40+ hidden Google Maps settings that each consumer must be benefiting from

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Google Maps has dozens of settings that unlock hidden options.
• They enhance navigation, battery life, accessibility, privateness, and extra.
• Listed here are the highest ideas and methods I consider make Maps much more helpful.

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I open Google Maps virtually every single day to get from level A to level B, discover a restaurant, or examine visitors earlier than even leaving the home.

However that strategy barely scratches the floor of what the service can do. After writing about Google Maps for nearly 15 years, I’ve discovered firsthand that it is full of hidden settings, menus, and toggles. Many provide help to fine-tune the app to your liking, whereas others unlock new options you in all probability did not know existed.

Additionally: How to blur your home on Google Street View – and why you should do it ASAP

Under is my grasp checklist of Google Maps settings, ideas, and methods each energy consumer ought to know. I’ve targeted on Google Maps for iOS and Android, particularly, however lots of the options do work on the internet model as effectively.

1. Maintain the map dealing with north

Let’s begin with a typical annoyance: the map not auto-rotating as you progress, making it onerous to orient your self. For those who choose to maintain the map dealing with north, go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation and activate Maintain map north up.

Additionally: A hidden Google Earth slider lets you travel up to 80 years back in time – here’s how to try it

2. Keep away from tolls, highways, or ferries

For those who choose to keep away from tolls, highways, or ferries, whether or not to avoid wasting money and time or take the scenic route, you’ll be able to inform Google Maps to keep away from them by default. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation and toggle on Keep away from tolls, Keep away from highways, or Keep away from ferries.

3. Use fuel-efficient routes

Who would not wish to save gasoline on a visit? If you wish to journey as effectively as attainable, inform Google Maps to recommend fuel-efficient routes by default, particularly if arrival occasions are related. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation and activate Desire fuel-efficient routes.

Additionally: 10 Google Maps settings I immediately change on every new phone – and why

4. Inform Google Maps your automobile sort

Immediately beneath the Desire fuel-efficient routes possibility (Profile icon > Settings > Navigation), you will notice a setting so as to add your automobile. Faucet it to set an engine sort (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, or electrical) for extra customized outcomes and route suggestions. For instance, for those who drive an electrical automobile, Google Maps can consider your battery wants when suggesting routes and stops.

5. Specify your EV mannequin and charging plug

I am not performed with electrical automobile options simply but. As talked about earlier, Google Maps can prioritize EV charging stations, however it might probably additionally tailor outcomes to your precise automobile and charging setup. In Profile icon > Settings > Your automobiles, if in case you have chosen Electrical as your engine sort, you’ll be able to enter your automobile’s make, mannequin, 12 months, trim, and plug or adapter particulars. Google Maps will then filter charging stations particularly in your automobile.

6. Add a number of stops to a route

I usually make stops or run errands throughout a visit, so I attempt to add them to my Maps route not just for navigation assist however to get a extra correct estimated time of arrival. When making a route, faucet the three-dot menu subsequent to your start line, choose Edit stops, and add as many stops as you want. Press and maintain the three-line deal with on stops to reorder, or faucet X to take away one.

7. Set a departure time

This one is essential in order for you an correct estimated time of arrival.

Site visitors varies by time of day, so checking a route throughout rush hour can skew your journey time for those who plan to depart earlier or later. For instance, for those who search for a drive to Montreal at 4 p.m. however plan to depart in the midst of the night time, your estimate can be off. As an alternative, set a departure time. From the route display screen, faucet the three-dot menu subsequent to your start line and choose Set a departure time.

8. Set a reminder to depart

Have to get someplace by a sure time? As an alternative of setting an alarm, you’ll be able to ask Maps to remind you. From the route display screen, faucet the three-dot menu subsequent to your start line and choose Set a reminder to depart. You may select a leave-by and arrive-by time, and Google Maps will consider stay visitors to inform you when it is time to go. No different alarm or app required.

9. Activate Glanceable Instructions

You may hold turn-by-turn instructions seen in your lock display screen with out unlocking your cellphone. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation and allow Glanceable instructions whereas navigating. This function is helpful when your cellphone occasions out throughout navigation to avoid wasting battery, or if you lock the display screen to stop distractions or unintended faucets, however you continue to wish to look at upcoming turns.

10. Use voice instructions

Generally it’s simpler to say the place you’ll want to go somewhat than sort it out, equivalent to when your palms are full whereas strolling, or you might be driving in heavy visitors and might’t safely have a look at your display screen. In these instances, faucet the microphone icon within the Google Maps search bar and say your vacation spot. You may ask to seek out gasoline, reroute, or seek for locations, together with your own home, with out touching the keyboard.

Notice: You may change your language at any time by going to Profile icon > Settings > Apps and show > Voice search.

