Internet Explorer will log your browsing history so you can track the sites you've visited. History logging also helps Internet Explorer autocomplete the web addresses you want to visit. You can view your browsing history via Internet Explorer or File Explorer. You can also do almost the same way to view browsing history in Microsoft Edge, Windows 10's default browser.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Internet Explorer 7 and Up
Step 1. Click the star button in the top right corner of the window
The Favorites bar will appear on the screen. You can also press Ctrl+H to go to the History tab in the Favorites bar.
- In Internet Explorer 7 and 8, the Favorites button is to the left of the Bookmarks bar.
- If you're using a Windows 8 tablet with a Modern version of Internet Explorer, you'll need to open the desktop version of Internet Explorer to view the history. The only way to display history in Modern versions of Internet Explorer 11 is to enter a web address until the suggested sites appear. You can access the desktop version of Internet Explorer by tapping the cog icon and selecting the View on the desktop option.
Step 2. Click the History tab
This tab will be immediately selected if you press Ctrl+H.
Step 3. Select the history view according to taste
Initially, the browsing history will be organized by date. You can use the menu at the top of the history bar to sort it by site name, frequency of visits, and sites visited today. You can also enter keywords to display history with certain criteria.
Step 4. Click the search result to open and display it further
Your browsing history may be organized by category. Click on a category to display a link to a specific page. For example, if you're displaying history by site, you can view your entire browsing history to a site by clicking on its address.
Step 5. Look up the history of visits to a particular site with the Search History option
Click Search History from the menu to search for specific sites or pages you've visited.
Step 6. Create bookmarks from browsing history
You can add any history entry from a bookmark by right-clicking the entry and selecting Add to Favorites. You will be asked to select a bookmark location and enter a name.
Step 7. Delete history entries by right-clicking on the entry in question and selecting Delete
You can delete entries individually, or delete entire categories.
Method 2 of 3: Using Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Click or tap the Hub icon at the top of the window
This icon is shaped like a paragraph.
Step 2. Click or tap the History tab, which is shaped like a clock
You can also press Ctrl+H to open the History tab directly
Step 3. Find the history entry you want
Your history will appear on the screen in three orders you can choose from: Last hour, Last week, and Older.
Step 4. Delete history entries by clicking or tapping the X next to them
You can delete a single entry, or the entire entry on a specific date.
You can also tap/click Clear all history to delete all entries. Make sure the Browsing history option is checked, then click Clear
Method 3 of 3: Opening the History Directory
Step 1. Open a Run window via the Start menu, or press Win+R
Step 2. Enter shell:history in the Run window, then press Enter to open the History directory for the current user
You cannot access the history of other users, even if you are logged in as an administrator
Step 3. Select history by date
You can choose to display history 3 weeks ago, 2 weeks ago, last week, and today. The browsing history of sites accessed more than 3 weeks ago will be entered in the 3 Weeks Ago directory.
Step 4. Select the directory of the site you want to open
All of your history entries are grouped by site. Each site directory contains all the pages you have visited there.
Step 5. Double click the history entry to open it
The link will open in your default browser. If you set your default browser to a program other than Internet Explorer, a link will open in that browser.
Step 6. Create bookmarks from browsing history by right-clicking one of the links and selecting the Add To favorites option
You will be asked to select a bookmark location and enter a name.
Step 7. Delete history entries
You can delete entries just like deleting files in Windows. Right-click on the entry you want to delete, then click Delete, or drag the entry to the Recycle Bin. You can also delete multiple entries at once by selecting them first.
