Google says it may have accidentally deleted your Google Maps Timeline data (Update)

Replace: March 22, 2025 (11:30 AM ET): Google has issued an announcement to Android Authority, confirming {that a} technical concern resulted in Timeline knowledge being deleted for some customers. The assertion certainly notes that folks with Timeline backups enabled ought to be capable to restore their knowledge, however there’s dangerous information in the event you didn’t have backups enabled to start with.

Try the total assertion from Google under:

We briefly skilled a technical concern that triggered the deletion of Timeline knowledge for some individuals. Practically everybody with encrypted Timeline backups will be capable to restore their knowledge; sadly those that didn’t have backups enabled won’t be able to get well misplaced knowledge.

That’s a disappointing flip of occasions in the event you worth this function. It additionally comes within the wake of Timeline knowledge disappearing for some customers when Google moved from cloud-based storage of this knowledge to on-device storage.

Authentic article: March 22, 2025 (12:52 AM ET): Google just lately modified the best way the Timeline function works in Google Maps, transitioning to on-device storage of your earlier actions. Sadly, some customers reported earlier this month that their Timeline knowledge vanished altogether. Now, Google has apparently issued an e-mail to affected individuals.

Redditor sweepernosweeping reported that Google despatched them an e-mail confirming that it by chance deleted Timeline knowledge for some individuals:

Hello ,

We briefly skilled a technical concern that triggered the deletion of Timeline knowledge for some individuals. We’re reaching out as your account could have been impacted.

When you’ve got encrypted backups enabled, you could possibly restore your knowledge. Just be sure you have the newest model of Google Maps, then go to your Timeline. Faucet the cloud icon ( ) close to the highest of your display screen, and select a backup to import your knowledge. For those who didn’t have backups turned on, sadly you won’t be able to get well misplaced knowledge.

We perceive that this may be irritating in the event you use Timeline to recollect locations that you just’ve visited, and we’re taking steps to enhance our techniques for the long run.

The Timeline Crew

The consumer famous that they checked their Timeline knowledge and found that they solely had the final two weeks of information. Sadly, it seems like they weren’t capable of restore a backup.

A number of different customers additionally chimed in to substantiate receipt of the e-mail, with some reporting that they might restore their knowledge from a cloud backup. Nevertheless, others reported that the backup solely restored the previous few weeks of information, or that they didn’t have a backup in any respect.

For sure, you would possibly need to allow Timeline knowledge backups in your cellphone proper now in the event you’re involved about this concern, because it isn’t enabled by default. I additionally observed that my Pixel 7 Professional solely had a number of weeks of information, however my vivo X200 Professional had my total Timeline historical past, ostensibly as a result of I selected the latter as my principal Timeline machine. So preserve that in thoughts in the event you’ve acquired two or extra telephones and need to allow backups.

We’ve requested Google about this e-mail and the enclosed steps and can replace our article as quickly as the corporate responds to us. Nonetheless, that is one other disappointing flip of occasions concerning Google’s Timeline migration course of.