You can easily download and save your entire location history from Google Maps. — Photography Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal, Google Maps AR/AFP Relaxnews
Google will soon delete users' location history by switching its backup service from the cloud to the mobile devices of Maps users. But fear not, it's easy to download this data if you want to save it.
From December 2024, Google will gradually change the way it manages Maps users' location data. Location history, if enabled, will no longer be stored primarily in the cloud. From now on, this data will be stored locally, directly on users' devices, albeit with enhanced encryption options to ensure security. Unfortunately, this change is also accompanied by the automatic deletion of data older than three months. These changes will be rolled out progressively on both Android and iOS, but it's worth taking the lead if you don't want your location history to disappear for good. Of course, for those who have deactivated location saving, this changes nothing.
To avoid losing your data, you need to go to Takeout, the tool that allows you to export your Google data for backup purposes. Users wishing to keep a record of their various trips should uncheck all the boxes except "Location history (Timeline)”, select "Next step,” select the destination of this data and then select "Create export.” And that's it. You'll then receive a copy of your Maps location history.
Location data is personal, and Google has always pledged to keep it confidential and not to resell it. By storing this data directly on their device, users can keep a close watch over it. – AFP Relaxnews
