Timeline Visualizer Wiki
Turn Google Maps Timeline.json into animated MP4 travel maps on Android, iPhone Safari, or desktop with local processing, flexible dates and camera controls.
See Timeline Visualizer in Action
Watch how Google Maps Timeline.json becomes an animated travel map video on Timeline Visualizer.
Timeline Visualizer Guides
Everything you need to turn Google Maps Timeline.json into an animated MP4 travel video
Latest Updates
Discover the newest guides, tips, and content
dawarich google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to use the Dawarich Google Timeline Visualizer to view exported location history, compare file formats, and protect your data.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Learn how to prepare Timeline.json, filter routes, protect location data, and create clear journey visualizations with Google Timeline Visualizer.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Export Guide
Learn how to export Google Timeline files, open them in a browser visualizer, compare formats, and explore location history privately.
google timeline viewer: 2026 Setup Guide & Tips
Learn how to use a google timeline viewer in 2026, export location data, inspect JSON files, filter trips, and protect your privacy.
google timeline visualizer android apk: Setup Guide
Install the Google Timeline Visualizer Android APK, export Timeline.json, protect your location data, and render private travel videos locally.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Learn how to export Google Timeline JSON, visualize routes locally, choose map settings, and create private travel videos in 2026.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Learn how to export Google Timeline JSON files, view location history in your browser, compare formats, and protect your privacy in 2026.
google timeline visualizer aspect ratio: Setup Guide
Choose the right Google Timeline Visualizer aspect ratio for landscape, portrait, and square journey videos with practical setup tips.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Learn how to export Google Timeline data, load JSON files privately, explore maps, filter years, and troubleshoot common visualization issues.
google timeline visualizer coordinate formats: Setup Guide
Learn how Google Timeline coordinate formats differ, how to prepare JSON exports, and how to visualize location history privately in 2026.
google timeline visualizer: Step-by-Step Web Setup Guide
Learn how to export Google Timeline JSON files, view them in a browser, understand file formats, and protect your location history.
google timeline visualizer: Data Visualization Setup Guide
Learn how to use a google timeline visualizer to open exported JSON files, explore routes, filter years, and protect location data in your browser.
Google Timeline Visualizer GitHub
Google Timeline Visualizer converts exported Google Maps Timeline location history into animated MP4 travel videos. The GitHub repository contains the project source, desktop Python workflow, Android builds, documentation, and release history.
Official Repository
Open-source projectThe main mahlernim/google-timeline-visualizer repository contains the source code, setup instructions, documentation, and development history for the project.
GitHub Releases
Official downloadsThe Releases section provides packaged project releases, including downloadable Android APK builds when available.
MIT License
MIT licensedGoogle Timeline Visualizer is distributed under the MIT License, allowing users to use, modify, and redistribute the software under the license terms.
Active Development
Source and historyThe repository records the project commits, fixes, feature additions, and platform improvements in one place.
Google Timeline Visualizer Download
Google Timeline Visualizer supports three main ways to create videos from Timeline.json. Android users can install the APK, iPhone users can run the browser-based version in Safari, and desktop users can run the Python implementation with FFmpeg.
- Platform
- Android
- Requirements
- Android 8.0 or later
- How to get it
- Download the official APK from the project GitHub releases and install it directly.
- Best for
- Users who want to create timeline videos directly on an Android phone.
- Platform
- iPhone and iPad
- Requirements
- Safari 16.4 or later
- How to get it
- Open the official web application in Safari. No App Store installation is required.
- Best for
- iPhone users who want a browser-based workflow without installing an app.
- Platform
- Windows, macOS, or Linux
- Requirements
- Python 3.9 or later and FFmpeg
- How to get it
- Download or clone the GitHub project, install its required dependencies, and run the desktop workflow with Python.
- Best for
- Users who prefer desktop processing or want direct access to the open-source code.
Google Timeline Visualizer How to Use
The basic process is the same across the supported versions: obtain Timeline.json, import it into the visualizer, choose the period you want to show, customize the animation, preview the result, and export the finished video.
Export Timeline.json
Export your Google Maps Timeline location history and locate the Timeline.json file on your device.
Open Timeline Visualizer
Launch the Android app, open the iPhone web app in Safari, or start the desktop Python version.
Import the Timeline File
Select Timeline.json from your device so the visualizer can read the recorded locations and trips.
Choose the Date Range
Select one or more months or use exact start and end dates. Date ranges can span different calendar years.
Set the Video Duration
Choose a journey animation length from 10 to 300 seconds depending on how quickly you want the route to play.
Choose the Camera Mode
Use a fixed camera for a stable map view or a dynamic camera that follows the journey as the route progresses.
Select Video Format
Choose 480p, 720p, or 1080p output and select a square, vertical, or horizontal video layout.
Preview the Journey
Use the interactive preview to inspect the route, timing, camera behavior, and selected date range before rendering.
Create the MP4
Start the rendering process and save the finished animated travel history as an MP4 video.
Quick Tips
- Exact-date selection supports journeys that cross month and year boundaries.
- Fixed camera keeps a stable map view; dynamic camera follows the journey as it progresses.
- Long-distance routes are smoothed using great-circle interpolation.
- Preview the route before rendering to confirm the date range and pacing.
Google Timeline Visualizer Timeline.json Export
Before creating a video, export your Timeline data from the device where Google Maps stores your location history. The visualizer reads the resulting Timeline.json file locally and does not require your Google account password or direct access to an encrypted Timeline backup.
Android
- 1
Open Google Maps
Launch Google Maps on the Android device that contains your Timeline history.
- 2
Open Your Timeline
Open the Timeline section from your Google Maps profile menu.
- 3
Open Timeline Settings
Use the Timeline settings or backup-related options to access the device Timeline data controls.
