How to use Google Maps

Do you need to reach a place you’ve never been and do you need a satellite navigator to know the route? Do you want to know how long it takes to get to a place, whether you go by car or by public transport? If these are just some of the questions you are asking yourself, you will be happy to know that you can get all the answers you are looking for using a navigation app, which you can install on your smartphone or tablet, without having to buy additional devices.

Whether you have an Android device, an iPhone or an iPad, you can use the official Google Maps app, for real-time navigation or simply to consult the map and find the places you are looking for. The famous Google maps service is totally free and is often very reliable, thanks also to traffic monitoring in real time. How do you say? You’ve already thought about it but, not being particularly tech-savvy, have no idea how to use Google Maps? Don’t worry, because I’m here to provide you with all the information you need.

In the next chapters, in fact, I will explain how to use this service both via your smartphone and your tablet and directly from your PC, thanks to the special Web version accessible from any browser. All you have to do is make yourself comfortable and pay attention to the suggestions I will give you: I’m sure that, by the end of the reading, you will be able to start your first navigation with Google Maps! Having said that, I just have to wish you a good read!

Index

• How to use Google Maps on mobile
• How to use Google Maps offline
• How to use Google Maps on Android Auto / CarPlay
• How to use Google Maps from a PC

How to use Google Maps on mobile

If you are away from home and want to set up satellite navigation with Google Maps to reach a specific place, in the next paragraphs I will show you how to do this and how to use some of the features of this service.

First, you need to install the Google Maps app. The latter is already available “standard” in most Android devices. In case it is not present on yours, you can still take it from this link, which refers to the Play Store. A “lighter” version, Google Maps Go, is also available on the Play Store. If you want to know how to use Google Maps on iPhone, however, you must first install the app from the App Store.

Before getting to the heart of the operation of Maps, a small premise relating to privacy: know that Google Maps records your preferences, the routes you have traveled and the places visited. All this information is accessible to you and can be consulted, as well as allowing you to delete all that you do not consider appropriate.

You can consult the appropriate section via this link and by logging in with the same Google account associated with Google Maps (and the device). In case you do not want your movements to be tracked, simply move the lever next to the Position History heading to OFF.

Alternatively, you can use Google Maps in incognito mode, i.e. without keeping track of your movements and the places you have searched for, by tapping on your profile icon at the top and selecting the item Activate incognito mode.

Having made this brief premise, let’s move on to action: to start navigating in Maps, you must first enable both the Internet connection and GPS on your device. You can easily perform these operations via the Android Notification Center or the iOS / iPadOS Control Center. If, however, you have any doubts about it, you can consult my guides on how GPS works and how to activate the Internet on your mobile.

Once this is done, launch the Google Maps app and search for a place, using the bar at the top. You can search for an address, the exact name of a place or an activity or generically indicate the category to which an activity belongs (for example “restaurants” or “museums”), to identify all those in the vicinity.

When you have identified what you are looking for on the map, press on its token to access a series of additional information. For example, you can start Street View mode (if available), to access a 3D view of the place. In the case of a business, you will instead be able to see its reviews, hours, website, phone number, photos and lots of other useful information.

If you want to reach a place that you have found, press the Directions button, in order to enter navigation mode. In the new section that you see, you will be shown all the possible routes to reach that place, indicating the time and traffic status; in addition, you can view the distance and time it will take you to reach it.

This information refers to the type of means of transport selected for navigation. For example, by pressing the car icon, you will set navigation by vehicle, while by pressing on a train icon, you can see how to reach that place by public transport.

Do you want to know how to use Google Maps on foot? In this case, just press on the icon of the little man at the top, which you find near the cards I mentioned in the previous lines, to view the route on foot, without means of transport of any kind.

You can also customize navigation by accessing the different features available on Google Maps. All you have to do is press the ⋮ icon, at the top, and choose one of the options that are shown to you in the box.

