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What to Know
- Google Maps: Tap your profile image and then select Your timeline.
- iOS history: Settings > Privacy & security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.
This article explains how to view your location history using data collected by Google Maps and your iPhone’s Location Services. Directions cover iOS 12 and later.
View Tracking History in Google Maps
If Google Maps is installed on your phone and Location Services is turned on for the app, you can easily view your location history with Timeline:
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Open Google Maps and tap your profile photo.
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Select Your timeline from the menu.
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A map opens for the most recent location history, showing your travel route and local landmarks or stops. The map is zoomable, so you can enlarge it for details. Use the menu to switch to other dates.
You can also view your Google Maps history on a desktop or laptop computer by going to timeline.google.com.
See Your Significant Locations on iPhone
If Significant Locations is turned on, your phone will track where you go and tell you which of those locations are considered significant. These locations are stored in the Settings app. Here’s how to get there:
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Tap Settings.
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Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security > Location Services.
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Tap System Services at the bottom of the page.
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Select Significant Locations (called Frequent Locations in some versions of iOS).
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Scroll to the bottom of the screen to find your location history with names and dates.
Apple stores a limited number of locations and doesn’t provide precise travel details like Google. The Significant Locations feature provides the place and date on a non-interactive map. If you don’t want Apple to track you, toggle off Significant Locations in the Settings app.
How Location Tracking Services Work
Not many people know that the location awareness of their portable devices extends to tracking and recording their location history.
Here’s how it works: If you use Google Maps, you need to have the app installed and turn on location services in your phone’s settings. For the iPhone’s built-in Location Services, you just need to switch on the Significant Locations feature.
Both Google and Apple say they keep this location info private, and you can turn it off or delete it anytime you want.
This feature can actually be really useful. For example, if you’re ever in a legal situation or need rescue, having your location history could be really important.
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