Google Now Rolling Out Auto-Delete Controls for Location History - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Now Rolling Out Auto-Delete Controls for Location History

by

Google in May announced a new privacy-focused auto-delete option for automatically removing Location History and Web & App Activity after a set period of time, and the feature is now rolling out to Google users.

Google users who have these options enabled can choose to delete their information manually, every three months, or every 18 months. Opting in to auto-delete will allow Google to regularly clear out stored data at either the three or 18 month mark.

googleautodelete
Prior to the implementation of the new feature, Google allowed Location History and Web & App Activity to be disabled or manually deleted, but there were no controls for regular deletion, which may encourage more people to use functions like Location History.

Location History tracks the locations that you've visited, while Web & App Activity tracks websites you've visited and apps that you've used. Google uses this information for recommendations and cross device syncing.

Auto-delete options for Location History are rolling out around the world starting today on iOS and Android, with the rollout expected to take a few weeks. Auto-delete options for Web & App Activity will be coming later.

Tag: Google

Top Rated Comments

94 months ago
How about a third option - don’t record my location, ever.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
94 months ago
The history may be deleted but the metadata will always exist.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
94 months ago
How about a third option - don’t record my location, ever.
You can turn off location history.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
94 months ago
You can turn off location history.
That wouldn’t fit the narrative of a large swathe of forum posters here every time the word Google appears.
They forget that Apple was involved in the iCloud location tracking debacle.
[doublepost=1561617717][/doublepost]
Does google only delete it for you?
Do they also delete it for themselves? Or don’t they talk about that?
Why don’t you ask them instead of us? Would seem a much better place to direct such an enquiry.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iFole Avatar
94 months ago
Does google only delete it for you?
Do they also delete it for themselves? Or don’t they talk about that?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MisterSavage Avatar
94 months ago
Google Maps used to force you to turn on location history to be able to share an ETA with friends (unlike Waze) which I always found ridiculous.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Maps Google Maps Icons

Google Maps Showing 'Lake America' in U.S., Apple Maps Yet to Follow

Monday August 31, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Google Maps users in the U.S. will now see the name "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario" for the Great Lake that straddles the New York—Ontario border. Google said it made this change in response to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updating the name for "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America," following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week....
google pixel 11

Google's $100 Pixel Price Hike and Trade-In Push Hint at Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Plans

Wednesday August 12, 2026 3:48 pm PDT by
Google raised the price of its latest smartphones compared to last year, and the increase may hint at what Apple will do with the iPhone 18 Pro models. All of Google's Pixel starting prices are $100 higher than they were last year. Pixel 11 - $899, up from $799 Pixel 11 Pro - $1,099, up from $999 Pixel 11 Pro XL - $1,299, up from $1,199 Pixel 11 Pro Fold - $1,899, up from $1,799...
google ai student discount

College Students Can Get a Free Year of Google AI Pro

Wednesday August 19, 2026 12:00 pm PDT by
Google today said eligible college students in the United States can get a free year of Google AI Pro. Google AI Pro is normally priced at $19.99 per month, and it includes 4x higher usage limits in Gemini, access to Gemini Spark, Gemini in Google apps like Gmail and Google Docs, and 5TB of storage space. Eligible college students outside the United States can get a free year of Google AI...