When it comes to exploring a new place or navigating from one city to another, Google Maps is perhaps one of the best navigation apps for doing so. Available for iOS, Android, and the web, this navigation app makes navigating easy and stress-free. However, to get the most out of Google Maps, it's essential to understand everything there is to know about the app, whether you're using your phone or the web.
Hence, we have taken it upon ourselves to list down some essential Google Maps tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this app.
Since it's going to be a long post, let's get started, shall we?
1. Add your music app
Road trips and music are the ultimate combination. However, unless you use your car's built-in navigation system, switching between the music and maps apps can be difficult. The good news is that you can now control your music playback directly through Maps. This feature is undoubtedly useful if you control both music and navigation from your smartphone.
Currently, Maps for Android supports Spotify and YouTube Music (among others), while iPhone supports Apple Music and Spotify.
To add a music app to Maps, go to Settings > Navigation Settings and select Default Media Provider (for Android) or Music Controls (for iPhone). Then, select the app from the list based on your preferences.
The next time you start a ride, the music controls will be available to you at the bottom.
Android users will need to enable Driving Mode (Settings> Transportation> Google Assistant Settings) to see the playback controls below.
2. Search and navigate under the radar
You probably already know that Google Maps records most of your searches and the places you visit. If you allow it, the app will also place These searches and trips are on your timeline.However, if you want to go under the radar, Incognito mode is the one you should try.
This mode hides your location searches or location sharing. The good thing is, it's very easy to turn on.
The next time you don't want a search to appear in your timeline, click the profile icon in the top right corner and select the option to turn on incognito mode.
After that, you can turn it off the same way.
When you browse in incognito mode, you won't see your saved places and pinned sites.
3. View internal maps of museums and monuments.
Want to see what's inside Madrid's Plaza Mayor using Maps? It's easy. Find the location on your phone's maps and select Street View by tapping the layer icon in the upper right corner.
This will highlight the viewable areas in blue. Tap one of the many lines to "travel" by default.
The same option is available in the web version as well.
4. Add a pause location
One of the great features of Google Maps is the addition of parking features. With this feature, you can quickly save the location where you parked your car/bike. Once you locate a parking spot, you can easily return to it.
Aside from saving your parking location, you can also use this feature to temporarily save landmarks, especially when exploring a new place or city. In our case, we used this feature to save the locations of cute little shops and cafes not on Google Maps for later visits during the day/evening.
To add a parking space, tap on the small blue dot menu and press the Set as Parking Location option.
5. Add custom labels and shortcuts
For the longest time, Maps had the option to add your home and work locations. Once added, you could easily navigate to these locations with a single tap. Now, the Google Maps iOS and Android apps let you Add custom labels for quick navigationThese stickers can be either from restaurants you usually visit or your friend's place.
To add it, tap the search box in your mobile app and tap More. Then, tap the small Plus button in the bottom-right corner.
Next, find the location and then press the Ok button to add the location.
Once added, you'll find these labels next to Work and Home. Cool, right?
6. Create custom maps
Did you know that Google Maps for the web allows you to Create custom mapsWith this, you can add your own locations, routes, shapes, and paths. For example, if you're planning a trip, you can use custom maps to mark the places you want to visit. The best part is, you can keep these maps private.
While this option is available for Android, the web version is easier to use. Although you may find it complicated at first, once the map is created, it will be available under Your places> Maps.
iOS Maps does not allow you to create custom maps.
7. Voice search
If you don't want to take your eyes off the roads while driving, you can Use voice search Use Google Assistant to search for locations, ask for directions, and other details.
Android users can say, “Ok, Google" followed by the command. On the other hand, iOS users will need to enable this setting. One downside for iPhone users is that you can't use Siri for voice commands on the go.
To do this, head over to Settings> Mobility , and enable the “Reach your Assistant…” option as shown above.
8. Check the road height.
Did you know that Google Maps also lets you view route elevations? This helps when planning your runs and walks, especially if you're new to an area.
To do this, find the location on Maps and switch to walking mode. The elevation will be displayed next to the time and distance. Now, tap on it to see the full elevation details.
9. Check for crowding
It's 2021, and the world is still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. During times like these, you'll want to avoid overly crowded places. If you're unsure about a public place, you can check when it's most crowded and plan your visits accordingly.
Find the venue on your phone and swipe up on the details card. Scroll down until you see the Popular Times section.
Here, you will see a graph detailing the crowding of the place, and based on that, you can plan your visit accordingly.
10. Pin your favorite places
Did you know that Maps lets you pin some of your favorite places and trips? If you head to your favorite taco place almost every Friday, you can check traffic details or the shortest route before you hit the pedal.
If you search for a place often, it's likely visible under the Go tab. Once you've located it, all you have to do is tap the Pin icon.
The next time you want to see traffic, head to the Go tab and tap Pinned Locations to start your trip. Simple, see. And hey, you can pin multiple locations at once.
If you don't see the place/location under the Go on a Strange Chance tab, you may need to add the place to your saved categories list (see #6).
This feature is available on both iOS and Android.
11. View your data and automatically delete your location history
As mentioned earlier, Google saves most of your searches and navigation. This helps personalize your Maps experience as the app tailors suggestions to your tastes. At the same time, you can also use this feature to revisit any places you've visited in the past.
However, if you're uncomfortable with this, you can disable location history. On your iPhone or Android phone, tap your profile in the upper right corner and select Your data in Maps.
You'll see all the data saved by Maps, including recent searches and reviews. To delete your location history, tap Location History and choose the Auto-Delete option.
Currently, the app gives you three options — 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.
Road smart
Perhaps two of the most important features of Google Maps are adding multiple stops or finding gas and restaurants along the way. The best part is that most of them are available on both iOS and Android.
So, which of these Google Maps features do you use the most?
