Linux Command Line History Files (.bash_history & .zsh_history)

Bottom Line: It is 100% safe to delete .bash_history and .zsh_history. Clearing shell history files will NOT break Linux terminal commands, system scripts, or user permissions.

What are .bash_history and .zsh_history Files?

Located in your user home directory at ~/.bash_history (for Bash shell) or ~/.zsh_history (for Zsh shell on macOS/Linux), these plain-text files log terminal commands entered during past interactive shell sessions.

Command history allows you to press the Up Arrow or Ctrl + R to reuse previous commands. However, if you accidentally type passwords, API keys, or database credentials into terminal commands (e.g. mysql -u root -pMYSECRET), those plain-text credentials are saved permanently inside .bash_history.

Can You Delete Shell History Files?

✅ Yes, it is completely safe to delete.

• Essential for security: Deleting history files is recommended if you typed credentials or tokens into the command line.
• Auto-recreated: Your shell will create a new empty .bash_history or .zsh_history file next time you open Terminal.

How to Safely Clear Terminal Command History

Method 1: Clear Active Memory & Delete File (Recommended)

To clear both active in-memory history and the history file:

# For Bash Shell
history -c && rm -f ~/.bash_history

# For Zsh Shell (macOS / Linux)
history -c && rm -f ~/.zsh_history

Related Guides

• Learn about deleting Linux /var/log.
• How to clean up macOS Core Dumps.
• Check if you can clean git folders.