14 Handy Hidden Tricks For Google Maps On Android

Take advantage of each Maps has to connection by tapping into these easy overlooked features and options.

Who doesn’t emotion Google Maps? The Maps Android app helps those of america pinch oatmeal for brains find our measurement anywhere, without having to occurrence immoderate neurons aliases workout immoderate synapses. It moreover helps america find places to prime up tasty cuisine — like, uh, oatmeal (yum!).

But there’s overmuch much to Google Maps than meets nan oculus — and likelihood are, you aren’t taking advantage of astatine slightest a fewer useful hidden features lurking wrong nan Maps Android app. With Android 16 now right astir nan corner and much shiny caller Googley goodies showing up left and right lately, I thought it’d beryllium a good clip to dive heavy into this ever-evolving Android anchor and deliberation done immoderate of its much off-the-beaten-path precocious options.

Take a fewer minutes to research these possibilities nan adjacent clip you’ve sewage Maps pulled up connected your phone, and get fresh to acquisition nan world astir you successful a full caller way.

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Google Maps Android instrumentality #1: Better directions

The astir important portion of Maps is navigation — right? And yet, nan Maps Android app’s champion navigation acquisition is curiously tucked distant successful a labyrinth of options and abnormal by default. In fact, astir mean roaming onshore mammals would ne'er moreover cognize nan superior way exists!

But hey, you’re reference this column. You intelligibly aren’t an mean organism. So let’s return your Maps adventuring to nan adjacent level, shall we?

Start by opening up nan Maps app connected your phone, then:

• Tap your floor plan image successful nan app’s upper-right corner.
• Select “Settings,” past scroll measurement down and prime “Navigation.”
• Scroll down again until you spot nan conception branded “Glanceable directions while navigating,” and flip nan toggle wrong that conception into nan connected and progressive position.

One speedy switch, and boom: The adjacent clip you hunt for a circumstantial location, you’ll spot nan elaborate steps and ETA info correct connected nan way overview — from nan 2nd you deed nan “Directions” button.

Google Maps’ glanceable directions options makes it infinitely easier to spot wherever you’re going — astatine a glance.

JR Raphael / IDG

Much better, wouldn’t ya say?!

Google Maps Android instrumentality #2: Drive clip IQ

While we’re reasoning astir smarter directions, make a intelligence statement of this way to higher Maps enlightenment: You tin find retired really agelong immoderate circumstantial thrust is apt to return astatine any circumstantial clip with nan thief of Maps’ intelligent postulation estimation tool.

Just hunt for a location successful nan Android Maps app, past pat nan Directions fastener and put successful immoderate starting constituent you want.

Tap nan three-dot paper icon successful nan upper-right area of nan aforesaid container wherever you typed nan address, past prime “Set depart aliases get time.” You tin past specify precisely erstwhile you want to time off or erstwhile you want to get — pinch a circumstantial time and clip — and Maps will show you nan apt postulation conditions and estimated recreation clip for that nonstop moment, based connected mountains of humanities data.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #3: Faster paths

Here’s an absorbing 1 that I only learned astir precocious by measurement of immoderate chatter successful my Intelligence Insider Community: By default, Maps now gives you directions based connected nan astir fuel-efficient way to your destination.

That’s awesome if you’re trying to prevention connected gas, but erstwhile you’re really successful a hurry, you whitethorn conscionable want nan absolute fastest way imaginable — moreover if it perchance costs you a fewer other pennies.

If so, do this:

• Speed your measurement backmost into nan Maps Android app’s settings and again caput into nan “Navigation” area.
• Scroll down to nan “Route options” conception of nan screen.
• See nan statement branded “Prefer fuel-efficient routes”? Tap nan toggle adjacent to it to move it off.

And if you would rather instrumentality pinch nan fuel-efficient path, there’s still an action successful that area you’ll want to adjust:

• Within nan “Navigation” area of nan Maps app’s settings, pat nan statement branded “Your vehicles.”
• Select nan type of car you’re really utilizing — gas, diesel, electric, aliases hybrid.

That’ll thief Maps amended prime routes based connected existent substance (or energy) usage for your circumstantial conveyance type, if that’s nan navigation attack you’d prefer.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #4: Car customization

Why instrumentality pinch nan boring ol’ bluish dot to correspond your location during a Maps navigation?

As of a very caller update, nan Android Maps app now empowers you to prime your ain civilization icon to correspond your conveyance arsenic you’re driving — which tin beryllium some nosy and practical, since it makes it a full batch easier to spot yourself astatine a glance. A civilization icon moreover carries complete to a car’s show via Android Auto, too, truthful you’ll spot it location erstwhile you prime it.

Best of all? It’ll take you each of 20 seconds to do.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #5: Advanced maneuvers

Speaking of making your measurement astir maps, sometimes, it isn’t precisely applicable — aliases possibly moreover imaginable — to usage 2 fingers to pinch and zoom your measurement astir an area.

So retrieve this useful alternative: In summation to nan modular pinch-to-zoom system, nan Android Maps app supports a concealed motion for zooming successful aliases retired of immoderate representation view. Just double-tap anyplace connected an progressive representation screen, past support your digit down and descent it up to zoom retired aliases down to zoom in. You tin besides just double-tap without nan descent to zoom successful a teensy spot astatine a time.

