SEARCH RECORD

In this extremely online world, the moments of our lives are documented by default – when we check bus times or text a loved one or turn to the search bar to voice a concern we’re too embarassed to bring up with friends. The data we generate through everyday digital activity contains the most intimate details of our lives.

Yet, while these documents are about us, they are not for us. They take a form meant to be processed by machines, not read by people. Your tiny human brain may not be as efficient as these machines, but it can do other things.

search-record.net is a living collection of tools for exploring your Google Search history. Try the tools with sample data below, or follow these directions to get started with your own archive.or visit on a desktop to get started with your own archive.

Download your archive.

Getting your data from Google Takeout

Go to takeout.google.com.
Make sure you are logged in to your Google account. Note: If you are using a university or corporate Google account, this will not work.
Select My Activity. Deselect everything else.
Select Multiple formats and change from HTML to JSON.
Click All activity data included and select Search. Deselect everything else!
Scroll down and click Next step.
Click Create export.
Wait for the archive to arrive in your inbox. It should only be a few minutes.
Download your archive using the link sent to your email.
Unzip the Takeout file and locate the MyActivity.json file within Search

Import your archive.

It won't get sent anywhere. All operations on this site take place on your machine. (You can even turn off your internet if you're worried!)

Explore your archive.

Go to the tools.

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