39

Google Chrome's history search is somewhat … less powerful than I'd like it to be.

enter image description here

Examples:

These are some annoyances I've found while trying to work with the Chrome search.

  • Searching for superuser.com returns results from stackoverflow.com too.
  • Searching for site:superuser.com does not work at all.
  • "phrase queries" seem to work fine, but they're not indicated.
  • Searching for hashify.me returns 3 results, none of those actually from hashify.me, whereas searching for hashify returns hundreds of URLs I visited on this site.

What I need:

  • Is there any way to specify advanced search options there?
  • Which operators or types of queries can I use to search in Google Chrome?
  • If not, can I use some other method to search my history more efficiently?

The Chrome help does not mention anything related.

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
15

You can't with the built-in history, but maybe you could try an extension:

History 2

History 2 overrides default history page with a more user-friendly one. (Tools Menu > History or Ctrl-H)

History 2: A history page like the original but grouped by the host for easy viewing.

enter image description here

Better History

A better look at your browsing history. The best searching, the sharpest interface, and the most useful filters - for your history. It's Chrome History, only much Better.

enter image description here

EDIT: Another good extension you could try:

History Plus

  • Select date range easier: Today, Yesterday, Last Week, Last Month, All
  • Select max result number easier: 100, 250, 500, 1000
  • Delete history
  • Grouping same domain in the list
  • Show visit counts each url in the list

enter image description here

Improve this answer
9
  • These are actually pretty nice, I haven't thought of extensions yet. Better History seems to work better than History 2, although its search options are not documented. Have you used any of these?
    – slhck
    Nov 2, 2011 at 13:51
  • they have not a good search option support, but history2 group every urls based on domain name, at least is a little easier to find what you need...
    – Marcx
    Nov 2, 2011 at 13:56
  • Yes, that's true. Definitely +1, they're very useful. Better History seems to be under steady development, which is nice.
    – slhck
    Nov 2, 2011 at 13:57
  • 3
    2018: History Plus and History 2 are both dead links
    – rath
    Oct 9, 2018 at 11:54
  • 1
    All dead links. Apparently, writing a history enhancer extension is a good way to get yourself waxed.
    – Bob Stein
    Jun 13, 2021 at 12:35
6

After trying a lot of extensions, I would recommend one.
Ladies and Gentlemen, ... the winner is

(different) Better History

There is possibility to search using RegExp (Regular Expressions), which is the most powerful way for searching. E.g: /^h.*\/\/cz\./ searches for anything that:

  • ^h - begins with "h" (http, https)
  • .* - continues with anything
  • \/\/ - continues "//"; \ is used to escape the "/"
  • cz - continues with "cz"
  • \. - continues with "."; \ escapes otherwise special-meaning ., which stands for "any character you might think of"

Note: / in the beginning and end, just enables Regular Expression search.

Image of how the Regular Expressions search works within this Extension: Better History Chrome Extension showing searching using Regular Expressions

Improve this answer
4
  • The only extension not a 404 today. Are these apps getting hit by some secret privacy gestapo?
    – Bob Stein
    Jun 13, 2021 at 12:40
  • Perfect! It finds a part of the word, in distinct to that silly google search mechanism.
    – Alexander Samoylov
    Nov 29, 2021 at 11:18
  • Link works fine today. Store shows updated 1/22.
    – NetMage
    Mar 7, 2023 at 21:15
  • Not searches are still too difficult especially since searches match either URL or Page Title, but better than nothing.
    – NetMage
    Mar 7, 2023 at 21:26
2

Few days ago I got to know about History Timeline chrome extension. It overrides actual history page and shows you history as timeline with thumbnail which helps to search particular web page. You can even filter results, refine your search by giving time period etc.

History Timeline Screenshot

Improve this answer
4

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .