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

What Changed in Google Maps Timeline?

Google rolled out a major update moving Timeline (also known as Location History) from the cloud to your device.

Here’s what that means:

1. Timeline is now stored locally, not automatically in your Google Account

Previously:

• All trip history synced to your Google Account.

• Switching phones brought everything over instantly.

Now (2025):

• Timeline data lives on your phone’s internal storage.

• Your Google Account alone does not keep your travel history.

This is why past trips may not show up automatically when you get a new device.

2. The old web Timeline is disappearing

Google announced that the web version (timeline.google.com) will eventually phase out because Timeline is now device-based.

You can still view and manage Timeline in the Google Maps app, not on the web.

3. A new feature was added: “Timeline Backup”

To replace the old cloud-sync system, Google introduced a separate backup system specifically for Timeline:

• Your trips are backed up encrypted to Google servers.

• You must turn this feature on manually.

• It allows you to import your Timeline onto a new phone.

If this backup wasn’t enabled, your Timeline likely exists only on your old phone.

Will My Timeline Transfer to a New Phone?

The correct answer in 2025 is:

It depends entirely on whether Timeline Backup was enabled.

Let’s break down the two scenarios.

If Timeline Backup was NOT enabled

Then your past routes and trips are stored only on the old device.

When you switch to a new phone:

• General device migration tools might bring the data over

• but Google does NOT guarantee this

• Many users report partial or missing Timeline history after switching phones

So in this case, past trips may not appear at all unless you still have the old phone and enable backup.

If Timeline Backup WAS enabled

Then good news:

• Your Timeline was encrypted and saved online

• You can import it on your new device

How to restore Timeline on your new phone:

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.

The Auto-Delete Problem (Most Users Don’t Know About This)

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 setting:

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

How to Protect Your Timeline When Switching Phones

If you want to make sure you never lose years of travel history again, do this on your current phone:

Step 1: Enable Timeline Backup

Google Maps → Profile → Your Timeline → Cloud icon → Turn on Backup

Step 2: Adjust Auto-Delete Settings

Set the auto-delete window long enough to keep your past years.

Step 3: On your next phone

Google Maps → Profile → Your Timeline → Cloud icon → Import

That’s it.

Quick Summary

• Timeline is no longer automatically synced to your Google Account

• Your trips now live on your device, not in the cloud

• 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 limit

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

• Backup was off, or

• Auto-delete removed older data, or

• Phone-to-phone migration didn’t include Timeline storage

How MileageWise Fits Into This

MileageWise’s Google Maps Timeline Import feature can only convert the data that currently exists on your device.
If Timeline data is missing due to Google’s new system, backup settings, or auto-delete, it cannot be recovered.

This is why keeping your Google Maps Timeline backup turned on is essential — especially if you rely on Timeline to create IRS-compliant mileage logs.