This post details the steps to use Google Maps offline on your smartphone. Google Maps is perhaps the best map app out there for both the Android and iOS platform. It has a whole bunch of features and just works. As with other apps, Updates are being rolled out regularly and which each Update, more often than not, comes a new feature.
Can I use Google Maps offline?
One of the feature that was recently added to the the Google Maps app is the offline mode. The offline mode on Google maps allows you to make use of the app for navigation even when you’re not connected to the internet, but there is a twist.
Before now, Google maps required an active interest Connection so as to be able to guide you to your destination by providing real-time alternative faster routes if it notices heavy traffic on your current route. It can also use the active Internet connection to check for road closures and stuff like that, in order to be able to find another route for you.
However, the internet connection isn’t always readily available in some places. What if you don’t have a data plan but want to use Google maps? What if you aren’t sure if there is gonna be cell reception or service where you’re heading to but still wanna use Google maps? Well, all these can be solved through Google Maps’ offline mode.
Importance of using Google Maps offline
Offline mode allows you to download a certain area in the Google maps app which allows you to navigate that area without needing an internet connection. Although, not all the Google maps feature will be available in this mode but you’ll be able to make use of it nonetheless.
Now, depending on how large the area is, it can take up a huge amount of space on your phone. Downloading a whole city can take up to 1GB or more so you’ll need to make sure you have enough storage space either Internal or on a microSD card. Once you download the area you want, you will be able to use Google maps to navigate within that area without having an internet connection.
You should also know that the Downloaded area will be automatically deleted by Google after 30days and you’ll need to download the area again if you still need it. This is because some changes may have happened within that 30day period like street closure, new streets etc and Google will like you to stay updated. Now that we know how it works, let’s go ahead and use it.
How to use Google Maps offline on Android and iPhone
First things first, you’ll need to make sure your Google maps app is updated to the latest version. You can head over to the Google Play store for Android or Apple App store for iOS to check if there is an update available for your device. If there is, update the app then follow the steps below and if there isn’t, you can simply follow the steps below.
- Open the Google maps app and make sure you are connected to the internet.
- Search for an area or location you would like to download. You can also search for a particular address in an area or location you would like to download.
- Once you make a search for a location or address, a bar will pop up at the bottom. Click on it. If a bar doesn’t come up at the bottom of the screen, just press and hold anywhere on the map and it will pop up, once it does, click on it.
- Next, Click on Download beside Share.
- Once you do that, you’ll now be able to choose the amount of data you want to download. You can pinch in to zoom in if you to want to download a smaller area or zoom out if you want to download a larger area.
- You should know that the smaller the map is, the smaller the size is and vice versa.
- After choosing the perfect size, simply hit the Download button at the bottom right corner to begin the Download. Depending on how fast your internet connection is this shouldn’t take long.
If you don’t have enough storage space on your internal storage and would like to download it to your MicroSD card then you can simply go to Menu >> Offline Areas >> Settings >> Storage Preferences then switch the Device option SD Card.
That’s pretty much how to make use of Google maps offline on both Android and iPhone. Got questions? Let us know through the comment section Down below.