For example, you can insert stages in the route ( Add stage ), in case you need to reach more intermediate places without having to set the navigation from time to time. You can choose the departure or arrival time ( Set departure or arrival time ), to be sure not to arrive late, thanks to the timing prediction of Google Maps.

When you are done, press the Start button, to start browsing in real time. During this view, you have other tools at your disposal that can help you keep an eye on the route, even if you are driving. For example, by pressing on the volume icon, you can activate the navigation audio controls; by pressing the cloud icon , on the other hand, you can make reports, such as the presence of a speed camera, an accident or a slowdown.

When you reach your destination, Google Maps will automatically exit navigation mode. If, however, you want to interrupt it before reaching the place indicated by you, simply press the X icon at the bottom.

How to use Google Maps offline

Do you want to know how to use Google Maps without Internet, to avoid consuming the data traffic of your SIM? In this case, know that the famous Google service has the offline Maps feature, to store all the data of a specific area set by the user.

This feature is very useful, for example, if you want to use Google Maps abroad. In fact, after downloading the map of the area, you can continue to use Google Maps in offline mode without consuming data and risking unwanted charges on your phone. It is important, however, that you keep your GPS active, in case you want to navigate in real-time. By keeping the GPS disabled, you will only be able to access the map and calculate the route.

To download offline maps, start Google Maps and tap on your profile icon at the top. In the screen you see, then click on Offline Maps and press the Select your map button. What you have to do now is scroll with your fingers on the map, to locate the area (delimited by the blue rectangle on the screen) of which you want to store data locally.

Placing two fingers on the screen and moving them closer or apart will, respectively, zoom in or zoom out on the map. I warn you that, by shrinking the map, inside the blue box there will be more places to memorize. This will result in more space occupied on the device memory.

When you are done, press the Download button at the bottom to start downloading the data for offline viewing. In the list of maps that is shown to you, then press the ⋮ icon, alongside, to access some tools: you can update the data ( Update ), rename the map ( Rename ), delete it ( Delete ) or view it ( View ).

How to use Google Maps on Android Auto / CarPlay

Have you bought a car with Android Auto or CarPlay support? In this case, you can use Google Maps with these systems. How do you say? Have no idea what he’s talking about? I’ll explain it to you right away: these are systems present in the on-board computers of vehicles that allow you to use GPS navigation, music playback, telephony and any other service simply by connecting your smartphone.

Many cars are equipped with this software, both standard and optional, so as to allow you to move all the main features of the smartphone to the on-board computer and reduce the distractions that can arise from the dangerous use of this mobile device while driving.

If you want to know more about these systems that the on-board computers of vehicles are equipped with, I suggest you read some of my guides dedicated to this topic. In detail, you can consult my guides on how Android Auto works and how to install CarPlay.

How to use Google Maps from a PC

Do you want to use Google Maps from PC? In this case, I must warn you that this Google web service does not allow you to browse in real time. This means that you can still explore the map, search for places, view information and calculate routes. Everything related to navigation, on the other hand, cannot be done, except through the appropriate app for mobile devices, which I told you about previously.

That said, to use Google Maps from a PC, go to the official web page of the service and use the search bar at the top to search for an address, a place or an activity. When you have identified the one you are looking for, by selecting it from the map or from the sidebar: you will be shown various information.

For example, you can read the address, phone number or website, if any, photos, or opening or closing times. To calculate the route, on the other hand, press the Directions button and type, in the appropriate box at the top, the address or place of departure, so that all possible routes are shown.

Using the icons located at the top left, you can choose whether the route will be carried out by vehicle, public transport or on foot. You can also set your departure or arrival time by clicking on the Depart now drop-down menu.

While it is not possible to navigate in real time from the web, you can still send the already calculated route to the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet. How? Simply by clicking on Send directions to your phone, which you find on the sidebar.

I warn you, however, that this feature requires that you have previously logged in to Google Maps from the web, using the Login button at the top right, and that the Google account is the same as the one you are using on your Android device. or iOS / iPadOS.