10 hidden Google Maps options, ideas, and tips

Key Takeaways

With Google Maps, you’ll be able to obtain maps for offline viewing, invite household to see your location, and extra.
We have rounded up really helpful Google Maps options in addition to ideas and tips you won’t know.
We have all used Google Maps, however with the following pointers, you will turn out to be an knowledgeable energy person.

It is protected to say that every one of us could be misplaced (actually) with out our Google Maps app. It has utterly changed the previous methodology of outdated paper maps, writing down instructions, and, let’s be trustworthy, getting misplaced mainly on a regular basis.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, methodology of journey, and a useful little line will information us wherever we would like.

Everybody is aware of learn how to use Google Maps for primary navigation, however few folks have explored simply how far more you are able to do with this handy app. These secret ideas and tips are usually not solely enjoyable to indicate off to buddies however can be real lifesavers whereas touring. Don’t be concerned, 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 observe whereas off the grid

This function might sound apparent to spotlight — 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 count on to lose service.

By storing a map regionally, you will have entry to primary map data, together with roads, geographical options, and companies within the space you have chosen. You will not see opening occasions, evaluations, and different detailed features 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 out there, both.

You may arrange an offline map in a couple 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 will be taken to a framed map view.
Pan and zoom
to the place you would like your offline map to seize.
Faucet Obtain
. You will then have the ability to entry details about this area when your gadget is offline.

For those who’re planning a visit, Google Maps would possibly pop up a notification suggesting that you simply obtain offline maps to be used throughout your journey. These recommendations may even seem within the Offline Maps part. The app will predict if you are going to lose service primarily based on Gmail messages and any bookings you’ll have made by Google Flights or Google Journey.

Google Maps captions view frames with an estimate of how a lot knowledge they may take up in storage. The widest body you’ll be able to 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 by way of 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 the whole thing 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

Generally, Google Maps won’t have the ability to information you all the way in which, particularly whenever you’re touring and are unfamiliar with the native language. Luckily, you need to use this function to beat the language barrier and search help. For those who faucet on a focal point you want to go to after which faucet on the speaker icon that seems subsequent to its title on the prime of the itemizing, the app will show a field containing each the title of the place and its deal with, together with speaker buttons. When pressed, these buttons will pronounce them within the native language. It isn’t an ideal answer — particularly with hyphens and numbers — but it surely would possibly 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 operate. This function works on iPhones and most Android telephones and may be utilized on roads and paths coated by Road View. We even have a whole separate guideon learn how to use it. Basically, all you need to do is request instructions, hit the strolling tab, after which choose Dwell View. You will be prompted to scan your environment with the rear-facing digital camera to permit the app to orient itself. From there, simply observe the enormous floating arrows and indicators that seem in your gadget. After all, watch the place you are stepping.

1:01

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4 Verify if a enterprise is cash-only

Money or card?

I am unable to bear in mind the final time I carried money and not using a particular motive. I nearly 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 possibility out there. So, earlier than you head out to seize some noodles at a brand new spot, you would possibly need to verify if it’s good to make a go to to the ATM by 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 under the images, scroll all the way in which proper and choose
  About
  .
You will discover what types of fee are accepted on the backside of the
Options
part.

The Options part of a enterprise itemizing additionally comprises different necessary components akin to whether or not they supply vegan-friendly menu gadgets 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 highway and 231 miles by rail. However for the occasions whenever 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 isn’t a spot of curiosity.
Scroll all the way down to see should you can spot the choice to
measure distance
— it is labeled subsequent to a ruler image.
You will then be taken to a viewfinder along with your
“B” level anchored to the middle
. Pan and zoom to your vacation spot. You will see the full distance out of your authentic
“A” level within the bottom-left nook regulate
as you progress.
In case you are measuring the gap of a multi-point path, you’ll be able to press
Add level
on the bottom-right nook to do exactly 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 depart 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 your complete 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 whenever you’re in your automotive but additionally to find your manner again to it.

Once 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 may 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, primarily based in your strolling distance from the spot.

7 Get forward of visitors

Keep away from any jams

Suppose you are planning a drive for later within the day and also you’re looking for an concept of how lengthy it would take. The difficulty at current is that Google Maps defaults to estimating drive occasions primarily based on present visitors situations. And, as all of us perceive, later shouldn’t be now.

For the highway warriors keen to regulate their departure time on Google Maps, all it’s good 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 occasions for every, primarily based on typical visitors situations for that a part of the day. After all, precise outcomes might fluctuate since Google cannot see the long run…but.

8 Air high quality measurements

Breathe straightforward

Poor air high quality is detrimental to your well being, however it’s normally unattainable to account for till you have had a lungful. However, it may be a truth 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 nations. This knowledge is collected at measuring stations arrange by governments and personal networks of air high quality screens. The jurisdictions embrace:

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

To verify air high quality situations, choose the Layer View button within the top-right nook (the one that appears like a stack of two squares). Then, beneath the Map Particulars part, faucet on Air High quality. You can view the newest readings in all supported areas, not simply your house space. Moreover, you might be able to see overlays indicating the place giant smoke plumes are at the moment situated.

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9 Final transit journey residence

Do not miss your experience

In the case of an evening out within the metropolis, public transit beats driving hands-down, particularly after a couple of drinks. Nevertheless, since most transit strains cease working after a sure level within the night time, you will undoubtedly need to know when to make your nice escape for the final bus or practice. In any other case, you will face the implications of experience app surge pricing.

To verify 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 vital) after which faucet the Depart at Time filter. You will see a piece that claims “Final.” Choose that, then hit Set to see your choices.

Preserve tabs on one another

Google’s Pixel telephones and Apple’s iPhone supply security options constructed into their firmware that let you hold tabs in your buddies and shut household. Many messaging apps, like Fb Messenger and WhatsApp, additionally supply this function. Nevertheless, we consider that utilizing real-time location sharing on Google Maps is a superb concept. For those who’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.