10 hidden Google Maps options, ideas, and methods

Key Takeaways

With Google Maps, you possibly can 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 methods 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 could be misplaced (actually) with out our Google Maps app. It has fully changed the outdated methodology of taking a look at outdated paper maps, writing down instructions, and, let’s be trustworthy, getting misplaced mainly on a regular basis.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 helpful little line will information us wherever we wish.

Everybody is aware of find out how to use Google Maps for fundamental navigation, however few folks have explored simply how way more you are able to do with this handy app. These secret ideas and methods usually are not solely enjoyable to indicate off to associates however can 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 function may appear 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 when you anticipate to lose service.

By storing a map regionally, you will have entry to fundamental map info, 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 accessible, both.

You’ll be able to arrange an offline map in just a few 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.

When you’re planning a visit, Google Maps would possibly pop up a notification suggesting that you just obtain offline maps to be used throughout your journey. These options will 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 means of Google Flights or Google Journey.

Google Maps captions view frames with an estimate of how a lot knowledge they are going to take up in storage. The widest body you possibly can 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 enable.

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2 Dictate addresses in a overseas language

Break down language obstacles

Typically, Google Maps may not have the ability to information you all the way in which, particularly whenever you’re touring and are unfamiliar with the native language. Happily, you need to use this function to beat the language barrier and search help. When you 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 high 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 is not an ideal resolution — particularly with hyphens and numbers — nevertheless it would possibly simply be your lifesaver when you’re getting right into a taxi.

Comply with the arrow

Strolling instructions in Google Maps have by no means been extra handy and clearer than with the Reside View perform. This function works on iPhones and most Android telephones and may be utilized on roads and paths lined by Avenue View. We even have a complete separate guideon find out how to use it. Primarily, all it’s a must to do is request instructions, hit the strolling tab, after which choose Reside View. You will be prompted to scan your environment with the rear-facing digicam 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.

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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 virtually by no means encounter points simply counting on my card, however for a lot of eating places and retailers, money remains to be the one fee possibility accessible. So, earlier than you head out to seize some noodles at a brand new spot, you would possibly wish to verify if you want to make a go to to the ATM by means of Google Maps.

Faucet on a enterprise to carry up their itemizing.
Beneath the choice to Counsel an edit, faucet See all.
- Alternately, within the carousel of tabs under the photographs, 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 incorporates different vital elements comparable to whether or not they supply 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 highway and 231 miles by rail. However for the occasions whenever you simply wish to know the gap because the crow flies, Google Maps has you lined with this rather obscure feature.

To measure straight-line distance:

Choose some extent on the map that isn’t a spot of curiosity.
Scroll right down to see when you can spot the choice to measure distance — it is labeled subsequent to a ruler image.
You will then be taken to a viewfinder together with your “B” level anchored to the middle. Pan and zoom to your vacation spot. You will see the entire distance out of your unique “A” level within the bottom-left nook regulate as you progress.
In case you are measuring the gap of a multi-point path, you possibly can press Add level on the bottom-right nook to just do that.
- To take away some extent, press the undo arrow on the top-right nook of the display screen.
- 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 Bear 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 on the lookout for their automobile, experiencing it in actual life is something however amusing. Even when you’re lucky sufficient to park in a location with labeled spots, it is all too simple to overlook the place you have left your automobile. Google Maps can help you not solely whenever you’re in your automobile but additionally to find your approach again to it.

Whenever you first exit your automobile, 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 placement, enter any notes, and even embody how a lot time you have paid for when 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 site visitors

Keep away from any jams

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

For the highway warriors keen to regulate their departure time on Google Maps, all you want 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 spread of drive occasions for every, primarily based on typical site visitors circumstances for that a part of the day. After all, precise outcomes could differ since Google cannot see the longer term…but.

8 Air high quality measurements

Breathe simple

Poor air high quality is detrimental to your well being, however it’s normally not possible to account for till you have had a lungful. Nonetheless, it may be a truth of life when coping with huge wildfires, volcanic eruptions, or simply plain warmth and humidity that enable 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 embody:

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

To verify 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 most recent readings in all supported areas, not simply your property space. Moreover, you might be able to see overlays indicating the place giant smoke plumes are presently positioned.

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9 Final transit journey house

Do not miss your trip

In relation to an evening out within the metropolis, public transit beats driving hands-down, particularly after just a few drinks. Nevertheless, since most transit strains cease working after a sure level within the night time, you will positively wish to know when to make your nice escape for the final bus or practice. In any other case, you will face the implications of trip 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 accurately (faucet the up and down arrows icon to change them round if essential) 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 assist you to maintain tabs in your associates 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 good thought. When you’re making an attempt 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 out there here.