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Google Takeout Export Failed: How to Fix Common Issues

Fix Google Takeout export failures with step-by-step solutions. Troubleshoot stuck exports, missing data, download errors, and incomplete archives.

January 15, 2026

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11 min read

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to export your Google Maps saved places, only to have the export fail, get stuck, or download a corrupted file. If you've encountered a Google Takeout export failure, you're not alone. These issues are common, but thankfully, most have straightforward solutions.

This guide covers the most common Google Takeout export problems and provides step-by-step fixes to get your data exported successfully.

Quick Fixes (Try These First)

Before diving into specific issues, try these quick solutions that resolve most export problems:

  1. Refresh the page - Sometimes a simple refresh clears temporary glitches
  2. Try a different browser - Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all work with Takeout. Switch browsers if one isn't working
  3. Use incognito/private mode - Browser extensions can interfere with Google Takeout. Incognito mode disables them
  4. Clear browser cache - Old cached data can cause conflicts. Clear your cache and try again
  5. Check your internet connection - A stable connection is essential for large exports

If these quick fixes don't resolve your issue, read on for specific problem solutions.

Common Issues and Solutions

Export Stuck at "Preparing"

One of the most common complaints is an export that seems to hang indefinitely at the "Preparing your export" stage.

Why it happens:

  • Large amounts of data require more processing time
  • Google's servers may be under heavy load
  • Browser session timeouts
  • Multiple export requests queued

How to fix it:

  1. Be patient - Large exports can legitimately take several hours. Google will email you when it's ready
  2. Don't keep the page open - You don't need to stay on the Takeout page. Close it and wait for the email notification
  3. Check your email - The export may have completed while you thought it was stuck. Check your inbox and spam folder
  4. Cancel and restart with smaller scope - If stuck for more than 24 hours, cancel the export and try again with fewer data types selected
  5. Select only "Saved" - For Google Maps places, deselect all other Google products and choose only "Saved" to minimize export size

Tip: Selecting fewer Google products drastically reduces export time. If you only need your saved places, select only "Saved" and nothing else.

Download Link Expired or Not Working

Google Takeout download links are only valid for a limited time. If you click a link and it doesn't work, it may have expired.

Why it happens:

  • Download links expire after 7 days
  • The link was already used (some exports allow limited downloads)
  • Browser security settings blocking the download
  • Network interruption during previous download attempt

How to fix it:

  1. Check the expiration date - Google emails show when links expire. If expired, create a new export
  2. Create a new export - Go back to Google Takeout, select your data, and create a fresh export
  3. Try right-click and "Save As" - Sometimes the direct click doesn't work, but right-clicking and saving does
  4. Disable download blockers - Check if your browser or antivirus is blocking the download
  5. Use Google Chrome - Chrome tends to work most reliably with Google services

ZIP File Won't Open or Is Corrupted

You've downloaded the export, but the ZIP file won't extract or shows corruption errors.

Why it happens:

  • Download was interrupted before completing
  • File was damaged during transfer
  • ZIP file is too large for your default extraction tool
  • Disk space ran out during extraction

How to fix it:

  1. Re-download the file - The simplest fix is to download again. Ensure a stable internet connection
  2. Use a dedicated ZIP tool - Default OS extractors sometimes fail on large files. Try 7-Zip (Windows) or The Unarchiver (Mac)
  3. Check available disk space - You need free space equal to at least 2x the ZIP file size
  4. Download to a different location - Try downloading directly to your desktop or a different drive
  5. Request smaller exports - Select fewer Google products or choose to split the export into multiple smaller files in the Takeout settings

Missing Data in Export (Saved Places Not Included)

Your export completed, but when you open it, your saved places are missing or incomplete.

Why it happens:

  • Wrong data type selected during export setup
  • Saved places stored in a different Google account
  • Recently saved places not yet synced to Google servers
  • Export filters excluded certain data

How to fix it:

  1. Verify you selected "Saved" - When creating your export, ensure you scrolled down and specifically checked the "Saved" checkbox. This contains all Google Maps saved places
  2. Check the correct account - If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you're exporting from the one where your places are saved
  3. Wait and try again - If you just saved places, wait 24 hours for sync, then re-export
  4. Look in the right folder - Unzip the export and navigate to the "Saved" folder. Your CSV files are inside
  5. Check all CSV files - You should see files like "Starred Places.csv", "Want to go.csv", and any custom list names

Important: Google Takeout exports do not include coordinates for your saved places. You'll need to geocode them after export using a tool like Takeout Tools.

Export Takes Forever (Large Accounts)

If you have years of Google data, exports can take an extremely long time to prepare.

