How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline (2024)

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline (2)

You can’t always count on a strong internet connection when you most need Google Maps.

Thankfully, Maps has an offline feature to help you navigate safely even when your phone might be showing zero bars. Offline maps can be an especially useful tool for people who frequently travel abroad or visit remote areas with spotty cell service. All that’s required on your part is a little bit of planning.

The next time you might be faced with the potential of a poor signal, try downloading a map of your future whereabouts in advance. The process is simple and works on both Android and iOS.

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline (3)

How to use Google Maps offline

  1. Open the Google Maps app.
  2. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
  3. Tap “Offline Maps.”
  4. Tap “Select Your Own Map.”
  5. Move the rectangle over the area you plan to visit.
  6. Click “Download.”

And if you’re staying in a specific location — such as a city or a town — there’s an even simpler way:

  1. Search for your destination in Google Maps. (For example: “Philadelphia.”)
  2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the information panel.
  3. Tap “Download offline map.”

Maps will still give you the option to make adjustments to the range of the area. And that’s it.

In both cases, Maps will show you an estimate of how much space the file will take up on your phone before you download. Generally speaking, the more precise you can be with your location, the smaller the file size. If you turn on “auto-update” in the settings menu, your maps will refresh about once every two weeks to include the latest data.

When offline, keep in mind that you won’t have real-time traffic data until you have connectivity again. Any travel time between destinations before then will be an estimate calculated as if there is no traffic congestion.

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About the author

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline (4)

Mike Darling

Contributor, The Keyword

Mike Darling is an audience development editor at Google where he focuses on content strategy for the Keyword blog and Google's social channels. Previously he was the executive editor of Men's Health and a managing editor at Vice.

Read more from Mike
How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline (2024)

FAQs

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline? ›

To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map. You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline.

How do I get Google Maps to work without internet? ›

To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map. You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline.

Why is my Google Maps not working on cellular data? ›

Enable Background App Refresh on Android

Step 1: Open Settings and select Connections > Data usage. Step 2: Navigate to the Mobile section, and select "Mobile data usage." Step 3: Click on the Google Maps application and Turn on Background data usage.

Why does my Google Maps keep going offline? ›

You'll need to make sure your internet connection is alive and healthy. If you're using Wi-Fi, you should ensure it's connected to the internet. You can do this by testing any other app that requires an internet connection, or another device connected to the same network. If the router is to blame, try restarting it.

How does Google Maps know where you are offline? ›

In fact, your phone uses GPS to know where you are on the map and data to load that map. So if you take a wrong turn, the offline map will still know where you are and tell you.

Can I use navigation without internet? ›

You can always use GPS on your mobile device regardless of an internet or cellular connection. As long as you have a charged smartphone with you, you can find your way around remote areas and foreign landscapes. GPS tracking on your phone works just as well without internet connectivity or cellular service.

Does Google Maps work without internet on iPhone? ›

With Google Maps on iPhone, you can save a map to help you navigate when you're not connected to the internet. info Features are subject to availability.

Does Google Maps work when mobile data is off? ›

Use offline maps

If your internet connection is slow or absent, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map. Tip: Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline.

Does Google Maps use a lot of cellular data? ›

On average, a one-hour session using Google Maps in online mode can use up to 200MB of data — a significant amount if you're traveling and have a limited data plan.

What's better than Google Maps? ›

Check out some of the best Google Maps alternatives, some of which care much more about your privacy.
  • Waze. Crowd-sourced data. ...
  • Apple Maps. Beautiful design. ...
  • MapQuest. Long-standing mapping product. ...
  • HERE WeGo. A vast database of points of interests. ...
  • Maps.Me. ...
  • OsmAnd. ...
  • CityMapper. ...
  • OpenStreetMap.
May 16, 2024

Does Google Maps automatically work offline? ›

Use offline maps

After you've downloaded an area, use the Google Maps app just as you normally would. If your Internet connection is slow or absent, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.

Why is my Google not working with mobile data? ›

Restart your device.

Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections. Depending on your device, these options may be different. Turn Wi-Fi off and mobile data on, and check if there's a difference. If not, turn mobile data off and Wi-Fi on and check again.

How long are Google Maps offline? ›

How to download directions from Google Maps to use while driving without internet. You can download Google Maps offline on any iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Android devices can also download offline maps to their SD card. However, maps will auto-delete after 15 days if they aren't updated.

How to use Google Maps without internet? ›

Open the Google Maps app. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap “Offline Maps.” Tap “Select Your Own Map.”

What are the disadvantages of Google Maps offline? ›

Limited offline functionality: Google Maps requires an internet connection to function properly, making it less reliable in areas with poor or no internet coverage. Privacy concerns: Google Maps collects and stores data on users' locations and search history, raising privacy concerns for some users.

Do I need data for Google Maps? ›

Yes, you can use Google Maps without using data, but you need to be connected to the internet while downloading the map for offline use. This feature allows you to download maps for a specific area and use them even when you are offline.

Do offline maps work in airplane mode? ›

Offline status - Offline mode is automatically turned on when you don't have cell service, but tapping Go Offline manually or using airplane mode is best. This way the map loads quickly from the device memory instead of trying to load fresh data over a weak cellular data connection.

Why does Google Maps say no internet? ›

If you're connecting to the Internet using a slow or non-working WiFi, try to connect to another hotspot. Smartphones are not good in letting go of a bad WiFi connection. Before getting to a remote area, check your network operator's coverage.

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