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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 get 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, yes.
Google Chrome stores browsing data in a dedicated database file on your computer. Even when this file is deleted, it might be possible to recover it, using the same methods used to restore deleted photographs
or documents. There are other ways to view your browser history too, like the sync feature or the Google Activity dashboard. How to Recover Deleted Chrome History on PC or LaptopFrom direct methods like data recovery software to indirect methods like the DNS cache, there are multiple ways of recovering your deleted Chrome history. Let’s explore them one by one. Method #1: Check Your Google Account ActivityThe History file stored on your computer is not the only place Google stores a record of your browsing activity. Your Google account itself contains a log of your online activity, including the websites you have visited and the search terms you have used. To access your Google account activity, follow these steps:
Method #2: Try Data Recovery SoftwareWhen the History file storing Chrome’s browser history is deleted, the best way to get it back is by using data recovery software. Software like that scans through the whole disk for deleted files, giving you the opportunity to restore your Google History to the way it was. While you can use any data recovery tool for this, we are going to go with Disk Drill. It is a fully-featured data recovery application for both Windows and Mac that can recover files lost due to any reason. The best thing is that you can recover 500 MB of data for free, so restoring your deleted Chrome History wouldn’t cost you a penny.
Method #3: Use the “Restore Previous Versions” Option for Your Google FolderIf you have deleted the history from Google Chrome, recovering it can be a bit more tricky. This is because Chrome does not actually delete the History file, but empties the contents of its database. This lost data cannot be recovered by a data recovery tool. The solution? Restoring a previous version of the History file. If you have File History set up on your Windows computer and have the Google folder backed up, it is possible to obtain an older version of the History file. Here are the steps for doing so:
Addendum: Setting up File HistoryWe have seen how to restore the History file to a previous version if File History is set up. But how exactly do you do that? Here are the steps:
Method #4: Use DNS CacheDNS or Domain Name System is the mechanism by which the URL you type in the address bar gets converted into actual addresses on the web. Since this conversion can take some type – especially when visiting a website for the first time – the OS maintains a cache of the DNS addresses of recently opened sites. You can get some idea of what kind of websites you have visited by taking a look at this list. Note that this includes internet activity from all browsers on your computer, not just Chrome. Here is how to view the DNS cache using Command Prompt:
Method #5: Reinstall Google ChromeIf sync is enabled in your Google account, then your personal data is backed up to the cloud. Bookmarks, search history, passwords – everything is stored. As soon as you sign in on a new device, Google syncs this data to it. You can use this feature to recover deleted history on Google Chrome too. Simply reinstall Google Chrome on your
computer and sign in again. Your history should be synced from your other devices. Note that this will only work if it is the History file that is missing – clearing your history from Google chrome removes it for all devices. Method #6: Check CookiesCookies are another method through which the browser (or rather, the websites) store data on your computer. The problem 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 you have interacted with in the past. Even when your browser history is beyond recovery, taking a look at all the cookies on your computer can give you similar information. Do note though that merely opening a website might not lead to a cookie being created. Usually, you will be prompted to accept the cookies. Here is how to view all the cookies on your browser:
How to Recover Deleted Chrome History on a MobileSo far we have explored various methods for regaining your lost Chrome history on a PC. But what about a smartphone? Is there any way for doing so 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 two of them: With SyncIf your mobile has sync enabled, your Chrome data is backed up across all of your devices. This means that signing in on your phone again should restore your search history. Here are the steps for doing so:
That’s 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 ActivityWhen your data isn’t synced (or the method doesn’t work), you can always check out your Google account activity. The My Activity dashboard holds a record of every action on Chrome, including searches. To access this information, follow these steps:
FAQChrome stores the browsing history locally on your computer using database files. When these files are deleted manually, they can show up in the Recycle Bin. If deleted from there they might still be recovered using a data recovery tool. But if you cleared the history from Chrome itself, the individual records are wiped clean. This means that the History file still remains, but does not hold any of the browsing data. There are a couple of ways to recover deleted Google history on an android phone. The first is Chrome’s sync functionality. If you had enabled sync in the past, Chrome will automatically restore your browsing history and bookmarks once you sign in to your Google account. In case sync isn’t enabled on your phone, you can take a look at your Google Activity. This lets you view all the sites you have visited and the search terms you have used in the recent past. The best way to check deleted Google history on an iPhone is through the Google Account activity. Just head to My Activity and sign in with your Google account to get a list of all your browsing data. If Web & App Activity is turned on, you can even see the history of other actions on your iPhone. The browser itself (and by extension, Google) doesn’t track incognito browsing. Once you close an incognito browsing session, there is no way to bring up that history from Chrome. You can always find your downloads of course, even if they are deleted. That being said, there is another method for getting a glimpse of what websites were accessed from your computer. The DNS cache keeps a record of all the domain names accessed by the computer. Here are the steps to check it. The best way to permanently delete Google history is to use the Clear History option from Chrome itself. This does not delete the History file (which can be restored with data recovery tools) but rather wipes the data from it. Which is much harder to reverse. Even with sync, Google will take care to delete the history for all your devices registered to the same Google account. The only thing to watch out for then is the DNS cache. Clean that up and your browsing history is permanently removed. ConclusionLosing personal data like bookmarks and search history on Google Chrome can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are many methods for getting this data back. Your search history is backed up in multiple sources, from a local database file on your computer to a log of activity on Google’s servers. You can 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 10, there are many other methods of file recovery as well. And if these methods fail, you can always use indirect tricks like cookies or the DNS cache to obtain a rough idea of your search history. Remember that this advice cuts both ways; another person with access to your computer can use these methods to see your search history too. A frontend developer turned writer, Levin brings his in-depth knowledge to bear in breaking down complex technical topics into a layman's perspective. A believer in emergent technologies, Levin writes about Machine Learning and Internet-of-Things to explore how people and businesses can benefit from innovation. He also likes going into the nitty-gritty details of software or hardware products to bring an unbiased review that adds value to his readers. Andrey Vasilyev is an Editorial Advisor for Handy Recovery. Andrey is a software engineer expert with extensive expertise in data recovery, computer forensics, and data litigation. Andrey brings over 12 years of experience in software development, database administration, and hardware repair to the team. Can you retrieve deleted Google activity?Now preview and recover the browsing history on the android phone. Turn on 'Displayed deleted items' options to list out only the deleted file. Tap on the 'Recover' button to get back the selected browsing history entries back again.. NewsletterSIMPLY PUT - where we join the dots to inform and inspire you.
How do I recover deleted Google history on my iPhone?From the iCloud backup files list, select the one which was created before the deletion and click "Scan". Wait for the scanning to finish. After then, you can check out the found files on the right panel, see deleted Google search history on iPhone.
How can I recover my deleted Activity Log on iPhone?Open iTunes and click on the iPhone icon. Then select Restore Backup. Choose the backup file that contains your deleted Safari history . Click on the button Restore.
Can you recover deleted Chrome history on iPhone?You can try iPhone data recovery software to recover deleted Chrome history from iPhone, iTunes, or iCloud. Connect iPhone to your PC and launch EaseUS MobiSaver. Select "Recover from iOS Device" on the left, and click "Start".
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