How to Take Control of Your Location Data in Google Maps

Google Maps tracks everywhere you go and saves this location data to your account. This allows Google to build an extremely detailed timeline of your movements.

While this location tracking can be useful for personalized recommendations and features, it also raises privacy concerns.

Fortunately, Google Maps gives you tools to manage this sensitive information.

See Your Detailed Location History Timeline

Google Maps continuously logs your location and saves this to your account as your Location History. Here is how you can view this detailed timeline:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Your Timeline from the menu.

You will now see an overview of your location history by day, with the ability to drill down into specific places you have been.

This timeline can reveal extremely personal details about your life.

Download Your Location History for Personal Records

Before erasing any location history, you may want to download a copy for your personal records. Follow these steps:

1. Tap your profile picture and choose Your data in Maps.
2. Scroll down and select Download your Maps data.
3. Pick the data categories you want to download.
4. Choose a transfer destination like email, cloud storage, etc.
5. Customize the file type, size and frequency.
6. Tap Create export.

Your location history will now be exported to your selected destination. You can access these records even after deleting the data from Google's servers.

Delete All or Parts of Your Location History

If you want to delete all or some of your Google Maps location history, follow these instructions:

Delete All Location History

1. Tap your profile and choose Your Timeline.
2. Select Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Delete all Location History.
4. Check the box and confirm deletion.

Delete Location History by Day/Range

1. Go to your Timeline.
2. Tap the menu and choose Delete day or Delete range.
3. Set the day(s) or date range to erase.
4. Confirm that you want to delete.

The selected location history will be permanently erased from Google's records. Any associated images or other data may still remain in your Google account.

Turn Off Google Maps Location Tracking

Preventing further location tracking can enhance privacy. To disable location history collection:

1. Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture.
2. Choose Your Timeline.
3. Select Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Location History is on and confirm your account.
5. Switch Location History to the Off position.

With this setting disabled, your movements will no longer be logged and added to your Google Maps timeline.

Set Location History to Auto-Delete

An alternative to completely turning off location tracking is to enable auto-delete older history:

1. Go to your Timeline's Settings and privacy page.
2. Tap Automatic delete Location History.
3. Pick an expiration timeframe like 3 months, 1 year, etc.
4. Confirm your selection.

Any location history older than your selected timeframe will be automatically erased by Google on an ongoing basis.

Weighing the Tradeoffs of Location Tracking

Location tracking in Google Maps provides useful features but raises privacy issues. Consider these key pros and cons when deciding what to share with Google:

Potential Benefits:

1. Personalized recommendations and ads
2. Mapping your routes and places for memory
3. Identifying new places you might enjoy
4. Features based on where you go

Potential Downsides:

1. Privacy and security concerns
2. Unexpected use of sensitive data
3. Embarrassing location details exposed
4. Ads that can feel intrusive

Take Control of Your Data

Google Maps can provide useful location-based features, but the company should not have unilateral access to your sensitive personal information.