Google May Have Accidentally Deleted Your Maps Timeline: Here’s How to Get It Back
Imagine losing years of travel history on Google Maps without warning. That’s exactly what happened to some users due to a recent glitch. Google admitted that a technical error accidentally deleted Maps Timeline data earlier this month and has emailed affected users with recovery steps—but only if they had backups enabled.
Users Report Missing Timeline Data
The issue surfaced when a Reddit user,sweepernosweeping, shared an email from Google stating that the company had “experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people.” This user lost two weeks of data, while others in the comments reported losing years’ worth.
If you were affected, you may have received an email from Google. If your Maps Timeline data is missing, you might still be able to recover it.
What Exactly Happened to Your Google Maps Timeline Data?
Google’s Timeline history feature, previously known asLocation History, helps you revisit past locations and track where you’ve been. It automatically saves your visits and routes across your devices. Recently, Google transitioned from storing this data in the cloud to on-device storage, meaning your location history is now saved directly on your smartphone for improved privacy.
Unfortunately, a technical issue erased some users’ Timeline data, with some losing years of travel history. The exact cause remains unclear.
How to Restore Your Google Maps Timeline Data
If you had backups enabled, you might be able to restore your Maps Timeline data with these steps:
1.Open Google Maps and tap yourprofile iconon the top right corner.
2.ChooseYour Timeline.
3.On the next screen, tap thecloud iconon the top right corner.
4.Tap thethree dotsnext to the backup you want to restore and selectImport.
5.TapImportagain to confirm.
Even if your backup shows a recent date, such as yesterday or just a few moments ago, you might assume that the deleted data has already been overwritten. However, it’s still worth trying. Several users have reported that despite their backups having a recent timestamp, they were able to recover years of data using these steps.
Unfortunately, if you did not enable backups, you won’t be able to recover your lost data. Many users have reported that they couldn’t restore anything because no backups were available. However, if you believe you lost important data due to this issue, you may want to check Google support forums or contact Google directly for assistance.
Ritik Singh
With over 7 years of experience in tech, Ritik currently heads content at Techwiser.com. His journey started by sharing knowledge and helping others in online communities. That passion soon turned into a career in tech journalism, backed by a formal education in Electronic Media. He’s held editorial roles at GadgetsToUse and PC-Tablet, and has contributed to popular publications like HowToGeek and TheWindowsClub. With over 2,000 how-tos, reviews, and in-depth guides under his belt, Ritik has helped millions of readers get more out of their tech—from smartphones to smart homes.
