Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Clearing AutoComplete entries

AutoComplete is a feature of Internet Explorer that remembers passwords and other data you've entered in the past. When you go to a Web site with a remembered password, it types in the password for you automatically. When you start filling in the Name, Address, or a similar item on a form, it displays text that matches what you've typed into similar form fields in the past.

AutoComplete also keeps track of URLs you've typed in the past. Whenever you type a new address into your Web browser's address bar, it displays past URLs that match what you've typed so far.

Tip To remove a single item rather than all items from a drop-down menu, point to the item you want to delete and press Delete. It doesn't work on all drop-down menus, but it works on many of them.

If you're using a public computer, you certainly don't want to leave that behind. Even on your own personal computer, you might want to delete those things if you've made a lot of mistakes in the past. Or if you share your user account with many people, you may want to clear those items for your own basic privacy. Whatever the reason, it's easy to empty those things out and start with a clean slate. For precise control of what gets deleted, follow these steps:

1. Click the Tools button and choose Internet Options, or choose Tools → Internet Options from the menu bar.
2. On the General tab, in the Browsing history group, click Delete to see the Delete Browsing History dialog box.
3. Select the items you want Internet Explorer to delete, click Delete, and click OK.