Google Maps adds new features to blue dot, history and timeline will be saved offline | Technology News

For example, if you visit a place in Google Maps, the app will show you all activity related to that place and give you the option to delete all your data associated with the location. These options will be available in the coming weeks.

Here’s how the prompt would look like when the new feature is available for your account. (Image Source: Google)

Offline Timeline and Location History

For those who have enabled the Location History feature on their devices, Google says the ‘Timeline’ will now be stored on the phone itself, with users having the option to back it up to the cloud with encryption enabled.

The tech giant also made some changes to the amount of time the Location History is saved. When you first turn on the feature on your device, by default, it will only store your history for the last 90 days. This option was earlier set to 18 months or around 548 days. However, users will have the option to extend it if they want to.

The little blue dot that shows a person’s location on the map is also getting some new features. Clicking on it will now show if you have Location History or Timeline turned on and if Google Maps can access your location.

Google says users get a notification when these updates are available and that they will be gradually rolled out to everyone on Android and iOS throughout 2024. If you are someone who wants to retain their Google Maps Location History, be sure not the ignore the notification when you get it and extend the duration before Google wipes out all your data.