In short. Keep Activity must be on to find past Gemini Deep Research reports, while deletion, auto-delete, hidden chats, and Workspace settings can affect history.
Definition: A past Gemini Deep Research report is findable through the research chat history only when Keep Activity is on. A missing report can therefore reflect the activity setting, hidden chats, deletion, automatic deletion, or account controls.
Key facts
- Google's Deep Research help says past research reports can only be found when Keep Activity is on.
- The same help page directs users with hidden chats to open Menu and find the research chat under Recent.
- Google's activity documentation states that signed-in users with Keep Activity on have Gemini Apps activity stored in their Google Account.
- With Keep Activity off, conversations are saved for up to 72 hours but the activity does not appear in Gemini Apps Activity.
- Gemini Apps activity older than 18 months is auto-deleted by default, with options for 3 or 36 months or no automatic deletion.
Why does Keep Activity matter?
Keep Activity is the setting that controls whether Gemini Apps activity is stored in the Google Account history used for review. Google's Gemini Apps activity documentation says that signed-in users with Keep Activity on can review their prompts, delete activity, and turn the setting off in My Activity.
The Deep Research instructions apply that setting directly to reports: past research reports are findable only when Keep Activity is on. If it is off, a conversation can remain temporarily available to Google for service delivery and feedback processing, while remaining absent from Gemini Apps Activity.
Where is the report history?
The report is represented by the research chat in Gemini's Recent list. If chats are hidden, Google's Deep Research instructions say to open Menu first and then find the research chat under Recent. A report that is still being generated may instead appear as a notification: the same page says that the web app shows a completed report beside its chat thread, while the mobile app sends a device notification.
The activity page also gives a direct route to the account history:
Gemini Apps: Settings & help > Activity
My Activity: myactivity.google.com/product/gemini
Can deletion or account type remove the report?
Gemini Apps activity can be deleted for all time, the last hour or day, a custom range, a day, or a specific activity. A deleted research chat will consequently no longer be available through that activity history. Google's activity help also documents automatic deletion: activity older than 18 months is deleted by default, with retention choices of 3, 18, or 36 months, or an option not to auto-delete activity.
The documented controls differ by account type. The page covers personal accounts. For a work or school account, a Google Workspace administrator controls Gemini Apps Activity settings, and the user may not be able to change retention settings or see the chat retention period.
How should the history be checked?
First confirm that the signed-in account is the account that created the report and that Keep Activity is on. Then open Gemini, reveal Menu if chats are hidden, and inspect Recent for the research chat. The account-level route is Gemini Apps Activity in My Activity. If the report is absent there, review the auto-delete period and whether activity was deleted manually.
Related terms
- Gemini Deep Research
- Where do I view related sources in a Gemini response?
- Do Gemini's double-check links identify the sources used to write an answer?
FAQ
Can a report exist while Keep Activity is off?
Google says your conversations can be saved with your account for up to 72 hours, but this activity will not appear in Gemini Apps Activity. You can find past research reports only while Keep Activity is on.
Where should I look if chats are hidden?
Open Gemini, click Menu, and look under Recent for the research chat. The completed report can also appear beside its chat thread in the web app.
Can a work or school account change these settings?
The Google Workspace administrator controls Gemini Apps Activity settings for work or school accounts. You may not be able to change retention settings or see the chat retention period.
Sources
- Google Gemini Apps Help, "Use Deep Research in Gemini Apps", n.d.
- Google Gemini Apps Help, "Manage & delete your activity in Gemini Apps", n.d.
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