Your phone may already keep a location history — Google Maps Timeline on Android, Significant Locations on iPhone. Neither is made for sharing with family. Here’s where to find yours, and how My Family Location shows a shared day instead.
A day told in places, not a line across the map.
Both big platforms keep a private history for you alone. Here’s where each one is today.
Google now keeps Timeline on your device rather than on the web. Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Your Timeline. If it’s empty, Timeline may be turned off for your account.
Google Maps → profile picture → Your TimelineiPhone keeps a short, private list of places you visit often. You’ll need Face ID or your passcode to open it, and you can clear it at any time.
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant LocationsYour own history answers “where was I?”. Families usually ask something else: “did Grandma make it to the doctor?” or “when did Maya get to practice?”. That’s the question the location history in My Family Location answers.
Where each person stayed and the trips in between, instead of a line drawn across the map.
You see history only for people in your circle, and only for the times they were sharing.
Scroll back through the last month. The free plan shows the most recent days.
No. Google Timeline is private to the account that owns it and now stays on that person’s phone. To see a family member’s day, they need to share it with you — for example by joining your circle.
In My Family Location, Premium keeps 30 days. Google Maps Timeline and iPhone Significant Locations follow their own settings, which you can change on your phone.
Only from updates sent while the app was open in the browser. Use the Android or iPhone app for a complete day.
Yes. Deleting your account removes your location history, your profile and your place in every circle. It can’t be undone.
Five quick questions, then invite the people you want on your map.