MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 15 (San Francisco News Online) — Google is rolling out a new Search account setting called Search Services History that can save more than typed search queries. According to Google’s own settings and notices, the control can cover activity from Search tools such as Google Lens images, voice searches, Search Live recordings and transcripts, Translate speaking-practice audio, uploaded files and some related activity information.
The change matters because Google says saved media may be used “to develop and improve Google services and technologies, including AI models and safety measures.” Google also says the rollout is gradual, so some users may not see the new setting yet.
What Search Services History does
Search Services History is an account-level control. Google says it determines whether Search-related activity is saved when a user is signed in to a Google Account.
Google’s documentation says the setting is separate from Web & App Activity, which has historically controlled some Search history. The company also has a second control called Save Media. That setting lets Google save media from Search services interactions.
In the company’s documentation, the setting applies across several Google services, including Search, Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, News, AI Mode and Ask Maps threads that include file uploads. Google says the setting is about media and activity shared with Search tools, not personal pictures kept in a Google Photos library.
Why Google says it is doing this
Google says the saved media can help improve search results and other services. In one notice described in the documentation, Google says media that has already been selected for AI training is “no longer connected to your account and is kept for up to 4 years.”
Google spokesperson Davis Thompson said the new settings help users get more relevant results and revisit their searches, and that they “can be turned on or off at any time.”
How to turn it off
Google says users can go to myactivity.google.com and switch off Search Services History. If the option is available in the account, users can also uncheck Save Media.
Google says turning off Save Media does not automatically delete media already saved. Users may need to remove that saved material from the account if they want it deleted.
What to expect during the rollout
Google says the change is being pushed out over time. That means the menu labels and controls may not look the same for every account right away.
If the new setting has not appeared yet, Google says some Search history controls may still be handled through Web & App Activity until the rollout reaches that account.
