How to import your Google Maps Timeline data

In December 2023, Google announced that Location History would now be saved locally to your device. This puts the user's location data in control of the user themselves instead of on Google's servers. As of Dawarich v0.8.2, you can import this data. Here's how to do so!

Downloading Timeline Data from Google Maps

iOS / iPadOS

1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Tap on your profile picture located on the top right of the screen.
3. On the modal that appears, tap Your Timeline.
4. At the top of the app, there should be an icon in the top right for more options (looks like three horizontal dots). Tap it.
5. Select Location & Privacy Settings.
6. Scroll down to the Location Settings section.
7. Select Export Timeline Data.
8. You should now be prompted to save a location-history.json file. Save this somewhere you can access (ex. Google Drive, Nextcloud, an email, etc.).

Android

This section needs some love, but for now you can at least refer to the offial Google support: https://support.google.com/maps/thread/264641290/export-full-location-timeline-data-in-json-or-similar-format-in-the-new-version-of-timeline?hl=en

Importing Timeline Data into Dawarich

1. Browse to your Dawarich instance in a web browser.
2. Login.
3. Click on Imports from the navbar.
4. Click on the New Import button.
5. Scroll down to Select Source.
6. Choose Google Phone Takeout.
7. Select Choose Files and select your location-history.json from the above steps.
8. Click Create Import.
9. This import may take a while depending on how many points you have to import. You can refresh the Imports page to check on the status.