Beyond that, you tin rotation a representation astir to alteration your position by placing your scale digit and thumb connected nan surface and past twisting ’em together to nan near aliases correct — and you tin displacement into a funky three-dimensional “flyover” position of immoderate area you’re examining by placing 2 fingers connected a representation together and sliding ’em upward connected nan screen.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #6: Smarter searching

I don’t cognize astir you, but I thin to beryllium a semi-obsessive planner. And portion of that, erm, condition intends a burning request to know, anticipate, and — well, y’know, plan things retired up of time.

Maps has a splendid strategy for this benignant of in-advance organization. The adjacent clip you’re looking astatine directions to a circumstantial spot, effort this:

• From nan directions surface wrong nan Android Maps app — nan first surface you spot aft tapping nan Directions fastener for immoderate fixed destination — pat nan Start fastener to statesman a navigation (even if you aren’t really fresh to rotation rather yet!).
• Once nan navigation is active, swipe upward connected nan barroom astatine nan bottommost of nan screen, wherever you spot your existent recreation time.
• In nan paper that pops up, prime “Search on route.”
• You tin past type immoderate word into nan container that appears to activity retired a circumstantial spot on nan measurement aliases look for, say, restaurants, state stations, aliases immoderate different type of business imaginable.

Searching on a circumstantial way is 1 of Maps’ astir adjuvant hidden options.

JR Raphael / IDG

Google Maps Android instrumentality #7: On-demand context

When you’re looking astatine a circumstantial location wrong nan Android Maps app — beryllium it a edifice aliases immoderate different type of business — you tin now thin connected Google’s next-gen Gemini adjunct to study much astir it connected demand, without having to do immoderate manual digging.

You’ll request to beryllium utilizing Gemini arsenic your device’s default adjunct successful bid for this to work. Provided that’s nan case, propulsion up immoderate location wrong Maps and past summon Gemini — either by pressing and holding your beingness powerfulness fastener aliases utilizing nan Hey Google motorboat phrase.

See nan caller “Ask astir place” action supra its main punctual area?

Gemini integrates pinch nan Android Maps app to connection on-demand info erstwhile summoned.

JR Raphael, Foundry

Tap that — and then, you tin simply inquire thing you want to cognize astir nan spot coming connected your screen. And Gemini will service up answers.

You tin inquire each sorts of questions astir locations and get instant info from Google’s Gemini assistant.

JR Raphael, Foundry

Google Maps Android instrumentality #8: Helpful hailing

The adjacent clip you request a assistance location — beryllium it via nan existent Lyft service, Uber, aliases immoderate different ridesharing supplier — prevention yourself immoderate steps and bid your thrust straight from nan acquainted Maps interface.

Start by searching for a circumstantial spot and past tapping nan Directions button, arsenic if you were gonna make nan trek connected your own. Then, look for nan icon pinch a personification waving her manus successful nan aerial for illustration she conscionable don’t attraction (or, erm, for illustration she’s hailing a cab). Your friends waver should show up wrong nan directions sheet astatine nan bottommost of nan screen, to nan correct of nan biking guy. If you don’t spot her correct away, swipe horizontally on that statement to uncover her.

The Android Maps app integrates pinch ridesharing services for illustration Lyft and Uber, provided you person nan associated apps installed.

JR Raphael, Foundry

That’ll show you existent prices and hold times for some Lyft and Uber, correct past and there, and let you to hop straight into nan ride-ordering process wrong either app — assuming you person them installed. (If you aren’t seeing immoderate of this, incidentally, you astir apt request to instal a compatible rideshare app first truthful Maps will observe it and commencement showing nan associated info.)

Google Maps Android instrumentality #9: Location curation

One of nan Android Maps app’s astir underappreciated features is its expertise to fto you create collections of places and past revisit ’em aliases stock ’em pinch different quality person-people later. It’s for illustration a super-specific benignant of bookmarking work that’s each astir locations and connected straight to your favourite navigation companion.

And it’s super-practical, too, whether you’re looking to get organized up of a Very Important Business Trip aliases moreover conscionable to scheme astir a thrust to a different portion of municipality for immoderate mode of work-related meeting.

To return advantage of nan system, pat nan You tab astatine nan bottommost of nan Maps app, past look for nan conception branded “Your lists.” Tap nan “New list” bid wrong that area of nan screen, and you tin past springiness your fancy caller database a sanction and a explanation and determine whether you want it to beryllium private, shared only pinch circumstantial people, aliases nationalist for anyone to find.

Location lists are a beautiful measurement to prevention related places for early reference — for yourself aliases for a group.

JR Raphael / IDG

With shared lists, you tin moreover opt to fto different group edit and adhd their ain items into nan operation — an easy measurement to collaborate pinch colleagues, cousins, aliases chinchillas connected a database of lustworthy luncheon spots aliases business proviso stop-bys.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #10: Spot saving

Remember measurement backmost successful nan early days of Android erstwhile 1 of nan astir celebrated apps was a elemental small instrumentality called Car Locator? No? Well, I do — but past again, I’ve been penning astir Android for astir 973 years now. (Related: I whitethorn aliases whitethorn not beryllium a wise, if somewhat shriveled, tortoise elder.)

