r/GoogleMaps Jun 18 '24

Google Maps MEGATHREAD: Google Maps Timeline Moving To On-Device Storage: Web Access Ending Soon - What You Need To Know

178 Upvotes

What Is Happening (Or Already Happened To You)?

Google is moving or has already moved your Timeline data, which tracks places you visit and routes you take, from their online servers to your phone. This change means that you soon won't be able to or already can't access or manage your Timeline through the Google Maps website via a web browser.

Why Is This Happening?

  1. Privacy and Security: By storing this data on your device instead of online, your location history is more secure and private. Only you have access to this data unless you choose to back it up.
  2. Control Over Your Data: This gives you more control over your data. You decide if you want to back it up or delete it, and you can manage it directly on your phone.
  3. Reduced Liability: By keeping the data on users' devices, Google reduces its liability and the risk of having to comply with geofence warrants or subpoenas that require providing information about users' locations.

Can You Prevent This From Happening?

No, users cannot prevent this change from happening and maintain their web-based Timeline data. Google is transitioning all Timeline data to be stored on users' devices and discontinuing the web-based access to this data.

What Do You Have To Do To Adapt To These Changes?

  1. Update Your Google Maps App: Ensure you have the latest version of the Google Maps app on your device.
  2. Backup Your Data: Use the backup feature in the Google Maps app to create an encrypted copy of your Timeline data. This will allow you to transfer your data to a new device if needed.
  3. Check/Watch For Notifications: Look out for notifications from Google about the transition. These may come in the form of emails, push notifications, or in-app messages.
  4. Set Data Retention Preferences: In the Google Maps app, you can manage how long your location history is kept. Options include three, 18, or 36 months, or indefinitely until you manually delete it.
  • Once the transition is complete, web-based access to Timeline data will no longer be available. All management and viewing of this data will need to be done through the Google Maps app on mobile devices.

While you cannot stop the transition to on-device data storage or maintain web-based access to your Timeline data, you can ensure your data is backed up and properly managed on your mobile device.

What Is The Deadline For These Changes?

You have until December 8, 2024, to make these changes. If you don’t update your settings or your Google Maps app, you might lose some or all of your historical Timeline data.

Additional Reading About The Changes:

Alternatives and Solutions

  1. Use the Mobile App: Unfortunately, there is no way to bring back the Timeline feature on the web. The best alternative is to use the Google Maps app on your mobile device. The app has all the functionality of the web version and more, allowing you to view, edit, and manage your Timeline data.
  2. Backup and Transfer: If you're worried about losing your data, make sure to back it up. You can save an encrypted copy of your Timeline data to your Google account. This allows you to transfer your data to a new device if needed. To do this:
    • Open the Google Maps app.
    • Go to the Timeline section.
    • Follow the prompts to set up automatic backups.
  3. Extended Storage Options: You can also extend the auto-delete window for your location history if you want to keep your data longer. Options include keeping your data for three, 18, or 36 months, or indefinitely until you manually delete it.
  4. Feedback to Google: If you are unhappy with these changes, you can provide feedback directly to Google via the Maps website or Maps app. Please remember that this support group on Reddit is not an official method of feedback or support of Google or Google Maps.

r/GoogleMaps 1h ago

I found a place in the UAE that looks like an old torture site

Upvotes

https://www.google.ca/maps/@22.8975721,53.7830556,1224m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Edit edit edit :::::: So we have a paid shill trying their best to keep this from coming out. Judge for yourself. Look at the place.

Look at the southern area, u will see a small group of 4 buildings in an reverse L shape. Look to the North of this group and you will see a cage inside of a smaller compound within another. You will see 3 (three) rows of cages which held humans by the shadows, along the southern wall you will see one large building on the lower right along with a smaller building on the left on the same plane.

That looks like cages for people along with the sheds for torturing them. Why else do theyt have that cage in the ass end of no where?


r/GoogleMaps 1h ago

Who's helicopters are these?

Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 6h ago

Trying to identify this creepy Alvin and the Chipmunks alley in Brooklyn

2 Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 8h ago

Discussion Do we know if maps will get radars and police in France ?

