Who would not love Google Maps? The Maps Android app helps these of us with oatmeal for brains discover our method wherever, with out having to fireside any neurons or train any synapses. It even helps us discover locations to choose up tasty delicacies — like, uh, oatmeal (yum!).But there’s way more to Google Maps than meets the attention — and odds are, you are not benefiting from at the very least a couple of useful hidden options lurking throughout the Maps Android app. With Android 15 proper across the nook and extra shiny new Googley goodies displaying up by the day these days, I assumed it would be a high quality time to dive deep into this ever-evolving Android anchor and assume by way of a few of its extra off-the-beaten-path superior choices.Take a couple of minutes to discover these prospects the following time you’ve got bought Maps pulled up in your telephone, and prepare to expertise the world round you in a complete new method.[Psst: Love shortcuts? My Android Shortcut Supercourse will teach you tons of time-saving tricks for your phone — stretching far beyond Maps’ borders. Sign up now for free!]Google Maps Android trick #1: Better instructionsThe most necessary a part of Maps is navigation — proper? And but, the Maps Android app’s greatest navigation expertise is curiously tucked away in a labyrinth of choices and disabled by default. In truth, most common roaming land mammals would by no means even know the superior route exists!But hey, you are studying this column. You clearly aren’t a median organism. So let’s take your Maps adventuring to the following stage, lets? Start by opening up the Maps app in your telephone, then:
Tap your profile image within the app’s upper-right nook.
Select “Settings,” then scroll method down and choose “Navigation settings.”
Scroll down once more till you see the part labeled “Glanceable directions while navigating,” and flip the toggle inside that part into the on and lively place.
One fast swap, and increase: The subsequent time you seek for a selected location, you will see the detailed steps and ETA information proper on the route overview — from the second you hit the “Directions” button. JR
Google Maps’ glanceable instructions choices makes it infinitely simpler to see the place you are going — at a look.
Much higher, would not ya say?!Google Maps Android trick #2: Smarter drivingSpeaking of navigation enhancements, Google’s been flippin’ and floppin’ greater than a flailing fish with its Maps- and Assistant-associated driving mode as of late.I will not bore you with a recap of all of the silly-seeming modifications, however simply know that at this level, Maps has a built-in driving mode that pops up anytime you actively begin a brand new Maps driving navigation and reveals you the place you are headed.And — oh, sure — with a couple of quick tweaks, you may make it much more helpful. First, head again into the Maps Android app’s settings space and as soon as once more choose “Navigation settings.” Then:
Tap “Google Assistant settings.”
Flip the toggle subsequent to “Get messaging help while driving” into the on and lively place.
If you see a immediate asking you to permit Google to entry your notifications, faucet “Allow Access,” then observe the steps to complete that course of, make your method again to the Maps menu, and flip that very same toggle another time to show it on.
Beneath the road that claims “Choose messages alert,” change the choice to “Hear entire message” if you’d like all incoming messages to be learn aloud. (If you are not capable of choose that, again out of that menu into the principle Assistant settings areas after which make your method again there as soon as extra — and it ought to then work.)
Now, another factor:
Back in the principle Maps “Navigation settings” menu, scroll all the way down to the underside and search for the road labeled “Driving notifications.”
Flip the toggle subsequent to that into the on and lively place.
That’ll trigger your Maps driving genie to present you ETAs to your vacation spot anytime you’ve got bought your telephone linked to your automotive’s audio system — in addition to permitting it to be extra proactive with studying aloud your messages, through that first change we made.And another tip to bear in mind: If you ever need to summon driving mode by yourself, you possibly can at all times activate Assistant (by saying “Hey Google” or utilizing no matter Assistant-summoning command you favor) after which saying “driving mode” — otherwise you can provide your self a one-touch button for launching the mode by long-pressing on your property display screen, deciding on “Widgets,” then scrolling all the way down to the Maps part and touching and holding the “Driving Mode” widget to position it wherever on your property display screen. Google Maps Android trick #3: Faster pathsHere’s an attention-grabbing one which I solely realized about not too long ago by means of some chatter in my Intelligence Insider Community: By default, Maps now provides you instructions based mostly on essentially the most fuel-efficient path to your vacation spot.That’s nice should you’re making an attempt to avoid wasting on fuel, however if you’re actually in a rush, you could simply need absolutely the quickest path potential — even when it probably prices you a couple of additional pennies.If so, do that:
Speed your method again into the Maps Android app’s settings and once more head into the “Navigation settings” space.
