Delete Internet Explorer Browsing History

In the following tutorial, I show you how to quickly Delete Internet Explorer Browsing History using the command line. The cool part about deleting your browser history in this way, is that you can create simple batch files to automate the entire process.

The following has been tested to work with Internet Explorer 11, 10, 9, 8, 7. It may or may not work on other versions as well.

How To Delete Internet Explorer Browsing History

Here's the breakdown to Clearing stored passwords, deleting cookies, and removing all files stored by Internet Explorer;

  1. Click Start -> Run, type cmd, then click Ok
  2. From the Command Window, type each of the following commands, and then press Enter;

To Delete Temporary Internet Files

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 8

To Delete Cookies

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 2

To Delete History

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 1

To Delete Form Data

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 16

To Delete Passwords

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 32

To Delete ALL

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255

To Delete Files and Settings Stored by addons

RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 4351

Make a Batch File to Delete Internet Explorer History

  1. Create a new txt file on your desktop and open it using a text editor. I use 7-zip.
  2. Copy and paste the following code into txt file;
    @echo off
    cls
    title Delete Internet Explorer History
    echo Started at %time%
    Echo.
    
    REM Echo Delete Temporary Internet Files
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 8
    
    REM Echo Delete Cookies
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 2
    
    REM Echo Delete History
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 1
    
    REM Echo Delete Form Data
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 16
    
    REM Echo Delete Passwords
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 32
    
    REM Echo Delete ALL
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255
    
    REM Echo Delete Files and Settings Stored by addons
    REM RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 4351
    
    Echo.
    echo Ended at %time%
    Echo Done!
    pause
    exit
  3. Remove the leading REM from each related Echo and RunDll32.exe processes you want the batch file to run. For example;
    Echo Delete Temporary Internet Files
    RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 8

    Batch Delete Internet Explorer History

  4. Save the file as as batch file. For example; delete-ie-history.bat
  5. Test the results by clicking on the file from Windows to see if it runs.

That's all there is to it! You can now use the batch file to automate the process of cleaning up your Internet Explorer Browser History.