Google Maps users have been reporting on platforms like Reddit that their Timeline data, which records their location history, has suddenly disappeared.
Now, Google has confirmed that the data was accidentally deleted, and users who didn’t enable cloud backups won’t be able to recover it.
Google spokesperson Genevieve Park acknowledged the issue in an email to The Verge, stating that a technical error caused the deletion. She confirmed that users with encrypted Timeline backups can restore their data, but those without backups enabled have lost their data permanently.
A Reddit post spotted by Android Authority showed users receiving a similar email from Google, which included steps for recovering data—provided they had turned on cloud backup. To check if backups are enabled, open Google Maps on iOS or Android, tap your user icon, go to “Your timeline”, and look for a cloud icon—an arrow inside means backups are on, while a line through it means they are off. Users can tap the icon to adjust their backup settings.
Google had previously announced switching to on-device storage for location history, enhancing privacy by keeping data off Google’s servers. However, this incident highlights a major downside—without cloud backups, data loss is permanent. While Google Maps allows users to export their location history, the company has not provided a way to reimport lost data without relying on cloud backups.
