[Quick Guide]: How to See Deleted History on Chrome?

Browsing history typically includes details such as the websites visited, the date and time of visits, and sometimes cached data like images or files. Once deleted, this information is no longer visible in the Chrome History section. But is it possible to get it back?

The good news is that deleted Chrome history will not vanish immediately. If you take correct steps or use reliable tools, you might be able to recover it. In this guide, we’ll explore multiple methods to help you recover deleted history on Chrome, helping you get back to browsing with peace of mind.

How Chrome Stores Browsing History?

Before diving into how to see deleted history on Chrome, it’s important to understand how Chrome stores your browsing history. Chrome saves your history in two primary ways:

➤ Locally on Your Device: Chrome stores your browsing history in a SQLite database file located in your user data folder. The default path for this file is: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default. 
➤ On Google’s Servers (if Synced): If you’re signed into your Google Account and have sync enabled, your browsing history is also stored on Google’s servers. This allows you to access your history across multiple devices.

When you delete your history, it’s removed from both local storage and your Google Account (if synced). However, traces of your browsing activity may still exist in other places, such as your DNS cache or backups. Let’s explore how to find deleted history on Chrome using these methods.

How to See Deleted History on Chrome?

If you’re wondering how to see deleted history on Chrome, there are several solutions you can try. Below, we’ll walk you through four effective methods. Select the one that best suits your needs.

Solution 1. Check Google Account Activity (if Synced)

If you were signed into your Google Account and had sync enabled, your browsing history might still be accessible through your Google Activity. This is one of the easiest ways to see deleted history on Chrome, as long as sync was active at the time of deletion. Follow these steps to check your Google Activity:

Step 1: Go to My Google Activity and sign in with the same Google Account used in Chrome.

Step 2: All of your browser/internet history files will be displayed, along with the date/time. Go to find your deleted browsing history.

Step 3: If you find the history you need, note down the URLs or revisit the sites directly.

Solution 2. Recover Deleted History on Chrome Using Professional Software

If your browsing history wasn’t synced to your Google Account, you can still recover it using professional recovery software like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. As mentioned earlier, Chrome stores your browsing history locally in your user data folder. This tool can help you retrieve deleted files from this folder, even if they’ve been removed from Chrome’s history section.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is a powerful yet user-friendly tool designed to scan and recover a wide range of file formats from various devices. Whether your files were lost due to accidental deletion, system crashes, or disk formatting, this software can help you retrieve them effortlessly.

Why Use AOMEI Partition Assistant?
● Features with user-friendly design and doesn’t require technical expertise.
● Supports both Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes to ensure all deleted or lost files are thoroughly located.
● Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Windows Server.

Here are steps to recover deleted history on Chrome using this tool:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your history files were stored to Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan your device and search for deleted or lost items. It will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted or missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Select a folder path to save your recovered files. Then, wait patiently for this process to finish.

Solution 3. Use DNS Cache to Recover Deleted Chrome History

Your computer’s DNS cache stores records of recently visited websites. If you deleted your Chrome history by mistake, you can check your DNS cache to find traces of your browsing activity.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type cmd and click on the OK button to confirm.

Step 3: Type ipconfig /displaydns and then press Enter.

Step 4: Wait for the command to execute. Then, all your recently visited websites will be displayed.

Solution 4. Find Deleted Chrome History from Backups

If you regularly back up your system, you might be able to see your deleted Chrome history from a backup. For example, if you enable Windows Backup and Restore, follow these steps to find the deleted Chrome history:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel and select System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2. Click Restore my files.

Step 3. Click Browse for files and locate the history files you want to recover; then click Next to continue.

Step 4. Specify the destination to save your recovered files and click the Restore button.

Final Words

Accidentally deleting your Chrome history can be frustrating, but there’s no need to panic! Your deleted history isn’t immediately erased forever, and with the right steps, you can often recover it. This guide has shown you how to see deleted history on Chrome using various methods, from checking Google Account activity to using professional recovery tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily restore your deleted browsing data and regain access to previously visited websites.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery not only helps find deleted Chrome history but also supports recovering other common file formats. To avoid future data loss, it’s always a good idea to back up your data regularly. 

FAQs

Q1: Is deleted history permanently gone?

Not immediately, but it can be overwritten by new data over time. So, it is advised to act as soon as possible.

Q2: Can I recover history deleted months ago?

Yes, you can recover the history if it was synced to your Google Account or backed up beforehand. Alternatively, use AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to restore the local files.

Q3: Does clearing the cache delete history?

No, clearing the cache only removes temporary files like images and scripts, not your browsing history.