Google Maps has recently announced a significant change in how it handles your location data. Instead of storing this information on the cloud, Google will now save it locally on your device. This shift is part of the company’s broader efforts to enhance user privacy and security, as well as to give users more control over their personal data.
The feature previously known as Location History, now called Timeline, tracks your routes and trips based on your phone’s location. This allows you to revisit places you have been to in the past. However, rather than linking this data to your Google account, Google will now tie it to the specific devices you use. This change was initially announced in December 2023 as part of Google’s commitment to strengthening privacy measures.
Users have until December 1st to save all their travels to their mobile device before Google starts deleting old data. Moreover, the transition to on-device storage means that accessing your Timeline from the web will no longer be possible starting in December. If users do not enable the new Timeline settings by the deadline, Google will attempt to move the past 90 days of their travel history to the first device they sign in to with their Google account. Any data older than that will be deleted.
Managing Your Location Data
To continue using Timeline, users need to open Google Maps on their mobile device, click on their profile picture in the top-right corner, and select “Your Timeline.” From there, they can choose whether to keep their location data indefinitely until they manually delete it or have Google automatically delete it after three, 18, or 36 months. The data that users opt to keep will be stored on their device for easy access.
Google’s decision to shift from cloud storage to on-device storage for location data is a significant step towards enhancing user privacy and data security. By giving users more control over their data and how it is managed, Google is taking a proactive approach to safeguarding user information. It is important for users to familiarize themselves with these changes and adjust their settings accordingly to ensure they continue to have access to their travel history and location data.
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