Best Practices For Timeline Export

Best Practices for Android Location Timeline Export – 2026 Guide for TimeTrack Pro

Exporting your Android location history is the single most important step for using TimeTrack Pro effectively. Done well, it gives you clean, rich, complete data that unlocks every feature: one-tap timestamp copying, precise search, commute logging, mileage proof, travel journals, fitness route reconstruction, productivity analysis, family safety review, legal/alibi documentation, routine auditing, and future planned tools like distance calculation, speed profiles, transport mode detection, altitude graphing, heatmap visualization, most-visited-places ranking, and year-in-review summaries. Done poorly, you end up with missing periods, corrupted files, huge unimportable exports, low-accuracy data, privacy leaks, or endless troubleshooting. This comprehensive guide compiles every best practice known in 2026 (Android 14–16, One UI 7/8, HyperOS 2, OxygenOS 15/16, Nothing OS 3, HarmonyOS 4/5, custom ROMs), covering optimal settings before export, export frequency and range size, format choice (JSON vs KML), storage & backup strategies, privacy protections during export, manufacturer-specific quirks and fixes, how to verify data quality before import, tools for automation/scheduling (where possible), common pitfalls to avoid, advanced techniques for power users (large histories, de-Googled devices, multi-account setups), and a ready-to-copy checklist you can save or print. All recommendations are tested and current as of January 2026.

1. Core Principles – The Foundation of Good Exports

Follow these five principles every time — they prevent 90% of problems:

  1. Export small & often: 1 week to 3 months max per file. Large "All time" exports create massive files (>500 MB–2 GB) that freeze apps, take hours to import, and are hard to manage.
  2. Always prefer JSON: Direct device export defaults to JSON on Android 13+. It includes accuracy, velocity, activity type, altitude — essential for TimeTrack Pro features.
  3. Verify data exists first: Open Google Maps → profile → Your Timeline → check recent/active dates. If empty → no export will work.
  4. Use Battery saving mode for collection: 50–800 m accuracy is sufficient for personal use, with only 2–7% extra daily drain (vs 15–40% in High accuracy).
  5. Backup & encrypt: Keep original exports safe (encrypted drive/SD card). Enable TimeTrack Pro encryption for sensitive periods.

2. Pre-Export Setup – Optimize Your Phone for Best Data Quality

Do these settings once (or review monthly) — they determine what you can export later.

Recommended Collection Settings (Long-Term Default)

  • Location mode: Battery saving
  • Google Location Accuracy: OFF
  • Wi-Fi scanning: ON
  • Bluetooth scanning: ON
  • Location History: ON → "This device only" if available (Android 12+)
  • App location permissions: restrict unnecessary apps to "Ask every time" or "Allow only while using"
  • Google Play Services: Battery → Unrestricted (critical for reliable logging)
  • TimeTrack Pro: Battery → Unrestricted (only affects import speed)

Result: usable 50–800 m accuracy, 2–7% extra drain, perfect for daily/weekly exports.

Temporary High-Precision Settings (Trips, Important Events)

  • Location mode: High accuracy
  • Google Location Accuracy: ON
  • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth scanning: ON
  • After event: export immediately → switch back to Battery saving

Result: 3–15 m accuracy for critical periods, but only use temporarily (high drain).

3. Export Frequency & Range Size – The Goldilocks Rule

Recommended schedule

  • Daily/weekly users (commute, routine tracking): export every 7 days
  • Monthly users (travel journals, mileage logs): export every 4 weeks
  • Quarterly/annual users (tax proof, year review): export 3–6 months at a time
  • Never export "All time" unless you have <1 year of data

Range size guidelines

Range Typical file size (JSON) Import time (mid-range phone) Risk level Best for
1–7 days 1–10 MB 5–20 seconds Very low Testing, recent review
1 month 10–80 MB 20–90 seconds Low Monthly logging
3 months 30–200 MB 1–4 minutes Medium Quarterly review
6–12 months 100–500 MB 3–10 minutes High (freeze risk) Annual backup only
All time 500 MB – 2+ GB 10–60+ minutes (or crash) Very high Avoid unless tiny history

Rule of thumb: if file >200 MB → split it. Import speed and stability improve dramatically.

4. Format Choice & Export Method – JSON First, Always

Preferred method: Direct device export (Settings → Location → Timeline → Export) → choose JSON

Fallback: Google Takeout → prefer JSON download

Why JSON always wins:

  • Millisecond timestamps → precise copy-time
  • Accuracy radius, velocity, activity type → future stats & mode detection
  • Altitude → future graphs
  • Fast parsing → quick import/search

KML only if you need Google Earth route playback (missing most metadata).

5. Storage, Backup & Encryption Best Practices

During export

  • Export to Downloads or Documents folder — easy to find
  • Move to secure folder after download (encrypted SD card or app-private storage)

Backup strategy

  • Copy exports to encrypted USB drive or external SSD monthly
  • Use SD card if phone supports (encrypt card)
  • Avoid unencrypted cloud — if used, end-to-end encrypted service only
  • Keep 2–3 backups in different locations

Encryption in TimeTrack Pro

  • Settings → Encryption → set strong password or biometric
  • Apply to all imports or selective periods
  • Forgotten password = permanent loss — no recovery
  • Decrypt only in-memory during use

6. Manufacturer-Specific Best Practices & Quirks (2026)

  • Samsung One UI: Export to Downloads → set Google Play Services unrestricted
  • Xiaomi HyperOS: Enable "All files access" → No restrictions for Google services
  • Huawei HarmonyOS: Use built-in export → convert to JSON if needed
  • Nothing / Fairphone stock: Standard steps — very reliable
  • GrapheneOS / CalyxOS: microG or manual log export — test small

7. Verification Checklist – Before & After Export

Before export

  1. Location History ON & data visible in Google Maps Timeline?
  2. Battery saving mode + Wi-Fi/Bluetooth scanning ON?
  3. Phone charged >50%?
  4. Enough free storage (2× expected file size)?

After export

  1. File in Downloads → opens in text editor (starts with { or
  2. File size reasonable for range?
  3. Test import small portion first?
  4. Backup copy made?

8. Advanced Tips for Power Users

  • Automate reminders: use calendar to export every Sunday
  • Multi-account: export from each Google account separately
  • Large histories: export yearly → archive offline → import current year only
  • De-Googled ROMs: microG + manual logs or device export tools
  • Rooted devices: direct database pull (advanced, not needed)

9. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Exporting "All time" — creates unmanageable files
  • Using KML by default — loses metadata
  • Exporting without verifying data in Maps
  • Storing unencrypted exports on device
  • Ignoring manufacturer battery optimizations

10. Summary & Ready-to-Copy Checklist

Export small JSON ranges frequently, verify data first, use Battery saving mode, back up securely, encrypt in app, and follow manufacturer tweaks. This ensures clean, rich, private data for all TimeTrack Pro use cases with minimal effort and risk.

Quick Checklist (copy & save)

  • Verify data in Google Maps Timeline
  • Battery saving + Wi-Fi/BT scanning ON
  • Export 1–3 months → JSON
  • Save to Downloads
  • Verify file opens in text editor
  • Import small test first
  • Backup export offline
  • Enable encryption in TimeTrack Pro
  • Delete old exports after import
  • Repeat monthly/quarterly

Questions about your device or export routine? Email [email protected] with model, Android version, and details — direct help available.