What it means
Google Maps Timeline shows visits and routes stored on each signed-in device. An optional encrypted backup on Google's servers can be imported to another device, but it must be enabled per device and may lag by days. The current desktop Maps interface does not display the device Timeline. On Android, Google's documented backup setup requires auto-delete to be off, making retention a deliberate privacy choice rather than a free convenience.
A real-world example
A person replaces a phone and signs into Maps, expecting yesterday's Timeline to appear. Backup was never enabled on the old phone, so the new device has no copy to import.
What to do
Check the old phone's Your Timeline and cloud Backup screen, review auto-delete, opt in if desired, wait for backup, then import on the new phone and compare several dates before wiping the old one.
The distinction that matters
A backup is not an immediate mirror or proof all recent changes are included. Edits and deletions on one device may not update other devices. An exported Timeline file is another copy that needs protection. Deleting the old phone's data before verifying the replacement can make history unrecoverable, while enabling indefinite retention without noticing the auto-delete change can keep more sensitive data than intended.
Google Maps Timeline backup
