Google: private results - what is it?

If you start a search query on Google, only results that are of interest to the general public have been shown. But with private results your appointments, vacation photos or invoices are also displayed. We show you how this works in our practical tip.

Private results on Google: that's the reason

When you search for a keyword or phrase on Google, you’ll now see results from your Google+ products.

• The prerequisite for showing private results: You must be signed in with a Google+ account.
• If you then search for "My appointments", for example, you will see your events registered on Google Calendar as private results.
• It is even more specific: "My appointments in March 2015" shows you what you have to do this month.
• The whole thing also works with terms such as "My Photos", "My Invoices", or "My Flights", provided, of course, that you use the corresponding Google products.
• Google also personalizes ordinary searches. For example, if you google for a common name and the search engine detects a connection between you and someone with that name on Google+, you will see that person as a private result.

Enable and disable private results

• You can deactivate the private results if necessary. To do this, when you have performed a search, click on the globe icon in the top right.
• If you want to activate the private results again, click on the little man next to it.
• Google will remember your decision until the next change.
• If you want to permanently deactivate the private results, call up the search settings, log in if necessary and select the corresponding option under "Private results". Then click "Save" below.

You do not have a Google-account yet? In the next practical tip, we will show you how to create one.