Scroll all the way down to the “Route options” part of the display screen.
See the road labeled “Prefer fuel-efficient routes”? Tap the toggle subsequent to it to show it off.
And should you would fairly stick to the fuel-efficient path, there’s nonetheless an choice in that space you will need to modify:
Within the “Navigation settings” space of the Maps app’s settings, faucet the road labeled “Engine type.”
Select the kind of automotive you are really utilizing — fuel, diesel, electrical, or hybrid.
That’ll assist Maps higher choose routes based mostly on precise gasoline (or vitality) use in your particular car sort, if that is the navigation method you’d want.Google Maps Android trick #4: Smarter searchingI do not find out about you, however I are usually a semi-obsessive planner. And a part of that, erm, situation means a burning have to know, anticipate, and — effectively, y’know, plan issues out forward of time.Maps has a splendid system for this form of in-advance group. The subsequent time you are instructions to a selected spot, do this:
From the instructions display screen throughout the Android Maps app — the primary display screen you see after tapping the Directions button for any given vacation spot — faucet the three-dot menu icon alongside the beginning location, on the high of the display screen.
In the menu that pops up, choose “Search along route.”
You can then sort any time period into the field that seems to hunt out a selected place alongside the best way or search for, say, eating places, fuel stations, or some other sort of enterprise conceivable.
JR
Searching alongside a selected route is one in all Maps’ most useful hidden choices.
If you are already in an lively navigation, you could find this similar characteristic by swiping up on the panel on the backside of the display screen.Google Maps Android trick #5: Better suggestionsBrowsing by way of the Maps app is an underrated option to discover one thing tasty to eat, whether or not you are planning to go someplace on the best way to a gathering or simply inserting an order for a noon workplace supply. But navigating your method by way of the maze of culinary choices in your space can get overwhelming quick, particularly you probably have a selected form of nourishment in thoughts.Well, take be aware, you hungry, hungry hamster: After tapping the “Restaurants” choice on the high of the principle Maps display screen, you possibly can really slender down the kinds of locations that present up as recommendations. You can choose from a sprawling vary of variables, too — all the pieces from the institution’s hours, scores, and whether or not it delivers to what sort of delicacies it serves. You may even filter based mostly on whether or not you’ve got visited a spot earlier than and whether or not it is kid-friendly or vegetarian-prepared.The trick is to faucet the little management panel icon within the upper-left nook of the restaurant search display screen after which go to city on deciding on no matter filters appear proper. JR
The Maps Android app’s out-of-the-way filters make its restaurant suggestions way more catered to your particular wants.
A tasty stage of management, no?Google Maps Android trick #6: Pinned locationsFind your self meandering to the identical locations or making the identical prolonged drives typically? Save your self a while by tapping into Maps’ simply neglected journey pinning system. It helps you to save widespread journeys after which pull ’em up shortly for on-demand, hassle-free navigation everytime you want it.You can pin a visit from a pair completely different locations throughout the Android Maps app:
When you are looking for a selected vacation spot, search for the Pin command on the backside of the display screen after you’ve got tapped the button to carry up instructions.
From the principle Maps display screen, faucet the Go tab on the backside after which take a look at the app’s recommended locations based mostly in your current exercise. If you see the journey you need there, faucet the pushpin icon alongside it to pin it.
