# Tab Time Machine

Canonical URL: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/

## What it is

Tab Time Machine is a Chrome extension that applies retro web-era visual filters to the current browser tab. It includes Google-style 1998, Yahoo-style 1996, YouTube-style 2005, Wiki-style 2004, and Quiet Reader styles.

Tab Time Machine is not a tab restore extension or session manager. It does not recover closed tabs, save tab sessions, or restore video playback positions.

## How it works

The user opens the extension on a normal http or https page, picks a time filter, and the active tab changes immediately. The filter is packaged CSS inserted through Chrome extension APIs. The user can remove the filter by clicking Turn off or reloading the page.

For selected well-known sites, Tab Time Machine can also open Internet Archive pages after the user clicks an archive or old-copy button. Other pages can open an Internet Archive search in a new tab.

## Privacy and permissions

- Product type: Chrome extension.
- Permissions: activeTab and scripting.
- Host permissions: none.
- Data model: no project backend, no analytics inside the extension, no account, no browsing-history storage.
- Stored data: no page text, form values, screenshots, files, account data, or cookies are stored by the extension.
- Archive behavior: Internet Archive opens in a new tab only after a user click.

## Limitations

- Visual approximation only; it does not restore old site code or server behavior.
- Some modern pages may not fully transform because of complex app layouts, shadow DOM, canvases, videos, or protected pages.
- Chrome blocks extensions from changing chrome:// pages, extension pages, PDFs, empty tabs, and some protected pages.
- Archive results depend on Internet Archive availability.
- The extension is not affiliated with Internet Archive, Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Reddit, Wikipedia, Amazon, Craigslist, or Chrome.

## Installation status

Tab Time Machine is published on the Chrome Web Store. A clearer v0.1.7 update was submitted on 2026-06-10 and is pending Chrome Web Store review. Until approval, the store may still serve the previous public version. Public install link: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/dejokbjghdjlhhlddflgolheejdmbgea

## Proof examples

- Google Beta 1998: Internet Archive timestamp 19981202230410.
- Yahoo directory 1996: Internet Archive timestamp 19961017235908.
- YouTube 2005: Internet Archive timestamp 20050428014715.

These screenshots are unaffiliated educational proof examples.

## FAQ

Question: What is Tab Time Machine?
Answer: Tab Time Machine is a Chrome extension that applies retro web-era visual filters to the current tab.

Question: How does Tab Time Machine work?
Answer: The user opens it on a normal web page, chooses Google-style 1998, Yahoo-style 1996, YouTube-style 2005, Wiki-style 2004, or Quiet Reader, and the extension inserts packaged CSS into the active tab.

Question: Does Tab Time Machine restore closed tabs?
Answer: No. It is not a tab restore or session manager extension. It restyles the active tab and can open selected Internet Archive pages after a user click.

Question: What permissions does Tab Time Machine use?
Answer: It uses Chrome activeTab and scripting permissions. It does not request host permissions.

Question: Does Tab Time Machine collect browsing history or page content?
Answer: No. It does not store accounts, browsing history, page text, form values, screenshots, or files.

Question: Does Internet Archive receive my URL?
Answer: Only after the user clicks an archive or old-copy button. The extension does not automatically send every visited page to Internet Archive.

Question: Does Tab Time Machine work on Chrome internal pages?
Answer: No. Chrome blocks extensions from changing chrome:// pages, extension pages, PDFs, empty tabs, and some protected pages.

Question: Is Tab Time Machine affiliated with Google, Chrome, YouTube, Yahoo, Reddit, Wikipedia, Amazon, Craigslist, or Internet Archive?
Answer: No. Archive links open Internet Archive pages, and sample views are unaffiliated educational examples. Tab Time Machine is not affiliated with the sites shown.

## Important URLs

- Home: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/
- Chrome Web Store: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/dejokbjghdjlhhlddflgolheejdmbgea
- Privacy: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/privacy/
- Support: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/support/
- AI-readable product brief: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/llms.txt
- Sitemap: https://time.getgeofix.xyz/sitemap.xml