Timeline Visualizer

Timeline Visualizer lets you convert a Google Maps Timeline export into an animated map that you can watch in the browser or save as a short travel video. The entire process happens on your computer, so the JSON file never leaves the page and you do not need to create an account.

To start, you obtain a location‑history JSON file from your phone. On Android you open Settings → Location → Timeline → Export Timeline data; on iOS you use the Google Maps app's Settings → Personal content → Export Timeline data. The export produces a file named Timeline.json, location‑history.json, or Records.json, depending on the device and Google version. You then drag that file onto the Timeline Visualizer panel or click “Open Timeline JSON” to load it. The built‑in parser automatically recognises the format, whether it contains timelineObjects, semanticSegments, generic coordinate arrays, or older Records.json structures, and extracts the coordinate points, timestamps and any semantic details.

Once the data is parsed, the interface presents a few controls. You can pick the canvas dimensions, choose a route colour, set a privacy trim to remove the first and last points, and adjust the playback pace. The route is rendered on OpenStreetMap‑based tiles supplied by CARTO, with an optional privacy‑mode backdrop that hides map details. Pressing play animates a moving marker that travels along the path; a live date, time and cumulative distance label update as the marker moves, giving a clear sense of when and how far the journey progressed.

When you are satisfied with the preview, you click Export. The browser encodes the current canvas into a video file, MP4 if the codec is available in the browser, otherwise WebM, and prompts you to save it locally. Because the rendering and encoding occur client‑side, there is no render queue, no upload, and no server‑side storage. The resulting video can be shared while keeping the original JSON private.

The tool is aimed at users who already have a Google Maps Timeline export and want a quick way to visualise it without installing software. It works well for personal travel diaries, social‑media snippets, or any situation where you need a visual summary of location data.