Microsoft releases official Windows 10 Timeline extension for Google Chrome

By Zac Bowden
last updated

Are you a Google Chrome user who wants to take advantage of Windows 10's Timeline feature? Now you can with this official extension from Microsoft.

Windows 10 Timeline
Windows 10 Timeline (Image credit: Windows Central)

Microsoft has released an official Timeline extension for Google Chrome called "Web Activities" that brings Timeline integration to Google's web browser. Just like with Microsoft Edge, this new extension syncs web browsing activities with the Timeline feature on Windows 10, making it easier to pick up old activities and search through webpages you've visited recently.

The extension is available now in the Chrome Web Store, and ties with your Microsoft Account. Microsoft says bringing Timeline support to Google Chrome has been a "top insider request" that people have been asking for since Timeline was first introduced with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. The extension is pretty simple, with very few customization options. Just install it, sign-in to your Microsoft Account, and you're good to go.

Microsoft also notes that it's planning to introduce Timeline support for more apps in the coming weeks and months, in an official post on its Inspired by Insiders blog:

As we move into planning for future development, we are focusing on yet another Insider request: add support for more apps in Timeline. Browser support was especially high on our Insider's wish list — which lead the recent introduction of our Chrome extension. Now, Timeline can now bring together even more activities.

The extensions' description on the Chrome Web Store also says that web activities will sync with Timeline on Android too, which is handy for those who use the Microsoft Launcher. Web Activities by Microsoft is available now as a free extension for Google Chrome. Download it here!

Thanks for the tip, @leopeva64!

Zac Bowden
Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.

30 Comments
  • Can't wait to try out the new improved and empowered Edge I hope they don't screw it up like the current version and release a compelling feature packed version.
  • It will be a version 1.0 Blink version. It's going to be as fast as current Edge, more stable and reliable, tabs are going to work 100% of the time. But don't expect features from the get go. Opera needed for 1-2 when they rebooted their browser to polish their UI an add features back.
  • With how quickly they're pushing things to Chrome, I think many of the features current Edge has will come to Chromium Edge (including standard Chrome extensions), with ones like this Web Activity one built right in.
  • It is not so much the render engine with Edge, the main problem with Edge is the UI, it is awful and changing the rendering Engine will do nothing to that.
  • UI in Edge is fine. Rendering is decent too these days. Lack of developer support with extensions is the problem for MS. I also suspect there's something in their planning that relates to Android app porting or compatibility.
  • If you think that is fine, then you must use some awful software.
    I agree that extensions are a bit of a problem, but most of the extensions for other browsers are rubbish and silly.
    I use three extensions on my browser and that is it, I know people are different and somone else may find an extension useful that I don't, but I saw a computer a couple of years back with chrome and they had so many extensions it is a wonder the browser still worked and we got of them all apart from 4
  • @GraniteStateColin The edge UI is decent, however rendering needs work as there are instances some web pages don't render properly. I'd link the anime streaming site where it's clearly evident but it's now a ad infested site with adfly links. The issue is that Microsoft alienated developers by axing their own mobile platform and focusing on the competition.
  • Stay with Chrome. It will have Google extra goodies without Microsoft extra crap that nobody needs or wants
  • Agreed, and in my (subjective?) experience, Chrome is more stable. Marketing claims of faster JavaScript engine, etc., don't pass my sniff test, when the browser often hangs to the point of requiring force closing, even with only a few/basic web pages open. I can have numerous tabs/pages open in Chrome and run it days on end with nary a hiccup. Edge is being rebuilt on Chromium (with the same engine as Chrome), so perhaps this will all become less important. I'll probably open it for kicks, but I'm not sure what could compel me to give up "my" Chrome. At least we're far removed from the "requires IE6" days.
  • Hard pass on chrome especially that Chrome support for adblocking is now questionable. Initially the proposed changes by Google meant adblockers will cease to work properly but after people complained, apparently Google backed down. Which I highly doubt, as Google's entire fiscal policy is tailoured around collecting as much data as possible to serve targeted adverts either through themselves or third parties.
  • Doesn't work on Vivaldi :-(
  • I just installed it on my Vivaldi and I was able to sign in.
    Whether it really sync or not, I'm yet to verify.
  • Works for me (on Mac, at least; I'll test Win10 when I get home).
  • On the Vivaldis installed on my systems, it works.
  • Hope they do the same on Firefox.
  • Can't wait for it to happen
  • Firefox technically already has it support. if use Bing/ sign in under your Microsoft account
  • There's an extension, too: https://github.com/DominicMaas/TimelineExtension But weirdly 404's when I open the add-ons page.
  • THIS! I think it was reported here at Windows Central for this Extension and I only knew about this from the dev's tweet if I remember correctly. I've been using this extension and it works very well.
  • Hey! Do this for firefox please !!
  • Why would anyone in their right mind want to do that? as soon as I done my browsing on my computer, history is deleted, gone, why would I want to put that onto an MS account or timeline?
  • Because some people want to sync their history and quickly access things on other devices? Just as some other people, like you, don't and just delete their history after every use.
  • So you're saying different people want different things? How odd!
  • I hope he is saying that not many people clear their browser history after every session. Why would you even do that? Just use Incognito Mode!
  • I have a plug in that gets rid of all info on close down, The browser is suppose to do that, but I do not think it clears everything.
    Incognito mode is fine for some things,m but some sites fail with it for some reason.
  • Yes, I know different people want different things, I just don'#t understand this obsession of having everything sync to a computer in Timbuktu or where ever the machines are, certainly your web browsing history. Too much of our info gets sent to computers as it is without out knowledge
  • I wonder is somehow better or the same as the 3rd party ones that exist now. I use roamit and timeline support extensions and they've worked well for me.
  • Anyone know how to get Timeline to work on an on-premise Domain? Timeline isn't even an option for us. Litterally, no way to turn it on. I understand you can copy a Registry key from a Windows 10 1607 or 1703 PC, but if you have a newer base version of Windows 10, Timeline does not exist for on-premise Domain-connected PC's. Very frustrating, as it's a hugely useful feature on non-domain connected PC's.
  • But i can't use Chrome in Windows 10 S mode....
  • Excellent!! Very happy about this! I would love to one day see Microsoft and Google finally work together, and have true actual Google support in Windows 10. Imagine having a real YouTube app, and all other Google features right there on the store itself. If Microsoft could one day actually convince Google to support, I'm sure everyone else would follow suit. A real eBay app, Amazon, PayPal, banking apps, etc. Would all be excellent editions to the Microsoft store. Apple's phone's and their computers have that excellent native connection together. Windows 10 and Android shouldn't feel disconnected.