How to use Google Maps as a navigator

Your car does not have a standard satellite navigator and, at least for the moment, the idea of ​​buying such a device does not appeal to you. So you were thinking of relying on Google Maps to use your smartphone as a navigator. Unfortunately, however, your lack of familiarity with technological means does not allow you to take full advantage of this service. Well, I don’t see where the problem is: I’m here to give you a hand!

If you dedicate a few minutes of your free time to me, I can explain to you how to use Google Maps as a navigator and thus obtain directions regardless of the means of transport you use: whether you want to find a route to tackle by car or want to get directions to place on foot, the famous Google app is just what you need. Google Maps, in fact, allows you to set a starting point and an arrival point and indicates the fastest route to reach it, estimating travel times based on factors such as traffic and the presence of tolls.

In addition, with Google Maps you can download maps to your device and get directions even in offline mode. That’s exactly what you were looking for, right? I imagined it, so make yourself comfortable, read the next paragraphs carefully and put into practice the instructions I am about to give you. I assure you that you will quickly understand how to use Google Maps for all your travels.

Index

• How to download Google Maps
• How to start browsing
• How to get spoken directions
• How to use Google Maps offline

How to download Google Maps

In order to use Google Maps as a navigator, you need to download and install the official application of the service on your Android or iOS device.

If you use a smartphone (or tablet)  Android, you should find the Google Maps app already installed as standard on your device. If this is not the case or you have deleted it by mistake, start the Play Store by tapping on its icon (the colored ▶ ︎ symbol) and type ” Google Maps ” in the search engine at the top, then press the Search button and, in the results of the search, tap on the Google Maps icon (it should be the first result). Now, press the Accept and Install buttons to start the download and that’s it.

If you have an iPhone or an iPad, start the App Store (the white “A” on a blue background ), press the Search item at the bottom, type “ Google Maps ” and start the search by pressing the Search item. After locating Google Maps in the search results, tap on its icon and press the Get and Install button. You may be asked to verify your identity with a password, Touch ID, or Face ID. Once the procedure is complete, press the Open button to start the application.

If any step is not clear to you, you can get more detailed information on how to download Google Maps by reading my guide on it. Also know that you can use Google Maps without a Google account, but to access all its features, such as the ability to download maps, you must be logged in. If you don’t have your own account yet, then, read my guide on how to create Google accounts and use the profile created to authenticate yourself in the app.

How to start browsing

After you have downloaded Google Maps on your device, you can use it to view maps, get directions to food courts near you or a specific place, search for services and places, check traffic data and much more. In addition, you can use Google Maps as a navigator and get directions to your destination. How to do? I’ll explain it to you right away.

First, start the Google Maps app on the home screen of your device (the icon of a white “G” with a red indicator next to it ), press the Go button and set your itinerary (you can also do it through the voice commands, by pressing on a microphone icon ). In the Choose departure point field, instead, enter the address or place of departure by choosing one of the available options.

• Your location: This is the standard starting point that is set automatically if you have allowed Google Maps to access your location. To reach your destination, you will get directions starting from the address where you are.
• Choose starting point: if your intention is to get directions from a different place than your position, click on the item Your position, type (or say) a starting address in the Choose starting point field and click on the Go button.
• Choose on the map: you can set a destination by choosing it directly from the map. Search for the exact point you want to reach, place the red Google Maps placeholder on it and tap on the OK item to confirm.

Similarly, enter the place to reach in the Choose destination field, then tap on one of the icons present: a car to get directions if you intend to travel by car; a bus if you want information on how to get around by public transport; the little man icon if you intend to tackle the journey on foot; the icon of the little man with his arm raised for the taxi ride and the icon of the bicycle if you intend to move by your bicycle.

Google Maps automatically provides the fastest route to reach the destination (showing the estimated travel times) and, if available, shows the alternative routes in gray on the map. Then press on the items Similar duration or [number] more minutes to look at the other solutions proposed: for each you can press on the item Details and view all the driving directions or on the option View to preview the route on the map.