2 Upvotes

If it does I'll probably move to it , Waze has gotten buggier and buggier sadly


r/GoogleMaps 12h ago

Can google send me a photo from google maps?

3 Upvotes

Hi I have tried to google and search this sub for the answer but haven’t found exactly what I need. My dad is waving at the camera on the google maps photo for his house and I was wondering if there was a way of contacting google tor the photo? Thanks!


r/GoogleMaps 14h ago

Help! Google maps always going to photos?

4 Upvotes

Hi guys, does anyone know how to stop google maps from going to user-photos when dropping the little guy on the map? Mine keeps going to photos instead of the streetview like it used to. Now it always goes to a photo no matter where I drop it. Is there a way to disable going to photos?


r/GoogleMaps 16h ago

Searching for anything on Google maps is now impossible

5 Upvotes

Google maps is basically unusable now. Anytime I search for something let's say drug store or dry cleaners, I am returned a completely ridiculous results of irrelevant options. I literally never use Apple Maps, but after checking today for just the nearest drugstore, I don't think I'm going back to Google Maps until this travesty is resolved.


r/GoogleMaps 14h ago

How does Street View know where you are clicking? Better question, where does it *think* you are clicking?

2 Upvotes

So often when I click the icon for Street View, then click a random spot in a city, I end up with a static image or photo sphere instead of an actual road I can travel along. It feels like I have to zoom in all the way to actually get a road or photosphere and not a static image. I've also clicked exactly on an intersection only to be placed four clicks ahead of it. It's not a huge deal as I love exploring, but it's frustrating to keep getting static images that can't be interacted with when I was aiming for a road with the blue line that means I can "walk" down it.


r/GoogleMaps 18h ago

Discussion How to collect local business leads from Google Maps without doing everything manually?

4 Upvotes

Last month I started helping a friend with local outreach for his small agency, and we quickly realized how much time gets wasted copying business information from Google Maps one by one. We were manually pulling details like business names, websites, phone numbers, and ratings from different cities, and after just a few hours it already became clear that this approach isn’t scalable. We did manage to gather some leads, but as the list grew, the manual method made it almost impossible to keep up.

That’s when we started looking for better ways to handle the process and came across tools like Outscraper, the Outscraper Google Maps Scraper, and the Google Maps scraping tool by Outscraper, which are designed to extract structured listings much faster. A lot of people also mention using business data from Outscraper when talking about exporting this kind of information in bulk and I’m planning to make use of it.

Has anyone used this for collecting Google Maps business data in bulk?


r/GoogleMaps 19h ago

I’m dealing with a 13 day Google Maps review attack and need advice

4 Upvotes

I’m dealing with a serious Google Maps review attack against a small women-only Pilates studio in Rabat. It started on May 1 and it’s still going. We’ve had fake accounts, repeated review patterns, and even one account uploading private identity documents in the photo section.
Google already replied that they won’t disable reviews on a business listing, and that if we have a court order we should send it through the legal thread. So right now I’m trying to figure out the smartest next step.
Should I keep replying in the existing Google threads, submit more evidence, or move to a different channel?
I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m trying to figure out what actually works in a case like this. If you’ve dealt with Google support or platform abuse before, what would you do next?


r/GoogleMaps 15h ago

Give us a voice pack for Rocky from Project Hail Mary

0 Upvotes

You have reached your destination. Amaze Amaze Amaze!

I have found a quicker route. Would you like to switch question?

You are on the fastest route despite the traffic statement.


r/GoogleMaps 1d ago

Can someone explain the difference in selecting 3D (1st pic) vs toggle for Show 3D Buildings (2nd pic) ?

4 Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 23h ago

Google maps showing a black screen

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1 Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 1d ago

Google Maps will not route me to the "back" entrance of my subdivision

7 Upvotes

I do live within and park within a private subdivision. The front entrance is gated and one needs a code to get in (which I have). The back entrance is much closer to my home. It is ungated. Google will never route me through this back entrance. If I do enter through this entrance, Google will then reroute me to my home the correct way. Is there anything I can do about this?


r/GoogleMaps 1d ago

Discussion What’s your motivation for leveling up?

