In the coming months, the Location History setting name will change to Timeline. If Location History is turned on for your account, you may find Timeline in your app and account settings.
Location History is aGoogleAccount setting that creates Timeline, a personal map that helps you remember:
- Places you go
- Routes to destinations
- Trips you take
It can also give you personalized experiences across Google based on where you go.
When Location History is on, even when Google apps aren’t in use, your precise device location is regularly saved to:
- Your devices
- Google servers
To make Google experiences helpful for everyone, we may use your data to:
- Show information based on anonymized location data, such as:
- Popular times
- Environmental insights
- Detect and prevent fraud and abuse.
- Improve and develop Google services, such as ads products.
- Help businesses determine if people visit their stores because of an ad, if you have .
- We share only anonymous estimates, not personal data, with businesses.
- This activity can include info about your location from your device's general area and IP address.
Learn more about how Google uses location data.
Things to know about Location History:
- Location History is off by default. We can only use it if you turn Location History on.
- You can turn off Location History at any time in your Google Account's Activity controls.
- You can review and manage your Location History. You can:
- Review places you’ve been in Google Maps Timeline.
- Edit or delete your Location History anytime.
Important:Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
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Learn how Google Play services can use your location.
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Learn how Google uses Location data within Google's Privacy Policy.
Turn Location History on or off
You can turn off Location History for your account at any time. If you use a work or school account, your administrator needs to make this setting available for you. If they do, you'll be able to use Location History as any other user.
- Go to the "Location History" section of your Google Account.
- Choose whether your account or your devices can report Location History to Google.
- Your account and all devices: At the top, turn Location History on or off.
- Only a certain device: Under "This device" or "Devices on this account," turn the device on or off.
When Location History is on
Google can estimate your location with:
- Signals like Wi-Fi and mobile networks
- GPS
- Sensor information
Your device location may also periodically be used in the background. When Location History is on, even when Google apps aren’t in use, your device’s precise location is regularly saved to:
- Your devices
- Google servers
When you’re signed in with your Google Account, it saves the Location History of each device with the setting “Devices on this account” turned on You can find this setting in the Location History settings on your Google Account.
You can choose which devices provide their location data to Location History. Your settings don’t change for other location services on your device, such as:
- Google Location Services
- Location Sharing
- Find My Device
When Location History is off
Your device doesn’t save its location to your Location History.
- You may have previous Location History data in your account. You can manually delete it anytime.
- Your settings don’t change for other location services on your device, such as:
- Google Location Services
- Location Sharing
- Find My Device
- If settings like Web and App Activity are on but you turn off Location History or delete location data from Location History, your Google Account may still save location data as part of your use of other Google sites, apps, and services.This activity can include info about your location from your device’s general area and IP address.
- Example: When your Web and App Activity setting is on, it may save location data, including your photos, as activity on Search and Google Maps.
Delete Location History
You can manage and delete your Location History information with Google Maps Timeline. You can choose to delete all of your history, or only parts of it.
Important: When you delete Location History information from Timeline, you won't be able to see it again.
Use the Google Maps app
Delete all Location History
- On your Android device, open the Google Maps app
. - Tapyour profile picture or initialYour Timeline .
- In the top right, tap More Settings and privacy.
- Under "Location settings," tap Delete all Location History.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
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Your Timeline 
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Delete a range of Location History
- On your Android device, open the Google Maps app .
- Tapyour profile picture or initialYour Timeline .
- Tap More Settings and privacy.
- Under "Location settings," tap Delete Location History range.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Delete a day from Location History
- On your Android device, open the Google Maps app .
- Tapyour profile picture or initialYour Timeline .
- Tap Show calendar .
- Select which day you want to delete.
- Tap More Delete day.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
.Delete a stop from Location History
- On your Android device, open the Google Maps app .
- Tapyour profile picture or initialYour Timeline .
- Tap Show calendar .
- Select the day with a stop you want to delete.
- Tap the stop you want to delete Delete .
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
.Use a web browser
Delete all Location History
- In your web browser, open your Google Maps Timeline.
- Tap Delete .
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Delete a day from Location History
- In your web browser, open your Google Maps Timeline.
- Choose a year, month, and day you want to delete.
- Tap Delete .
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Delete a stop from Location History
- In your web browser, open your Google Maps Timeline.
- Choose a year, month, and day you want to delete.
- Next to the stop you want to delete, tap More Remove stop from day.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Automatically delete your Location History
You can choose to automatically delete Location History that’s older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.
Use the Google Maps app
- On your Android device, open the Google Maps app .
- Tapyour profile picture or initialYour Timeline .
