How much historical data does Google Search Console store?

Search Console keeps 16 months of performance data: clicks, impressions, CTR and position by query, page, country, device and date. The window rolls forward every day, so the oldest day drops off as a new one arrives, and Google offers no way to get it back. Most other reports hold much less, and some keep no history at all. To keep anything older than 16 months you have to store it yourself, starting before you need it.

What each part of Search Console keeps

The 16-month figure dates from 2018, when Google rebuilt the Performance report to allow year-on-year comparisons. Sixteen months covers the latest 12 months plus a few to compare against, but not two full years.

Why older data cannot be recovered

• The API does not go further back. It serves the same 16 months as the reports, so a script started today cannot fetch anything older.
• Bulk data export is not retroactive. Google says to use the API or the reports for anything before the day you set it up.
• Some gaps are permanent. Google's data anomalies page notes that 28 February and 1 March 2026 are missing from bulk exports for some properties and "won't be recovered".

Four ways to keep more than 16 months

1. Bulk data export to BigQuery. The most complete option: every row, including the long tail the report tables cut off, at the cost of a Google Cloud project and storage bills. See Bulk data export.
2. Scheduled API pulls. A daily job that saves one day at a time into your own database. The API returns at most 50,000 rows per day per search type, which is plenty for most sites. See the Search Console API.
3. Manual exports. Each table exports up to 1,000 rows as CSV or a Google Sheet. Fine for a monthly snapshot of top queries and pages, too thin for anything else. See exporting Search Console data.
4. A tool that stores it for you, such as AutoPSEO (below).

Whatever you choose, start now. History you did not save before it aged out is gone, and a site migration or redesign is exactly when you will want the before-and-after.

How AutoPSEO keeps history past 16 months

Switch on full storage for a property under Dashboard Management. AutoPSEO then backfills the 16 months Search Console still holds, adds each new day once Search Console has finalised it, and keeps the archive for up to ten years. Each day stores query, page, country and device rows and query-and-page pairs for web search, up to 25,000 rows a day for queries, pages and pairs. Reports on a stored property read from that archive, so they stay fast and can reach further back than Google as the archive ages. Starter includes 5 stored properties, Pro 25 and Business 150. See administration and pricing.

For why the newest days are missing rather than the oldest, see why Search Console data is delayed.

Sources: Google's GA4 integration help (16-month limit), Performance report dimensions, 2018 Search Console announcement, Crawl stats help, Bulk data export setup and data anomalies page.