Additionally: 6 Google Maps tricks to try for the navigation app’s 20th birthday

For those who’re not in a position to faucet the microphone icon for no matter purpose, you’ll be able to at all times say “OK Google” after which communicate your vacation spot. To make use of this utterly hands-free function, first allow Entry your Assistant with OK Google in Profile icon > Settings > Navigation.

11. Allow power-saving mode

Google Maps is usually a lifesaver, but it surely will also be a battery vampire.

Additionally: I found a free Google Maps alternative that doesn’t track my location (or kill my phone battery)

For those who want the app to relax and depart you some juice to get by means of the remainder of your day, go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation > Driving choices and activate Energy saving mode. That is solely obtainable when driving, but it surely offers you a easy, low-power map in your lock display screen with key data in-display, like subsequent turns. Based on Google, this alteration can considerably prolong your battery.

Sadly, Power saving mode is presently restricted to Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Professional, Pixel 10 Professional XL, and Pixel 10 Professional Fold units. Like many Pixel-exclusive options, it could ultimately roll out to different Android and iOS customers.

12. Present the speedometer and velocity limits

I actually love these two options. How usually are you driving someplace new and notice you haven’t seen a velocity restrict signal shortly? It occurs to me on a regular basis. Google Maps solves this by displaying the present velocity restrict and a built-in speedometer to assist keep away from unintended dashing. Simply go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation, and allow Pace restrict and Speedometer.

13. Flip off voice over Bluetooth

Hate when Google Maps interrupts the music enjoying by means of your automobile’s audio system? Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation, and switch off Play voice over Bluetooth. This step forces voice steering by means of your cellphone speaker as an alternative of your automobile’s audio system.

14. Make voice steering louder

For those who turned off Bluetooth voice playback however now discover you are having bother listening to instructions by means of your cellphone’s speaker, you’ll be able to enhance the amount in Google Maps itself. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation > Steerage quantity and choose Louder.

15. Get detailed audio cues whereas strolling

Google Maps can present extra frequent and detailed audio steering whereas strolling, together with landmark-based cues that will help you keep oriented. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation and allow Detailed voice steering.

16. Use Stay View for AR instructions

That is one other helpful strolling function. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation, and allow Stay View.

Now, while you’re on foot and following instructions in strolling mode, faucet the “Stay View” button. It makes use of your cellphone’s digital camera and GPS to overlay arrows and instructions onto the true world, which is particularly useful in cities when it’s onerous to inform which road or course to take. Stay View even works indoors in some supported malls, airports, and transit hubs.

Additionally: Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro is here, and it just doubled its reasoning score

Notice: You may as well tilt your cellphone to enter Stay View mechanically, if enabled beneath Profile icon > Settings > Navigation.

17. Discover accessible locations

Want wheelchair-friendly entrances, restrooms, or parking? Maps can present accessible locations and options instantly on the map. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Apps and show and allow Emphasize accessibility information.

18. Use wheelchair accessible transit routes

Google Maps can prioritize elevators over stairs and keep away from inaccessible transfers when attainable. When making a route, choose the strolling possibility, faucet Choices (the filter icon), and select Wheelchair accessible routes. You may as well allow this out of your beginning location by tapping the three-dot menu, choosing Choices, and selecting Wheelchair accessible routes.

19. Select a most well-liked public transit mode

When making a route with public transit, you could have a number of journey modes obtainable, relying in your location. Use the Modes dropdown or faucet Choices (the filter icon) to select from Subway, Practice, Tram, or Bus. Maps will then prioritize your chosen modes when calculating the route.

20. Change your automobile avatar

Do you know you’ll be able to change the blue arrow that represents you whereas navigating? Simply change it to a distinct icon or shade. For instance, I drive a black Mini and was in a position to choose a automobile avatar that appears very shut to 1.

Go to Profile icon > Settings > Your automobiles > Driving avatar. From there, you’ll be able to choose one in all a number of automobile choices, every with a number of colours, or change the arrow shade to make your place simpler to identify at a look.

21. Change to darkish mode (night time mode)

Google Maps permits you to select a Day or Evening shade scheme, or change mechanically primarily based on the time of day. You could find this setting beneath Profile icon > Settings > Navigation. Faucet Shade scheme and choose your desire. This controls whether or not Maps makes use of a darker view throughout navigation, which will be simpler on the eyes in case you are delicate to a brilliant display screen at night time.

22. Test visitors

Irrespective of the place you might be, you’ll be able to examine visitors in your route or present space. On the map, faucet the Layers icon (the stacked squares) within the prime proper and choose Site visitors. Roads are color-coded: inexperienced for fast-moving visitors, orange for average visitors, and purple or darkish purple for heavy congestion. You may as well view typical future visitors by utilizing Instructions and setting a future departure time.

