10 hidden Google Maps options, ideas, and tips

Key Takeaways

With Google Maps, you may obtain maps for offline viewing, invite household to see your location, and extra.
We have rounded up truly helpful Google Maps options in addition to ideas and tips you may not know.
We have all used Google Maps, however with the following pointers, you will grow to be an knowledgeable energy consumer.

It is protected to say that every one of us can be misplaced (actually) with out our Google Maps app. It has fully changed the previous technique of outdated paper maps, writing down instructions, and, let’s be trustworthy, getting misplaced mainly on a regular basis. Now, all we have to do is sort in our vacation spot, technique of journey, and a helpful little line will information us wherever we wish.

Everybody is aware of the best way to use Google Maps for primary navigation, however few folks have explored simply how rather more you are able to do with this handy app. These secret ideas and tips aren’t solely enjoyable to point out off to mates however will also be real lifesavers whereas touring. Don’t fret, I will not allow you to get misplaced whereas explaining these 10 hidden Google Maps options.

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1 Offline maps

Keep on monitor whereas off the grid

This characteristic might sound apparent to focus on — we have a guide on this — however there are nonetheless loads of folks on the market who do not know it can save you your map should you anticipate to lose service.

By storing a map regionally, you will have entry to primary map info, together with roads, geographical options, and companies within the space you have chosen. You will not see opening instances, critiques, and different detailed facets that include a Google Maps enterprise itemizing, however that is solely meant to get you by in a pinch. Transit, bicycling, and strolling instructions will not be accessible, both.

You’ll be able to arrange an offline map in a number of easy steps:

From Maps,
faucet your Google account avatar on the top-right nook
. Then,
choose Offline Maps
.
Select
Choose your individual map
.
You may be taken to a framed map view.
Pan and zoom
to the place you want your offline map to seize.
Faucet Obtain
. You may then be capable of entry details about this area when your system is offline.

In case you’re planning a visit, Google Maps may pop up a notification suggesting that you just obtain offline maps to be used throughout your journey. These options may even seem within the Offline Maps part. The app will predict if you are going to lose service based mostly on Gmail messages and any bookings you’ll have made by way of Google Flights or Google Journey.

Google Maps captions view frames with an estimate of how a lot knowledge they’ll take up in storage. The widest body you may retailer in a single offline map is roughly 140 x 280 miles or 225 x 450 kilometers. Utilizing that space, listed below are some regional examples of what to anticipate when it comes to knowledge utilization:

The Gibraltar area, together with Seville and Málaga in Spain, and Rabat and Fes in Morocco, is lower than 300MB.
Southern California, together with Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana, Mexico, is about 600MB.
The New York Metropolis tri-state space, together with everything of New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and Massachusetts, most of Lengthy Island, and jap Pennsylvania, together with Better Philadelphia, is about 800MB.
England, from Bournemouth to Durham on the east, together with Better London and all of Anglia, is about 1.1GB.
Mid-Honshu Island, Japan, with Tokyo within the south and Yamagata Prefecture within the north, is greater than 2.5GB.

It can save you as many maps of as many areas as your storage capability will permit.

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2 Dictate addresses in a overseas language

Break down language boundaries

Typically, Google Maps may not be capable of information you all the way in which, particularly while you’re touring and are unfamiliar with the native language. Fortuitously, you should use this characteristic to beat the language barrier and search help. In case you faucet on a focal point you want to go to after which faucet on the speaker icon that seems subsequent to its identify on the prime of the itemizing, the app will show a field containing each the identify of the place and its handle, together with speaker buttons. When pressed, these buttons will pronounce them within the native language. It is not an ideal resolution — particularly with hyphens and numbers — but it surely may simply be your lifesaver should you’re getting right into a taxi.

Observe the arrow

Strolling instructions in Google Maps have by no means been extra handy and clearer than with the Dwell View perform. This characteristic works on iPhones and most Android telephones and could be utilized on roads and paths coated by Road View. We even have a whole separate guideon the best way to use it. Basically, all it’s a must to do is request instructions, hit the strolling tab, after which choose Dwell View. You may be prompted to scan your environment with the rear-facing digicam to permit the app to orient itself. From there, simply comply with the large floating arrows and indicators that seem in your system. In fact, watch the place you are stepping.

1:01

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4 Examine if a enterprise is cash-only

Money or card?

I can not bear in mind the final time I carried money with no particular cause. I virtually by no means encounter points simply counting on my card, however for a lot of eating places and outlets, money continues to be the one fee choice accessible. So, earlier than you head out to seize some noodles at a brand new spot, you may need to test if it is advisable to make a go to to the ATM by way of Google Maps.

Faucet on a enterprise to deliver up their itemizing.
Under the choice to
Recommend an edit
, faucet
See all
.
- Alternately, within the carousel of tabs beneath the images, scroll all the way in which proper and choose
  About
  .
You may discover what types of fee are accepted on the backside of the
Options
part.

