Buzz
Keep your Amazon gifts & private orders under wraps
If you're worried that someone might find out about your Amazon purchases, whether it's a gift or something personal, and you share an Amazon account with others, things can get tricky. Thankfully, there are strategies to keep your shopping history private. In this guide, we'll show you how to remove orders from your history, clear your browsing history, and use other tips to shop without anyone knowing. Keep reading to learn more.
How can I hide my order history on Amazon?
Although you can't erase your order history entirely, you can archive certain orders to make them less visible. Simply log into Amazon on a web browser, go to Returns & Orders, and click Archive order on the orders you wish to hide. To keep your future purchases private, consider using Amazon Household.
Instructions
How to Hide Your Amazon Order History
Sign into Amazon using a web browser. While it's not possible to completely erase your order history from Amazon, you can archive certain orders to conceal them. This will remove the orders from your active order list, though they won't be fully deleted, and you can still access them if you know where to look. However, this option is unavailable through the Amazon mobile app—you must use a browser.
- If you're on Android, iPhone, or iPad, you'll need to enable "Desktop mode" after logging in to see the right options. Here's how:
- On Safari for iPhone, tap Aa and choose Request Desktop Website.
- In Chrome on Android, iPhone, or iPad, tap the three-dot menu and select Request Desktop site.
- If you share your account with someone, they may still discover your archived orders if they know where to look. Most people aren't familiar with this feature, but a dedicated search can reveal it!
Click Returns & Orders. You'll find this at the top-right of the Amazon page. A list of your most recent orders will appear.
Click Archive order under the order you want to hide. A pop-up will appear showing the items you're archiving.
- By default, you'll see orders from the last 3 months. Use the "Search all orders" bar or the dropdown menu to search for older orders.
- You can archive up to 500 orders in total.
Click Archive order to confirm. The order will be removed from your history, but you can still access it by searching or going to your Archived Orders.
- For tips on keeping your future Amazon purchases hidden from family members, check out How to Keep Amazon Orders Private.
Access your archived orders. After hiding an order from your history, you might need to retrieve it—whether it's to initiate a return or to get help. You can find your archived orders in two ways: search for the product from the order using the "Search all orders" box on the Orders page, or follow these steps:
- Click the Accounts & Lists menu at the top-right corner of Amazon.
- Click Account under "Your Account."
- Select Archived Orders.
How to Clear Your Amazon Browsing History
Access your Amazon browsing history. If you want to keep your browsing activity private from others using your account, you can clear your browsing history. To view your browsing history:
- On the Amazon mobile app, tap the profile icon at the bottom-center, scroll down to the "Keep shopping for" section, and tap View your browsing history.
- On a computer, visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/history.
Remove individual items (optional). If you'd prefer to only remove a few items from your browsing history, simply click Remove from view next to the item you want to delete. If you'd like to clear your entire browsing history on Amazon, continue following this method.
Click or tap the gear icon at the top-right. This will open the Settings window.
Click Remove items. This will immediately clear all items from your Amazon browsing history.
Disable your browsing history (optional). If you prefer not to have Amazon track the items you've viewed, you can opt for the following:
- Pause your browsing history for Today, 3 Days, 1 Week, or 2 Weeks by selecting the corresponding button.
- For a permanent solution, click or tap More Settings and turn off the "Browsing History" option by toggling the switch to Off.
How to Keep Your Order History Private
Set up Amazon Household. For Amazon Prime members, Amazon Household offers the ability to share Prime benefits, including free shipping, Amazon Grocery, and even digital content (if you choose) with family members while keeping private order histories. Each adult account has its own order history, ensuring privacy for everyone in the family. Amazon Household can include up to 2 adults (18+), 4 teens (13-17), and 4 children.
- To add family members, visit https://www.amazon.com/myh/manage in a web browser.
- Click Add Adult, Add a Teen, or Add a Child.
- Enter the name and email address (or phone number) of the person you're adding, then click Continue.
- Once the invitation is sent, the recipient should follow the instructions in their email to complete the setup within 14 days of receiving the invite.
- If you're adding an adult, they'll be asked to sign in with their own Amazon account or create one.
- To share payment methods, visit https://www.amazon.com/myh/manage and select Manage Your Shared Payment Instruments.
- For sharing (or not sharing) digital content like Kindle books, audiobooks, and purchased apps and games, go to Manage Your Family Library.
How to Conceal Orders from Alexa
Prevent Alexa from ruining surprise gifts. If you have an Echo or another Alexa-enabled device, it will notify you when an Amazon package is delivered—even if it's sent to a different address or Amazon Locker. Additionally, if someone in your home asks Alexa about your recent purchases, it will reveal exactly what you bought! To disable these features:
- Open the Alexa app and tap More (the three lines and a plus sign).
- Go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Select Notifications.
- Click on Amazon Shopping.
- Disable "Let Alexa say or show titles for items you've ordered" by toggling off the option for items marked as gifts or potentially gifts during major holidays.
- Turn off "For items in delivery updates".
How to Conceal Your Amazon Deliveries
Use Amazon Pickup to keep your deliveries private. With Amazon Pickup, you can have your Amazon orders sent to a different location, such as an Amazon Locker, an Amazon counter inside a Whole Foods store, or a UPS Store. This is ideal for discreet purchases, including surprise gifts for holidays and birthdays. If you purchase eligible items sold or fulfilled by Amazon, you'll see the Pickup option during checkout.
- Amazon Locker is available for packages up to 10 lbs, with dimensions less than 16 x 12 x 14 inches, and a value under $5000.
- Whole Foods Amazon counters can handle larger items up to 33 lbs and dimensions up to 36 x 24 x 24 inches.
- UPS Stores can accommodate items under $5000 and up to 38 x 38 x 38 inches in size.
