Why You Should Download Google Maps Offline Before a Trip (and How to Do It)

Shortly just after the new 12 months, my buddies and I received lost even though driving again to our Airbnb close to Yosemite Nationwide Park in Northern California. A key snowstorm swept by way of the Sierra Nevada mountain variety, shutting down a lot of chaotic highways and lesser streets. We determined to just take a shortcut to get there quicker (not a clever choice), but shortly recognized we were not heading the suitable way. To top it off, there was not any cell service, so we could not use Google Maps to navigate.

Never miss: Google Maps Cheat Sheet: The Most Handy Tips You Need to Know

Finally, immediately after hours of attempting various roads, we managed to make our way back again. But we could have prevented all that by simply just downloading Google Maps offline (and also, not taking that “shortcut”). Even without the need of online support, Google Maps can however aid you navigate the place you require to go — you just have to obtain the correct map.

If you happen to be preparing a trip someplace you could not have internet assistance, you must obtain a map (or various) offline on Google Maps. This is what you want to know.

Want to test out other Google Maps ideas and methods? Check out how to blur your residence on Google Maps and a few new Google Maps features you are going to definitely want to know about.

How to obtain Google Maps offline

1st off, you will not will need to obtain Google Maps in its entirety. As a substitute, before your vacation, you can want to down load a specific space, which could be a town, county or area where by you will be paying time and may well not have support on your mobile phone.

To obtain a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps application on iOS or Android and faucet your profile photograph on the prime right (you ought to be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that seems, tap Offline maps > Decide on Your Personal Map.

Use your fingers to spot the map you want to obtain inside of the confines of the rectangle border. Use a single finger to shift across the map, and a two-finger pinch to zoom in and out. As you move about the map, you can see how significantly storage room the download will acquire up on your phone. The moment you are pleased with the spot, tap Down load. 

Take note: Alternatively, you can sort a metropolis or other spot into Google Maps and then strike the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to obtain the map offline, but this only will work on the Apple iphone.

You have to be linked to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to down load around mobile, go to the Offline maps web page, tap the gear icon on the leading right, faucet When to download offline maps and find About Wi-Fi or mobile network. At the time your map is downloaded, you will be sent back again to the Offline maps web page, where by you can see all your offline maps.

Now you will be ready to use Google Maps even when you’re offline in the space you downloaded — and in that spot only. You would not get very accurate vacation periods or alternate route options for the reason that traffic and other highway issues are not accounted for, but you will get a normal ballpark of how prolonged your vacation really should just take. Transit, bicycling and going for walks directions are also not offered offline — only driving directions. 

If you want a lot more recommendations on Google in general, make guaranteed to browse which Google Property configurations you want to adjust ASAP and this deep dive on Google’s Pixel 7 and the settings you really should customize.