These days, that app is agelong gone — but little-known fact: Maps itself tin do precisely what it utilized to do and prevention immoderate location you want, past thief you mosey backmost to it later.

The adjacent clip your noggin needs a representation aide, conscionable unfastened up Maps and pat nan bluish dot that represents your existent location. That’ll propulsion up a large honkin’ menu, wrong which you’ll spot nan incredibly useful “Save parking” action — wrong a horizontally scrolling barroom of buttons toward nan apical of nan panel. (And don’t fto yourself beryllium fooled: While its charismatic intent whitethorn revolve astir parking, you tin conscionable arsenic easy usage nan characteristic to prevention any benignant of location for immoderate logic you want.)

Tap that option, and that’s it: Your existent location will beryllium burned into Maps’ memory. If you want to adhd other info to thief your ain mushy mammal encephalon later, swipe up connected nan barroom that says “Parking location” astatine nan bottommost of nan screen. You tin past participate notes astir your saved location (what level you parked on, really galore oatmeal-serving establishments were successful nan vicinity, and truthful on), connect photos (you making silly faces successful beforehand of various passersby, etc), and create an alert to punctual you astir nan location aft a definite magnitude of clip has elapsed.

Saving your location whitethorn beryllium nan champion measurement you put Maps to use, ever.

JR Raphael / IDG

When you’re fresh to get backmost to your car — aliases immoderate benignant of spot you’ve saved — each you’ve gotta do is pat that aforesaid “Parking location” barroom astatine nan bottommost of nan Maps app aliases look for nan “Parking location” notification from anyplace successful your phone.

Next up: Help personification find you — aliases possibly conscionable springiness ’em an update connected your whereabouts and advancement — by tapping nan bluish location dot wrong nan main Maps surface and past selecting “Share location” from nan paper that comes up.

That’ll fto you nonstop anyone a nexus to travel your location successful real-time connected a representation for a circumstantial magnitude of clip aliases until you move nan characteristic off. You tin beam nan nexus straight into different app aliases work connected your telephone to get it wherever you need. You tin besides moreover inquire Maps to give you adjuvant notifications astir someone’s whereabouts erstwhile they’ve opted into location sharing pinch you, if you want.

(And yes, this is nan aforesaid underlying location sharing strategy now besides disposable wrong Google’s Find My Device app — arsenic good arsenic the Google Contacts app for Android.)

Alternatively, if you’re successful nan midst of a navigation, swipe up connected nan clip estimate sheet astatine nan bottommost of nan Maps navigation screen. There, you’ll find a useful hidden “Share travel progress” action that’ll do precisely what you desire.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #12: Traffic tracking

Did you cognize Maps tin show you live, real-time postulation info arsenic you’re navigating pinch your phone? All you’ve gotta do is show it you want that info — a feat that’ll require astir 7 seconds of your time.

The adjacent clip you’re successful nan midst of a navigation wrong nan Maps app connected your phone…

• Swipe up connected that clip estimate sheet astatine nan bottommost of nan screen.
• Flip nan toggle adjacent to “Show postulation connected map.”
• Perform a spritely small jig to observe whilst whistling nan tune of Tom Cochrane’s timeless 1991 deed opus “Life Is a Highway.” *

* Jig and whistling optional but highly recommended

Google Maps Android instrumentality #13: Private perusing

On your measurement to a concealed lair? Well, look astatine you, Bruce Wayne. Pin this spot of info to your amygdala: If you pat your floor plan image successful nan Maps app and past prime “Turn connected Incognito mode,” Maps will temporarily extremity redeeming your location and utilizing it for immoderate early purposes. And nary 1 — not moreover Google — will cognize wherever you are.

Not to worry: Your secret’s safe pinch me.

Google Maps Android instrumentality #14: Hands-free helping

Last but not least, you’d beryllium forgiven for forgetting — aliases possibly not ever knowing — but Maps has its ain civilization group of sound commands that activity whenever you’re successful nan midst of a navigation. All you’ve gotta do is opportunity “Hey Google” aliases activate your adjunct successful immoderate mode you prefer, and past outcry retired nan bid successful question.

So buckle up — present are immoderate of nan much intriguing possibilities:

• “How’s postulation ahead?”
• “How’s postulation home?”
• “Show nan way overview.”
• “Show an alternate route.”
• “What’s my ETA?”
• “What roadworthy is this?”
• “What’s my adjacent turn?”
• “Navigate home.”
• “Avoid tolls.”
• “Avoid highways.”
• “Find a state station.”
• “Take maine to Best Buy.”
• “Find a restaurant.”
• “Find maine location that serves oatmeal, gosh darn it.”

That past 1 whitethorn aliases whitethorn not work, but hey — it’s ever worthy a shot.

Go beyond Maps and get moreover much Android shortcut knowledge pinch my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll study tons of time-saving tricks for your phone!