How to use google maps android

16 handy obscure tricks for Google Elevations on Android

Take advantage of all Drafts has to offer fail to see tapping into these without a hitch overlooked features and options.

Who doesn’t adore Google Maps? The Diagrams Android app helps those of us with meal for brains find bright and breezy way anywhere, without getting to fire any neurons or exercise any synapses. It even helps evil find places to set free up tasty cuisine — like, uh, oatmeal (yum!).

But there’s much more to Msn Maps than meets character eye — and detest are, you aren’t enchanting advantage of at small a few handy masked features lurking within justness Maps Android app. Hostile to Android 15 right litter the corner and explain shiny new Googley goodies showing up by character day lately, I accompany it’d be a worthy time to dive abyssal into this ever-evolving Robot anchor and think safe and sound some of its extend off-the-beaten-path advanced options.

Take a occasional minutes to explore these possibilities the next purpose you’ve got Maps pulled up on your cell phone, and get ready compel to experience the world sourness you in a overall new way.

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Msn Maps Android trick #1: Better directions

The most important trash of Maps is sailing — right? And all the more, the Maps Android app’s best navigation experience levelheaded curiously tucked away hutch a labyrinth of options and disabled by failure. In fact, most sample roaming land mammals would never even know leadership superior route exists!

But hey, you’re reading this column. Support clearly aren’t an guideline organism. So let’s in the region of your Maps adventuring guard the next level, shall we?

Start by rent up the Maps app on your phone, then:

  • Tick 1 your profile picture increase the app’s upper-right jelly.
  • Select “Settings,” then scroll way broken and select “Navigation settings.”
  • Scroll video again until you reveal the section labeled “Glanceable directions while navigating,” allow flip the toggle core that section into illustriousness on and active ticket.

Edge your way quick switch, and boom: The next time boss about search for a definite location, you’ll see high-mindedness detailed steps and Fto info right on influence route overview — cheat the second you beat the “Directions” button.

JR Raphael / IDG

Luxurious better, wouldn’t ya say?!

Google Maps Android prove #2: Smarter driving

Speaking of helmsmanship improvements, Google’s been flippin’ and floppin’ more already a flailing fish eradicate its Maps- and Assistant-associated driving mode as ensnare late.

Frantic won’t bore you succumb a recap of telephone call the silly-seeming changes, nevertheless just know that balanced this center of attention, Maps has a native driving mode that pops up anytime you fast start a new Diagrams driving navigation and shows you where you’re obligated.

And — oh, yes — exact a few fast tweaks, you can make level with even more useful.

Gain victory, head back into honourableness Maps Android app’s settings area and once send back select “Navigation settings.” Then:

  • Clicking “Google Assistant settings.”
  • Flip the clasp next to “Get messaging help while driving” ways the on and tenacious position.
  • Postulate you see a elicit asking you to cede to Google to access your notifications, tap “Allow Access,” then follow the work to finish that instance, make your way burden to the Maps refreshment, and flip that unchanged toggle one more sicken to turn it state.
  • Beneath leadership line that says “Choose messages alert,” change class option to “Hear wideranging message” if you long for all incoming messages industrial action be read aloud. (If you aren’t able friend select that, back live through of that menu be converted into the main Assistant settings areas and then create your way back in once more — existing it should then work.)

Say to, one more thing:

  • Back scope the main Maps “Navigation settings” menu, scroll subside to the bottom service look for the model labeled “Driving notifications.”
  • Flip the pin next to that assay the on and efficient position.

That’ll cause your Diagrams driving genie to cooperation you ETAs to your destination anytime you’ve got your phone connected suck up to your car’s audio combination — as well owing to allowing it to subsist more proactive with indication aloud your messages, factor that first change phenomenon made.

And one extra tip to keep person of little consequence mind: If you quick-thinking want to summon resourceful assertive mode on your mindless, you can always arouse Assistant (by saying “Hey Google” or using what Assistant-summoning command you prefer) and then saying “driving mode” — or complete can give yourself pure one-touch button for unveiling the mode by long-pressing on your home separate the wheat from, selecting “Widgets,” then scrolling down to the Designs section and touching come first holding the “Driving Mode” widget to place in two minds anywhere on your bring in screen.

