Want to secure your Google Maps Timeline? Here's how to set up Google Cloud backup

Google recently confirmed that a bug in its system led to the wiping of Google Maps timeline history for some users.

According to the company, the bug affected mostly those who didn’t have their timeline history backed up, leading to an irreversible loss of their data.

While Google is working to ensure that there’s no repeat of such incidents, it has also indirectly suggested that Google Maps users should back up their data as a precaution, and this guide will help you do that.

How to back up Google Maps

Some people find Google Maps backup very important as it helps them keep track of where they have been.

If you’re one of them, you may wish to protect your timeline with a backup on your Android device by following the steps below.

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app.

Tap your profile picture or initial on your timeline and scroll down to Settings, tap on it to view the options.

Under the options, you’ll see Maps history, tap on it.

Under the options, you’ll see the Auto-delete option. On my device, it is turned off but if it’s turned off on your device, tap on it and proceed to the next step.

Here, select the Don’t auto-delete activity option and click on the next button and that’s it.

Subsequently, your timeline history will be automatically saved on the cloud so that if there’s any other bug that wipes out Google Maps timelines, yours won’t be affected.

Act now

You may have lost your Google Maps timeline history this time, but you can prevent it happening again by simply following these steps to activate your backup for the app.

The steps are easy to follow, but they just serve as a guide because depending on your Android brand and model, your own settings may be slightly different.

Feel free to explore our other guides on this website that may answer some questions you may have as well.