The short answer
- 1Opening search shows two lists: suggested people at the top and your Recent searches below.
- 2Recent is cleared with Clear All or entry by entry, separately on each device.
- 3The people row comes from Suggest Frequent Contacts; turn that off in Privacy and Security.
In this article
Two different things appear when you open search
Tap the search box in your chat list before typing anything and Telegram shows two separate lists. They come from different places, so they are cleared in different ways:
| What you see | Where it comes from | How to clear it |
|---|---|---|
| A row of people at the top | Suggest Frequent Contacts: people you message often | Turn the setting off in Privacy and Security |
| The Recent list below it | Chats, channels and bots you opened from search | Clear All, or remove entries one by one |
- Suggested people - comes from Suggest Frequent Contacts, not from your searches
- Clear All - empties the Recent list on this device
Recent searches are kept on the device you searched on. Clearing them on your phone does not clear them in Telegram Desktop, and the other way round, so repeat the steps on each device you use.
Remove one entry from Recent
- Android: press and hold the entry. Telegram asks "Do you want to remove "Name" from your search history?" Tap Remove.
- iPhone: entries can be removed one at a time from the list as well; press and hold the entry, or swipe it to the left, depending on your version.
- Telegram Desktop: right-click the entry and choose Remove from Recent.
Removing an entry only takes it off this list. The chat itself, and your messages in it, stay where they are.
Clear the whole Recent list
- Android: tap Clear All next to "Recent". Telegram asks "Do you want to clear your search history?"
- iPhone: tap the clear button above the recent list and confirm with Clear.
- Telegram Desktop: click Clear next to "Recent" and confirm.
When the list is empty, Android shows "No recent searches" and Telegram Desktop shows "Recent search results will appear here." New searches start filling it again.
Turn off the suggested people row
The people at the top are not search history. They are Telegram's guess at who you are likely to want, based on how often you message them. Turning the setting off removes the row and, as the confirmation says, "will delete all data about the people you message frequently as well as the inline bots you are likely to use."
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Suggest frequent contacts
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Suggest Frequent Contacts
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Data Settings
- Suggest Frequent Contacts
- Suggest Frequent Contacts - turn off to remove the suggested people row and delete that data
On Telegram Desktop there is also a shortcut: the menu on the frequent contacts row offers Remove all & Disable, which does the same thing from the search screen. Unlike recent searches, this setting belongs to your account, so turning it off once covers your other devices. You can switch it back on at any time; the row starts again from scratch.
What clearing does not do
- It does not delete any chat or message. To remove a conversation, see leaving groups and clearing history.
- It does not hide that a chat exists. Anyone holding your unlocked phone can still scroll your chat list. If that is the worry, a passcode lock in Privacy and Security helps more than clearing search.
- It does not affect the other person. Nobody is told when you remove them from your recent searches or suggestions.
Next step: stopping live location sharing.
FAQ
How do I clear my search history on Telegram?
Tap the search box, then Clear All next to Recent on Android, or Clear on Telegram Desktop. Press and hold an entry to remove just one.
Why does the same person keep appearing at the top of Telegram search?
That row is Suggest Frequent Contacts, not search history. Turn it off in Settings, Privacy and Security.
Does clearing Telegram search history delete my chats?
No. It only empties the search list. Your chats and messages stay.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Recent
Clear All, or remove one entry; repeat per device.
- 2Suggested people
Turn off Suggest Frequent Contacts.
- 3Chats
Clearing search deletes no chat or message.
Updated
