Key Takeaways
- Google Maps Timeline lets you track trip details like mileage and stops along the way to understand your travel habits.
- The update includes new controls and tools that give you better control over editing and deleting your Google Maps timeline data.
- To use Google Maps Timeline, make sure location data is enabled and follow the specific instructions for your device.
Google Maps It’s not just a navigation tool. Turn-by-turn directions The Timeline feature allows you to post reviews and comments about local businesses. Google Maps Timeline is a tool that tracks the places you’ve been, including details like the distance traveled and what you did. Other stops You’ll get a comprehensive overview of your activity, including whether you walked, drove or took public transport.
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Google Maps’ Timeline tool acts like a digital travel log, allowing you to reminisce and gain insights into your travel habits, as well as view a list of countries you’ve visited. Automatic tracking based on your device’s location can also be a useful tool for tracking mileage as a tax deduction. However, Google says Timeline is only an estimate, so it may not be as accurate or useful as an app designed specifically for mileage tracking. Still, this free tool does have some features that allow you to track data about how you travel.
Previously known as Location History, the feature has been given some new controls and data tools in a recent update to Google Maps Timeline. This update removes the tools from your computer but adds tools for editing and deleting your data within Google Maps. Google Maps Timeline is available on both Android and iOS devices.
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How to turn on location history in Google Maps
The Timeline feature in Google Maps won’t work unless you give the app permission to track and store your location. If you limit the app’s access to your data after you open Google Maps for the first time, your Timeline data won’t be saved.
The steps to adjust your location settings vary slightly depending on the device you’re using.
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Turn on Google Maps Timeline on Android
- open Google Maps App.
- Tap your profile picture, Your Timeline.
- Tap the detailed menu to select Settings and Privacy.
- scroll Location settingsPlease make sure it says Location onIf it’s not visible, tap Location Off to adjust this setting.
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If you ever want to stop sharing your location with Google, you can always change it in your settings. Follow the steps above, but instead of “Turn location on,” tap “Turn location off.”
Turn on Google Maps Timeline on iOS
- open Google Maps Launch the app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Profile photoSelect Your Timeline.
- choice Personal ContentScroll down to Location settings options.
- Location settings Location services is onIf not, tap Location Services.
- Your iPhone’s Settings app will open, showing the permissions for the Google Maps app. Adjust your location settings as follows: everytime.
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Like Android, you can turn off location sharing at any time to stop recording details to your Timeline. Follow the same steps as above, but in step 5, adjust location to “Never,” “Ask next time,” or “While using app,” depending on your preference.
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How to view a Google Maps timeline
After you turn on location settings and travel a few times, the places you’ve been will appear in your Google Maps timeline, helping you revisit your past trips and understand your driving habits.
The process for turning on Google Maps Timeline is slightly different for Android and iOS, but the process for accessing your data is similar no matter what mobile device you’re using.
- open Google Maps App.
- Tap Profile photo (Your initials if you haven’t set a profile picture).
- choice Your Timeline.
- So Day TabUse the arrows to move to a different day, tap Today to select the date you want on the map, or go to the Trip, Insights, Places, Cities, or World tabs to see historical data.
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How to remove a Google Maps location
Google Maps Timeline has many uses, but sharing your location can pose privacy risks. Google offers users two options to delete previous location data. The first is to manually delete selected dates or all location history. The second is to let Google automatically delete all location history after a pre-selected period of time.
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How to manually delete your Google Timeline data
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- open Google Maps App.
- Tap Profile photo (If you haven’t uploaded one, your initials will show here instead).
- choice Your Timeline.
- Tap … menu.
- choice setting For iOS, or Settings and Privacy On Android.
- Scroll Down Location settings.
- choice Delete All Delete all data or Delete part of the historyClick and select a date range to remove only some dates.
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How to automatically delete your Google Timeline data
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If you want to make sure you remember to manually delete your location data, you can ask Google to delete it all after 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months. The only difference between the iOS and Android processes is the name of the settings menu.
- open Google Maps App.
- please select Profile photo (Your initials if you haven’t set a profile picture).
- choice Your Timeline.
- Tap … menu It’s on the top right.
- choose Settings and Privacy For Android, or setting For iOS:
- In location settings, Automatically delete your location history.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set your desired automatic deletion period.
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Other useful Google Timeline settings to try
Google Maps Timeline has several settings that allow you to customize your list, from adding photos to changing email settings. To see the full list of options, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, and then tap Timeline. Then,[…]Tap Menu and select your location and privacy settings.
Here you can adjust settings such as:
- Display Google Photos in your timeline to enrich your travel memories
- Turn Timeline Emails on or off
- Export your timeline data in case you want to save the information before deleting it from Google or import the details into a document.
- Remove or add an automatic deletion schedule from your timeline data
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