Google Maps’ Timeline characteristic is an effective way to look again in your previous travels—in case you have the info to look again on.
Timeline customers over the previous couple of weeks have observed that their information is lacking, with no warning or rationalization. Redditor srj737 posted on the r/GooglePixel subreddit earlier this month, reporting they misplaced over a decade of Timeline information, seemingly out of nowhere. Earlier than, they might browse every location they visited with Google Maps over the previous ten years; now, they needed to begin from scratch.
What makes the state of affairs particularly complicated is the truth that Google had beforehand warned customers they may lose Timeline information. The corporate introduced late final yr that it might be transferring Timeline performance away from the online, and onto particular person cellular units. When you did not transfer your Timeline information in time, Google warned you may lose it perpetually.
Nonetheless, that deadline seems to be June of this yr, not March, so it would not have made a lot sense for that to be the rationale behind this deletion.
Google did by accident delete the info
Google has since responded to those considerations, nevertheless. The corporate confirmed to The Verge that they’d by accident erased Timeline information for some customers:
We briefly skilled a technical concern that triggered the deletion of Timeline information for some folks. Practically everybody with encrypted Timeline backups will be capable of restore their information; sadly those that didn’t have backups enabled will be unable to recuperate misplaced information.
Google seems to be actively reaching out to affected customers, so hold a watch out for an e mail from the corporate with directions on retrieving your information—in case you can.
Redditor srj737 was capable of retrieve their information, as soon as Google acknowledged the state of affairs. That they had tried restoring from their backup earlier than to no avail, however following Google’s e mail, the backup labored. It is potential Google made some modifications on their finish to repair the characteristic on the whole, which incorporates each saved information in addition to backup restoring, however that may’t be confirmed at the moment.
It is a crummy state of affairs, however it’s an excellent reminder of the belief we put in tech firms to handle our information. Google is so big, it makes it appear to be something you share with them will probably be preserved perpetually. Nonetheless, all it takes is a technical concern on the corporate’s finish to lose your information perpetually. Immediately, it is Timeline information; tomorrow, it might be your images. It is difficult with devoted cloud-based options, however every time you may have the choice, backing as much as a supply apart from the cloud is probably the most safe option to protect your information.
What do you suppose up to now?
Find out how to recuperate your misplaced Timeline information
Sadly, the one option to restore this deleted Timeline information is in case you had beforehand made a backup of that information by Google Maps. In that case, Google’s directions say to replace to the most recent model of Google Maps, open your Timeline, then faucet the cloud icon that seems on the high of the display screen. From right here, it is best to be capable of choose a backup to revive your Timeline information from.
When you do not see a backup possibility right here, it seemingly means you by no means made a Timeline backup, and, sadly, your information is misplaced perpetually.
Find out how to export your Google Maps Timeline information
When you do nonetheless have your Timeline information, otherwise you begin constructing it again up once more, and also you need to make a safer backup than counting on Google’s providers, you may manually export your information, as shared by Redditor saharaci.
To take action on Pixel, then go to Settings > Location > Location Providers > Timeline > Export timeline information. On iPhone, undergo the Google Maps app. Faucet your profile, head to Your timeline, then faucet the three dots within the high proper. Right here, faucet Location & privateness settings, select Export Timeline information, then decide a vacation spot in your information.
