Did Google erase your Google Maps Timeline data by mistake? Here’s how to check and what to do if it happened

Google Maps is a highly useful tool for many, allowing them to navigate around unknown places and find the quickest public transport routes across town. If you have ever used the popular application, you’ll know that the history of where you’ve previously asked for travel routes is saved in a user-friendly and simple way. But that may not be the case for a lot of people after the latest wobble from Google.

While it’s true that earlier in the month, Google had instructed both iOS and Android users to update their Google Maps Timeline settings to shift primary storage of their data from Google’s servers to their own devices, with those who failed to make the change risking seeing their data wiped.

So when an email was sent out on Friday by Google saying that a “technical issue” had resulted in the loss of Timeline data for certain individuals, people thought that the two things were related: this is not the case, it was a mistake that they have apologised for.

How can I restore my Google Maps history and data?

In the email, Google explained that those with “encrypted backups enabled may be able to restore data”, adding that users must have the latest version of the app. Just go to your Timeline, tap the cloud icon near the top of the screen, and choose a backup to import.

If you want to enable Backup, simply open Google Maps on your Android or iOS device and tap your profile icon in the upper right corner. Select “Your timeline,” then tap the cloud icon next to the “Timeline” heading. This will then take you to the Backup page, where you’ll find a toggle to turn on Backups. Simply follow the on-screen instructions from that point and you’re good to go.

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Unfortunately, those who did not have backups turned on have had their data definitively wiped and the history cannot be restored. Google, in their much-criticised email, added that they are “taking steps to improve our systems for the future“.

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