Google

File format: JSON. Expected wait: minutes to a few days, usually the same day.

Open Google Takeout

Opens Google in a new tab, so these steps stay here.

This browser isn't saving your progress, so it will be lost when you close this page. A private window can do this.

Sign in with the Google account you use for YouTube. A computer is the safest choice.
Click Deselect all, because Google ticks everything you use by default.
Scroll down and tick My Activity.
Scroll down and tick YouTube and YouTube Music.
On the YouTube row, click All YouTube data included. Click Deselect all, tick only history, then click OK.
On the YouTube row, click Multiple formats. Change history from HTML to JSON, then click OK.
On the My Activity row, click the format button. Change Activity records from HTML to JSON, then click OK.
Scroll to the bottom and click Next step.
Keep the download link by email, the one-time option and zip files.
Click Create export, then wait for Google's email and click Download archive.

Leave these out:

Google Photos, Drive and Mail
YouTube videos, which can add gigabytes
Add to Drive and scheduled exports

Worth knowing

Check the YouTube setting says history only. Leaving videos ticked can add tens of gigabytes and split the export into many zips.
You can't choose a date range. Google gives you whatever history it still holds.
Check both format settings before creating the export. To change one afterwards, you need a new export.
The archive expires after about 7 days and can be downloaded 5 times.
Downloading doesn't delete anything from Google.
If the zip holds only archive_browser.html, it's empty. Check that history was ticked and you used the right account.

Get help from your own AI assistant

Copy this prompt into an AI assistant you use, and it can talk you through the steps.

Covers: Google

A cloud AI sees what you type and any pages you let it open, so it's your choice. The files themselves stay on your computer unless you share them.

The prompt holds only our instructions, with no personal data. Copying and pasting it sends nothing to us.

Read the prompt first

Prompt

I want to request a copy of my own data. Please help me, using the Robin Hood Data guide below.

Rules for you to follow:
1. Help me request my own data from each service, one at a time. Don't act on anyone else's account.
2. I log in and handle passwords and security checks myself. Never ask for a password or a code. If I start to share one in this chat, stop me.
3. Stick to that service's official pages, starting from the official page listed for it. Don't use other sites or outside export tools.
4. Confirm with me before submitting any export request.
5. Choose the settings in the guide: the file format, the date range and the items to tick.
6. Where the guide lists things to leave out, such as photos, videos or messages, don't request them.
7. Screens may differ from the guide. If something doesn't match, tell me rather than guessing.
8. Requesting a copy doesn't delete anything. Don't delete or change anything in my account.
9. When my export arrives, I'll open it in the tool at https://robinhooddata.applikuapp.com/tool/. It stays on my device.
10. Never ask me to paste or upload my export files into this AI, and don't offer to read them.

These steps come from public help pages and may differ from the real screens.

## Google
Official page to start from: https://takeout.google.com/
File format: JSON
Expected wait: minutes to a few days, usually the same day
Guide date: 31 October 2026

Steps:
1. Sign in with the Google account you use for YouTube. A computer is the safest choice.
2. Click Deselect all, because Google ticks everything you use by default.
3. Scroll down and tick My Activity.
4. Scroll down and tick YouTube and YouTube Music.
5. On the YouTube row, click All YouTube data included. Click Deselect all, tick only history, then click OK.
6. On the YouTube row, click Multiple formats. Change history from HTML to JSON, then click OK.
7. On the My Activity row, click the format button. Change Activity records from HTML to JSON, then click OK.
8. Scroll to the bottom and click Next step.
9. Keep the download link by email, the one-time option and zip files.
10. Click Create export, then wait for Google's email and click Download archive.

Leave out, so don't request these:
- Google Photos, Drive and Mail
- YouTube videos, which can add gigabytes
- Add to Drive and scheduled exports

Worth knowing:
- Check the YouTube setting says history only. Leaving videos ticked can add tens of gigabytes and split the export into many zips.
- You can't choose a date range. Google gives you whatever history it still holds.
- Check both format settings before creating the export. To change one afterwards, you need a new export.
- The archive expires after about 7 days and can be downloaded 5 times.
- Downloading doesn't delete anything from Google.
- If the zip holds only archive_browser.html, it's empty. Check that history was ticked and you used the right account.

Start with the first step and go one step at a time.

See your progress Open the tool

Written from public help pages on 31 October 2026. Screens change and differ between accounts, so yours may look different.

Google

Worth knowing

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