Whichever method you go, something you’ve got pinned will at all times seem on the high of the app’s Go tab from then on out — and beginning a brand new navigation to that vacation spot will solely be another faucet away.Google Maps Android trick #7: Location collectionsOne of the Android Maps app’s most underappreciated options is its capacity to allow you to create collections of locations after which revisit ’em or share ’em with different human person-people later. It’s like a super-specific form of bookmarking service that is all about areas and linked on to your favourite navigation companion.And it is super-practical, too, whether or not you are seeking to get organized forward of a Very Important Business Trip and even simply to plan round a drive to a distinct a part of city for some method of work-related assembly.To benefit from the system, faucet the Saved tab on the backside of the Maps app, then search for the part labeled “Your list.” Tap the “New list” command inside that space of the display screen, and you’ll then give your fancy new checklist a reputation and an outline and resolve whether or not you need it to be non-public, shared solely with particular individuals, or public for anybody to seek out. JR
Location lists are a beautiful option to save associated locations for future reference — for your self or for a bunch.
With shared lists, you possibly can even choose to let different individuals edit and add their very own objects into the combination — a simple option to collaborate with colleagues, cousins, or chinchillas on an inventory of lustworthy lunch spots or enterprise provide stop-bys.Google Maps Android trick #8: Spot savingRemember method again within the early days of Android when some of the widespread apps was a easy little device referred to as Car Locator? No? Well, I do — however then once more, I’ve been writing about Android for about 973 years now. (Related: I could or will not be a clever, if considerably shriveled, tortoise elder.)These days, that app is lengthy gone — however little-known truth: Maps itself can do precisely what it used to do and save any location you need, then enable you to mosey again to it later.The subsequent time your noggin wants a reminiscence aide, simply open up Maps and faucet the blue dot that represents your present location. That’ll pull up an enormous honkin’ menu, inside which you will see the extremely helpful “Save parking” choice — inside a horizontally scrolling bar of buttons towards the highest of the panel. (And do not let your self be fooled: While its official function might revolve round parking, you possibly can simply as simply use the characteristic to avoid wasting any form of location for any cause you need.)Tap that choice, and that is it: Your present location shall be burned into Maps’ reminiscence. If you need to add additional information to assist your individual mushy mammal mind later, swipe up on the bar that claims “Parking location” on the backside of the display screen. You can then enter notes about your saved location (what stage you parked on, what number of oatmeal-serving institutions had been within the neighborhood, and so forth), connect images (you making foolish faces in entrance of varied passersby, and so forth), and create an alert to remind you concerning the location after a sure period of time has elapsed. JR
Saving your location could also be one of the simplest ways you place Maps to make use of, ever.
When you are able to get again to your automotive — or no matter form of spot you’ve got saved — all you’ve got gotta do is faucet that very same “Parking location” bar on the backside of the Maps app or search for the “Parking location” notification from wherever in your telephone.Google Maps Android trick #9: Shared placesNext up: Help somebody discover you — or perhaps simply give ’em an replace in your whereabouts and progress — by tapping the blue location dot inside the principle Maps display screen after which deciding on “Share location” from the menu that comes up.That’ll allow you to ship anybody a hyperlink to observe your location in real-time on a map for a selected period of time or till you flip the characteristic off. You may even beam the hyperlink immediately into one other app or service in your telephone to get it wherever you want.Alternatively, should you’re within the midst of a navigation, swipe up on the time estimate panel on the backside of the Maps navigation display screen. There, you will discover a useful hidden “Share trip progress” choice that’ll do precisely what you want.Google Maps Android trick #10: Traffic trackingDid you already know Maps can present you reside, real-time site visitors information as you are navigating along with your telephone? All you’ve got gotta do is inform it you need that information — a feat that’ll require roughly seven seconds of your time.The subsequent time you are within the midst of a navigation throughout the Maps app in your telephone…
Swipe up on that point estimate panel on the backside of the display screen.
Flip the toggle subsequent to “Show traffic on map.”
