Google Maps lets you save the locations you’ve been to in a timeline. It’s now going to delete them unless you do something.
Google Maps is the ideal navigation app for many people. It not only helps to find the right route, but also to easily discover good restaurants or stores nearby.
Google Maps does this partly by keeping track of your location history and storing that information in a so-called Timeline (Timeline). Earlier, Google announced that it would be updating this feature, and now that actually seems to be happening.
Google Maps removes your Timeline
In late 2023, Google announced that the Timeline in Maps would be removed, which remained temporarily silent. Now, however, several users are receiving an email in which Google announces that the feature is changing.
From now on, the Timeline will no longer be stored in the cloud, but on the device itself. This means that if you use multiple devices, the Timeline will no longer sync between them.
Here you can export your data. (Image: Jeroen Kraak/WANT)
To keep your data, you need to install the latest version of Google Maps. Through Google’s email, you can use a link to export your Timeline data to the app. Note that there may be a bug where data is lost.
Here’s how to export your data yourself
There is also an alternative way to export your data yourself. Go to takeout.google.com, where you can download various Google data. Choose your location history (Timeline) here and you’ll always have a backup that you can later import into Google Maps.
If you don’t do this, Google will only try to transfer the last 90 days of data to your smartphone. All older check-ins will be deleted.
Your Google Timeline is useful for revisiting where you’ve been and helps Maps make better recommendations. That way it knows well which places to highlight on your map. However, if you value your privacy, consider disabling this feature.
Fortunately, new features are also coming to the navigation app. You can read more about that below.
