Urgent Gmail warning issued as Google says act now, or things will be 'deleted'

An urgent alert has been issued by Google and it's a good idea to check your Gmail inbox for an important email from the US technology giant. The warning has been raised due to a big change that's coming soon to the popular Google Maps service with those not acting fast being told that their data is at risk of being deleted. Google says that it is switching things up, with its Timeline service being moved from a cloud-based system - which stores information away from phones - to an on-device setup meaning all data stays in the pocket of the user.

For those unaware, Timeline is a function that remembers where you have been so you can track your steps with pinpoint accuracy after you've made a journey. That can be handy if you went somewhere, such as a restaurant, shop or park and can't remember exactly where it was. Currently, all of the data the Maps app records is instantly sent to cloud servers - which might sound scary but it lets users access this information from other devices along with logging in via the web.



However, as of 9 June 2025, Google is shutting down Timeline in its current state and, as we mentioned before, is moving it from being a cloud-based service to something that instead records on your device. To make sure users are able to continue using the service, Google is now urging people to check their devices and make sure Timeline is switched on - otherwise, all data will be lost. In a Gmail message seen by Mirrror Online, Google said: "You have Timeline turned on for your account, which helps you go back in time and remember where you've been.

With Timeline, your visits and routes are automatically saved to a map on each of your devices. "This is a reminder that Timeline is changing. Now, if you choose to keep Timeline on, all of your devices will save new visits on their own Timelines — including any devices that previously had Location History reporting turned off.

Because of these changes, you need to choose new settings to avoid losing Timeline data." So, what should you do next? To keep this useful feature working, you must have the latest Google Maps app installed on all devices. Once that's done, head to your Google account and check that Timeline in switched on.

Those wanting to keep saved routes and visits can choose to do so by following the link embedded in the message. "If you take no action, your visits and routes will be deleted, and your Timeline settings will be turned off," Google confirmed. Why is this change being made? Though Google hasn’t said outright, it's possible that Google Maps Timeline is changing to better respect user privacy.

So, if you want to keep those features running, check your inbox and follow Google's advice..