Perform a spritely little jig to have a good time while whistling the tune of Tom Cochrane’s timeless 1991 hit tune “Life Is a Highway.” *
* Jig and whistling non-compulsory however extremely really usefulGoogle Maps Android trick #11: Incognito modeOn your option to a secret lair? Well, take a look at you, Bruce Wayne. Pin this bit of information to your amygdala: If you faucet your profile image within the Maps app after which choose “Turn on Incognito mode,” Maps will quickly cease saving your location and utilizing it for any future functions. And nobody — not even Google — will know the place you might be.Not to fret: Your secret’s secure with me.Google Maps Android trick #12: In-app media controlsWhy swipe round to regulate your music when you are able to do it proper from the principle Maps interface? Maps has the power so as to add audio controls immediately into the app so you possibly can see your at the moment enjoying tunes and shuffle round as wanted inside a prominently positioned bar within the app’s navigation space.To get began, open up Maps’ settings, choose “Navigation settings,” then faucet “Assistant default media provider.” Pick from one of many obtainable choices, and no matter service you select will present up inside your navigation interface and likewise reply to any spoken instructions issued to Assistant about audio enjoying.Google Maps Android trick #13: Locked orientationSometimes, it looks like it would be simpler to grasp a map if north had been at all times dealing with up. Well, excellent news, my fellow orientation-obsessed organism: You can really inform Maps to maintain a constant, locked orientation with north on the high each time it is navigating.Just look within the “Navigation settings” part of the app’s major settings and discover the choice labeled (fairly appropriately) “Keep map north up.”Activate the toggle after which relaxation simple understanding you will by no means want to try this awkward head-pivoting, trying-to-figure-out-which-way-you’re-facing maneuver once more.Google Maps Android trick #14: Permanent darkish modeIn that very same “Navigation settings” part of Maps’ settings lies an understated choice anybody with delicate peepers shall be happy to uncover: the power to set Maps’ shade scheme right into a everlasting darkish mode each time navigation is lively.By default, Maps manages this setting by itself and switches between a lightweight and darkish scheme because it sees match. If you’d fairly keep away from glary distractions on a regular basis, search for the “Color scheme” setting and swap it from “Automatic” to “Night.”Google Maps Android trick #15: A quieter voiceI’ve misplaced depend of the variety of occasions I’ve had Maps navigation going and music enjoying from my telephone on the similar time — after which jumped in my seat when that jolly genie’s voice cuts in and one way or the other appears 7,000 occasions louder than the tune behind it. If you, too, endure from this awkward aural incidence, take heed: There’s a simple repair.At the very high of the “Navigation settings” part of Maps’ settings sits an choice referred to as “Guidance volume.” Try altering it to “Softer” — or “Louder,” should you dare! — and see how that fits your ears.Google Maps Android trick #16: Voice commandsLast however not least, you would be forgiven for forgetting — or perhaps not ever understanding — however Maps has its personal customized set of voice instructions that work everytime you’re within the midst of a navigation. All you’ve got gotta do is say “Hey Google” or activate Assistant in no matter method you favor, after which shout out the command in query.(And be aware: These instructions all work with the standard Google Assistant on Android. If you are utilizing the newer, experimental Gemini Android assistant — as with most sensible concerns associated to that service — do not anticipate a lot success.)So buckle up — listed here are a number of the extra intriguing prospects:
“How’s traffic ahead?”
“How’s traffic home?”
“Show the route overview.”
“Show an alternate route.”
“What’s my ETA?”
“What road is this?”
“What’s my next turn?”
“Navigate home.”
“Avoid tolls.”
“Avoid highways.”
“Find a gas station.”
“Take me to Best Buy.”
“Find a restaurant.”
“Find me somewhere that serves oatmeal, gosh darn it.”
That final one might or might not work, however hey — it is at all times value a shot.Go past Maps and get much more Android shortcut data with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll study tons of time-saving tips in your telephone!
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