This seems to be a common issue on other forums, particularly Google, but there are no real answers so far.
Issue occurs when Samsung Smart Switch is used to move from an older Galaxy to an S25 (I have ultra, but I think it may occur with both the S25 and S25 Ultra).
Symptoms: Location is turned on, and seems to work properly. In Maps, you can see the blue dot moving as you move, but in Timeline, there is no NEW activity listed since the transfer from the old phone. Timeline is turned on, Maps has needed permissions. The only "fix" (which is not any sort of fix!) is to do a factory reset on the phone and then start over not using Smart Switch.
It seems that something Smart Switch has done with the data has somehow blocked Timeline from saving new data.
Mine also stopped tracking, but I found a workaround. I'm retired now, so some days I don't go out at all. A while back I saw it had stopped recording, and when I scrolled back on the days, I found a day where it showed I had come home from some quick errands, showed me at home, but then showed I had left home, with no further entries after that! I'm not at all sure why it decided I had left home, but apparently when that happens it cannot record any new entries, and day after day will be blank. The workaround is to go back to the last entry (always home, for me), then edit that entry. If I change the ending date to the current day, it will give me a checkbox saying "still here", or something like that. Then touch Done, and it will start recording again. You have to keep an eye on it, because it doesn't record whatever you missed. I generally look at my timeline every morning, to see if it still shows me at home... if not, then I edit to fix it. For me, it will kept working properly for a week or two, before going bad.
This occurred for me as well when "smart" switching from an s20+ to an s25 ultra on 4/14/25. Timeline would not record anything or let me even save manually entered visits for the last week, even though all location and timeline setting were set correctly. The following thread on Google support worked for me so far and did not require a factory reset. I only had to proceed through the first restart. There are additional steps after that if needed. The thread is a little old, but can be adapted to current android version. Issue didn't occur for me years ago moving from an s6 to an s20+ in 2020, but a different experience for me this go around. Good luck!
To my workaround, I had to use Samsung Secure Folder and sign in my Maps account there. It tracks every thing and updates work well.
Unfortunately the main app isn't tracking as well since April 1st 2025. Strange issue indeed.
Been trying to clear cache, sign out Google account from the phone, and even clear data for sLocation, Samsung Location SDK, & Fused location. All didn't work.
I figure that, if my Secure Folder Google Maps works without tinkering anything, it must be something else on the main app that is being blocked by some services.
So do give it a try using Google Maps inside Secure Folder.
Clearing cache and even removing the google account dont work. Timeline data just won't get added, not even manual entries. Simply keeps the days marked as "empty" and won't add anything. Sucks.
For me it got "magically" fixed several days after desperately trying all the fixes posted here. No idea if it was one of the fixes, or an update of something, or a combination of factors. But now everything works as it should. Just a big hole in the entries to remember this mess.
