Have you ever been in a situation where you need to use Google Maps, but you have no internet connection? Maybe you're traveling abroad and don't want to pay for roaming data, or maybe you're in a remote area with no signal. Whatever the reason, you don't have to panic. You can still use Google Maps offline on your phone or tablet, as long as you plan ahead and download the maps you need before you go offline.
Use Google Maps Offline on Your Phone or Tablet
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| Photo by henry perks on Unsplash |
Downloading offline maps on Android
To download offline maps on your Android device, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app and make sure you're signed in to your Google account.
- Search for a place, like San Francisco, or tap and hold on the map to select an area.
- At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place, then tap More, then Download offline map.
- Adjust the map according to the area you want to download, then tap Download.
You can also select your own map by tapping your profile picture or initial, then Offline maps, then Select your own map.
Tip: You can save maps on your device's internal storage or an SD card. To change the storage preference, tap your profile picture or initial, then Offline maps, then Settings, then Storage preferences.
Downloading offline maps on iOS
To download offline maps on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app and make sure you're signed in to your Google account.
- Search for a place, like San Francisco, or tap and hold on the map to select an area.
- At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place, then tap More, then Download offline map.
- Adjust the map according to the area you want to download, then tap Download.
You can also select your own map by tapping your profile picture or initial, then Offline maps, then Select your own map.
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| Photo by Alex Siale on Unsplash |
Using offline maps
After you download an area, you can use Google Maps offline just like you normally would. You can get directions, search for locations, and see information like hours and ratings. However, some features are unavailable offline, such as transit, biking, or walking directions, traffic info, alternate routes, or lane guidance.
To use offline maps, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app and make sure it's in Wi-Fi only mode. To do this, tap your profile picture or initial, then Settings, then turn on Wi-Fi only.
- Search for a place or tap on it on the map.
- Tap Directions and choose a mode of transportation (car only).
- Follow the route as usual.
Tip: You can also use voice navigation offline by downloading the language pack before you go offline. To do this, tap your profile picture or initial, then Settings, then Navigation settings, then Voice selection.
Managing offline maps
To find a list of your offline maps, tap your profile picture or initial, then Offline maps. Here you can see how much space each map takes up on your device or SD card, when they expire (usually after 15 days), and how to update them manually or automatically.
- To delete an offline map, tap on it, then tap Delete.
- To rename an area you've downloaded for offline use, tap on it, then tap Edit name.
- To update an offline map manually, tap on it, then tap Update.
- To update an offline maps automatically when connected to Wi-Fi (recommended), tap Settings (the gear icon), then turn on Auto-update offline maps.
Using Google Maps offline is a great way to save data and battery while traveling or exploring new places. With a little preparation and some simple steps, you can download and use offline maps on your phone or tablet without any hassle.
I hope this blog post was helpful and funny (or at least not boring). If you have any questions or feedback about using Google Maps offline, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy navigating!
