There have been recent complaints from Google Maps users, particularly on platforms like Reddit, regarding the disappearance of their Timeline data. Confirming these complaints, Google stated that the data was accidentally deleted, and individuals who did not utilize Google’s cloud backups are unable to retrieve it.

Google spokesperson Genevieve Park provided this statement in an email to The Verge:

A technical issue led to the deletion of Timeline data for certain users. Most individuals with encrypted Timeline backups can restore their data. Unfortunately, those without backups enabled will not be able to recover their lost data.

Users shared in a Reddit post noticed by Android Authority that they received a similar email statement from Google, providing instructions on how to recover the data for those who had activated the app’s cloud backup functionality. To check if this feature is enabled for you, navigate to your user icon within the iOS or Android Google Maps app, select “Your timeline,” and look for a cloud icon containing either an arrow (indicating it’s on) or a line across it (indicating it’s off). You can modify your backup settings by tapping on the icon.

Google warned users last summer that it was switching to on-device storage for Google Maps location data. That meant you could keep track of your Maps location history without having it tracked on Google’s servers, which is great for privacy but comes with the risk of it abruptly vanishing, as Google’s “technical issue” shows. And unfortunately, while Google Maps lets you export location history data to a file, Google’s instructions for recovering Timeline data include no obvious way to reimport the data that doesn’t involve the cloud backup servers.

Update March 23rd: Updated with confirmation from Google spokesperson Genevieve Park.