Google Timeline Location Data Now Saved on Device: Should We Use It And How?

safeandsecure8373

justaregulareverydaynormaluser Not yet. Timeline still not logging history for me. In fact, when I uninstalled the Google Maps app and reinstalled it and then tried to restore my encrypted cloud backup to my device it restored nothing and my entire backup history was deleted.

aurel007

safeandsecure8373
I also received the email announcing that my timeline data will be deleted by 18th May 2025, so it's a question of time when I am also not able to use that feature anymore.

It seems that the timeline/local location history features depends on GMS (Google Mobile Services), see https://thebinaryhick.blog/2024/06/28/the-green-look-back-androids-on-device-location-history/ i.e. it would need to be re-implemented in the sanboxed Google Play Services layer.

I tested it with an older device and no location history gets recorded at all - threfore also nothing is shown in Google Maps. @safeandsecure8373 Do you have any recordings in /data/data/com.google.android.gms or the config file ULR_USER_PREFS.xml in shared_prefs?

safeandsecure8373

aurel007 I'm not a very technical user

Only file in /data/data/com.google.android.gms is one called "gmsnet2.jpg" in "files" and nothing in "cache"
I can't find ULR_USER_PREFS.xml in shared_prefs with a search of the devices files. You'd need to direct me to it.

aurel007

safeandsecure8373
Thanks for checking. I finally confirmed with another device and as stated above, GrapheneOS' sandboxed Google Play Services layer simply has the "new" local location recording not implemented and I gues it does not make sense that GrapheneOS will implement the location recording for Google Maps.

aurel007

aurel007
I have to withdraw my previous statement. I was able to get the local Google Timeline working on my Pixel 8. So maybe something changed in the meantime.

llamaface

deer

Just to share my experience, I followed what deer posted as best as I could and now location history is working. I didn't uninstall anything or reboot. Turns out I hadn't enabled physical activity permission. I'm wondering if that might have done it for me. I'm on a pixel 7 pro. I was about to give up but the next day it was working! Thanks for the help and I hope this helps others!!

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