The Options part of a enterprise itemizing additionally incorporates different necessary components resembling whether or not they provide vegan-friendly menu objects or accessible seating.

5 Measuring straight-line distance

How far is that?

The drive from Boston to New York Metropolis is about 215 miles by street and 231 miles by rail. However for the instances while you simply need to know the gap because the crow flies, Google Maps has you coated with this rather obscure feature.

To measure straight-line distance:

Choose a degree on the map that’s not a spot of curiosity.
Scroll right down to see should you can spot the choice to
measure distance
— it is labeled subsequent to a ruler image.
You may then be taken to a viewfinder together with your
“B” level anchored to the middle
. Pan and zoom to your vacation spot. You may see the full distance out of your authentic
“A” level within the bottom-left nook regulate
as you progress.
If you’re measuring the gap of a multi-point path, you may press
Add level
on the bottom-right nook to just do that.
- To take away a degree, press the
  undo arrow
  on the top-right nook of the display.
- To undo all factors, faucet the
  three-dot icon
  and choose
  Clear.

By the way in which, it is 188 miles straight between New York Metropolis and Boston. I wasn’t going to go away you hanging.

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6 Keep in mind the place you parked

Do not lose your spot

As hilarious because the Seinfeld episode is, the place the gang spends the whole runtime wandering round a parking storage in search of their automotive, experiencing it in actual life is something however amusing. Even should you’re lucky sufficient to park in a location with labeled spots, it is all too straightforward to neglect the place you have left your automotive. Google Maps can help you not solely while you’re in your automotive but in addition find your approach again to it.

Whenever you first exit your car, bear in mind to open Google Maps and faucet the blue dot marking your present location. Then, choose Save Parking. A pin with the letter P will mark the place you have parked. You’ll be able to press “Extra Information” to regulate the situation, enter any notes, and even embrace how a lot time you have paid for should you’re at a metered spot. You’ll obtain a notification when your time is about to run out, based mostly in your strolling distance from the spot.

7 Get forward of site visitors

Keep away from any jams

Suppose you are planning a drive for later within the day and also you’re in search of an concept of how lengthy it’d take. The problem at current is that Google Maps defaults to estimating drive instances based mostly on present site visitors circumstances. And, as all of us perceive, later shouldn’t be now.

For the street warriors keen to regulate their departure time on Google Maps, all it is advisable to do after inputting your vacation spot is faucet on the three-dot icon on the top-right nook and select Set Depart or Arrive Time. You can set your departure or arrival time for any level sooner or later.

Google will label route choices with a variety of drive instances for every, based mostly on typical site visitors circumstances for that a part of the day. In fact, precise outcomes might differ since Google cannot see the longer term…but.

8 Air high quality measurements

Breathe straightforward

Poor air high quality is detrimental to your well being, however it’s often inconceivable to account for till you have had a lungful. However, it may be a reality of life when coping with huge wildfires, volcanic eruptions, or simply plain warmth and humidity that permit pollution to hold within the air so simply.

Google Maps is ready to show air high quality measurements in 9 international locations. This knowledge is collected at measuring stations arrange by governments and personal networks of air high quality displays. The jurisdictions embrace:

Australia by way of state and territory governments
Brazil
Chile
India
Israel
Mexico
Singapore
South Korea
United States

To test air high quality circumstances, choose the Layer View button within the top-right nook (the one that appears like a stack of two squares). Then, below the Map Particulars part, faucet on Air High quality. You can view the newest readings in all supported areas, not simply your property space. Moreover, you could possibly see overlays indicating the place giant smoke plumes are presently positioned.

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9 Final transit journey house

Do not miss your journey

In the case of an evening out within the metropolis, public transit beats driving hands-down, particularly after a number of drinks. Nonetheless, since most transit traces cease working after a sure level within the evening, you will positively need to know when to make your nice escape for the final bus or prepare. In any other case, you will face the implications of journey app surge pricing.

To test in your final potential transit journey with Google Maps, make sure you’ve entered your place to begin and vacation spot appropriately (faucet the up and down arrows icon to modify them round if obligatory) after which faucet the Depart at Time filter. You may see a piece that claims “Final.” Choose that, then hit Set to see your choices.

Hold tabs on one another

Google’s Pixel telephones and Apple’s iPhone provide security options constructed into their firmware that help you preserve tabs in your mates and shut household. Many messaging apps, like Fb Messenger and WhatsApp, additionally provide this characteristic. Nonetheless, we imagine that utilizing real-time location sharing on Google Maps is a superb concept. In case you’re attempting to coordinate the place you will be in an hour, why not use a correct, totally loaded mapping app to do it? Our full information to location sharing on Google Maps is obtainable here.