Google Maps Timeline Changed in 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know

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Google Timeline is now stored directly on users’ devices rather than in the cloud. Previously, this data was stored on Google’s cloud servers. But with the new update, users are no longer able to view it on a desktop.

If your Timeline looks incomplete, trips are missing, or nothing appears after switching phones, this article explains exactly why — and how to fix it.

Timeline is stored on your device

If you followed the recommended actions sent out by Google in 2024-2025, it is possible that your Google Maps Timeline resides on your cellphone.

Steps to recover your Google Timeline Data if you Switched Devices

If Timeline Backup WAS enabled

  1. Open Google Maps
  2. Tap your profile photo
  3. Go to Your Timeline
  4. Tap the cloud icon
  5. Select Import

Your historical data (as far back as your auto-delete settings allow) will appear on the new phone.

If backup was NOT enabled

Then your past routes and trips are stored only on the old device. If you still have the old device,

  1. Open Google Maps 
  2. Tap your profile photo
  3. Go to Your Timeline
  4. Tap the cloud icon
  5. Turn on the Backup Toggle

Now that Backup is enabled, you can import your Timeline to your new device. Follow through the steps from the previous list under the heading “If Timeline Backup WAS enabled”. General device migration tools might also bring the data over, but Google does NOT guarantee this.

Auto-Delete Also Changed

Google changed the default auto-delete period for Location History to 3 months.

If you never changed this setting, anything older than 90 days may already be permanently deleted. Even with backup enabled, you can only restore what wasn’t auto-deleted

To check your settings:

Google Maps → Profile → Your Timeline → Settings → Location History → Auto-delete

If you want to keep multi-year history, set it to 36 months, or Do not auto-delete.

Steps to Secure your Timeline in the Future

Turn on Timeline

When you turn on Timeline, you consent to Google regularly saving each of your devices’ precise locations to show you where you’ve been, including when Google apps aren’t open.

  1. Open the Google Maps app.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial, and then your Timeline.
  3. Tap More (three dots in the upper right corner and tap on Location & privacy settings.
  4. Under “Location settings,” turn on “Location” and “Timeline” .

Back up your Timeline data

You can automatically back up your Timeline if you need to switch devices. When you back up your Timeline data, it saves an encrypted copy of your data on Google’s servers.

Important: It can take a few days for changes to your Timeline to reflect in a backup.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial and tap on “Your timeline”.
  3. At the top right, tap the cloud.
  4. If auto-delete is turned on, turn it off.
  5. On the Backup screen, turn on Backup.

Adjust Background Data and Battery Optimization

Ensure that the app is not restricted by data or battery optimization settings. This ensures that your Timeline data is recorded even when the app runs in the background.

Enable Web & App Activity

Turning on Web & App Activity helps improve the accuracy of tracking and limit mistakes.

Quick Summary

  • Timeline is no longer automatically synced to your Google Account
  • Your trips now live on your device, not in Google’s cloud servers.
  • Old Timeline data may not transfer to a new phone
  • The new Timeline Backup feature is required for safe transfer
  • Auto-delete may remove your older trips unless you extend the time limit

If your Timeline appears incomplete or missing, it’s usually because:

  • Auto-delete removed older data, or
  • Backup was off, or
  • Phone-to-phone migration didn’t include Timeline storage

How MileageWise Fits Into This

MileageWise’s Google Maps Timeline Import feature turns your Timeline into an IRS-compliant mileage log. It relies on the data that currently exists on your device. If Timeline data is missing due to Google’s update, backup settings, or auto-delete, it cannot be recovered.

However, you still have options to get your retroactive mileage logs, even if your Timeline is missing:

AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator Feature

This tool helps you rebuild past mileage through the web dashboard. It uses your available trip data and past driving patterns to reconstruct trips, while letting you set your preferences and fine-tune results. Whether you need it for filling in gaps or creating mileage logs from scratch, the AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator is designed to give you control over your mileage log with less manual work.

Mileage Log Tax Preparation Service

If you prefer not to create a mileage log yourself, let our team prepare it for you. We build the mileage log based on your available data and make sure it meets IRS requirements. This option is useful if you want to save time or avoid dealing with manual calculations and trip reconstruction yourself.

 

Try MileageWise for free for 14 days. No credit card required!

Mileage Log from Google Maps App

Apple App store
Google Play store

AI Logs & Google Timeline Import

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