Google Maps Timeline: how it works now, and how to manage it

Google Maps Timeline (formerly part of "Location History") answers "where was I?" with a day-by-day map of your visits and routes. It changed a lot recently: Timeline data now lives on each of your devices, with an optional encrypted backup. That's why many people find their old timeline "gone" on the web or on a new phone. This guide covers how it works now, every setting, and the fixes. Source: Google's help page "Manage your Google Maps Timeline", checked 7 November 2026.

How Timeline works now

Google: "Timeline helps you go back in time and remember where you've been by automatically saving your visits and routes to your Google Maps Timeline on each of your signed-in devices" (Google).

Key points from Google:

• "Timeline is off by default for your Google Account and can only be turned on if you opt in."
• Turning it on means "you consent to Google regularly saving each of your devices' precise locations to that device ... including when Google apps aren't open."
• "When you back up your Timeline data, Maps saves an encrypted copy of your data on Google's servers."
• "If you edit or delete your Timeline data on one device, those changes won't be reflected on other devices."
• "If you factory reset your device or clear Google Play services data, you'll delete Timeline data from your device."
• It needs Google Maps version 11.106 or later and "isn't available on Android Go devices."
• "When our systems indicate you may be under 18, this feature will remain turned off or unavailable."

How to see your Google Timeline

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial, then Your Timeline.
3. To see another day, tap Today at the top, swipe the calendar and tap a day.

Tabs at the top such as Places, Cities or World summarize where you've been. To see the last time you visited a specific place: search for it in Maps, scroll to the bottom and tap Your visits and Maps history.

How to turn on Timeline

1. Google Maps > profile picture > Your Timeline.
2. Tap More > Location & privacy settings.
3. Under "Location settings", check it says "Location is on" (if not, tap Location is off and turn it on).
4. Check it says "Timeline is on" (if not, tap Timeline is off and turn it on).

Timeline only records from the day you turn it on.

How to back up Timeline (so a new phone keeps it)

1. Your Timeline, then tap the cloud at the top right.
2. On the Backup screen, turn on Backup, then Turn on.

Google: "To turn on Timeline backups, first turn off auto-delete" and "You have to separately opt-in to turn on Timeline backups on each device. It can take a few days for changes in your Timeline to reflect in a backup."

Import Timeline on a new phone

Your Timeline > cloud > under "Your backups" select a device > More > Import > Import. If you see "your encrypted data is locked on this device", Google says to use the original device to re-enter your password; without it, the only option is to turn off backups and delete them.

How to delete Google Timeline

All from Your Timeline > More > Location & privacy settings (Google):

• Delete everything: Delete all Timeline data.
• Delete a period: Delete range of Timeline data.
• Delete one day: in Timeline, pick the day, More > Delete day > Delete.
• Delete one visit: next to the visit, More > Remove.
• Auto-delete: Auto-delete Timeline and choose older than 3, 18 or 36 months.

Google warns that deleted Timeline data "will be permanently deleted and can't be recovered", that you may still have Timeline data on another device or in backups, and that other settings like Web & App Activity or Search Services History can still hold location information from your general area and IP address.

How to turn off Timeline

Your Timeline > More > Location & privacy settings > Timeline is on > choose Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.

Export your Timeline (Android)

Open the phone's Settings > Location > Location services > Timeline > Export Timeline data > Continue, choose where to save, Save. You'll see "Export complete" when it's done.

Edit a wrong place

Google says Timeline can be wrong "in dense urban areas", for example showing the restaurant next door. To fix it: Your Timeline > Edit > Edit day, find the entry, pick the right place from "Select place" (or Search for a place), adjust the time, Save, Done.

Google Timeline on iPhone

Google Maps on iPhone has the same Your Timeline entry under your profile picture, and the same idea: it's stored on that device, with an optional backup. If you mostly use iPhone, Apple's own histories are covered in location history on iPhone.

Google Timeline not working? Fixes

Timeline vs location sharing

Timeline is your private history. Google Maps location sharing is a separate feature that shows your current location to people you choose; Google notes "Location Sharing works even when Timeline is turned off" (Google), and that shared info "may also include where you've recently been" (Google). How to share: Google Maps location sharing.

Google Timeline alternatives

• On iPhone: Apple Maps Visited Places and Significant Locations (guide).
• A history shared with family, by agreement: Warden, below.

Warden (top pick): a 30-day history your family agreed to

Timeline is perfect for your own memory. When a family wants to look back together (where did Dad's walk go, which café did the bag stay at), Warden keeps a shared history:

1. Each person joins your circle on their own iPhone or Android phone and switches sharing on themselves.
2. The circle can look back over the last 30 days; older history is deleted automatically.
3. While someone is paused, nothing new is stored, and the circle sees "Paused".
4. Before sharing, Warden's consent screen lists everything the circle will see, including the 30-day history.

Data is stored in the EU, and anyone can delete their account and data in the app anytime.

FAQ

Where is my Google Timeline?

In the Google Maps app on your phone: tap your profile picture, then Your Timeline. Timeline data is saved on each device, with an optional encrypted backup.

Why did my Google Maps Timeline disappear?

Timeline now lives on each device. A new phone, a factory reset or clearing Google Play services data removes it unless you had backup on and import it.

How do I see where I've been on Google Maps?

Open Your Timeline from your profile picture and tap Today to pick a day. For one place, search it and tap Your visits and Maps history.

How do I delete my Google Timeline?

In Your Timeline, tap More, then Location & privacy settings, then Delete all Timeline data, or delete a range, a day or one visit.

How do I turn off location history on Google Maps?

In Your Timeline, tap More, then Location & privacy settings, tap Timeline is on and choose Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.

Can someone else see my Google Timeline?

Timeline is your own history on your devices; Google encrypts the backup. Location Sharing is separate and shows people you choose your current location, and may include where you've recently been.

How long does Google keep Timeline data?

Until you delete it, or according to auto-delete: older than 3, 18 or 36 months.

Is there a Google Timeline alternative to share with family?

Warden keeps a 30-day history for family members who chose to share, on iPhone and Android.