Why it happens:

  • Massive amounts of data across many Google services
  • Google's servers prioritize smaller exports
  • High demand periods slow all exports

How to fix it:

  1. Export only what you need - Click "Deselect all" first, then select only "Saved" for Google Maps places
  2. Choose "Export once" - Avoid scheduled exports when you just need a one-time download
  3. Select .zip format - ZIP is generally faster to prepare than .tgz
  4. Avoid peak times - Try initiating exports during off-peak hours (early morning or late night)
  5. Don't create multiple exports simultaneously - Each additional export request slows down all your pending exports

"Something Went Wrong" Error

A generic error message that can appear at various stages of the export process.

Why it happens:

  • Temporary server issues on Google's end
  • Browser compatibility problems
  • Account security restrictions
  • Exceeded export limits

How to fix it:

  1. Wait and retry - Google's servers occasionally have issues. Wait 30 minutes and try again
  2. Check Google's status - Visit the Google Workspace Status Dashboard to see if there are known issues
  3. Verify account access - Make sure your account isn't restricted. Try accessing other Google services
  4. Log out and back in - Sign out of your Google account completely, then sign back in before retrying
  5. Try a different device - If possible, attempt the export from a different computer or mobile device

Step-by-Step: Creating a Successful Export

Follow these steps for the highest chance of a successful export:

  1. Open an incognito/private browser window
  2. Go to Google Takeout
  3. Sign in to your Google account
  4. Click "Deselect all" at the top of the page
  5. Scroll down and select only "Saved" - This contains your Google Maps saved places
  6. Click "Next step"
  7. Choose these settings:
    • Delivery method: Send download link via email
    • Frequency: Export once
    • File type: .zip
    • File size: 2 GB (larger accounts may need this split)
  8. Click "Create export"
  9. Close the browser - Don't wait on the page
  10. Wait for the email - This can take minutes to hours depending on data size
  11. Download promptly - Download within 7 days before the link expires

What's Included in Google Takeout Saved Places Export

When you export the "Saved" data from Google Takeout, you'll receive CSV files containing:

  • Starred Places - Your favorites marked with a star
  • Want to go - Places you've saved to visit later
  • Custom lists - Any lists you've created (restaurants, travel, etc.)
  • Place names and addresses - The name and address of each saved location
  • URLs - Links back to Google Maps for each place
  • Notes - Any notes you've added to saved places

What's NOT included:

  • Geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude)
  • Photos you may have associated with places
  • Your Location History (this is a separate export)
  • Places you've searched for but didn't save

After Export: Next Steps

Once you've successfully downloaded your Google Takeout export, you'll notice the CSV files don't contain coordinates. This means you can't directly import them into navigation apps or mapping software.

To add coordinates and convert to usable formats:

  1. Visit Takeout Tools
  2. Upload your CSV files from the "Saved" folder
  3. Process your places to fetch coordinates automatically
  4. Export in your preferred format:
    • GPX - For navigation apps like OsmAnd, Organic Maps, Garmin devices
    • KML - For Google Earth and Google My Maps
    • GeoJSON - For web mapping and developer projects
    • CSV with coordinates - For spreadsheets and databases

This transforms your raw Takeout data into properly geocoded files ready for use in any mapping application.

Pro Tips

  1. Export regularly - Don't wait until you need your data. Create periodic backups of your saved places
  2. Use the 2 GB split option - For large exports, choosing to split into 2 GB chunks prevents corrupted downloads
  3. Keep original exports - After geocoding with Takeout Tools, keep your original Google export as a backup
  4. Check multiple accounts - If places are missing, verify you're exporting from the correct Google account
  5. Test with a small export first - If you've never used Takeout before, try exporting just "Saved" first to learn the process

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Google Takeout export take?

For just Google Maps saved places, most exports complete within 10-30 minutes. If you're exporting all Google data, it can take several hours to multiple days. Google emails you when it's ready.

Can I resume a failed download?

Unfortunately, no. Google Takeout downloads don't support resume functionality. If your download fails or is interrupted, you'll need to download the entire file again. For large exports, ensure a stable internet connection.

Why is my export file empty or nearly empty?

This usually means you didn't select the correct data type. Make sure you scrolled down the Google Takeout page and specifically selected "Saved" (not "Maps" or "Location History"). Also verify you're logged into the Google account where your places are actually saved.

Do I need to keep the Takeout page open while exporting?

No. Once you click "Create export," you can close the page. Google processes the export in the background and emails you when it's ready for download. Keeping the page open doesn't speed up the process.

My export succeeded but I can't use the data in other apps. Why?

Google Takeout exports don't include geographic coordinates - only place names and addresses. Most mapping apps require latitude/longitude coordinates. Use Takeout Tools to geocode your places and convert to formats like GPX or KML that work with navigation apps.

Export Succeeded? Get Your Coordinates

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