- At the top right, tap More Settings and privacy.
- Scroll to "Location settings."
- Tap Automatically delete Location History.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Use a web browser
- In your web browser, open your Google Maps Timeline.
- At the bottom right, click SettingsAutomatically delete Location History.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
What happens after you delete some or all Location History
If you delete some or all of your Location History, personalized experiences across Google may degrade or or be lost. For example, you may lose:
- Recommendations based on places you visit
- Real-time information about when best to leave for home or work to beat traffic
Important: If you have other settings like turned on and you pause Location History or delete location data from Location History, you may still have location data saved in your Google Account as part of your use of other Google sites, apps, and services. For example, location data may be saved as part of activity on Search and Maps when your is on, and included in your photos depending on your camera app settings. Web & App Activity can include info about your location from your device's general area and IP address.
Learn about use & diagnostics for Location History
After you turn on Location History, your device may send diagnostic information to Google about what works or doesn’t work for Location History. Google processes any information it collects under Google's privacy policy.
What information your device could share
Your device may send information to Google to help improve Google apps, products, and Android devices. For example, Google can use information to improve:
- Battery life: We estimate what apps use the most battery on your device to reduce battery consumption for commonly used features.
- Location accuracy: We use location sensors and settings to improve location estimates for apps and services.
Information your phone could send to Google may include:
- Quality and length of your connections to:
- Mobile networks
- GPS
- Wi-Fi networks
- Bluetooth
- State of your location settings
- Restarts and crash reports
- Google apps you use to turn Location History on or off
How shared information helps Google improve
Usage and diagnostics information can help improve Google apps, products, and Android devices. For example, Google can use information to improve:
- Battery life: Google can use information about what's using the most battery on your device to help reduce battery consumption for commonly used features.
- Location accuracy: Google can use information from location sensors and settings to help improve location estimates for apps and services.
Learn more about other location settings
- Choose which apps can use your location: Learn how to manage app location settings.
- Learn how to turn your device's location on or off.
- Find your location on a map: Learn how to .
- Manage your history of the places you've been and the routes you've traveled: Learn how to edit your timeline on Google Maps.
Need more help?
Try these next steps:
Protect Your Identity Online
Get step-by-step visual guides on the tools and practices that will help you protect your personal information with Google's Online Security Guidebook.
As an expert in digital privacy and technology, I have a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and practices related to Location History, particularly within the context of Google services. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, allowing me to elucidate the intricacies of Location History settings and its implications for user privacy.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Location History to Timeline Transition:
- The article states that in the coming months, the "Location History" setting will change its name to "Timeline." This suggests a shift in the way Google presents and organizes users' location data.
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Purpose of Location History:
- Location History, now known as Timeline, creates a personalized map that helps users remember places they've been, routes to destinations, and trips they've taken. It also facilitates personalized experiences across Google based on users' locations.
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Data Collection Mechanisms:
- Google continuously saves the precise location of a user's device, even when Google apps are not in use. This data is regularly stored on both the user's device and Google servers. The location estimation involves signals like Wi-Fi and mobile networks, GPS, and sensor information.
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Data Usage by Google:
- The collected data is anonymized and used to show information like popular times and environmental insights, detect and prevent fraud, improve and develop Google services, and help businesses understand if people visit their stores due to advertisem*nts.
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Location History Settings:
- Location History is turned off by default, and users have the flexibility to turn it on or off at any time through their Google Account's Activity controls. Users can review, manage, edit, or delete their Location History. Different settings are available for various devices and Android versions.
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Location History Deletion Options:
- Users can delete all or specific parts of their Location History, either through the Google Maps app on their Android device or a web browser. Options include deleting all history, a range of history, a specific day, or a particular stop.
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Automatic Deletion:
- Users can opt to automatically delete Location History that's older than 3, 18, or 36 months. However, the article notes that this may impact personalized experiences across Google.
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Consequences of Deleting Location History:
- Deleting some or all Location History may result in a degradation or loss of personalized experiences, such as recommendations based on places visited or real-time traffic information.
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Use & Diagnostics for Location History:
- After turning on Location History, the device may send diagnostic information to Google to improve the service. This includes information about connection quality, location settings, restarts, crash reports, and usage patterns.
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Google's Privacy Policy:
- Google processes the collected information under its privacy policy, emphasizing transparency about how user data is used to enhance Google apps, products, and Android devices.
In conclusion, understanding and managing Location History is crucial for users who prioritize privacy and wish to control how their location data is used by Google. The provided article offers a comprehensive guide on managing these settings and sheds light on the broader implications of location tracking in the digital age.
