Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a semicrystalline polymer that exists in four crystalline phases (α, β, γ, δ). Among these, the β-phase has received tremendous techno-commercial importance due to its higher dipole moment as compared to the other phases, and thus many strategies have been explored in the recent past to obtain the β-polymorph of PVDF. In this study, the effect of shear history on crystalline morphology and behavior of PVDF has been investigated systematically by polarized optical microscopy coupled to a hot stage, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, rheometry, and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Thin films of PVDF (120-150 μm) were sheared at different temperatures ranging from 155 to 220 °C and were allowed to isothermally crystallize at 155 °C. When the samples were isothermally crystallized at 155 °C, a remarkable increase in β-phase content was observed. More interestingly, this phenomenon was observed to be shear history dependent. For instance, the samples which were sheared at high temperature (220 °C) reflected in higher β fraction as compared to samples which were sheared at lower temperature (155 °C). It is envisaged that the distance between Tshear (temperature at which the samples were sheared) and Tcry (crystallization temperature) significantly influences the content of the β-phase in PVDF. This study clearly demonstrates the fact that both shear history and the depth from Tc influence the conformational changes in PVDF. © 2016 American Chemical Society.