Google says it could have unintentionally deleted your Google Maps Timeline knowledge (Replace)

Replace: March 22, 2025 (11:30 AM ET): Google has issued a press release to Android Authority, confirming {that a} technical challenge resulted in Timeline knowledge being deleted for some customers. The assertion certainly notes that individuals with Timeline backups enabled ought to have the ability to restore their knowledge, however there’s unhealthy information for those who didn’t have backups enabled to start with.

Take a look at the total assertion from Google under:

We briefly skilled a technical challenge that prompted the deletion of Timeline knowledge for some individuals. Almost everybody with encrypted Timeline backups will have the ability to restore their knowledge; sadly those that didn’t have backups enabled will be unable to recuperate misplaced knowledge.

That’s a disappointing flip of occasions for those who worth this characteristic. 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 characteristic 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 electronic mail to affected individuals.

Redditor sweepernosweeping reported that Google despatched them an electronic mail confirming that it unintentionally deleted Timeline knowledge for some individuals:

Hello <actual title>,

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

In case you have 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 will be unable to recuperate misplaced knowledge.

We perceive that this may be irritating for those who use Timeline to recollect locations that you just’ve visited, and we’re taking steps to enhance our techniques for the longer term.

The Timeline Group

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

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

For sure, you would possibly wish to allow Timeline knowledge backups in your telephone proper now for those who’re involved about this challenge, because it isn’t enabled by default. I additionally seen that my Pixel 7 Professional solely had a couple of weeks of information, however my vivo X200 Professional had my complete Timeline historical past, ostensibly as a result of I selected the latter as my principal Timeline machine. So maintain that in thoughts for those who’ve obtained two or extra telephones and wish to allow backups.

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