What the viewer validates

The parser checks that the file contains valid JSON, recognizes supported current Timeline shapes, and validates coordinate ranges and timestamps. Unknown fields are tolerated. Invalid points are excluded, obvious GPS jumps can be flagged, and the interface distinguishes an empty file from malformed JSON, an unsupported export, and a file with no usable points.

The viewer reports what is present; it does not recover deleted trips, decrypt a Google backup, or infer missing transport modes. A valid file can still contain gaps because Timeline recording, device permissions, battery settings, or account history were incomplete.

Inspect a location-history file safely

If you still need an export, start with How to export Google Maps Timeline. Keep the original file unchanged so you can retry after adjusting only the viewer settings.

  1. Choose the JSON locally. Open the tool and select Timeline.json or location-history.json.
  2. Read the parser summary. Confirm the number range, earliest date, latest date, and any excluded-point warning before loading map imagery.
  3. Narrow the dates. Select the trip or period you intend to inspect instead of drawing an entire multi-year history by default.
  4. Add an endpoint privacy zone. Remove points near the route's first and last recorded stops before preview and export, then check the overview for accidental exposure elsewhere.
  5. Continue or stop. Open the video workflow only if the route looks right; otherwise clear the local project and return to the source export.

Why this is not a completely offline viewer

Parsing, filtering, titles, media, and video encoding happen locally in the browser. No Timeline JSON is sent to a Timeline to Video server. Once you approve map loading, however, the browser requests third-party raster tiles. The tile provider can see the network address and requested tile coordinates, even though it does not receive the full JSON document.

If that boundary is unacceptable for a particular file, use the fictional sample or stop before map loading. The current site does not include an offline map package. See the privacy policy for the complete data flow.

Move from inspection to a story

After the route is clean, continue to Google Timeline to Video to add a template, animated labels, music, aspect ratio, and summary card. For a full-year project, use the yearly travel recap workflow.

Timeline to Video is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google.

Verification

Sources and review notes

Export paths, platform behavior, encoding capability, and map attribution were reviewed against the relevant primary documentation below. Product behavior was also checked with the local automated suite on August 25, 2026.