topic Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history in Galaxy S25

S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

DS2025 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 01:53:48 GMT

This seems to be a common issue on other forums, particularly Google, but there are no real answers so far.

Issue occurs when Samsung Smart Switch is used to move from an older Galaxy to an S25 (I have ultra, but I think it may occur with both the S25 and S25 Ultra).

Symptoms: Location is turned on, and seems to work properly. In Maps, you can see the blue dot moving as you move, but in Timeline, there is no NEW activity listed since the transfer from the old phone. Timeline is turned on, Maps has needed permissions. The only "fix" (which is not any sort of fix!) is to do a factory reset on the phone and then start over not using Smart Switch.

It seems that something Smart Switch has done with the data has somehow blocked Timeline from saving new data.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

BalliD — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 05:07:44 GMT

I would like to add that there are a few additional fixes out there. However i tried them all and none seem to work.

1. I removed all google accounts + restar phone + sign in again + download history - this did not help

2. Clear cache + clear memory - did not help

3. Remove all updates from Google Maps - did not help. Also tried after removing all updates (and not updating) and tried updating the app - which also did not work.

4. Yesterday we got a system update - i was hoping for this to fix the issue - did not work.

I would be happy to hear from samsung if there is a TRUE fix planned.

(I also have the S25 Ultra)

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

Tom6068 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:17:36 GMT

Would it not be better to check if the settings in your Google account changed or maybe delete all of the timeline data from Google instead of resetting the phone back to factory settings. Opening Maps, then clicking on your profile avatar will open those options. I do not see performing a reset fixing the issue as all of that data is stored in Google's servers. So when you put your Google account info into the phone again, that data will repopulate.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

BalliD — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:30:19 GMT

no changes were detected in my Google account.

I have also tried deleting all the data locally (deleting from all devices or server would mean that i would loose all past information).

Factory reset is not really an option as earlier said.

BTW, the data is not automatically populated - it has to be downloaded from earlier backup (which is stored on google servers but it attached to a specific device.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

DS2025 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:21:26 GMT

There was a rolling change around the end of 2024 where Google moved the timeline data onto a specific phone, as local data. You can then turn on a timeline backup, which periodically back up the local data to an encrypted backup on the Google cloud (rather than a database on the cloud). If you do a Google Takeout of timeline data now, you will find it has no data, just a txt file stating that there is encrypted data in the cloud (the backups)

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

uservpnwYJ8bID — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 13:34:27 GMT

I am having the same issues. I moved from an S20 Ultra to an S25 Ultra. My S20 Ultra is still able to record timeline information, but my S25 Ultra is unable to. I have uninstalled/reinstalled maps, cleared data and cache, etc. The only thing I have not done yet is a factory reset.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

vits — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:20:19 GMT

After updating Google Maps to version that came out 25.2., Timeline started working by itself. I have all records from 26.2. onwards. Seems the issue was identified and fixed. So glad I did not have to factory reset and just gave it time.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

DS2025 — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 01:21:57 GMT

Mine is now working as well!!! I did have a pending update to Maps, not the same version numbers as vits, but as soon as I installed that update and went to timeline, it was showing that I was at home, which was correct.

There is another possible reason why it is now working, though... All along I was showing that there was still supposedly a backup occurring from my old phone, even though I had done a factory reset and sent it in as a trade-in. Even after removing the Google login from that phone (done from Google Account), it will still show for 30 days, apparently. Well, I just looked at my timeline backups, and that old phone is no longer showing, since the 30 days have passed. I'm thinking it is possible that the system thought it was recording the current activity on that dead phone instead of my real active phone (even though that was not possible, obviously).

So, two possible reasons for the "fix". I really don't care which one it was, I'm a happy camper!

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:17:14 GMT

Also same issue. Upgraded from S20 to S25, used smart switch for setup. Since switching devices timeline does no longer record, despite being activated.

I did remove maps updates, deactivated and activated timeline, removed data and re-imported and removed cache and data. All without luck. How to get maps to record locations again?

A factory reset does not seem a viable option, after setting up the phone including a 2 factor authentication and banking apps...

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

vits — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:17:14 GMT

Well, on 2nd of April, my Timeline stopped tracking again... no luck since, clearing cache/reboot did not help, did not try anything else yet.

Re: Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

DS2025 — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:27:06 GMT

Mine also stopped tracking, but I found a workaround. I'm retired now, so some days I don't go out at all. A while back I saw it had stopped recording, and when I scrolled back on the days, I found a day where it showed I had come home from some quick errands, showed me at home, but then showed I had left home, with no further entries after that! I'm not at all sure why it decided I had left home, but apparently when that happens it cannot record any new entries, and day after day will be blank. The workaround is to go back to the last entry (always home, for me), then edit that entry. If I change the ending date to the current day, it will give me a checkbox saying "still here", or something like that. Then touch Done, and it will start recording again. You have to keep an eye on it, because it doesn't record whatever you missed. I generally look at my timeline every morning, to see if it still shows me at home... if not, then I edit to fix it. For me, it will kept working properly for a week or two, before going bad.

Re: Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

vits — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:07:34 GMT

Manual entries work, but it does not track anything on its own. If I manually set that I am home, it will then end the records on the next minute.

Ugh, this is just so frustrating.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

AmesJainchill — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 01:23:03 GMT

This occurred for me as well when "smart" switching from an s20+ to an s25 ultra on 4/14/25. Timeline would not record anything or let me even save manually entered visits for the last week, even though all location and timeline setting were set correctly. The following thread on Google support worked for me so far and did not require a factory reset. I only had to proceed through the first restart. There are additional steps after that if needed. The thread is a little old, but can be adapted to current android version. Issue didn't occur for me years ago moving from an s6 to an s20+ in 2020, but a different experience for me this go around. Good luck!

https://support.google.com/accounts/thread/128143079?hl=en

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

Calwinz — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:42:11 GMT

To my workaround, I had to use Samsung Secure Folder and sign in my Maps account there. It tracks every thing and updates work well.

Unfortunately the main app isn't tracking as well since April 1st 2025. Strange issue indeed.

Been trying to clear cache, sign out Google account from the phone, and even clear data for sLocation, Samsung Location SDK, & Fused location. All didn't work.

I figure that, if my Secure Folder Google Maps works without tinkering anything, it must be something else on the main app that is being blocked by some services.

So do give it a try using Google Maps inside Secure Folder.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

elly_va — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:07:30 GMT

On the S25 ultra you can turn on your history. Try the history then it has somewhere to get a timeline

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

ubi_quis — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 22:45:13 GMT

Clearing cache and even removing the google account dont work. Timeline data just won't get added, not even manual entries. Simply keeps the days marked as "empty" and won't add anything. Sucks.

Re: S25 Ultra: Google Timeline not recording history

vits — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 06:57:55 GMT

For me it got "magically" fixed several days after desperately trying all the fixes posted here. No idea if it was one of the fixes, or an update of something, or a combination of factors. But now everything works as it should. Just a big hole in the entries to remember this mess.