Exporting *local* Google Maps Timeline fails

Question

Similar to the issue described here, the JSON export of my locations is incomplete. The export is a 50MB JSON file with the today's trips, rather that the whole history of trips I still see on my phone. 
How can I adress this issue?
Cheers,
Nils

Räìstér Lëgèñd · Answer

It seems you're facing an issue where the JSON export of your Google Maps Timeline only includes the current day's trips rather than your entire timeline history. This can be quite frustrating, especially if you're looking to download all your historical data. Here are a few steps you can follow to resolve this issue:
1. Ensure Correct Export Method
Sometimes, the export feature may only fetch data from a limited timeframe (like just the current day). Ensure you're using the correct steps to export the full timeline:
To Export Timeline from Google Maps:
Open Google Takeout.
Sign in to your Google Account if prompted.
Deselect everything except Location History (you can search for it in the search bar).
Select the File type as .JSON and select the size of the archive you want. You can also select a larger export size to avoid splitting your archive into multiple smaller files.
Click Next Step and then Create Export.
This method should give you a complete Google Maps Timeline export, including all of your historical trips, not just today’s.
2. Check Data Availability on Google Takeout
If your Google Takeout export still only includes a small set of data (e.g., only today’s data), there may be an issue with how Google is storing or processing your Location History.
Here’s how to check:
Go to Google Takeout.
Try exporting only Location History again, but this time choose a longer date range (e.g., last month instead of today) to ensure all your data is included in the export.
If your data is still incomplete, it may be due to Google only recording recent data if you haven’t had consistent Location History enabled or syncing properly over time.
3. Verify Location History Settings on Your Account
Sometimes the Location History may not be syncing correctly. Ensure that it's enabled properly:
Enable Location History:
Go to Google Maps.
Click on your profile picture > Your Timeline.
In the menu, check if Location History is on. You can toggle it on if needed.
You should also check if Google Location History is enabled in your account settings (under Google Account > Data & Personalization > Activity Controls).
4. Allow Time for Data to Sync
If you haven’t used your Google Maps Timeline for a while or have been having sync issues, it might take some time for older data to appear in the export. Location History needs to be synced over the last few months or years, depending on your usage.
Give it time: If you just recently re-enabled Location History, wait a day or two to let it sync before exporting again.
5. Use a Smaller Export for Testing
If you're seeing incomplete data in a large export file, try a smaller export (by setting a custom date range) to see if the issue is related to the size of the export or a specific timeframe.
6. Recheck the JSON File
If your export is only 50MB and incomplete, it’s possible the JSON file format is not displaying the full data correctly. Use a JSON viewer to inspect the file structure.
Inspect the JSON file: You can open the file using a JSON reader or a text editor (such as Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code). Check whether the older trips are hidden within nested data objects or whether they are omitted entirely.
7. Check Timeline on Your Mobile Device
In case of discrepancies with Google Takeout, try exporting the data directly from your Google Maps app on your phone:
Open Google Maps.
Tap on the menu icon (3 lines).
Go to Your Timeline.
From here, you can scroll back through older dates and check if the historical data is there before exporting.
8. Contact Google Support
If the problem persists and your export file remains incomplete, you may need to contact Google Support. There could be a system issue related to your account, or the feature might not be functioning as expected.
To contact support:
Open Google Maps.
Tap on the menu icon (3 lines).
Select Help & feedback > Send feedback.
Final Thoughts:
Ensure Location History is fully enabled and synced.
Try exporting with Google Takeout for a larger range.
Inspect the JSON file with a JSON viewer to make sure it's not a file structure issue.
If the issue remains, contact Google Support for further investigation.
Let me know if this resolves your issue or if you need further help!