Google Maps

Tips and Tricks for using Google Maps

1. Glanceable Directions: Enable this feature to see your route, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and upcoming turns on your lock screen while navigating. Go to Settings > Navigation (iOS) or Navigation Settings (Android) and enable “Glanceable Directions While Navigating.”

2. Live View: If you’re in Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, or Venice, use Live View. Open Maps, tap the camera icon, and scan your location. You’ll see an overlay of nearby places, making it easy to find restaurants and shops.

3. Indoor Navigation: Explore malls, airports, and large buildings using Google Maps. Find the location, click on it, and scroll to “Directory” to navigate indoors.

4. Offline Maps: Save maps for offline use when you’re traveling or in areas with poor network coverage. Search for a location, tap “Download,” and choose the area you want to save.

5. Custom Labels: Create custom labels for your favorite places. Open the location, tap “Save,” and select “Label.” You can add tags like “Home,” “Work,” or “Favorite Café.”

6. Share Your ETA: When navigating, tap the “Share ETA” button to send your estimated arrival time to friends or family. They’ll receive a link with real-time updates.

7. Avoid Tolls and Highways: Customize your route preferences by avoiding tolls, highways, or ferries. Go to Settings > Navigation > Route Options (iOS) or Navigation Settings > Route Options (Android).

8. Explore Nearby: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal nearby restaurants, gas stations, and attractions. It’s a quick way to discover what’s around you.

9. Measure Distance: Want to know the distance between two points? Long-press on the map to drop a pin, then tap “Measure distance.”

10. Street View: Explore locations in detail using Street View. Drop a pin, tap the location, and select “Street View.”

11. Voice Commands: While navigating, use voice commands to ask questions like “What’s my next turn?” or “Find gas stations.”

12. Time Travel: Use the “Time Travel” feature to see historical imagery. Open a location, tap the three dots, and select “Street View.” Then click the clock icon.

13. Saved Lists: Organize your favorite places into custom lists. Create lists like “Best Cafés,” “Travel Destinations,” or “Hidden Gems.” To do this, open a location, tap “Save,” and choose “New List.”

14. Speed Limits and Speed Cameras: Google Maps now displays speed limits and alerts you about speed cameras. Keep an eye on your speed while navigating.

15. Share Your Location: Need to meet someone? Share your real-time location with them. Tap your profile picture, select “Location sharing,” and choose the contact you want to share with.

16. Customize Navigation Voice: Tired of the default navigation voice? Change it! Go to Settings > Navigation > Voice Selection (iOS) or Navigation Settings > Voice Selection (Android).

17. Explore Nearby in Incognito Mode: If you’re concerned about privacy, use Incognito Mode. Open Maps, tap your profile picture, and select “Turn on Incognito mode.” Now explore nearby places without leaving a trace.

18. Add Multiple Stops: When planning a road trip, add multiple stops to your route. Tap the three dots in the search bar and select “Add stop.”

19. Measure Elevation: Want to know how steep that hill is? Long-press on the map to drop a pin, then tap “Measure elevation.”

20. Customize Map Colors: Change the map theme to suit your preference. Go to Settings > Map Display (iOS) or Map Display Settings (Android) and choose from options like “Default,” “Night,” or “Retro.”

Lets Dive Deeper

1. Glanceable Directions:

   • This feature displays essential navigation information on your lock screen while you’re driving. You’ll see upcoming turns, distance to the next maneuver, and estimated arrival time (ETA).

   • To enable Glanceable Directions:

     • On iOS: Go to Settings > Navigation > Enable “Glanceable Directions While Navigating.”

     • On Android: Navigate to Navigation Settings and turn on the same option.

2. Live View:

   • Live View overlays augmented reality (AR) information on your camera view. It’s available in select cities.

   • Open Google Maps, tap the camera icon, and scan your surroundings. You’ll see arrows and labels guiding you to nearby places.

   • Currently supported cities: Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Venice.

3. Indoor Navigation:

   • Google Maps isn’t limited to outdoor spaces. You can explore malls, airports, and other large buildings.

   • Find the location you’re interested in, click on it, and scroll down to “Directory” or “Indoor Map.”

4. Offline Maps:

   • Save maps for offline use when you’re traveling or in areas with poor network coverage.

   • Search for a location, tap “Download,” and choose the area you want to save.

5. Custom Labels:

   • Organize your favorite places by creating custom labels. For example, label places as “Home,” “Work,” or “Favorite Cafés.”

   • Open a location, tap “Save,” and select “Label.”

6. Share Your ETA:

   • While navigating, tap the “Share ETA” button to send your estimated arrival time to friends or family. They’ll receive a link with real-time updates.

7. Avoid Tolls and Highways:

   • Customize your route preferences:

     • On iOS: Go to Settings > Navigation > Route Options.

     • On Android: Navigate to Navigation Settings > Route Options.

8. Explore Nearby:

   • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal nearby restaurants, gas stations, attractions, and more.

   • It’s a quick way to discover what’s around you.

9. Measure Distance:

   • Long-press on the map to drop a pin, then tap “Measure distance.” You can measure the distance between two points.

10. Street View:

    • Explore locations in detail using Street View.

    • Drop a pin, tap the location, and select “Street View.”

11. Voice Commands:

    • While navigating, use voice commands to ask questions like “What’s my next turn?” or “Find gas stations.”

12. Time Travel:

    • See historical imagery using the “Time Travel” feature:

      • Open a location, tap the three dots, and select “Street View.”

      • Click the clock icon to access older images.

13. Saved Lists:

    • Organize your favorite places into custom lists:

      • Create lists like “Best Cafés,” “Travel Destinations,” or “Hidden Gems.”

      • To do this, open a location, tap “Save,” and choose “New List.”

14. Speed Limits and Speed Cameras:

    • Google Maps now displays speed limits and alerts you about speed cameras.

    • Keep an eye on your speed while navigating to avoid violations.

15. Share Your Location:

    • Need to meet someone? Share your real-time location with them:

      • Tap your profile picture, select “Location sharing,” and choose the contact you want to share with.

16. Customize Navigation Voice:

    • Tired of the default navigation voice? Change it!

    • Go to Settings > Navigation > Voice Selection (iOS) or Navigation Settings > Voice Selection (Android).

17. Explore Nearby in Incognito Mode:

    • If privacy is a concern, use Incognito Mode:

      • Open Maps, tap your profile picture, and select “Turn on Incognito mode.”

      • Now explore nearby places without leaving a trace.

18. Add Multiple Stops:

    • When planning a road trip, add multiple stops to your route:

      • Tap the three dots in the search bar and select “Add stop.”

19. Measure Elevation:

    • Want to know how steep that hill is?

    • Long-press on the map to drop a pin, then tap “Measure elevation.”

20. Customize Map Colors:

    • Change the map theme to suit your preference:

      • Go to Settings > Map Display (iOS) or Map Display Settings (Android).

      • Choose from options like “Default,” “Night,” or “Retro.”