
For users who want tighter privacy controls, the practical step is to check My Activity, review Search Services History and Save Media, and turn them off if they do not want Google to keep that material.
