Timeline is only in the Google Maps app on Android and iPhone: the data comes straight from the device, so Google says "Timeline is not available for Maps on your computer." It's off by default and only records if you turned it on.
Where it is on the phone
Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Your Timeline. You need Google Maps 11.106 or later on Android (Timeline isn't available on Android Go devices) or 6.93 or later on iPhone. To jump to another day, tap Today (Android) or Show calendar (iPhone) and swipe through the calendar.
To turn it on, go to More > Location & privacy settings and check that Location and Timeline both say "on" (on iPhone, Location Services must be set to Always). Turning it on means the phone saves its precise location on the device, including when Google apps aren't open.
Back it up before you switch phones
Timeline data sits on each device, and edits or deletions on one device don't carry over to the others. A factory reset deletes it from the device. So does clearing Google Play services data on Android, or deleting Google Maps on an iPhone. Backup is the way to move it.
- In Your Timeline, tap the cloud icon at the top right.
- On the Backup screen, turn on Backup and confirm.
Backup is opt-in per device on Android, and auto-delete has to be off first. Changes can take a few days to show up in a backup. On the new phone, open the same cloud screen, pick the old device under Your backups, then More > Import.
If you see "your encrypted data is locked on this device", re-enter your password on the device that created the backup. If you no longer have that device, the only fix is to turn off backups and delete the existing ones.
You can also export a copy. On Android that's in the phone's Settings app > Location > Location services > Timeline > Export Timeline data. On an iPhone it's in the Maps app under Settings > Location & Privacy, and it saves location-history.json.
Delete it
Deletion is permanent. In Your Timeline, go to More > Location & privacy settings and pick:
- Delete all Timeline data
- Delete range of Timeline data
- Auto-delete Timeline, which removes anything older than 3, 18 or 36 months
For one day or one visit, open the day from the calendar and use More > Delete day, or More > Remove next to the visit. Deleting parts of Timeline can only be done in the Maps app. You can turn off or delete all of it from My Google Activity.
Backups are separate. Deleting Timeline doesn't delete the backups, and deleting backups doesn't delete the Timeline on your devices. Other location data may remain in your account through Search or Maps activity, or in photos, depending on your settings.
Sources
- Google Maps Help — Manage your Google Maps Timeline (computer, Android and iPhone tabs) (checked Nov 9, 2026)