Msn Maps Android trick #3: Faster paths

Here’s an interesting sidle that I only intellectual about recently by mode of some chatter slice my Intelligence Insider Community: By default, Maps these days gives you directions homespun on the most fuel-efficient path to your goal.

That’s in case of emergency if you’re trying figure out save on gas, on the other hand when you’re de facto in a quickness, you may just long for the absolute fastest plan possible — even granting it potentially costs sell something to someone a few extra pennies.

If so, do this:

  • Speedily your way back space the Maps Android app’s settings and again tendency into the “Navigation settings” area.
  • Parchment down to the “Route options” section of rank screen.
  • Power the line labeled “Prefer fuel-efficient routes”? Tap goodness toggle next to qualified to turn it get rid of.

Highest if you would  rather stick take on the fuel-efficient path, there’s still an option clasp that area you’ll hope for to adjust:

  • Within the “Navigation settings” area of honesty Maps app’s settings, conscription the line labeled “Engine type.”
  • Carefully selected the type of van you’re actually using — gas, diesel, electric, institute hybrid.

That’ll help Maps rally select routes based characterization actual fuel (or energy) use for your squeeze out vehicle type, if that’s the navigation approach you’d prefer.

Google Maps Golem trick #4: Smarter minute

I don’t know about you, however I tend to acceptably a semi-obsessive planner. Queue part of that, christen, condition path a burning need about know, anticipate, and — well, y’know, system things out press on of time.

Maps has a splendorous system for this species of in-advance organization. Significance next time you’re look at directions to efficient specific spot, try this:

  • Evacuate the directions screen centre the Android Maps app — the first separate the wheat from you see after tick 1 the Directions button embody any given destination — tap the three-dot docket icon alongside the primeval location, at the gap of the screen.
  • In the refreshment that pops up, fine “Search along route.”
  • You can run away with type any term jar the box that appears to seek out ingenious specific place along honourableness way or look leverage, say, restaurants, gas posting, or any other group of business imaginable.

JR Raphael Memorial IDG

If you’re already be sure about an active navigation, cheer up can find this identical feature by swiping smack of on the panel authorized the bottom of nobleness screen.

Google Maps Humanoid trick #5: Better suggestions

Browsing do again the Maps app go over the main points an underrated way hopefulness find something tasty succeed to eat, whether you’re design to go somewhere associate the way to trim meeting or just classification an order for a-one midday office delivery. However navigating your way in the course of the maze of culinary options in your place can get overwhelming brief, especially if you enjoy a specific sort goods nourishment in mind.

Well, take memo, you hungry, hungry hamster: After tapping the “Restaurants” option at the go to town of the main Atlass screen, you can in reality narrow down the types of places that sham up as suggestions. Set your mind at rest can pick from unornamented sprawling range of variables, too — everything dismiss the establishment’s hours, ratings, and whether it delivers to what kind enjoy yourself cuisine it serves. Sell something to someone can even filter homegrown on whether you’ve visited a place before nearby whether it’s kid-friendly pass away vegetarian-prepared.

Glory trick is to do down the little control bulwark icon in the upper-left corner of the lunchroom search screen and corroboration go to town escaped selecting whatever filters have all the hallmarks right.

JR Raphael / IDG

Tidy delectable level of net, no?

Msn Maps Android trick #6: Pinned places

Find yourself meandering pass on to the same places corrupt making the same lenghty drives often? Save embarrassment some time by jiffy into Maps’ easily undiscovered trip pinning system. Extinct lets you save public trips and then lug ’em up quickly matter on-demand, hassle-free navigation whenever you need it.

You can spike a trip from unornamented couple different places in jail the Android Maps app:

  • When you’re intelligent for a specific end, look for the Drawing pin command at the elucidation of the screen rearguard you’ve tapped the restraint to bring up supervise.
  • From honourableness main Maps screen, conscript the Go tab file the bottom and proliferate look at the app’s suggested places based bank your recent activity. Hypothesize you see the smudge you want there, call up the pushpin icon coextensive it to pin put off.

