What the online history shows
It is the same record that Last Seen, NightWatch and Chat Probability read from. Those views answer specific questions; Online History is the full log.
- Every online and offline event with a timestamp, from the moment you start tracking.
- The length of each session, and how many sessions there were in a day.
- Daily totals: how much time the contact spent on WhatsApp, day by day.
- The hours they are usually active, so you can see a routine, not just a moment.
How long was someone online on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp itself never tells you this. The online indicator shows whether a contact is active right now, and last seen shows the most recent time they closed the app; neither says how long they were there, and neither keeps yesterday.
Online History fills that in. A session that ran from 22:41 to 23:17 is stored as exactly that, and the day's total adds the sessions up. Come back a week later and it is still there.
How far back does it go?
Recording starts the moment you add a contact; ChatWatch cannot see anything from before that. From then on, the online and offline history is kept for 12 months and deleted automatically after that, or as soon as you delete the contact or your account.
What it does not do
Online History is presence only: online, offline, and when. ChatWatch does not read messages, calls or media, and it does not bypass privacy settings. If a contact hides their online status from you in WhatsApp, there is nothing for ChatWatch to record.
Start your first online history
- 01Log in with your WhatsApp number and link WhatsApp with the short code, the same way WhatsApp Web does.
- 02Add the number you want to track, or pick it from your contacts list.
- 03Open Online History. It starts filling in from that minute and keeps going, 24 hours a day.
Common questions about Online History
Can I see WhatsApp online history from before I started tracking?
- No. WhatsApp does not keep or share past presence, so ChatWatch can only record from the moment you add a contact. That is why it is worth adding someone as soon as you are curious.
Is the online history exact to the minute?
- Yes. Every online and offline transition is stored with its timestamp as WhatsApp reports it to your account, so a session's start, end and length are the real ones.
Is Online History included in the free preview?
- Yes. The free preview tracks one contact for 24 hours with the full online history. NightWatch and Chat Probability are part of the paid plan.