● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Guide to disabling Google Maps location history and timeline features
Key points
- Google Maps logs user travel history via its location timeline feature.
- Users can disable location history globally or per device.
- Options include turning off the feature or turning off and deleting data.
- Auto-delete settings allow removal of data older than 3, 18, or 36 months.
Google Maps Location Timeline Feature
Google Maps includes a location timeline feature that records a user's travel history. While this feature can be useful for recalling past locations, it also raises privacy concerns for some users. Google has transitioned to storing location history locally on devices, unless a manual backup is performed.
Disabling Location History
Users can disable the Google Maps Timeline feature through the Location settings in Google's My Activity panel. Alternatively, settings can be adjusted directly from the phone, as Timeline data originates from and is primarily viewed on the device. These settings are device-specific, requiring individual configuration for each device using Maps.
Step-by-Step Instructions
To disable the feature, open the Google Maps app, tap the profile picture, select 'Your timeline', then tap the three dots and choose 'Location and privacy settings'. From there, select 'Timeline' and choose either 'Turn off' to stop logging new data while keeping existing data, or 'Turn off and delete activity' to also clear historical data.
Managing Historical Data
Users can also manage how long historical location data is retained by adjusting auto-delete settings. Within the 'Location and privacy settings' menu, under the 'Auto-delete' section, users can select to delete activity older than three, 18, or 36 months. Additional subsettings control other uses of this data.
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Reporting from
Google Maps offers a location timeline feature that logs user travel history, which can be disabled for privacy concerns. Users can turn off this feature globally or on specific devices, and also manage auto-delete settings for historical data. This provides users with more control over their location data stored by Google Maps.