By WILIAM HUNTER and JONATHAN CHADWICK FOR MAILONLINE
Published: 07:16 EDT, 11 March 2025 | Updated: 07:16 EDT, 11 March 2025
It's the go-to navigational app for millions of people around the world.
But if you use Google Maps, you might want to check your app is working properly.
A bizarre software bug has wiped out years of users' search history with no warning.
Hundreds of concerned users have taken to Reddit to share their confusion, with one posting: 'Every single day for the last 3+ years just disappeared.'
Another replied: 'I'm panicking, I have the same issue.'
And one vented: 'Almost 10 years and countless international and domestic timelines gone. Oh well I guess I will just have to live in the moment for now.'
While Google has admitted it is deleting Timeline data older than 90 days, the glitch is raising concerns that the shutdown has come early.
Thankfully, there's any easy way for you to save your Timeline data from deletion before the deadline – here's how.
Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History
Originally known as Location History, Timeline tracks Google Maps users' every movements, keeping a record of places visited and routes taken.
If the feature is activated, Google Maps uses GPS data to record routes you have taken and places you have visited whenever your phone's location services are on.
Timeline converts this data into summaries that help you recall where you went on a walk last week or remember a great pub you stumbled across three years ago.
The tech giant says: 'Timeline helps you go back in time and remember where you've been. With Timeline, you visits and routes are automatically saved to a map on each of your devices.'
On the Google Maps app, users can tap 'You' followed by 'Timeline' to scroll back through a calendar that's supposed to have captured their past trips.
However, users have found that all days have been crossed out on the calendar and when they try to tap on a date they're told there were 'no visits'.
One Reddit user said: 'Every day on my calendar is crossed out and it says I haven't been anywhere today.'
Another posted: 'I am worried this is going to be the case for everyone. I had 6 years worth of trips saved there.'
Google Maps Timeline has a record of everywhere you have been even when you weren't navigating
Google is set to move location data from the cloud onto your device, deleting everything but the last 90 days of activity
Users have found that all days have been crossed out on the calendar and are told there were 'no visits' for each day
How to save your Google Maps data from being deleted
To move an existing backup to a different device or import your Timeline on a new device, you can import your Timeline data from a backup:
Open the Google Maps app
Tap your profile picture or initial and then Your Timeline
At the upper right, tap the cloud icon
From the 'Your backups' section, select a device
Tap More (three dots) and then Import
On the 'Import Timeline from backup' screen, tap Import
And one said: '10 years of data gone. My options for my last backup: "delete". That's it. No option to restore. Where is the backup? Can I at least see that file and get some information out of there? This is serious. What's next, my entire Google Drive data disappearing? I'm going to have to start copying things out. This is very serious.'
It's unclear how widespread the problem is; MailOnline has contacted Google for more information.
Google Maps Timeline came to Android in 2015 and then iOS in 2017, meaning users may have almost a decade's worth of trips saved to Google's servers.
However, towards the end of last year, Google emailed users saying Timeline data will be stored locally on each user's device, not on the cloud.
As a result, after June 9 this year, only the past 90 days of Timeline data will be saved to your device, meaning everything else will be permanently deleted.
The shift from cloud storage to on-device storage means that the app will take up more storage space on your device but should give users more protection against hackers.
However, it also means that any unsaved location history will soon be lost.
In order to keep hold of your data, you will need to make a local backup on your device before the June 9 deadline – although thankfully this process is simple.
To keep your data from being deleted you need to make a local backup of your Timeline data. This will ensure that you can keep all your information after Google deletes your route history from the cloud
On your iOS or Android device, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
In the upper right of the page, you will now see an icon which looks like a cloud.
After selecting this, you may now be asked to log in with your password, but should then arrive at the 'Backup' page.
If you don't have backups enabled, first tap the button to enable this option.
Next, select the device you'd like to back up and press the 'More' option which looks like three dots.
Choose 'Import' from the menu and select 'Import' again from the 'Import Timeline form backup' screen.
This will download a copy of your Timeline data which you can access even after Google has deleted your information from the cloud.
Remember, since this data will be stored locally, you'll need to repeat this process for any other devices you want to see your Timeline on.
### HOW CAN YOU FIND AND DELETE WHERE GOOGLE KNOWS YOU'VE BEEN?
Even if you have 'Location History' off, Google often stores your precise location.
Here's how to delete those markers and some best-effort practices that keep your location as private as possible.
But there's no panacea, because simply connecting to the internet on any device flags an IP address that can be geographically mapped.
Smartphones also connect to cell towers, so your carrier knows your general location at all times.
To disable tracking on any device
Fire up your browser and go to myactivity.google.com. You'll need to be logged into Google.
On the upper left drop-down menu, go to 'Activity Controls.' Turn off both 'Web & App Activity' and 'Location History.'
That should prevent precise location markers from being stored to your Google account.
Google will warn you that some of its services won't work as well with these settings off.
In particular, neither the Google Assistant, a digital concierge, nor the Google Home smart speaker will be particularly useful.
On iOS
If you use Google Maps, adjust your location setting to 'While Using' the app. This will prevent the app from accessing your location when it's not active.
Go to Settings Privacy Location Services and from there select Google Maps to make the adjustment.
In the Safari web browser, consider using a search engine other than Google.
Under Settings Safari Search Engine, you can find other options like Bing or DuckDuckGo.
You can turn location off while browsing by going to Settings Privacy Location Services Safari Websites, and turn this to 'Never.'
This still won't prevent advertisers from knowing your rough location based on IP address on any website.
You can also turn Location Services off to the device almost completely from Settings Privacy Location Services.
Both Google Maps and Apple Maps will still work, but they won't know where you are on the map and won't be able to give you directions.
Emergency responders will still be able to find you if the need arises.
On Android
Under the main settings icon click on 'Security & location.' Scroll down to the 'Privacy' heading. Tap 'Location.' You can toggle it off for the entire device.
Use 'App-level permissions' to turn off access to various apps.
Unlike the iPhone, there is no setting for 'While Using.'
You cannot turn off Google Play services, which supplies your location to other apps if you leave that service on.
Sign in as a 'guest' on your Android device by swiping down from top and tapping the downward-facing cursor, then again on the torso icon.
Be aware of which services you sign in on, like Chrome. You can also change search engines even in Chrome.
To delete past location tracking on any device
On the page myactivity.google.com, look for any entry that has a location pin icon beside the word 'details.'
Clicking on that pops up a window that includes a link that sometimes says 'From your current location.'
Clicking on it will open Google Maps, which will display where you were at the time.
You can delete it from this popup by clicking on the navigation icon with the three stacked dots and then 'Delete.'
Some items will be grouped in unexpected places, such as topic names, google.com, Search, or Maps.
You have to delete them item by item. You can wholesale delete all items in date ranges or by service, but will end up taking out more than just location markers.