Key findings

• Google Maps Timeline tracks trip details like mileage and stops to provide insight into travel habits.
• New controls and tools in the update improve editing and deleting timeline data in Google Maps.
• To use Google Maps Timeline, make sure location data is enabled and follow the specific steps depending on your device.

Google Maps is more than just a simple navigation tool. In addition to the Directions and reviews of local businesses is a feature called Timeline. The Google Maps Timeline is a tool that tracks where you have been, including details like how many miles you have traveled, what other stops you made or even whether you walked, drove, or used public transportation. In short, it’s a complete, comprehensive summary of your activities.

Google Maps’ Timeline tool serves as a sort of digital travel diary that lets you reminisce and even gain insight into your travel habits or view a full list of countries you’ve visited. Automatic tracking based on your device’s location can also be a helpful tool for tracking your miles as a tax deduction. However, Google says the Timeline is only an estimate, meaning it may not be as accurate or practical as apps specifically designed for tracking miles. Still, the free tool offers several features for tracking data about your trip.

A recent update, formerly called Location History, brought several new controls and data tools to Google Maps Timeline. While the update removes the tool from computers, it brings more tools for editing and deleting your data in Google Maps. Google Maps Timeline is available on both Android and iOS devices.

How to enable location history in Google Maps

Google Maps’ Timeline feature only works if you’ve given the app permission to track and store your location data. If you restrict the app’s access to your data after you first open Google Maps, no Timeline data will be stored.

The process for adjusting your location settings varies slightly depending on which device you are using.

Enable Google Maps timeline on Android

1. Open the Google Maps App.
2. Tap your profile picture and then select Your timeline.
3. Tap the More menu and then select Settings & Privacy.
4. Scroll to Location settingsthen make sure it says Location is onIf you don’t see this, tap Location is off to adjust this setting.

If you no longer want to share your location with Google, you can change this at any time in Settings. Follow the steps above, but instead of tapping “Location is on,” tap “Location is off.”

Enable Google Maps timeline on iOS

1. Open the Google Maps App on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your Profile pictureand then select Your timeline.
3. Choose Personal contentand then scroll to Location settings options.
4. Make sure your location settings are The location service is activated. If not, tap Location Service.
5. This will open the Settings app on your iPhone, where you can view the permissions for the Google Maps app. Adjust the location setting Always.

As with Android, you can turn off location sharing at any time to stop recording details in the timeline. Follow the same steps as above, except that in step five, change the location to “Never,” “Ask next time,” or “While using the app,” depending on your preference.

How to view your Google Maps timeline

Once you’ve enabled location settings and taken a few trips, your Google Maps timeline will show the places you’ve been, so you can look back on past trips or gain insights into your driving behavior.

While the process for enabling Google Maps Timeline is slightly different on Android and iOS, accessing your data follows a similar process regardless of which mobile device you use.

1. Open the Google Maps App.
2. Tap your Profile photo (or your initial if you don’t have a profile picture set).
3. Choose Your timeline.
4. In the Day tabuse the arrows to navigate to a different day, or tap Today, then select the day you want on the map. Or navigate to the Travel, Insights, Places, Cities, or World tabs to view your past data.

How to delete your Google Maps locations

While there are many potential uses for the Google Maps timeline, sharing your location can pose privacy risks. Google offers users two ways to delete their previous location data. The first is to manually delete a selected date or all location history. The second is to have Google automatically delete all location history after a pre-selected period of time.

How to manually delete your Google Timeline data

1. Open the Google Maps App.
2. Tap your Profile photo (If you haven’t uploaded one, your initial will appear here instead).
3. Choose Your timeline.
4. Tap the … Menu.
5. Choose Settings on iOS or Settings and privacy on Android.
6. Scroll down to Location settings.
7. Choose Delete all to remove all data, or select Delete part of your historyand then select a date range to remove only some data.

How to automatically delete your Google Timeline data

If you don’t want to remember to manually delete your locations, you can ask Google to delete everything after three, 18, or 36 months. The only difference between iOS and Android is what the settings menu is called.

1. Open the Google Maps App.
2. Choose your Profile picture (or initial if you have not set a profile picture).
3. Choose Your timeline.
4. Tap the … Menu is located at the top right.
5. Choose Settings and privacy on Android or Settings on iOS.
6. Under Location Settings, tap Automatically delete location history.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to set the desired auto-deletion period.

Other useful Google Timeline settings to try out

The Google Maps timeline has several other settings you can use to customize your list, from adding your photos to changing your email settings. To see the full list of options, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then tap your timeline. Then tap the … menu and select Location & privacy settings.

Here you can adjust settings such as:

• Display your Google Photos in your timeline to enhance your travel memories
• Turn timeline emails on or off
• Export your timeline data if you want to save your information before deleting it from Google or if you want to import your data into a document
• Delete or add a schedule to automatically delete your timeline data