Kate Mills 
Dec 14, 2023
The new update of Google Maps is getting a privacy feature, allowing users to control their information on the platform in a hassle-free manner.
The update will have a separate section entailing your recent activities, including the places you visited in the past, the date you went there, and the amount of time you spent there. Users will also allow users to “delete your searches, directions… and shares” in the same hub.
What’s new in latest Google Maps update?
The features embedded into the upcoming update are expected to let you delete each entry one by one or the whole thing altogether.
When Google Maps past history deletion tool will release
The deletion tool and the blue dot menu are set to be gradually introduced to Android and iOS devices in the upcoming weeks.
How Google Maps history deletion feature works
A notification window will appear on your screen detailing the items slated for removal, including photos, reviews, feedback reports, and saved lists related to a location.
How blue dot menu works on Google Maps
The blue dot on Google Maps will now provide access to a settings menu for Timeline and Location History, allowing users to check the status of these features and the app's location access. For those less acquainted with Timeline, it utilises data from Location History to archive the places you've visited.
Google Maps timeline saving feature
Another upcoming update, scheduled to release next year, is anticipated to bring a feature allowing users to save their Timeline recordings directly on their device rather than relying on Google's cloud.
Users will have the option to delete specific portions or all of their information to ensure no traces are left behind, while data can be backed up on company servers at any time with encryption for enhanced privacy.
Notably, the Location History's auto-delete function default will change to three months from the current 18 months, after which all saved information will be automatically removed. However, users can switch back to the longer period at any time.
With Google assuring users will receive an account notification upon its arrival, the specific rollout date for the Timeline changes in 2024 on Android or iOS is yet to be confirmed.
