How to Get Back Deleted History: A Comprehensive Guide
In today’s digital age, the internet has become an indispensable part of our lives. We rely on it for information, entertainment, and communication. However, accidents can happen, and sometimes we may accidentally delete our browsing history. This can be frustrating, especially if you had important information or websites you wanted to revisit. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to get back deleted history on various devices and browsers.
1. Check Your Browser’s Cache
One of the first things you can do to recover deleted history is to check your browser’s cache. The cache stores temporary files, including your browsing history, to improve your browsing experience. Here’s how to access the cache on some popular browsers:
– For Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Then, select “All time” under “Time range” and check the box next to “Browsing history.” Click “Clear data” to delete the cache.
– In Mozilla Firefox, go to History > Clear recent history. Select “Everything” under “Time range to clear” and check the box next to “Browsing & download history.” Click “Clear now” to delete the cache.
– For Safari on macOS, go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy. Click “Manage Website Data” and then “Remove All.” This will delete the cache and other stored data.
– On Safari for iOS, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
2. Use a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool
If checking your browser’s cache doesn’t yield the desired results, you can try using a third-party data recovery tool. These tools are designed to scan your device and recover deleted files, including browsing history. Some popular data recovery tools include:
– Recuva: A free data recovery tool that can recover deleted files from various devices, including hard drives, USB flash drives, and memory cards.
– EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: A user-friendly data recovery tool that supports multiple file formats and devices.
– Disk Drill: A comprehensive data recovery tool that offers both free and paid versions.
3. Restore Your Browser to a Previous Version
If you have enabled the “Previous Versions” feature on your computer, you can restore your browser to a previous version before the deletion occurred. This will recover your browsing history along with other settings and data. Here’s how to do it:
– On Windows, go to Control Panel > System and Security > System > System Protection.
– Select your system drive (usually C:) and click “System Restore.”
– Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point before the deletion occurred.
– Once the restore process is complete, your browser should have the deleted history back.
4. Check Your Browser’s History Folder
In some cases, your deleted history might still be stored in the browser’s history folder. To find the folder, follow these steps:
– For Google Chrome, open the Command Prompt (cmd) and type “chrome://histroy” (without quotes) and press Enter.
– In Mozilla Firefox, open the Command Prompt and type “firefox -histroy” (without quotes) and press Enter.
– For Safari on macOS, open the Terminal and type “open ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/History.plist” (without quotes) and press Enter.
– On Safari for iOS, the history folder is not accessible due to security reasons.
Please note that modifying the history folder can be risky and may lead to data corruption. It is recommended to use a third-party data recovery tool or consult a professional before attempting this method.
5. Contact Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
If you have deleted your browsing history on a public computer or a shared network, contacting your ISP may help you retrieve the information. ISPs often keep logs of internet activity, and they may be able to provide you with the deleted history.
In conclusion, there are several methods to get back deleted history. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to recover your browsing history on various devices and browsers. However, it is essential to act quickly, as deleted history may be overwritten by new data, making it more challenging to recover.