If on your route you want to avoid paying tolls, taking ships and traveling on the highway, you can set some filters to get a personalized route. Then press the icon of the three horizontal dots present at the top right, tap on the item Route options and move the lever from OFF to ON next to the items of interest to you between Avoid motorways, Avoid tolls and Avoid ferries.

Furthermore, by pressing the icon of the three horizontal dots and selecting the item Set departure reminder from the menu that appears you can set a time and date of departure or arrival and, automatically, Google Maps will remind you to leave. Let’s take a practical example: if you have to welcome a relative at the station at 11.30, you can set 11.30 as the arrival time at the station and Google Maps will automatically tell you when to leave based on the estimated time needed to travel the set route.

In conclusion, you must know that among the interesting features of Google Maps there is also the possibility of adding one or more stages to your route: if you need to make stops before reaching your final destination, you can set a multiple route using the function Add stage: to set it, tap on the icon of the three horizontal dots, press the Add stage item twice in a row and enter an address to reach by typing it in the Add stage field.

Alternatively, choose a place using the Choose on the map function or select one of the services available from Petrol Stations, Restaurant, Cafeterias, Fast Food, Groceries and ATMs and tap on one of the places in the list shown on the screen.

After adding a stage to your route, you can change the itinerary by moving the sequence of places to reach: press on the stage to move and scroll up or down to change the order. Then press the Add stage item if you want to set a further stop, otherwise tap on the Finish option to save the changes.

Once you have set your route and completed the customization of the itinerary, you are ready to set off. Then press the Start button to start navigation and you will get the directions you need. At the top of the screen you can see the street you are traveling on, while a little further below you can see the following directions. At the bottom, however, you will be able to view the estimated travel time , the arrival time and the missing kilometers to reach the destination.

While browsing, you can press the magnifying glass icon if you need petrol stations, restaurants, grocery stores, bars or if you want to perform a new search. By pressing the volume icon instead you can deactivate or activate the voice instructions, while by tapping the red Close button at the bottom you can stop browsing.

How to get spoken directions

As mentioned above, while browsing with Google Maps you can get voice directions, especially useful if you are driving. If you have started browsing but have not been able to get voice commands, it means that you need to activate the function.

Then start Google Maps, press the ≡ button and tap the Settings item. Then presses on the Navigation option present under the heading How to move. Now, in the Sound and voice section, tap on one of the options available between Audio off, Alerts only and Active audio, while under the heading Volume indications set the audio volume by choosing between the options Low, Normal and High.

How to use Google Maps offline

Among the most interesting features of Google Maps, it is certainly worth mentioning the possibility of obtaining driving directions even when an Internet connection is not available. In fact, it is possible to download maps and use Google Maps as a navigator in offline mode.

Before traveling, make sure you have an Internet connection available and start the Google Maps app, then tap the ≡ button and press the Offline Maps item. In this section, you can download the map of your area or custom maps and then use it to get driving directions even when there is no internet connection.

To download the map of your area, press the Local Area item and tap the Download button to start the download. If you want to download other maps, press the Custom Maps option, scroll the screen, increase or decrease the zoom level of the map to outline the area of ​​your interest and press the Download button to start the download.

Once the map has been downloaded, it will be visible in the Offline Maps section of Google Maps, accessible from the side menu of the application. After selecting a map of your interest from the offline section of Maps, tap on the pencil icon to change its name or press the Update and Delete buttons to update or delete it.

Finally, by pressing the gear wheel icon at the top right you can access the offline map settings, where you can adjust the options relating to the maps displayed when an Internet connection is not available. Then put the check mark next to an item between Automatically and Manually to set the offline map update, while under the item When to download offline maps it indicates the connection to use for the download by choosing between   Wi-Fi only or On Wi-Fi network -Fi and mobile.

If any step is not clear to you, you can learn more by reading my guide on how to download maps from Google Maps.