23. Test parking

One of many issues that stresses me out about touring or going to an occasion is parking. The place do I park? Is there parking close by? How a lot will it value? It’s so anxiety-inducing. However Google Maps may help. To make use of it to seek out parking, seek for your vacation spot. As soon as the map facilities on it, choose the Parking possibility, often proven within the options or beneath the Extra filter. 

Additionally: Gemini vs. Copilot: I compared the AI tools on 7 everyday tasks, and there’s a clear winner

For those who see the “Ask” button seem, you too can ask Gemini about parking. Both manner, the function will present close by garages and plenty, together with their web sites, cellphone numbers, and primary itemizing data, which will be helpful for worrywarts like myself.

24. Save your parking location manually

The following factor I hate about parking is remembering the place I parked my automobile.

I attempt to have a look at indicators and poles and make a psychological notice of the extent and quantity, however for those who rush right into a venue to get to your seat, then navigate 20 flooring, 5 hallways, and a number of linked buildings, it’s simple to overlook. However once more, good previous Google Maps may help.

Faucet the blue dot on the map and choose Save parking. Google Maps will drop a pin so you’ll be able to navigate again to your automobile later. You may as well faucet the Extra possibility within the place card and choose Set as parking location.

25. Make collections or lists of locations

Discover the small You tab on the backside of your Google Maps display screen? That is the place you’ll be able to group locations into collections, equivalent to your favourite eating places, by creating lists. Faucet New checklist, add a title and outline, then seek for locations and even routes to incorporate.

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You may as well share total lists with others. Faucet the three-dot menu subsequent to an inventory to seek out sharing choices, together with the power to ask collaborators. It is a nice function for coordinating journeys or exchanging suggestions.

26. Save your journeys

The You tab can be the place your saved journeys stay.

For instance, once I used to journey to Montreal usually for work, I saved journeys round that metropolis so that they’d be simple to tug up later. To save lots of a visit while you’re navigating, enter your vacation spot, begin the route, then faucet Save on the backside of the display screen.

27. Set dwelling and work addresses

Talking of labor, you need to set your own home and work addresses.

This offers you one-tap navigation and simpler commute planning with out repeatedly typing addresses. This step additionally unlocks extra customized visitors updates, neighborhood alerts, and search outcomes for close by locations, equivalent to gasoline stations or eating places.

Additionally: Sick of AI in Search? These 7 Google alternatives still put links first

You may set these beneath Profile icon > Settings > Location and Privateness > Residence and work addresses.

28. Toggle 3D buildings

Exploring dense metropolis areas will be disorienting. For some individuals, having extra visible depth makes the map simpler to grasp. In these instances, turning on 3D buildings may help. 

Go to Profile icon > Settings > Navigation settings and ensure Present raised buildings is turned on. After that, change it on from the map itself. Faucet the Layers icon (the stacked squares) within the top-right nook, then choose Raised buildings.

29. Know your layers, like air high quality and satellite tv for pc

The Layers icon (the stacked squares) on the map hides a number of map varieties and particulars. The default Google Maps view is ok and dandy, however I like switching to Satellite tv for pc once in a while. There may be additionally a Terrain possibility for geography or topography nerds.

Additionally: How you can use Google Maps to track wildfires and air quality

Map particulars is the place issues get actually fascinating. I’ve already talked about Site visitors and Raised buildings, however you too can change on a Road View layer and see air high quality and wildfires in your space by toggling these layers.

30. Customise your items and map scale

Does it drive you bonkers that Google Maps reveals miles as an alternative of kilometers? You may change it. Go to Profile icon > Settings > App and show > Distance items. You may as well set this setting to Automated, which I’ve discovered useful when crossing the Canadian border. For those who return to the App and show display screen, you will notice choices to alter temperature items and toggle whether or not the map scale is seen.

31. Obtain maps for offline use

It is 2026, and my hometown nonetheless would not have a single bar of cell service.

It isn’t simply my city both; a lot of upstate New York is a patchwork of lifeless zones. In different phrases, downloading maps is important for me. That manner, I can get the place I have to go with out worrying about instructions stalling.

Additionally: Gemini can look through your emails and photos to ‘help’ you now – but should you let it?

To obtain a map, enter your vacation spot, open the Extra choices within the place card that seems, and faucet Obtain offline map. Later, faucet your profile icon, go to Offline maps, and choose any map you want.

Simply keep in mind, offline maps usually expire after a 12 months.

32. Label locations for simple entry

Ever discover the little Label icon on the place card that seems after you seek for a vacation spot? I take advantage of it usually. One instance: most summers, I journey a few hours to my sister-in-law’s household camp. I by no means keep in mind the handle or precisely methods to get there, so I created a label for it known as ‘Kenzie camp.’ This label offers me an simply searchable title, making it fast to seek out.

