Google Maps Timeline Vanishes for Some Users Amid On-Device Storage Transition

There is a widespread issue affecting some Google Maps users, where their Timeline history mysteriously disappeared. The problem has been widely reported on forums like Reddit, where users bemoan the loss of years of location history. The problem seems to be related to the recent switch by Google from storing location history in the cloud to locally on the device, a change intended to enhance user privacy by preventing Google from being able to respond to geofence warrants.
Google started this migration in December 2024, and users have until June 9, 2025, to transfer their data onto device storage. Any data left in the cloud thereafter will be erased permanently. Despite adhering to Google’s invitation to switch to on-device storage, some users are finding that their Timeline history is not available. When they attempt to view their Timeline, they receive a “No visits for this day” message for every date.
Not only does the loss of Timeline data happen for recent events but also for years’ worth of old data. The affected users have mentioned that although their Timeline is activated, they cannot see any of the old events. In addition to that, some of the users are unable to restore their cloud backups, which further complicates things. They are only able to do this by deleting all of their information, which is not the answer for those who want to recover their lost history.
Why it is happening is still unclear, with speculation revolving around whether or not it might be a glitch on the screen preventing users from viewing their Timeline history or actually a data deletion bug. The users need to check their settings to ensure the location history has been enabled and restart their phones to see if the data would come back. There is yet no known way to fix it.
Google’s move to on-device storage is one part of a broader effort to improve privacy through limits on the company’s ability to access users’ location history. While the move is aimed at strengthening privacy protections, it has created users’ concerns about losing their historical data. The worry is enhanced by the lack of clear guidance on how to restore lost Timeline data, making many users unsure what will be done with their location history.
The impact of this problem varies with different users, with a few saying their Timeline history came back after some time. However, for others, the data is still out of reach. The uncertainty if the data actually gets deleted or just remains invisible due to a glitch adds to the frustration. Users are patiently waiting for feedback from Google in order to resolve the problem and retrieve their missing Timeline history.
In the meantime, users are advised not to remove any information since a server-side solution might resolve the issue. The problem highlights the challenges in the handling of personal data today such that changing storage policies has long-term effects on user experiences. As Google continues to advance its services with a focus on placing privacy in the center, it needs to ensure that such adjustments do not inadvertently harm users by erasing precious personal information.