Step by Step Guide to Export Your Google Timeline Data

Apr 2025
3 min read
Google Maps Timeline Export Process

Google Maps Timeline is a powerful feature that records your location history. This guide will walk you through the current process of exporting this data from your mobile device so you can visualize it using our tool.

Prerequisites

Open Google Maps and Access Your Profile

  1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial in the upper right corner
Google Maps app with profile icon highlighted

Access Your Timeline

  1. In the menu that appears, tap on "Your Timeline"
Profile menu with Timeline option highlighted

Access Settings

  1. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner of your Timeline screen
  2. Tap "Location & Privacy Settings"
Timeline screen with three dots menu highlighted

Export Your Timeline Data

  1. Scroll down to find "Export Timeline Data"
  2. Tap on this option
Export Timeline Data option

Share Your Data to Your Desktop

  1. Transfer the file to your desktop computer using one of these methods:
  2. AirDrop: If you have Apple devices, use AirDrop to quickly transfer the file
  3. Email: Attach the JSON file to an email and send it to yourself
  4. Google Drive: Upload to Google Drive from your phone, then download on your desktop
Sharing options for Google Timeline data

Troubleshooting Common Issues

File is too large

If you have years of location history, your file might be quite large. Our tool can handle files up to 100MB. If your file is larger:

  • Try exporting a shorter time frame
  • If extracting on mobile is difficult, transfer the ZIP to a computer first

No data showing up

If you don't see any data after uploading your file:

  • Ensure you selected JSON format (not KML) when exporting
  • Check that Location History was enabled in your Google account
  • Try selecting a wider date range in our visualizer
  • Make sure you're uploading the correct JSON file from the export

FAQ

Is my data safe?

Yes! Our tool processes everything locally in your browser. Your location data never leaves your device or gets uploaded to any server.

How often should I export my data?

This depends on how frequently you want to update your visualizations. For most users, exporting every few months is sufficient.

What if I don't see any location history?

You may not have Location History enabled in your Google account. Visit your Google Account's Activity controls to enable it for future tracking.

Can I export data for a specific time period only?

Yes, the export process allows you to select a specific date range for your export, which is helpful if you only want to visualize a particular trip or time period.