Labels even work with voice instructions in Google Maps. To create a label, seek for a vacation spot, then within the place card, choose Add label and enter a reputation. Labels are personal and solely seen to you.

33. Go incognito

You recognize Chrome’s Incognito mode? Google Maps has one, too. This mode prevents exercise equivalent to searches, navigation routes, and placement historical past from being saved to your Google Account. To show it on, faucet your profile icon and choose Activate Incognito mode.

34. View, flip off, and delete your timeline

Google Maps has a Timeline function that mechanically saves your location historical past, routes, and visited locations to your Google Account. Don’t love that? You may flip it off. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Location and Privateness, then flip off Timeline. Under that possibility, you too can export your Timeline information, delete all information or a particular date vary, or set it to auto-delete on a rolling foundation for those who select to maintain it on.

Interested by what’s in your timeline? You may entry it beneath Profile. It will present you journeys and locations from at this time or the previous. You may faucet the three-dot menu on the prime to entry your Location and Privateness settings for Timeline shortly or to delete a day.

35. Handle your historical past

There are a few different historical past toggles within the Location and Privateness display screen you need to find out about.

The primary known as Your historical past. It saves your exercise throughout Google websites and apps to present you a extra customized expertise in Maps. Just under it’s a Maps historical past possibility, which saves your searches, instructions, and place views.

Additionally: I let Chrome’s AI agent shop, research, and email for me – here’s how it went

If you choose Your historical past and faucet Flip off beneath Net and App Exercise, it disables the function but additionally stops your Maps historical past from being saved. For those who open the Maps historical past possibility instantly, you’ll be able to delete or auto-delete your previous exercise.

You may delete particular person searches or clear all the pieces.

36. Delete latest searches

Don’t need your associate to see that you just not too long ago visited their favourite retailer to purchase them a gift? Regardless of the purpose, it may be annoying if you faucet the search bar in Maps and your latest searches seem. For those who swipe from proper to left on any entry, nonetheless, you’ll be able to shortly delete it, clearing your latest checklist and conserving your journey exercise out of sight.

37. Contribute to Google Maps

Ever marvel how Google Maps will get its information? Plenty of it comes from individuals such as you and me who take the time to contribute. You may join the Local Guides program to earn factors and perks, and get early entry to new Maps options by including evaluations and pictures. When you join, open the Contribute tab subsequent to You in Google Maps so as to add pictures, replace locations, write evaluations, and extra.

Earlier than you begin, there are a few switches value figuring out.

Underneath Profile icon > Settings > Location and Privateness, you can find a Restricted Mode toggle that protects your privateness by stopping strangers from following you or viewing your full historical past of evaluations, pictures, and edits. There may be additionally a Seen to companies toggle. When turned off, it stops companies from seeing that you just comply with them, together with your title, photograph, and public profile.

38. Scale back your notifications

Google Maps might be one of many greatest offenders in the case of notifications. You get alerts for nearly all the pieces.

The excellent news is you’ll be able to fine-tune precisely what Maps notifies you about, whether or not it’s suggestions, instructions, or one thing else. Go to Profile icon > Settings > Notifications and begin toggling choices off or on. I see greater than 20 switches on my display screen, a few of which seem as a result of I’m a Native Information. For instance, I can obtain contribution alerts. I feel I will flip that off.

39. Share your real-time location

Maps permits you to share your stay location with pals or household in just some faucets. Anybody you share with can see your real-time location on a map, alongside together with your motion and battery degree, till the sharing ends. Go to Profile icon > Location sharing, then select Share location or New share. Then, set how lengthy you wish to share, equivalent to one hour or till you flip it off.

Additionally: How to share your location on Android quickly – via text or Google Maps

40. Use Road View to time journey

You may view previous Google Road View photos of a spot instantly in Maps to see the way it has modified over time.

I have a separate guide that walks through how, however the TL;DR is: open Google Maps, seek for an handle, then faucet the Road View preview to enter street-level view. As soon as in Road View, search for the See extra dates possibility on the backside of the display screen and faucet it to open a timeline of previous imagery. Choose a month and 12 months to see how the situation seemed when Google’s Road View automobiles captured it.

41. Attempt Lens with Gemini

Final however not least, Google Maps now integrates Gemini.

Additionally: You can chat with Google Maps now, thanks to this big AI upgrade – how it works

Accessible by means of the digital camera icon within the search bar, also called Lens with Gemini, this function permits you to get details about your environment. Faucet the digital camera icon, level your cellphone at a constructing, landmark, or space, and ask a query about what you might be seeing. Gemini analyzes the stay digital camera view and returns AI-powered summaries concerning the scene in entrance of you.