Did you know that the little yellow fella you drag in Google Maps Street View is called Pegman? It’s not the most practical tip, but you’ll find the ones below useful. You can change many Google Maps settings, some of which you may not know of, to reach your destination conveniently or efficiently. There’s nothing fancy about these tips, and they work on any Android handset, from high-end models to the best budget Android phones. Buckle up!
Related
Why Google Maps is better than every other mapping service
It’s more than a mapping tool — it’s a way of life
8
Set your vehicle engine type
To get optimal routes
If you drive a car, let Google Maps know what kind of engine it has. Does it run on gas, diesel, or electricity, or is it a hybrid? When the app knows this, it recommends routes with optimum fuel efficiency. If you pick an electric vehicle, you’ll select the type of plug it uses so that Google Maps shows relevant charging station information. Here’s where you’ll find the option:
- Tap the circle with your profile picture.
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Go to Settings > Your vehicles.
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Select the type of engine your car has. If applicable, select the type of electric connector it uses to charge.
7
Turn off Play Voice Over Bluetooth
Don’t let notifications interrupt your jam
I use my phone to play audio through my car’s radio over Bluetooth, so I have this feature off. Disabling it forces Google Maps voice notifications to play through the phone’s speaker, even when it is connected to a Bluetooth device. I can still hear the notification, and it doesn’t annoy passengers or interrupt what I’m listening to. If you use Maps with Bluetooth earphones, leave the feature on. You’ll find the toggle in Google Maps > Settings > Navigation > Play Voice Over Bluetooth.
6
Download offline maps
It saves data and makes Maps faster
Google Maps automatically downloads map data for locations you visit often. You can also download maps manually. Having maps offline on your device helps Maps work faster. It is also convenient when traveling abroad, where mobile data may be expensive or unavailable. Keep in mind that offline maps take up storage space. For example, an area the size of New Jersey consumes about 0.9GB of space.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Tap Offline maps.
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Tap Select your own map.
- Select the area you want to save offline. You can pinch to zoom in or out.
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Tap Download. You can download map data for multiple areas.
5
Set your home and work locations
Because why not?
These are the places you navigate to and from most often. Therefore, set your home and work locations in Google Maps. By doing so, they are always ready for picking on the map and in the search bar, where they appear in the first two spots. You can edit these locations by going to Google Maps Settings and selecting Edit home or work.
A search bar and handy features at your fingertips
Google Maps includes handy widgets that give you quick access to frequently used features. I’m a fan of the big widget (pictured below) that includes a search bar and shortcuts to my home and work locations. However, the shortcuts to the traffic view and for sharing my location are also nice.
3
Set a preferred public transit option
To prioritize the train, tram, subway, or bus
If you use public transportation frequently, you need to know about this feature tucked in Google Maps. You can set one or several preferred public transit options: train, tram, subway, and bus. The modes you pick are prioritized in search results. Here’s where you’ll find this setting:
- Pick a location in Google Maps and select Public transport as the method of transportation.
- Tap the small settings button to the left of the X button.
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Select the methods you wish to prioritize.
2
Change the blue navigation arrow
For greater visibility or just for fun
Here’s a Google Maps trick few people know about. While using navigation, you can change the blue arrow to a vehicle. This isn’t just a neat tweak. I find a big red car icon easier to see and follow against a blue route. You may also pick a yellow cab or a green truck as a blue arrow replacement. You may even have access to custom vehicle icons and colors.
- Start navigation to any destination by car.
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Tap the blue arrow and pick a new icon.
1
Disable review invitation notifications
Because they get annoying quickly
User reviews make Google Maps more useful than it already is. However, requests to review places I visit get annoying after a while. You can turn them off if you feel the same way. You can still post all the reviews you want. The setting prevents Google Maps from actively asking you to do so. While you’re at it, you can turn off other notification types you get but don’t care about. Here’s where to find the toggle:
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Go to Google Maps Settings > Notifications.
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Open Reviews and Media > Suggest to write reviews and set it to Off.
Where will Google Maps take you next?
There are good reasons why Google Maps is the most popular service of its kind. It offers reliable map data and navigation, provides trustworthy reviews, and highlights places of interest. Neat extras like street view and live traffic updates make this a must-have app on any Android phone. If you wish to explore the other goodies Google Maps offers, learn about the Local Guide community. If you’re more of an Android Auto fan, we have a nifty guide on the useful Android Auto settings you should know about.