Google Maps reportedly aware of Timeline bug after changing password, but no fix in sight

Google Maps users who’ve changed their account passwords are stuck in a frustrating situation. Their Timeline data has become inaccessible, and while Google knows about the problem, there’s no clear timeline for when it’ll be fixed.

The issue resurfaced in a recent Google Maps support forum thread, where a user complained about being unable to turn on backup for their Timeline data after switching phones. The user had changed their Google account password and found themselves locked out, with the old device constantly prompting for password entry and the new device showing the Timeline data as locked.

What makes this particularly concerning is the response from a Diamond Product Expert on the forum. They confirmed that Google’s Maps team is aware of the bug but hasn’t given any timeframe for addressing it. “Users can’t access the timeline when they change their account password,” the expert explained, adding that everyone will just have to “wait and watch” for a resolution.

The problem was first reported back in October by Android Headlines, with some users claiming it had already persisted for over a year at that point. The core issue prevents people from creating new backups or restoring existing ones after a password change.

Even switching devices or resetting a phone won’t solve it. The fact that it’s still happening months later shows Google hasn’t made much progress on a fix.

The Diamond Product Expert did suggest one possible workaround: reverting to the old password through a series of password changes, since Google won’t let you go back to a previous password directly. However, when the affected user in the latest thread attempted this approach, they couldn’t get it to work and questioned whether the password was really the culprit.

Timeline has become a more complicated feature since Google started moving the data from cloud storage to on-device storage with encrypted backups. The transition was supposed to give users more privacy and control, but it’s created headaches for those who run into migration problems.

For people who rely on Timeline to track work travel, remember places they’ve visited, or keep a personal log of their movements, losing access to years of location history is more than just an inconvenience.

Google, for its part, is yet to offer up any official statement regarding the ongoing problem. 

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