Big Brother is watching

How Google Maps Tracks and Saves Your Every Move

Now you can automatically delete that data.

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Google has a tool that lets you set up an automatic deletion schedule of your location data that is stored on its servers.

You set a specific time period to permanently delete your location history.

Otherwise, Google’s servers would retain years of everywhere you’ve ever been in Google Maps.

This map is just from driving around Orange County, not using a GPS. My every move tracked from my phone.

Most people don’t know how to configure Google Maps properly. I didn’t until recently.

After a trip to Southern California, I noticed an automatic mapping diary detailing everywhere I went. Whether I was driving or even walking past a restaurant, it had minute by minute details of each place I visited.

Even places that I hadn’t visited but had driven by. Creepy!

I can show you how to change your phone settings to automatically delete this tracking.

For some people, tracking information is helpful. They may want to look in the past to see where they visited.

Also, you may want to help Google Maps by letting it know if the directions it provided were accurate and how long it took to get someplace that you frequent regularly.

However, do you really want Google’s servers to have years and years of your data?

Here’s an example of the places I visited in November. Each red dot is a stop.

Southern California

This past summer, Google rolled out a feature that gives you control over how your saved locations are stored. You can automatically delete location data in one of two ways: every 18 months or every 3 months.

Data older than 18 months are automatically deleted by Google.

Now here’s the kicker. Where do you make these changes, you may ask?

Well, it's not where you’d think it would be — on your Google Account page.

Nope, you must search the settings in Google Maps.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT:

Open Google Maps on iPhone or Android

Tap the menu bar on the top left of the app

Choose Your Timeline

Tap the three dots on the top right of the screen

settings and privacy

Choose Settings and Privacy

Select Automatically delete Location History

automatically delete location history

Change the setting from ‘Keep until I delete manually’ to ‘Keep for 3 months’ or ‘Keep for 18 months’

I would prefer Google to delete my data every 3 months. If you have a reason to keep your history longer, then choose 18 months.

Remember, going forward Google will automatically delete anything older than the time you set. So, choose wisely.