Google Timeline Glitch Wipes Out Years of Location History for Some Users

A recent glitch in Google Maps has resulted in the permanent loss of Timeline location history for some users, sparking frustration and confusion, especially among those who had been using the feature to document years—sometimes over a decade—of travel data.

Google Maps Timeline, a feature that visually logs a user’s travel history using location data, is widely used to keep track of trips, visits, and daily routes. Earlier this month, Google prompted Android and iOS users to update their Timeline settings to begin storing location data on their devices rather than in the cloud. This shift, part of a larger privacy overhaul, was set to take full effect by May. But before that transition was complete, a technical failure led to an accidental deletion of stored Timeline data for some users.

In an email sent out on Friday, Google confirmed the incident, attributing the data loss to “a technical issue,” and assured affected users that they’re working to improve their systems. However, the email offered limited comfort. Unless users had previously enabled encrypted Timeline backups, their data is now permanently lost.

The fallout has been swift, with many users taking to Reddit and social media to vent their frustration. One user, devastated by the loss of 15 years’ worth of travel logs, said they never enabled backups because they assumed the data was secure. Another called Google’s response “a non-apology” after discovering that their Timeline history had been deleted even though they had already started transitioning to on-device storage in line with Google’s instructions.

Some users with encrypted backups enabled were able to recover part—or in rare cases, all—of their lost data. However, reports are mixed. One Redditor noted that their backup only restored the most recent few weeks, leaving years of data unrecoverable.

Google’s explanation hasn’t satisfied many, especially considering the company’s push for users to move their data on-device. Some affected individuals are now questioning whether they can trust other Google services to safeguard their information.

One particularly alarming report involved a user who said their data vanished even after enabling on-device storage. They posted, “How have they managed to delete data stored on my phone? This sucks so much and is concerning given how much I rely on other Google products.”

This incident also raises broader concerns about data reliability and user transparency. Google says the Timeline backups are encrypted and don’t count toward user storage quotas, but they are not enabled by default. Without clear communication and explicit user action, it’s easy for even tech-savvy users to miss the backup step—especially with the assumption that Google services automatically retain such history.

If you’re worried about losing your own Timeline data, Google now recommends making sure you have the latest version of Google Maps installed and enabling backups manually. To do so, open the app, tap your profile picture, go to “Your Timeline,” tap the cloud icon, and toggle on backups. Data will then be backed up automatically when your phone is idle, charging, and connected to Wi-Fi.

While Google’s statement attempts to downplay the scope of the issue, calling it a “brief technical issue,” the emotional weight of losing years of personal history is anything but brief for affected users.