- 4
Export Timeline Data
Choose the option for exporting Timeline data and save the generated Timeline.json file to an accessible location on the device.
- 5
Import the File
Open Google Timeline Visualizer and select the exported Timeline.json file.
iPhone
- 1
Open Google Maps
Launch Google Maps on the iPhone containing the Timeline history you want to visualize.
- 2
Open Your Timeline
Enter the Timeline section from the Google Maps profile menu.
- 3
Access Timeline Settings
Open the Timeline settings and locate the option for exporting the locally stored Timeline data.
- 4
Save Timeline.json
Export the Timeline data and save Timeline.json somewhere accessible through the iOS Files picker.
- 5
Open the Web Visualizer
Open the Timeline Visualizer web app in Safari and select Timeline.json through the browser file picker.
Important
- 1
No Google Account Login Required
Timeline Visualizer processes the Timeline.json file you provide instead of asking you to sign in to a Google account.
- 2
Encrypted Backups Are Not Imported Directly
An encrypted Google Timeline backup is not a replacement for Timeline.json. Export the usable Timeline data first, then load that JSON file into the visualizer.
Google Timeline Visualizer iPhone Guide
The iPhone version runs as a Safari web app, so there is no App Store installation. Processing starts from the Timeline.json file exported from Google Maps, with the main workflow handled directly in the browser.
Open the Timeline Visualizer web app in Safari on an iPhone or iPad running Safari 16.4 or later.
- No App Store download is required.
- Safari 16.4+ is required for the browser features used by the visualizer.
Choose the Timeline.json location-history file exported from Google Maps and allow the web app to read it locally.
- The file contains the location-history data used to build the journey.
- No Google account sign-in is required inside Timeline Visualizer.
Select the period you want to visualize using a month range or exact start and end dates.
- Exact-date selection supports journeys that cross month and year boundaries.
- Only the selected period is used for the animation.
Use the interactive preview to check the route before rendering, then choose the format, resolution, duration, and camera behavior.
- Square, portrait, and landscape formats are supported.
- Available output quality levels include 480p, 720p, and 1080p.
- Journey duration can be adjusted from 10 to 300 seconds.
- Fixed and dynamic camera modes are available.
Start rendering after the preview and settings are ready. The finished journey is produced as an MP4 video that can be saved or shared from the device.
- Long-distance routes are smoothed using great-circle interpolation.
- Routes crossing the International Date Line are handled correctly.
Add It to the Home Screen
For faster future access, use the Safari Share menu and choose Add to Home Screen.
- The saved icon launches the web app from the iPhone or iPad Home Screen.
- It remains a web app, so a separate native iOS installation is not needed.
Google Timeline Visualizer Python Guide
The Python version is designed for users who prefer running the visualizer locally on a desktop computer. The project includes the main visualizer.py script and a requirements.txt file for installing its Python dependencies.
Make sure Python 3.9+ and pip are available on the computer before installing the project.
python --versionInstall FFmpeg and make sure its executable is available from the system command line.
ffmpeg -versionGet the Project
Clone or download the Google Timeline Visualizer repository and open a terminal in the project directory.
git clone https://github.com/mahlernim/google-timeline-visualizer.gitInstall the packages defined by the project requirements.txt file.
pip install -r requirements.txtPlace or select the Timeline.json file exported from Google Maps. This file supplies the location data used by the visualizer.
Timeline.jsonRun the Visualizer
Launch the main Python visualizer script from the project directory and use the available controls to select the journey and rendering settings.
python visualizer.pyChoose the required date range, video duration, orientation, resolution, and camera behavior before starting the render.
- 480p, 720p, or 1080p output
- Square, portrait, or landscape format
- 10-300 second journey duration
- Fixed or dynamic camera
- Month-range or exact-date selection
Render the Journey
Generate the final animation as an MP4 file. FFmpeg handles the video-encoding stage while the visualizer builds the animated journey from the selected Timeline.json data.
Output: MP4 videoGoogle Timeline Visualizer Video Settings
Timeline Visualizer can produce videos for different screens and social formats while keeping control over journey pacing and camera movement. Route-processing features also improve animations containing long-distance travel or International Date Line crossings.
Video Format
Square / Portrait / LandscapeChanges the shape of the finished MP4 so it can better fit square posts, vertical mobile content, or widescreen playback.
Resolution
480p / 720p / 1080pControls the output quality and rendering workload. 1080p provides the highest available resolution, while 480p produces a lighter output.
Journey Duration
10-300 secondsControls the total length and pacing of the animated trip. Short durations move through the route faster, while longer durations show the journey more gradually.
Camera Mode
Fixed / DynamicFixed mode keeps a stable map view, while dynamic mode adjusts the camera as the journey progresses.
Date Selection
Month range / Exact datesLets users visualize broad monthly periods or define precise start and end dates for a specific trip.
Cross-Year Selection
SupportedExact-date ranges can continue across the end of one calendar year into the next.
Interactive Preview
Available before final renderLets users inspect the selected route and presentation before creating the MP4.
Long-Distance Travel
Great-circle route interpolationSmooths long flights and other large geographic jumps along a natural path instead of drawing an unrealistic straight map-space jump.
International Date Line
Crossing supportPrevents routes near the ±180° longitude boundary from producing incorrect map-spanning movements.
Coordinate Handling
Multiple supported coordinate formatsAllows the visualizer to interpret location records stored in different coordinate representations found in Timeline data.
Produces a standard video file suitable for playback, editing, archiving, or sharing.
Google Timeline Visualizer Privacy Guide
A Google Maps Timeline export can contain highly detailed location history, so the visualizer minimizes the amount of journey data sent over the network. Timeline parsing and video creation are performed locally, while normal map-tile requests are limited to the external map imagery needed to display the map.