# ⌛ Restore missing YouTube watch history
Script to import missing YouTube watch history
## ❓ About
This script is used to restore the missing YouTube watch history if you used the ReVanced `Client spoof` patch for YouTube.
Please remember that it is not meant to be a general-purpose tool for recording watch history. It has specialized functionality for ReVanced to recover from the incident when watch history has disappeared.
## ⚠️ Disclaimer
> [!WARNING]
> If you need help, you can visit our links at [revanced.app](https://revanced.app) or join our [Discord](https://revanced.app/discord).
> # Do **NOT** use the  channel. Instead use the  channel
> [!WARNING]
> This script automates your YouTube account, which is not in terms of YouTube's service. Use this script with caution.
## ✅ Usage
To learn how to use the script and restore your history, follow the steps for your OS:
Windows
1. Install the latest Python from [Microsoft Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pjpw5ldxlz5?hl=en-US&gl=US) or [python.org](https://www.python.org/downloads/).
1. Download the project and extract the ZIP somewhere
1. Open CMD in the directory where `main.py` is located
1. install the required packages and update yt-dlp
```bash
python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
python -m pip install --upgrade yt-dlp
```
1. Go to [Google Takeout](https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout)
1. Only tick "YouTube and YouTube Music"
1. Change "Multiple formats" to "JSON" (only for "history")
1. Untick everything in "All YouTube data included" except "history"
1. Click "Next step"
1. Leave everything as is and click "Create export"
After that, you will receive an email with a link to download your history. Download it. You will find a file called `watch-history.json` in the downloaded zip file inside "YouTube and YouTube Music/history".
Place `watch-history.json` in the same directory as `main.py`.
Make sure you are logged into YouTube in your browser. By default, the script will use Chrome. If you use a different browser, use the `--help` option when you run `main.py` to select your browser.
Run the script:
> ⚠️ Warning
> Make sure your browser does not run. Neither in the foreground nor in the background (See Task Manager),
> otherwise, you may get a permission error when running the script.
```bash
python main.py
```
> ℹ️ Note
> You can use the `--help` option to see all available options.
Credits to @guillaumematheron for [the original script](https://gist.github.com/guillaumematheron/89f52ffd274ff3ac99f6dc0249bcc331).
## 📜 License
"Restore missing YouTube watch history" is licensed under the GPLv3 license. Please see the [license file](LICENSE) for more information.
[tl;dr](https://www.tldrlegal.com/license/gnu-general-public-license-v3-gpl-3) you may copy, distribute and modify "Restore missing YouTube watch history" as long as you track changes/dates in source files.
Any modifications to "Restore missing YouTube watch history" must also be made available under the GPL, along with build & install instructions.
