We all rely on our search history to keep track of our twisted internet trail. Without it, many of us would be hard-pressed to recall the sites we found in our rambling search. But if this history gets accidentally deleted, how can you go it back?

In this guide, we will explore all methods for recovering deleted history on Google Chrome. Keep reading to find out more.

Can you recover deleted history on Google Chrome?

In some cases, yep. Google Chrome stores browsing data in a dedicated database file on your computer. Even when this file is deleted, it might exist possible to recover it, using the same methods used to restore deleted photographs or documents. In that location are other means to view your browser history too, like the sync feature or the Google Activeness dashboard.

How to Recover Deleted Chrome History on PC or Laptop

From direct methods similar information recovery software to indirect methods like the DNS enshroud, there are multiple ways of recovering your deleted Chrome history. Let'due south explore them one past one.

Method #ane: Check Your Google Business relationship Activity

The History file stored on your calculator is not the only place Google stores a record of your browsing action. Your Google account itself contains a log of your online activity, including the websites you lot accept visited and the search terms you have used.

To access your Google account action, follow these steps:

  1. Head to My Activeness.
  2. If you are non signed in to your Google business relationship, you will see something like this.Google Activity Sign in
  3. Sign in with the account you wish to come across the search history for. Chances are that you are already signed in. And then the My Activity dashboard is displayed.Google Activity
  4. Roll down to see all of your activity across devices listed out. Information technology includes Google searches as well equally full general activity on Android too.Google Activity List
  5. Y'all can search for specific terms or even filter the results based on the date or the type of activity. This tin help yous narrow downwards the list to but your Chrome history.Google Activity Filter

When the History file storing Chrome's browser history is deleted, the all-time manner to go it back is by using data recovery software. Software similar that scans through the whole disk for deleted files, giving you the opportunity to restore your Google History to the fashion it was.

While you tin employ any data recovery tool for this, we are going to go with Disk Drill. It is a fully-featured data recovery awarding for both Windows and Mac that can recover files lost due to any reason. The best thing is that yous can recover 500 MB of information for free, so restoring your deleted Chrome History wouldn't cost yous a penny.

  1. Download Disk Drill : To brainstorm, you lot are obviously going to need the application itself. Caput to the official site and download Disk Drill. Cleverfiles Disk Drill
  2. Launch the installer : The setup file is small and should download in minutes. Utilise information technology to install Disk Drill on your estimator. Disk Drill Setup
  3. Install Disk Drill : Now run Disk Drill. You will be presented with a license understanding. Concur and continue. Disk Drill License Agreement
  4. Browse your drive : Afterwards a couple of welcome screens, you volition get to the main window. Here you can run across all the drives connected to your computer. Select your hard drive and hit the Search for lost data push. Disk Drill Main Screen
  5. View scan results in existent-time : Disk Drill volition now offset scanning. You will be able to see how many files of each blazon are found past glancing at the sorted icons on the screen. Normally nosotros would await for the whole scan to finish, but since we are looking for one specific file we volition click on Review constitute items. Disk Drill Scanning
  6. Look for the history file : The scanning will continue even as the current results are displayed on a new screen. Y'all can alter the file category from the left, and search for a file (or folder) from the right. Type 'History' in the search box and striking enter. Disk Drill Review Found Items
  7. Select the history file : The results will be filtered based on your search results. Since the files are shown with their folder structure, information technology is easy to bank check if the right file has been found. Chrome's history file is stored in C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default. This is what it would expect like. Select the file. Disk Drill Search File
  8. Recover your browser history : Click on the Recover push to restore the selected file. You can choose the destination to salve the recovered file to. While it is preferable to save on somewhere other than the main drive, in this example you lot tin ignore it. Since we but need 1 file, in that location is nothing else to overwrite. Disk Drill Recovery Destination
  9. Overwrite your current history file with the restored one : But just recovering the History file is not enough. You demand to navigate to C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default (replace Username with your user name) and copy-paste the recovered file into it. This allows Google Chrome to load up the browsing history stored in the file. Chrome History File

Method #three: Apply the "Restore Previous Versions" Option for Your Google Folder

If you have deleted the history from Google Chrome, recovering it can be a bit more tricky. This is because Chrome does non really delete the History file, but empties the contents of its database. This lost data cannot exist recovered by a data recovery tool.

The solution? Restoring a previous version of the History file. If y'all have File History set up upward on your Windows computer and have the Google folder backed upwardly, it is possible to obtain an older version of the History file.

Here are the steps for doing so:

  1. Open File Explorer and enter the following path in the Address bar at the summit: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default, where Username is the name of the user in question.
  2. While at that place are a agglomeration of files and folders in here, nosotros are only interested in the History file.Chrome History File
  3. Right-click on the History file and open Properties.Chrome History Properties
  4. Click on the Previous Versions tab. When File History has been ready, it shows older versions of the file. Just click on the version you desire to return to and hitting Restore.Chrome History Previous Versions

Addendum: Setting up File History

We accept seen how to restore the History file to a previous version if File History is fix. Merely how exactly do you practice that? Here are the steps:

  1. Open up the Start menu and click on Settings.Open Windows Settings
  2. In the Settings window, open Update & Security.Windows Settings
  3. In the Update & Security window, navigate to the Backup tab from the left.Windows Settings Backup
  4. To commencement backing upwards your data, you need an external HDD. Connect the drive and click on Add together a drive to enable it.File History Toggle
  5. To customize which folders are included in the backup, click on More options. Utilize the Add a folder button to add together the Google folder to this listing.File History Backup Options

Method #4: Utilise DNS Enshroud

DNS or Domain Name Organization is the machinery by which the URL yous type in the address bar gets converted into actual addresses on the web. Since this conversion can take some type – particularly when visiting a website for the showtime time – the Bone maintains a cache of the DNS addresses of recently opened sites.

