10 features of Google Maps that not everyone knows about

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Music player integration, food recommendation settings, AR mode and other useful features.

Google Maps, aka "Google Maps", is rightfully considered one of the best global navigation services. Particularly pleased with its mobile version, without which millions of travelers from all over the world cannot imagine their lives.

The program helps you plan routes, guides you along the way and never ceases to amaze you with various useful tricks. Let's talk about some of the not-so-obvious ones.

1. Control the scale with one finger

The developers of Google Maps made sure that it was convenient for smartphone users to resize the map on the go. The easiest way to do this is with your thumb. Tap them twice on the map and, without lifting, swipe down to zoom in, or up to zoom out. As you can see, the traditional two-fingered gesture, which requires both hands, is not needed to zoom.

2. Switch songs in navigation mode

Travel time is more fun when your favorite music is playing. So that you can control the player without leaving Google Maps, the program supports integration with Play Music (on Android), as well as with Apple Music and Spotify (on iOS). Connect one of these applications and the audio player will be displayed in navigation mode.

Open the settings. If you have iOS, select Navigation → Playback Application. If Android, tap Navigation Settings → Play Control. Then select the music service you are using.

3. Share routes and lists of points of interest

If you are planning a joint trip or just want to recommend places worthy of attention to your friends, you can quickly send them a list of selected locations. Open the "Saved" tab at the bottom, click on the three dots next to the matching list of places, and select "Share List."

If you haven't saved the locations yet, you can do it at any time. Find the point of interest on the map. Click on it, use the save button and add the object to the desired list. Then do the same with other interesting places.

In addition, you can send already prepared routes to your friends. To do this, just click on three points in the menu of the current route, select "Share route" and specify the recipient's contacts.

4. Specify preferences to get accurate food recommendations

Google Maps recommends the user institutions that may be of interest to him. In order for the system to better understand your food preferences and more accurately select cafes, restaurants and bars, it needs help. The app lets you choose which cuisines of the world you like and which you don't. In addition, you can specify what you prefer, for example, vegan, gluten-free or kosher.

On Android, tap Settings → Nearby Places → Food and Drink Preferences. If you have iOS, go to Settings → Food and Drink: Preferences. In the menu that opens, specify your tastes for the system.

5. Add stops to routes

The road does not always lead from point A to point B. Often we need intermediate points - cafes, hotels, ATMs, gas stations and other places that may come in handy along the way. And Google Maps allows you to plan complex routes. To do this, click next to the already selected points three points and select "Add stop". Then you will be able to supplement the route with new places and change their order.

6. Find the places you want along the route right in navigation mode

In navigation mode, the selected route does not become static. You can still search for places you need along the way. Click on the search icon and select the desired category: for example, "Gas station", "Restaurants" or "Products". You can also enter the name of a specific place. If the application finds the requested objects along the route, you will see them on the map.

7. Monitor notifications

Google Maps sends the user a huge number of notifications about the traffic situation, recommendations, comments, places visited, and so on. You probably don't need all of them. Fortunately, the program allows you to turn off unnecessary signals. Open "Settings" → "Notifications" and leave the alerts enabled only for those events that you consider important.

8. Store data on a memory card (Android only)

By default, Google Maps downloads maps to your device's internal storage. This can be a problem for devices with limited memory. In this case, it is worth transferring the application files to an SD card - of course, if you have one. To do this, select "Offline Maps" in the side menu, click on the gear in the corner, and then open "Data Storage". Select SD card as source and save changes.

At the same time, Google warns that in Android 6 and newer versions, you can save files to an SD card only if it is configured as a removable storage device. To prepare it, you need to go to the gadget's settings, open the section with the SD card and format it by selecting the removable storage mode. The procedure will erase all old data from the card, so copy it to another device if necessary.

9. Find the places you want with augmented reality

Google is testing an alternative navigation mode, Live Maps, which uses augmented reality (AR) in Google Maps. This technology displays an image of the street through the camera, showing the desired direction over real objects. The mode is intended only for pedestrians and should help in situations when it is impossible to find the right place on a schematic map.

To launch Live Maps, select a destination and create a walking route to it. Then, at the bottom of the screen, tap the AR Streets button in iOS, or the navigation cue icon in Android. If this feature does not appear, it is likely that your device is not on the list of supported devices. In addition, while coverage of "Live Maps" may not be available in some cities.

10. Add new places and addresses to the map

If you cannot find a store, pharmacy or any other public place you like on the map, try adding it for convenience. You can provide coordinates, description and other data known to you in Google - they will be checked and, possibly, used to publish on the map.

To add a place from iPhone, click on the menu "Add missing place" and fill out a short questionnaire. In Android, this feature is not so easy to find: select "Help / Feedback" from the menu, then "No location" and follow the prompts in the application.