Google admits accidental deletion of maps timeline data – Here’s how to recover it

Google has acknowledged a technical issue that led to the accidental deletion of Maps Timeline data for some users.

The company has reportedly begun notifying affected users via email, confirming the unexpected loss of their location history.

The issue stems from Google’s recent changes to how Maps Timeline data is stored. A few months ago, the tech giant introduced an update that allows users to store their location history directly on their device or back it up to an encrypted cloud. However, earlier this month, several users reported that their Timeline data had suddenly disappeared.

According to a report by Android Authority, citing a Reddit user, Google’s email states that the company “experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people.” Some users claimed they lost up to two weeks' worth of location history due to the glitch.

How to Restore Lost Google Maps Timeline Data

For those affected, Google suggests attempting to restore their Timeline data from a cloud backup. Here’s how:

Update Google Maps to the latest version.
Open Google Maps and tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Select ‘Your Timeline’ from the menu.
Tap the cloud icon at the top of the screen.
Choose a backup file to import your lost data.
However, users without a backup will not be able to recover their lost Timeline data. While some have successfully restored their information, others reported incomplete backups or missing data.

To prevent future losses, Google advises users to enable cloud backups for their Maps Timeline, as this option is not activated by default.