You can get some thought of what kind of websites you take visited by taking a wait at this list. Notation that this includes cyberspace activeness from all browsers on your computer, not just Chrome. Here is how to view the DNS cache using Command Prompt:

  1. Open Command Prompt every bit an administrator. You tin find it by typing cmd in the Windows search bar.Command Prompt
  2. Enter the control: ipconfig/displaydns. This brings upward all the DNS records on your figurer.ipconfig displaydns
  3. As you can meet, the records are… technical. There isn't much relevant data, except for the Record Name field, which is actually the DNS name. You can await up these names to try to guess which websites use them.

Method #5: Reinstall Google Chrome

If sync is enabled in your Google account, and so your personal data is backed upwardly to the cloud. Bookmarks, search history, passwords – everything is stored. Equally presently every bit yous sign in on a new device, Google syncs this information to it.

You lot tin use this characteristic to recover deleted history on Google Chrome likewise. Simply reinstall Google Chrome on your computer and sign in again. Your history should exist synced from your other devices.

Note that this will simply work if it is the History file that is missing – immigration your history from Google chrome removes it for all devices.

Method #half-dozen: Cookies

Cookies are another method through which the browser (or rather, the websites) shop data on your calculator. The trouble is that cookies are website-specific, and only store information related to that website. Your search history is not found in a cookie.

Instead, cookies give you an overview of what websites y'all have interacted with in the past. Even when your browser history is beyond recovery, taking a look at all the cookies on your estimator can requite you like information. Practise note though that merely opening a website might not atomic number 82 to a cookie beingness created. Usually, you will be prompted to have the cookies.

Here is how to view all the cookies on your browser:

  1. Open Chrome and bring down the three-dot menu from the top right. Click on Settings.Chrome Menu
  2. Coil downwardly to the Privacy and security section and click on Cookies and other site data.Chrome Settings
  3. All options related to cookies show up hither. You need to click on the Encounter all cookies and site data option.Chrome see all Cookies
  4. All the cookies on your computer will show up in an alphabetical list of websites. You apply this information to determine which websites yous accept interacted with in the by.Chrome All Cookies

How to Recover Deleted Chrome History on a Mobile

So far nosotros accept explored various methods for regaining your lost Chrome history on a PC. Only what virtually a smartphone? Is in that location whatsoever way for doing then on Android or iPhone?

Certainly. While things like data recovery software or checking the DNS cache are harder on mobile, many of the other methods work just the same. Here are 2 of them:

With Sync

If your mobile has sync enabled, your Chrome information is backed up beyond all of your devices. This means that signing in on your telephone over again should restore your search history. Hither are the steps for doing and then:

  1. Beginning, verify that sync is indeed enabled on your device. To do that, open Chrome and head to its settings. You volition run into the Google Business relationship being synced at the elevation.Chrome Settings
  2. Now yous demand to uninstall Chrome. If that's not possible on your device, simply sign out of your account. Open up Chrome again to exist greeted with a tab like this.Chrome Signed Out
  3. Tap the Sign in push button and enter your login details.Chrome Sign in

That'due south it. Upon signing in again, your data will be synced with your Google account, restoring any lost history using the backups from your other devices.

Using Google Account Activity

When your information isn't synced (or the method doesn't piece of work), you lot can always check out your Google account action. The My Activity dashboard holds a tape of every action on Chrome, including searches. To access this information, follow these steps:

  1. On your Android mobile, head to Settings and tap on Google.Android Settings
  2. Now hit the Manage your Google Business relationship option.Android Google Account
  3. All of your Google Account related settings can be accessed from here. For now, switch to the Data & Personalization tab.Android Google Account Dashboard
  4. From hither, scroll downward to Activity and timeline and tap on My Activity.Google Account Activity and Timeline
  5. Alternatively, on both Android and iPhone you tin can open Chrome and navigate to My Activeness directly. This opens upwardly the My Activity dashboard, containing a log of your online activities.My Google Activity
  6. Curlicue downwards to view a list of your search history ordered past date and fourth dimension. Tap on whatsoever of the items to view more details.Google Activity Search History
  7. If your activity is clogged up by deportment performed on other Google apps, you can e'er use the Filter selection to narrow things down. You lot can filter by the engagement and the type of activity you lot wish to meet, such as Chrome.Google Activity Filter

FAQ

Decision

Losing personal data like bookmarks and search history on Google Chrome can be frustrating. Fortunately, in that location are many methods for getting this data back.

Your search history is backed up in multiple sources, from a local database file on your figurer to a log of activity on Google's servers. You tin use data recovery tools or File History to restore the local file, and sign in to your Google account to access your online information. On Windows ten, in that location are many other methods of file recovery as well.

And if these methods neglect, you lot can always use indirect tricks like cookies or the DNS cache to obtain a crude thought of your search history. Remember that this communication cuts both ways; another person with access to your calculator can use these methods to see your search history likewise.