As soon as often known as Location Historical past, Google Maps’ Timeline characteristic is a enjoyable solution to view a chronicle of the locations you’ve got visited, and routes to took to get there. You need not do something to maintain tabs in your adventures, as Google Maps merely logs your exact location at random occasions—even once you aren’t utilizing a Google app.
Your Timeline knowledge has historically been tied to your Google Account. Any time you utilize a linked gadget to go on a visit, you are capable of entry that knowledge wherever you’ve got signed into your Google Account. That is handy, however not essentially the most privacy-conscious possibility—particularly for a characteristic that repeatedly logs your exact location within the background.
Nevertheless, as reported by Android Police, Google is transitioning away from Timeline, at the very least on the internet. Going ahead, the plan is to generate and preserve Timeline knowledge in your gadget itself. Whilst you can nonetheless protect your earlier Timeline escapades and hyperlink them to your present gadget, going ahead, every gadget will generate its personal knowledge that may by no means be despatched to the cloud. Which means in case you use your iPhone as your foremost Google Maps GPS gadget however take an Android telephone on a person highway journey, neither gadget will know concerning the different’s adventures. As a byproduct of this alteration, Google will now not show any Timeline knowledge on the internet, as all knowledge shall be locked to customers’ gadgets.
Here is the place issues get a bit dicey: Google may additionally delete your previous Timeline knowledge except you are taking motion. The corporate stated in an e-mail despatched to affected customers that it’ll “strive” to save lots of the final 90 days of Timeline knowledge from the primary gadget you utilize along with your Google Accounts after Dec. 1, 2024. Older knowledge will merely be erased.
The right way to protect your Google Maps Timeline knowledge
Fortunately, it is simple sufficient to maintain the Timeline knowledge you have already got. In response to Google’s e-mail to customers, you first must replace the Google Maps app on the gadget you want to save lots of the information to. (Bear in mind, this knowledge saves to particular gadgets now, so you may solely be capable of entry it from this one gadget.) From there, you need to obtain a immediate through push notification, e-mail, or in-app notification. Observe the directions, faucet Finished, and you will be all set.
As famous, the deadline is Dec. 1, 2024, so you might have almost six months to get this completed. Nonetheless, in case you actually care about Timeline, it could be higher to set it up in your most popular gadget at your earliest comfort. Additionally think about backing up your Timeline knowledge. That approach, in case you transfer gadgets, you can restore it.
That stated, if you do not have Timeline enabled, you will want to allow it out of your normal Google Account settings first. (I did not have the characteristic turned on myself. When I attempt to entry Timeline from the online after enabling it, I get a pop-up that tells me the characteristic is not out there on the internet anymore, and to make use of the app as a substitute. Oh properly.)
Credit score: Lifehacker
