If you’re looking for the best navigation apps for Android, or smartphones in general, it’s hard to suggest anything other than Google Maps. The app is extremely robust and has more features than you can even imagine. Whether it’s flagging up ridesharing services or sharing your location and estimated time of arrival with friends or family, there is so much you can do and here are our favorite Google Maps tips and tricks.

Send directions to your phone or car

If you were doing some research on your computer to find out how to get to somewhere, it was difficult trying to make sure you typed in the right address or searched for the right location. But now you can use Google Maps on the web, view driving directions, and send them right to your phone.

1. Open Google maps in the browser of your choice.
2. To look for for the location you want to send.
3. Under the search box, click on the Send to your phone.
4. Select one of the following:
   • Choose phone you want to send directions to.
   • Send to car> Send
5. Look at your phone for a notification from the Maps application.

Once the notification arrives on your phone, just tap on it and Google Maps will open instantly. From there, start browsing when you’re ready and forget wasting time repeating the process you started on your computer.

Add stops to your route

Needing to stop while you’re on a trip to the store probably won’t require you to add a stop, or even use Google Maps. However, being able to plan and add stops to your road trip can be an invaluable tool.

1. With your current route already entered, touch the three vertical points top right.
2. Faucet Add a stop.
3. Press inside the Add a stop box.
4. Find the location you want to stop.

If you want to rearrange the stops, you can do so by entering the two lines to the right of the destination. Then just drag and drop them into place to get your route plotted correctly.

Customize your vehicle

Something I just learned about Google Maps is that you can actually change the icon used to represent your vehicle while using Maps. This has been an option in apps like Waze, as the company has teamed up with others for different promotions. But by default, there are actually three different vehicle icons you can switch to, instead of just sticking to the boring blue dot with an orb around.

1. With your current route already entered, touch the three vertical points top right.
2. Press point representing your car on the map.
3. Choose one vehicle icons.

Configure your favorite music app

This feature is a bit redundant if you are already using Google Assistant Drive mode, as the music player of your choice will appear with the available controls. However, not everyone is a fan of Drive mode but still wants quick access to their music. If you fall into this category, you can set a “default media provider” which can still be controlled with Google Assistant or with onscreen controls.

1. Open the Google maps application.
2. Press your profile picture in the upper right corner.
3. In the pop-up menu, tap Settings.
4. Scroll down and select Navigation settings.
5. Faucet Wizard’s Default Media Provider.
6. Select the music application of your choice.

Discover augmented reality with Live View in Maps

In 2019, Google introduced Live View for Google Maps. It’s an augmented reality experience that projects walking directions through your camera’s viewfinder. Not only can it be used to roam the city streets, it even works in some places and malls.

1. With the Google Maps application open, to look for for a location.
2. Faucet instructions at the bottom of the app.
3. In the Travel mode toolbar at the top, tap Walking.
4. Faucet Live View.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to reach your destination.

Download maps when you don’t have a network connection

The worst part about trying to navigate to a new location is if you end up needing to try and find a location but don’t have enough cell service to do so. You might want to consider downloading the map of the location you’re going to ahead of time, so you don’t have to stop at a gas station to get directions.

1. Open the Google maps application.
2. Make sure you’re both signed in to your Google Account and connected to the Internet.
3. To look for for a location you want to download.
4. Press the name Where address of the location.
5. Near the top of the page, tap the To download button.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions to drag and zoom to download the mapped area you need.

Book reservations

Google Maps is much more robust than just providing directions and traffic information. You can actually use Maps to book reservations and appointments with various companies.

1. To look for for companies related to the reservation you want to make.
2. To select the business from the results.
3. Faucet online booking.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create the reservation.
5. Click it Book now button.
6. Enter any additional fields that may be required.
7. Press the Delivered button.

Get directions inside the premises

We’ve mentioned Live View before, and how it will work in certain places, however, there’s a little more than just being able to see projected directions. For example, if you are in an airport or a mall with multiple levels and floors, you can actually see a map of the different stores and locations.

1. Open the Google maps application.
2. Search for a place Where site who has interior cards.
3. Enlarge à la carte until you see a floor plan.
4. At the bottom left, switch between levels and floors.

Once you’ve figured out where you need to go, Live View takes things up a notch. Now you can use Google Maps to direct you exactly where you need to go in the venue.

1. Search for a indoor location with the Google Maps app.
2. Faucet instructions.
3. Select the Anybody icon.
4. Press the Start button to start navigation.

Save gas and the environment with an eco-friendly route

This is one of the more recent updates to Google Maps, as there is a new “green” route option when viewing different routes. When you use Maps to find a route, you will see a sheet next to the green route. It might not be the fastest route available, but it will help you get there using as little gas as possible, while also trying to help you (and everyone else) reduce their carbon footprint. .

Request a ride

Not everyone has a car for one reason or another, and not everyone wants to get in the car when going to a party. With Maps, you can easily request a ride from different carpooling services.

1. With the Google Maps application open, to look for for a location.
2. Faucet instructions at the bottom of the app.
3. Under the location entries, tap Mounted.
4. To select the service you want to use.

The list of supported services has changed over the years as Uber is notably absent. However, it is the list of carpooling services that is currently integrated with Google Maps. Once the service is selected, you will be automatically redirected to the app if it is already downloaded, or you will be prompted to install the app from the Play Store if it is not already available.

• 99
• Beat (formerly called Taxibeat)
• Bitaksi
• Blablacar
• Blablacar Daily
• Lock
• Cabify
• Careem
• Have I got
• Free now
• Get
• Gojek
• To catch
• Hong Kong Taxi
• Lyft
• Meru Cabs
• Ola
• Sixt
• Texi.eu
• Waymo
• Carpool Waze

Check wheelchair accessibility

Being able to see if a place is wheelchair accessible is extremely helpful. As this also usually means this is the best way to go if you are also using a walker or have a little one in a stroller. While we expected this to be enabled by default, it looks like it isn’t. But here’s how you can enable the ability to show the accessibility of a place in Google Maps.

1. With the Google Maps application open, tap your profile picture in the upper right corner.
2. Faucet Settings.
3. To select Accessibility settings.
4. Press the button next to Accessible places to the At position.

Where did I park?

It can be very boring to go to the mall for a while or see a movie and forget where you parked. Going aimlessly through the rows of parking lots hoping to find your car can be quite frustrating. Let Google Maps help you stay relaxed without getting frustrated by reserving your parking space for you.

1. Open the Google maps application.
2. Press the blue dot which represents your current position.
3. Faucet Register your parking.

Share your location in real time

If you are traveling to meet friends for an event or something, but are on a tight deadline, it can be helpful to share your real-time location with someone. This will give them a better idea of ​​where you are, without the need to call, text, or disturb you while you are driving.

1. Open the Google maps application.
2. Search for a destination and press instructions.
3. Tap the bottom toolbar (or swipe up).
4. Faucet Share the progress of the journey.
5. To select a contact to share the progress of your journey.

What are your favorite Google Maps tips and tricks?

Google Maps continues to be updated with new useful features, and we haven’t even touched on everything you can do from within the app. But these are some of our favorite Google Maps tips and tricks, and we want to hear from you! Is there one that we forgot that should absoutely be added to the list? Let us know in the comments.