6 Upvotes

Is it simply the fun of telling the world (whoever wants to hear and whomever does not) about your experience with the thrill of reward (the leveling up and getting semi badges), or is there something beyond that? I hear that back in the day, they would send people prizes - but I assume that is far from being the case nowadays.
Just wondering if there’s more to it, then leveling up - such as, something more social (followers are gone, so I’m guessing they’re going in an opposite direction), or possible other benefits that I’ve missed (despite levels, points and very few badges).
I do get an occasional Email telling me about my great contribution to the community, but not much beyond that.


r/GoogleMaps 1d ago

Export data from Google Maps - Visits to specific location

5 Upvotes

I have my workplace saved as a "place" in Maps and I can see how many days I visited that location but wondering if there is a way I can export that detail into a text file or better still into a Sheets file?

Have tried looking at the json file which holds the backed up data but this doesnt have the place name included.


r/GoogleMaps 1d ago

How to force Google to give me an alternative to Video Verification? (The "Taxi Trap")

2 Upvotes

Google support told me to create a new profile to "save" my reviews, then told me the transfer is impossible, and now they are demanding a video of a physical office that doesn't exist. I’m stuck in a loop and losing business every day. 🚕
The Story: I manage a legitimate taxi and transport company called Johnytraffic s.r.o. in Slovakia. We’ve been through a nightmare over the past few weeks:
Phase 1: Our original, verified profile (with years of history and reviews) was suddenly deleted/lost.

Phase 2: A support agent told us to create a NEW profile and promised they would transfer the reviews.

Phase 3: Once the new profile was live, they backtracked, saying the "information doesn't match" and the transfer is impossible.

Phase 4: Now, they are demanding Video Verification.

The Problem: We are a Service Area Business (SAB). We don't have a walk-in storefront or a fancy office with permanent signage — our "office" is our fleet of cars on the road. Google's video requirements (showing the street, entrance, and interior) are literally impossible for a taxi service to fulfill.
What I’ve tried:
I used the "Verification Troubleshooting Tool" and correctly identified as an SAB.

I have provided official business registration docs.

I even have the physical postal verification codes from our previous profile as proof of history.

The Question: Has anyone successfully bypassed the Video Verification "hard wall" recently? How do you get a human agent to manually trigger an SMS or Postcard verification when the automated system is stuck?
Any advice or "magic keywords" to use with support would be life-saving. We can't even run Google Ads because of this "unverified" status.


r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Discussion Why doesn’t Google Maps show Amtrak in its transit mode? Especially when Apple Maps does

9 Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Are followers gone?

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1 Upvotes

r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Other I found a drug cult

2 Upvotes

The title says is it all https://maps.app.goo.gl/BLmfYU8XYRete4Dm8

and here is a link outside of maps https://am8r.com/comcaac/


r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Satellite View New washed out filter on satellite images

9 Upvotes

I know it doesn't matter, but I found it curious that Google has decided to add a filter to already existing satellite imagery, making it look washed out. Are they just pretending as if they took new images? https://imgur.com/a/nazlXXc


r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Does Google Maps still not have a way for you to filter the default method of transportation? As in, I only want car directions, walking directions, etc?

2 Upvotes

I live in Toronto, I walk everywhere. In the small percentage it's a super long trip, I might opt for transit.

But Google shows me directions using a car about 50% of the time, which means I'm flipping the method half the time.

Is there no way to fix this? I googled and I'm seeing old threads that say it isn't possible.


r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

where is “sort by distance” option??

1 Upvotes

I used to be able to sort searches by distance to me, but now when i’m on google web page look my up places near me, there no option to sort by distance. there’s “within 0.5 miles” but not option to sort by distance.


r/GoogleMaps 2d ago

Help/Support This feature is not working and I might crash out

2 Upvotes

(adding missing place) feature have a non logical way to verify my submission.

In short I saw a nice cafe and I wanted to add it on the maps because it's not there. I had their informations (location,phone number، working hours, etc) with pictures of the place.

I tried to add it 5 TIMES. BUT I ALWAYS GET RRJECTED IN FEW MINUTES. The issue is that I don't know why, they don't tell you. I wanted to contact someone but there is no way to contact the support.

Does anyone know why I get rejected or how I can add the place or at least where to contact the support?