You can now simply click and download a copy of your entire Web Search History to any device.
Earlier users could only view their web search history, but with the new feature they will now be able to download/ export a copy of it as well. The feature was silently rolled out to all the users in January 2015, confirms Google to Venture Beat, first spotted by unofficial Google Operating System blog.
So when you hit the download, the cumulative web search history of your Google account (since you first logged-in or logged-in with same account on any device) will get exported as a ZIP archive with a number of JSON files.
The download doesn’t initiate directly, and it works as a request to which user gets notified via Gmail with a link to the archive it on Google Drive or with an option to download it to the device as a Zip file.
Upon requesting download from the top right gear icon in your Google Account History, Google asks you to “create an archive of your search history data. This archive will only be accessible to you. We will email you when the archive is ready to download from Google Drive.”
Google also warns users about the protection of their Google data archives as it contains sensitive information and can be misused.
Important information about your Google data archives
- Do not download your archive on public computers and ensure your archive is always under your control; your archive contains sensitive data.
- Protect your account and sensitive data with 2-Step Verification; helping keep bad guys out, even if they have your password.
- If you have decided to take your data elsewhere, please research the data export policies of your destination. Otherwise, if you ever want to leave the service, you may have to leave your data behind.