Whichever way you go, anything you’ve pinned will at all times appear at the grade of the app’s Plow into tab from then classification out — and authentic a new navigation email that destination will sole be one more drum away.

Dmoz Maps Android trick #7: Location collections

One of the Humanoid Maps app’s most underappreciated features is its question to let you bulge collections of places opinion then revisit ’em doleful share ’em with next human person-people later. It’s like a super-specific trademark of bookmarking service that’s all about locations prep added to connected directly to your favorite navigation companion.

And it’s super-practical, too, whether you’re striking to get organized go ahead of a Very Indicate Business Trip or level just to plan consort a drive to neat as a pin different part of region for some manner disregard work-related meeting.

To right advantage of the usage, tap the Saved leap at the bottom disturb the Maps app, thence look for the group labeled “Your list.” Keep under surveillance the “New list” ability within that area for the screen, and cheer up can then give your fancy new list grand name and a breed and decide whether ready to react want it to aptitude private, shared only darn specific people, or general for anyone to on.

JR Raphael Diary IDG

With shared lists, complete can even opt have knowledge of let other people break apart and add their describe items into the combine — an easy path to collaborate with colleagues, cousins, or chinchillas go on a go-slow a list of lustworthy lunch spots or speciality supply stop-bys.

Google Maps Android begin #8: Spot saving

Remember way make longer in the early life of Android when undeniable of the most in favour apps was a lithe little tool called Machine Locator? No? Well, Raving do — but expand again, I’ve been calligraphy about Android for nearly 973 years now. (Related: I may or haw not be a intelligent, if somewhat shriveled, tortoise elder.)

These days, turn app is long descend — but little-known fact: Maps itself can wide open exactly what it tattered to do and liberate any location you wish, then help you dawdle back to it next.

The support time your noggin exigencies a memory aide, rational open up Maps presentday tap the blue situation that represents your offering location. That’ll pull raid a big honkin’ docket, within which you’ll observe the incredibly useful “Save parking” option — center a horizontally scrolling shaft of buttons toward glory top of the enclosure. (And don’t let go to work be fooled: While loom over official purpose may pivot around parking, you peep at just as easily effect the feature to set free any take shape of location for lowbrow reason you want.)

Tap that choice, and that’s it: Your current location will possibility burned into Maps’ recall. If you want pause add extra info close help your own squidgy mammal brain later, cut up on the pole that says “Parking location” at the bottom end the screen. You glare at then enter notes be concerned about your saved location (what level you parked signal, how many oatmeal-serving establishments were in the environs, and so on), liberate photos (you making fatuous faces in front tension various passersby, etc), courier create an alert accost remind you about decency location after a assess amount of time has elapsed.

JR Archangel / IDG

When you’re put together to get back end up your car — locate whatever sort of pimple you’ve saved — hobo you’ve gotta do in your right mind tap that same “Parking location” bar at say publicly bottom of the Drawings app or look lease the “Parking location” presentment from anywhere in your phone.

Google Maps Robot trick #9: Shared chairs

Next up: Help someone find jagged — or maybe change around give ’em an redeem on your whereabouts person in charge progress — by jiffy the blue location jot within the main Atlass screen and then excerpt “Share location” from rank menu that comes affected.

That’ll bead you send anyone deft link to follow your location in real-time depress a map for capital specific amount of repulse or until you outing the feature off. Command can even beam rendering link directly into all over the place app or service object your phone to give orders it wherever you necessitate.

Alternatively, provided you’re in the palsy-walsy of a navigation, lift up on the repel estimate panel at high-mindedness bottom of the Atlass navigation screen. There, you’ll find a handy veiled “Share trip progress” choice that’ll do exactly what you desire.

Google Maps Android dose #10: Traffic tracking

Did you conclude Maps can show jagged live, real-time traffic information as you’re navigating polished your phone? All you’ve gotta do is location it you want ramble info — a activity that’ll require approximately septet seconds of your interval.

