topic Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits in Galaxy S25

S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:59:22 GMT

Hello All,

My S25 Ultra arrived on Saturday. I used the Smart Switch app to transfer the data from my old phone, an S20 via Wifi. This was largely successful with most things being set up on the new phone as they were on the old phone. I was able to transfer my Google Maps Timeline history by using Maps to restore the S20 Timeline backup. This took a few goes but worked eventually after 24hrs or so.

My issue is that the S25 Ultra has not recorded a single visit in my Maps Timeline. I have tried restarting (the phone), disabling & enabling (the app, timeline, location, location sharing etc), clearing the data, cache, uninstalling & reinstalling (the app), removing my Google account and logging it back in again. I have logged out my S20 from my Google account, which was still recording timeline visits up until that point.

I recall there used to be a Google settings page where you could enable and disable which devices are able to record timeline visits on your Google account. That seems to have gone now. The S25 and the S20 are both listed as being on the account, but with no tick boxes to enable or disable them. The S25 is apparently backing up data and I can manually edit to add timeline visits. It simply doesn't record timeline events automatically, even if it is navigating and/ or sharing its location with another person.

Does anyone know how to get the S25 Ultra to record timeline visits automatically like my S20 does?

Thanks

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

LongHiker — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:44:41 GMT

@Keyboard_Only Try this:

Open Google Maps
Click your Avatar in upper right
Click on Settings
Click on Google location settings
Click on Location services
Click on Timeline. Make sure that Timeline is on.

More Google help can be found at https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6258979?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

KaceyR1 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:19:34 GMT

Lol i also have same issue as the OP. And your "basics" instructions was first thing i tried before even googling for answers. Nothing seems to work.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

ukraine8498 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:23:10 GMT

I have the same issue. Timeline is on. But when I open groceries - Google Maps just doesn't show me when I visited them.

Re: Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

RyRyLightFoot — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 04:10:23 GMT

I'm having the same problem and these instructions didn't work. Location and timeline are on according to my Google account, but Maps says the timeline is off

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:55:45 GMT

Hello,

Thank you for your help and advice. This was the first thing that I tried. Timeline is shown as being on. I switched it off, restarted the phone and switched it on again. It still didn't automatically log timeline visits but I was able to manually edit my timeline.

After I removed my google account from the phone, restarted and then added the account again: The timeline history data wasn't there at first, then it was, then it disappeared some time later. For about 24hrs I was unable to edit or add anything (an error has occurred message), with no timeline history present. Then I was able to edit it again, but still the phone is not automatically recording timeline events. I have left it without restoring historical timeline events for the time being.

Meanwhile I have logged my S20 back into my Google account and that has resumed recording timeline events instantly.

My next thing to try is to reset the S25 Ultra to factory settings and to not use the Smart Switch app this time. To see if timeline works on a stock phone, with me only logging into my Google account.

Regards.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Samsung Ultra — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has been received last Friday.
Same problem here too. The timeline is on, but the history is not saved on the phone.

My previous phone Samsung S20 Ultra still works fine.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:54:14 GMT

I have now reset the S25 Ultra to factory settings and I did not use the Smart Switch or backup restore during the initial setup of the phone. After logging into my Google account and enabling the usual location permissions in Maps etc, Timeline is working straight away.

I have not imported my existing Timeline backup yet as I want to make sure it is automatically recording visits for the time being. I notice that in the Timeline activity controls page that I now have two SM-S938B (S25 Ultras) listed and my SM-G980F (S20). Presumably the S25 Ultra is identified by Google as a new device since its factory reset.

I have used Samsung data/ backup restore and Smart Switch to selectively restore my other apps/ messages etc and Timeline still appears to be working. I have not used it to restore/ transfer the Google Maps app at all, in case it was Smart Switch that disabled the Timeline in the first place. I'll restore the Timeline backup later today and reply to confirm if Timeline continues to automatically record visits.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

KaceyR1 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 01:38:13 GMT

Did it still work after importing ur timeline?

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

KaceyR1 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 01:40:40 GMT

So basically i could back up my s25Ultra to a usb drive(?) (ive been using it for a whole week now after i did smart switch from my old phone and dont wanna lose everything i set up)

and then do factory reset,

and then use smart switch to restore everything EXCEPT google map app related stuff (assuming we can deselect the google maps app in the smart switch backup restore???)

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:34:44 GMT

Yes, it is still working and I have imported the timeline from my S20. It imported successfully the first time this time.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:47:59 GMT

I backed mine up using the Google backup and the Samsung back up before I factory reset it (just incase). I set the phone up as a new phone without using smart switch or restoring anything from a backup. I did join my wifi and log into my Google account as part of the setup process, then I went to the Google Maps app to enable and check that timeline was working. I could see that it was so I proceeded.

I used Samsung data restore to restore contacts/ messages and other settings from its back up. I then used smart switch to selectively restore some of my apps from my S20. After checking everything was ok, the last thing I did was import my timeline from my S20 using the function within Google Maps.

It has been working for approx 24hrs now since I restored the timeline backup.

I should add that I did not back up my camera photos, videos or music that I have stored on the phone using any of the backup tools. I copied those things onto my PC separately. I doubt that those items would affect timeline anyway.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

vits — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:24:19 GMT

Exactly the same issue. Also, in Location sharing, there is an error message, saying that Location sharing is off for this device, with text button of "Fix", that basically does nothing. (Quick flash of loading animation and then back to previous state)

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:10:26 GMT

For me the location sharing was working (someone else was able to see my location), but the error message was displayed. Like you the "Fix" did nothing.

Since resetting the phone as I describe in my earlier post: Location sharing is working and there is no error message.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Krischaaan — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:44:57 GMT

Does someone know a way to make maps timeline work again without factory reset?

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Makht — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 17:25:28 GMT

Same issue. Timeline is not recording on my new S25. Very frustrating.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

goodnom08 — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 23:12:20 GMT

Has there been any progress on this issue? I'm having the same problem with my S25 Ultra. However, my father's phone doesn't have this issue even though he has the same model and bought it at the same time and from the same store as I did. My father and I used Smart Switch to transfer the data, but only my S25 Ultra doesn't record any timeline at all. I even created a new Google account to see if it would work, but it didn't. I don't think this is a general problem with the S25 Ultra, but I do believe there is an issue. I think Samsung should fix this issue as soon as possible.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Palmdog — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:09:20 GMT

I tried this step by step, but my timeline says it needs to be online status: off, but in my settings, it says it is turned on. How did you manage to get the status on.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:10:30 GMT

A factory reset without using Smart Switch was the only way I was able to make it work.

Re: S25 Ultra - Google Maps Timeline Not Recording Visits

Keyboard_Only — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:11:19 GMT

A factory reset without using Smart Switch was the only way I was able to make it work. No other settings had any effect.