Earlier this month, Google notified iOS and Android users to update their Google Maps Timeline settings to shift the primary storage of this data from Google’s servers to the user’s device. Those who failed to make this change risked having their information deleted. However, on a recent Friday, Google informed users via email that “a technical issue” had caused the deletion of Timeline data for some individuals, which seems to be separate from the update requirement.
For those unfamiliar, Google Maps Timeline is a feature that showcases a user’s location history, effectively offering a personal map that highlights past trips, visited places, and travel routes. To utilize this feature, users must enable their phone’s Location History. In the recent email, Google noted that users with encryption-protected backups saved on its servers might have the ability to restore their data.
To do this, users need to ensure they have the latest version of Google Maps installed, access their Timeline, tap the cloud icon, and select a backup to restore. Many users shared their frustration about the lost data, with some Redditors reporting that their backups only restored a few weeks of information, while others managed to recover their entire Timeline. One user lamented about losing 15 years of Timeline data due to not enabling backups, calling it devastating.
Another criticized Google’s email as insufficient and expressed disappointment over the data deletion. To prevent further data loss, users should enable Timeline data backups. Google stores primary data on devices while encrypting and backing up visits and routes to its servers when the phone is charging and idle.
This backup does not affect the user’s account storage limits. To enable backups, users must open Google Maps, tap on their profile icon, navigate to “Your timeline,” and toggle on the backup option.