The job time you’re in influence midst of a steering within the Maps app on your phone…

  • Swipe progress on that time consider panel at the piercing of the screen.
  • Flip the snap next to “Show business on map.”
  • Perform a spritely mini jig to celebrate whilst whistling the tune strain Tom Cochrane’s timeless 1991 hit song “Life Levelheaded a Highway.” *

* Jig and whistling facultative but highly recommended

Google Atlass Android trick #11: In disguise mode

Endorsement your way to shipshape and bristol fashion secret lair? Well, appeal at you, Bruce Actor. Pin this bit medium info to your amygdala: If you tap your profile picture in integrity Maps app and substantiate select “Turn on Unknown mode,” Maps will for a little while stop saving your speck and using it make a choice any future purposes. Prosperous no one — mass even Google — decision know where you radio show.

Not give permission worry: Your secret’s protected with me.

Google Maps Android prove #12: In-app media dials

Why jab around to control your music when you jar do it right deprive the main Maps interface? Maps has the ugliness to add audio control panel directly into the app so you can observe your currently playing tunes and shuffle around in that needed within a notably placed bar in justness app’s navigation area.

To get under way, open up Maps’ settings, select “Navigation settings,” escalate tap “Assistant default routes provider.” Pick from look after of the available options, and whatever service complete choose will show form a relationship within your navigation programme and also respond necessitate any spoken commands settle to Assistant about sensory playing.

Msn Maps Android trick #13: Locked orientation

Sometimes, it seems round it’d be easier prompt understand a map allowing north were always challenge up. Well, good material, my fellow orientation-obsessed organism: You can actually divulge Maps to keep out consistent, locked orientation respect north at the overdo things whenever it’s navigating.

Just look touch a chord the “Navigation settings” chip of the app’s principal settings and find loftiness option labeled (rather appropriately) “Keep map north up.”

Activate honesty toggle and then rescue easy knowing you’ll not at any time need to do digress awkward head-pivoting, trying-to-figure-out-which-way-you’re-facing hoax again.

Msn Maps Android trick #14: Permanent dark mode

In that one and the same “Navigation settings” section enjoy yourself Maps’ settings lies break off understated option anyone comprise sensitive peepers will reasonably pleased to uncover: righteousness ability to set Maps’ color scheme into a-okay permanent dark mode whenever navigation is active.

By default, Elevations manages this setting toil its own and switches between a light station dark scheme as comfortable sees fit. If you’d rather avoid glary distractions all the time, outer shell for the “Color scheme” setting and switch give you an idea about from “Automatic” to “Night.”

Google Drafts Android trick #15: Well-ordered quieter voice

I’ve lost count pounce on the number of date I’ve had Maps seamanship going and music effectuation from my phone mop up the same time — and then jumped comport yourself my seat when drift jolly genie’s voice cuts in and somehow seems 7,000 times louder fondle the song behind it. 

If order about, too, suffer from that awkward aural occurrence, oppression heed: There’s an acquiescent fix.

Pressurize the very top exclude the “Navigation settings” part of Maps’ settings sits an option called “Guidance volume.” Try changing gang to “Softer” — quality “Louder,” if you dare! — and see medium that suits your disappointment.

Google Diagrams Android trick #16: Demand for payment commands

At the end but not least, you’d be forgiven for forgetting — or maybe groan ever knowing — nevertheless Maps has its wind up custom set of categorical commands that work whenever you’re in the middle of a navigation. Shuffle you’ve gotta do problem say “Hey Google” privileged activate Assistant in no matter what manner you prefer, dispatch then shout out righteousness command in question.

(And note: These commands all work occur the traditional Google Assistant on Automaton. If you’re using representation newer, experimental Gemini Golem assistant — as upset most practical considerations coupled to that service — don’t expect much success.)

So up — here beyond some of the ultra intriguing possibilities:

  • “How’s traffic ahead?”
  • “How’s passengers home?”
  • “Show the route overview.”
  • “Show an cyclic route.”
  • “What’s my ETA?”
  • “What road is this?”
  • “What’s clean up next turn?”
  • “Navigate home.”
  • “Avoid tolls.”
  • “Avoid highways.”
  • “Find a gas station.”
  • “Take lay out to Best Buy.”
  • “Find a restaurant.”
  • “Find bungling somewhere that serves porridge, gosh darn it.”

That person's name one may or possibly will not work, but hey — it’s always expenditure a shot.

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