Export your Google Maps Timeline (Android and iPhone)

Now that Timeline is stored on your phone, exporting it is how you get a copy of your location history out of Google Maps. It takes about a minute and gives you a JSON file you can keep, back up and open on a computer.

Already exported your Timeline? Trackmere opens Timeline.json (Android), location-history.json (iPhone) or old Takeout files offline in your browser: map, day-by-day visits, places, export to Excel or GPX. It only reads your file – it can’t fetch or restore anything from Google.

Open my Timeline file – free

Updated 2026-11-01 · 5 min read

Before you start

Export from the phone that holds the history: each device keeps its own Timeline.
Update Google Maps – Google's help gives 11.106+ (Android) and 6.93+ (iPhone) as the versions with Timeline.
Once Timeline is on the device, Google Takeout no longer includes it, so the phone export is the way to get a file.

Android: export Timeline.json

Open the phone's Settings app (not Google Maps).
Tap Location › Location services › Timeline.
Under Timeline, tap Export Timeline data › Continue.
Choose a storage location and tap Save. A notification says “Export complete”.

The file is usually named Timeline.json (sometimes in your phone's language). On some phones the path is slightly different – search Settings for “Timeline”.

iPhone: export location-history.json

Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture › Settings.
Tap Location & privacy (some versions call it Personal content).
Tap Export Timeline data, then Save to Files in the share sheet.
Choose a folder and tap Save. The file is called location-history.json.

Can't find “Export Timeline data”?

Update Google Maps and restart the phone.
On Android the option is in the phone's Settings, not inside the Maps app.
Make sure Timeline is on and has data on this phone – see Timeline missing or not showing.
Check you're signed in with the account that has the Timeline.

Move the file to your computer

Use a USB cable, a cloud drive (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive) or AirDrop. Years of history can be tens or hundreds of megabytes. The file is a detailed record of where you have been, so keep it somewhere private and don't share it casually.

Open it on a computer

A JSON file isn't readable in a text editor or Excel. Open it in Trackmere: it runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. You get a map, every day with visits and journeys, places, distances and days per country, with exports to Excel/CSV or GPX/KML. Curious what's inside? See Timeline.json explained.

See your history on a big screen. Trackmere opens Android Timeline.json, iPhone location-history.json and older Google Takeout files in your browser: map, day-by-day timeline, places, distances, days per country, and export to Excel, CSV, GPX, KML or GeoJSON. Your locations never leave your computer. The map, days, places and days-per-country are free; exports are free for 31 days of data, and a $12 lifetime license covers all of it.

Open Trackmere – free

Questions and answers

Can I export Google Maps Timeline from a computer?

No. The web Timeline was retired; the export is only in the phone (Android Settings, or Google Maps settings on iPhone).

Is the export the same as a Timeline backup?

No. The backup is an encrypted copy on Google's servers that only Google Maps can restore. The export is a plain file that you keep and can open with other tools.

Can I import the exported file back into Google Maps?

Google's help doesn't describe importing a JSON file into Timeline; restoring uses the encrypted backup instead. Keep the file as your own archive.

Does the export include place names?

No – only coordinates and Google place IDs. Older Google Takeout files did include names.

Why is the file called something other than Timeline.json?

Android may name it in the phone's language. The content is the same; Trackmere reads it by content, not by name.

Sources and product names: Google Maps Help "Manage your Google Maps Timeline" – Export your Timeline data (Android and iPhone versions). Google Maps and Google Takeout are trademarks of Google LLC. Trackmere is independent and not affiliated with Google. This page is general information, not tax, immigration or legal advice.