#google timeline

A recent glitch in Google Maps has resulted in the permanent loss of Timeline location history for some users, sparking frustration and confusion, especially among those who had been using the feature to document years—sometimes over a decade—of travel data. Google Maps Timeline, a feature that visually logs a user's travel history using location data, is widely used to keep track of trips, visits, and daily routes. Earlier this month, Google prompted Android and iOS users to update their Timeline settings to begin storing location data on their devices rather than in the cloud. But before that transition was complete, a technical failure led to an accidental deletion of stored Timeline data for some users. In an email sent out on Friday, Google confirmed the incident, attributing the data loss to “a technical issue,” and assured affected users that they’re working to improve their systems. Unless users had previously enabled encrypted Timeline backups, their data is now permanently lost. Another called Google's response “a non-apology” after discovering that their Timeline history had been deleted even though they had already started transitioning to on-device storage in line with Google's instructions. Google's explanation hasn't satisfied many, especially considering the company’s push for users to move their data on-device. Read more in our articles including "Google Timeline Glitch Wipes Out Years of Location History for Some Users" and "The day Google broke the Web".