Oops! Google accidentally deletes some users’ Maps Timeline data

Google has admitted it accidentally deleted some users’ Google Maps Timeline data after a “technical issue”.

As reported by Forbes on March 11, users started noticing that their Google Maps Timelines had completely disappeared. At the time, we didn’t know anything about the cause of this issue.

However, now we do, after some of the impacted users received a email from Google on March 21. Not with an apology, mind you, but with an explanation.

Google wrote that it had:

“Briefly experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people. If you have encrypted backups enabled, you may be able to restore your data.”

If you’re among those affected and you did have backups enabled, here’s how you can attempt to restore your data:

• Make sure you have the latest version of the Google Maps app installed on your device.
• Open Google Maps, tap on your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Your Timeline.
• Look for a cloud icon at the top of the Timeline screen and tap it. Choose a backup to import your data.

This doesn’t seem to work for everyone though, with some users commenting that this method didn’t work for them.

If you didn’t have backups enabled, it might not be possible to recover your lost Timeline data.

Planned deletion

For those interested in keeping their Timeline, bear in mind that if you don’t take action soon, your visits and routes might be erased, and your Timeline settings disabled. Earlier this month, Google announced that it will begin deleting the last three months of Timeline data unless you take action to back it up, as part of a roll out of significant changes to Maps Timeline.

After you receive the notification from Google, you have about six months to save or transfer your Timeline data before deletion takes place. The sender of the email is “Google Location History,” with the subject line: “Keep your Timeline? Decide by [date].”

When you get the prompt, follow the instructions on how to adjust your settings on your device. If you don’t, your visits and routes will be erased, and your Timeline settings will be disabled.

How to back up your Google Maps Timeline data

Here’s how back up your Timeline data to prevent any future losses, and help preserve your data during the planned deletion:

• Open the Google Maps app.
• Tap your profile picture, then Your Timeline.
• At the top right, tap the cloud icon.
• If auto-delete is turned on, turn it off.
• On the Backup screen, turn on Backup.

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