{"id":153251,"date":"2020-12-01T10:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T09:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=153251"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:16:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:16:22","slug":"26-tricks-you-need-to-know-to-get-the-most-out-of-google-maps-android","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/26-tricks-you-need-to-know-to-get-the-most-out-of-google-maps-android\/","title":{"rendered":"26 Tricks You Need to Know to Get the Most Out of Google Maps (Android)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google Maps<\/strong>, and its lightweight version<\/strong>, Google Maps Go<\/strong>, are a real must on any Android<\/strong> phone. Although Google Maps has been with us for more than 10 years, it is still a reference among GPS applications,<\/strong> and it gets you out of many a tight spot every time you leave home. Don’t know how to get to your destination? Is it faster by car or public transportation? Is there a restaurant nearby? The answer to any question about your route or your location is Google Maps!<\/p>\n

In today’s article, we’re going to share the most surprising and popular Google Maps tricks<\/strong> with you. This app is for much more than just checking routes and creating maps. Don’t believe us? Read on to find out!<\/p>\n

First of all: Make sure you’ve updated Google Maps <\/strong><\/h2>\n

To ensure that all the Google Maps features are available and working on your Android smartphone, you should update the app<\/strong> to the latest version. Open Google Play on your phone or download the latest version of Google Maps quickly and conveniently below.<\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \"Google\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Google Maps<\/span>\r\n DOWNLOAD<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/path><\/path>7<\/text><\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

The best Google Maps tricks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Pin the addresses you use every day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the tricks we recommend you start using right away is to fill in “Your places” <\/strong>in Google Maps. You can set your home address<\/strong> and work<\/strong> address<\/strong>, which is really useful for finding alternative routes from your location to work or home.<\/p>\n

To set this information, simply open Google Maps and click the options menu (that\u2019s the icon with the three horizontal stripes in the upper left-hand corner of the screen) or open the left side menu. Then click the “Your places”<\/strong> button followed by the “Labeled”<\/strong> tab. Now just fill in the fields for “Home” and “Work” to have quick access to routes between these two addresses.<\/p>\n

2. Create shortcuts for your main routes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With Google Maps, you can create shortcuts to the main routes<\/strong> you use every day (going home or to work) so they’re ready to go on your home screen. This is especially useful to save time and always have your best route all set.<\/p>\n

To create these shortcuts in your device\u2019s home menu, first you need to have your address and work address set in “Your places.”<\/strong> If you don’t know how, check out the steps in the previous point.<\/p>\n

Once you have that information on your phone, hold your finger on the Google Maps icon (on the Home <\/strong>screen) and wait for its menu to appear. You will see that under the classic options to remove from Home or uninstall an app, two icons appear: one called “Home”<\/strong> and another called “Work<\/strong>.” Drag these icons to a free space on your Home screen and, voil\u00e0, you have your shortcut!<\/p>\n

3. Download maps offline<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before the advent of navigation apps, traveling meant buying expensive maps and knowing how to read them to avoid getting lost on the way to your destination. While this added a dash of adventure to travel, it was also cumbersome, and in the long run you spent more time getting your bearings than enjoying your vacation. With apps like Google Maps, paper maps have been rendered obsolete. You just need to connect to your phone and follow the route but… what happens when you don<\/strong>‘t have an internet connection<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Fortunately, Google Maps lets you download any of its maps<\/strong> for use offline. That way you don’t have to depend on the Wi-Fi network or pay expensive roaming fees to enjoy your vacation.<\/p>\n

To download a map with Google Maps, just open the app and click on the main menu (the icon with the three horizontal stripes in the upper left-hand corner) or open the left side menu. Then click the “Offline Maps”<\/strong> option and select the area you’re interested in.<\/p>\n

4. <\/strong>Create and share your own favorites lists<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You know when you’re walking through a city and you see places, stores, restaurants, or views that you want to remember and visit some other time? You can keep them in your head, jot them down in a notebook, or if you\u2019re one step ahead of the game, use Google Maps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You can create lists of your favorite places in the city, save them, and even share them with other users from the Google app. Using this feature is incredibly simple. Just open Google Maps, go to “Saved<\/strong>” at the bottom of the screen, and then click “New List.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Google Maps will then ask you to name and describe your list as well as to choose whether you want to keep it private or share it. Once this is done you can select the locations you want on the map and save them.<\/p>\n

5. Create stops on your route <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not only does it create the fastest way to get from point A to point B, Google Maps also lets you stop<\/strong> between the two destinations. This is especially useful on busy days, if you are travelling and want to create your own tourist route, or if you simply need to drop the kids off at school before going to work.<\/p>\n

To create a route with stops on it, first create the initial route between your place of origin (A)<\/strong> and your final destination (B)<\/strong>. Once Google calculates the best route, click on or tap the icon with the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and then on the option “Add stop<\/strong>.” Repeat this process with all the stops you need to make that day and wait for Google to recalculate the most efficient route to your destinations.<\/p>\n

6. <\/strong>Add and correct information on the maps<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As you explore a city, you’re likely to find places and establishments that are not marked on Google Maps. If you want to help the community <\/strong>and add new sites, simply hold the address on the map or choose it from your list of favorites, scroll down and click on the option “Add a missing place.<\/strong>” After that, Google will ask for more information about the business or location before reviewing it and adding it to the map.<\/p>\n

The opposite can also occur: you go to a place that you discovered on Google Maps and unfortunately find it has closed, that a road has changed direction, or that it no longer exists. In these cases, you should send a comment to Google<\/strong> so that it can update its information and improve the app.<\/p>\n

To correct any Google Maps information, go to its main menu (click on the icon with the three horizontal lines or slide the left side menu) and select the option “Send feedback<\/strong>.” Once you\u2019ve done that, Google will ask you to provide the information to be corrected (a place is missing, the address is missing, a road is missing, some information is wrong, etc.). Fill in the necessary data and let Google take it from there.<\/p>\n

7. Get a three-dimensional view of the map<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Everyone knows that Google Maps<\/strong> lets you look at maps in their 2D versions as well as with Street View but… Did you know you can also look at a three-dimensional<\/strong> or perspective version of it?<\/p>\n

To activate Google Maps\u2019 3D map, all you have to do is open the app and place yourself in one of the cities where the option has been rolled out. Once there, click on the map icon (that\u2019s the square icon on the right side of the screen) and select the “3D”<\/strong> option. After that, your 2D map will switch to a satellite view of the city.<\/p>\n

To change the perspective, just press two fingers together<\/strong> on the screen and drag the map up or down to tilt and see the buildings in 3D.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

8. Access Street View<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Google Street View<\/strong> is undoubtedly one of Google Maps’ star features. You can get a 360\u00ba picture <\/strong>of the place you are going to, and it offers really useful information whether you are a virtual tourism fan or just want to know what the place you are going to looks like.<\/p>\n

To access a Street View image from your Android phone, first you need to hold down the address on the map. Then Google Maps will show detailed information about that address. Now simply click or tap the icon with the photo <\/strong>of the location to access Street View.<\/p>\n

You can also click on the map icon<\/strong> in the top right-hand corner of the screen, select “Street View,” <\/strong>and then tap the place on the map that you want to check out.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

9. Share a location<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Google Maps offers two ways to share a location with your family and friends, depending on whether you want to share a meeting point<\/strong> or establishment on the map or you simply want to share your location in real time<\/strong>. Below we teach you how to do both.<\/p>\n