Download areas & navigate offline - Android (2024)

You can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you're offline.

Tip: You’re unable to download offline maps in some countries or regions because of contractual limitations, language support, address formats, or other reasons.

Step 1: Download a map to use offline

Download areas & navigate offline - Android (1)

Tip: You can save maps on your device or a SD card. If you change the way you save maps, you’ll have to download the map again.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (2).
  2. Make sure you're connected to the internet and signed in to Google Maps.
  3. Search for a place, like San Francisco.
  4. At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place Download areas & navigate offline - Android (3)tap MoreDownload areas & navigate offline - Android (4)Download areas & navigate offline - Android (5)Download offline map. If you searched for a place like a restaurant, tap More Download areas & navigate offline - Android (6)Download areas & navigate offline - Android (7)Download offline mapDownload areas & navigate offline - Android (8)Download.

Save offline maps on an SD card

Offline maps are downloaded on your device’s internal storage by default, but you can download them on an SD card instead. If your device is on Android 6.0 or higher, you can only save an area to an SD card that's set up for portable storage. To learn how to set up your SD card, get help from your phone's manufacturer.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, insert an SD card.
  2. Open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (9).
  3. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (10) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (11) Offline maps.
  4. In the top right, tap Settings Download areas & navigate offline - Android (12).
  5. Under "Storage preferences," tap Device Download areas & navigate offline - Android (13) SD card.

Step 2 (optional): Save battery & mobile data

You can set up offline maps and still use other apps with mobile data.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (14).
  2. Tap your profile picture or initialDownload areas & navigate offline - Android (15)Download areas & navigate offline - Android (16)SettingsDownload areas & navigate offline - Android (17) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (18)turn on Wi-Fi only.

Select your own map

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (19).
  2. Tap your profile picture or initialDownload areas & navigate offline - Android (20)Download areas & navigate offline - Android (21)Offline maps.
  3. TapSelect your own map.
  4. Adjust the map according to the area you want to download
  5. TapDownload.

Use offline maps

After you download an area, use the Google Maps app just like 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.

  • Use navigation
  • Search for locations

Tip: Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline. In your offline driving directions, you can’t get traffic info or alternate routes.

Manage offline maps

Find a list of your offline maps

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (22).
  2. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (23) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (24) Offline maps.

You can select your own map to download, or view maps you've already downloaded.

Delete offline maps

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (25).
  2. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (26) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (27) Offline maps.
  3. Tap the Mapyou want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.

Rename areas you've downloaded for offline use

  1. On yourAndroid phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (28).
  2. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (29) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (30) Offline maps.
  3. Select a Map.
  4. At the top right, tap Edit Download areas & navigate offline - Android (31).
  5. Update the Mapname and tap Save.

Update offline maps

Offline maps that you downloaded on your phone or tablet must be updated before they expire. When your offline maps expire in 15 days or less, Google Maps tries to update the area automatically when you're connected to Wi-Fi.

If your offline maps aren’t automatically updated, you can update them by following the steps below.

From the notification

  1. In the "Update offline maps" notification, tap Update now.
  2. Tap the expired or expiring area on the list.
  3. Tap Update.

From anywhere else

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (32).
  2. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (33) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (34) Offline maps.
  3. On the list, tap the expired or expiring area.
  4. Tap Update.

Turn on automatic updates

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Download areas & navigate offline - Android (35).
  2. Tapyour profile picture or initial Download areas & navigate offline - Android (36) Download areas & navigate offline - Android (37) Offline maps.
  3. In the top right, tap Settings Download areas & navigate offline - Android (38).
  4. Turn onAuto-update offline maps.

Find maps based on your upcoming trips

You can also download offline maps based on places you're going to in the future. These trips can come from Gmail, Google Travel, and other places. You can find offline maps to download under "Recommended maps."

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Download areas & navigate offline - Android (2024)

FAQs

Download areas & navigate offline - Android? ›

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

Which is the best offline map for Android? ›

Offline Maps
  • HERE WeGo. ...
  • Sygic. ...
  • 2GIS. ...
  • MAPS.ME. ...
  • Moovit. ...
  • All-In-One Offline Maps. ...
  • Offline Maps & Navigation. ...
  • OsmAnd. OsmAnd is a maps app that gives you full access to OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, a collaborative platform that provides up-to-date maps from around the world...

How to download Google Maps for offline navigation on Android? ›

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

How good is offline Google 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: Public transport, bicycling or walking directions are unavailable offline. In your offline driving directions, you can't get traffic info or alternative routes.

What is the app that lets you download maps offline? ›

MAPS.ME: Offline Maps, GPS Nav on the App Store.

What is the best navigation app without internet? ›

Sygic GPS Navigation is recognized as a sophisticated GPS navigation app, celebrated for its offline capabilities. Key Features: Offline navigation. Sygic provides offline 3D maps from providers like TomTom, stored on Android phones for GPS navigation without an internet connection.

How big of an area can you download offline Maps? ›

You can only download a map that's a maximum 250 MB (what will appear in the selected map as roughly the size of Maine). Now you'll be able to use Google Maps even when you're offline in the area you downloaded -- and in that area only.

How do I find downloaded offline Maps? ›

  1. To access your downloaded offline maps, go to the Google Maps app.
  2. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
  3. Select "Offline maps" from the menu.
Nov 3, 2023

Can I use Google Earth without downloading it? ›

You can use Google Earth to find: High-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, photos, and elevation terrain. An image of your home, school, or any place on earth.

Do I need data to use Google Maps? ›

Yes, Google Maps works without internet too. You can use Google Maps offline and there is no need for an internet connection.

How to use GPS without internet? ›

Can I use GPS without an Internet connection? Yes. On Android and iPhone devices, the Google Maps app can locate and follow you wherever you are without the internet or without data. The GPS on your smartphone is able to do both things at the same time.

Why is Google Maps offline on Android? ›

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.

Does Google Maps automatically use offline maps? ›

On your car, under "Offline maps," your offline maps will show: Auto-downloaded maps based on your car's movements, if you've turned on auto-download before. Optional: Home and Work maps, if you're signed in. Optional: Maps you've downloaded manually.

What does offline mean on Google Maps? ›

Now if your internet connection is slow or absent, Google Maps will use your offline map to give you driving directions. Important: You can only get driving directions offline and you won't get traffic info, alternate routes, or lane guidance.

How to save directions on Google Maps offline? ›

Select your own map
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
  2. Tap your profile picture or initial. Offline maps.
  3. Tap Select your own map.
  4. Adjust the map according to the area you want to download.
  5. Tap Download.

What is better than Google Maps for Android? ›

Waze is a popular map app with all sorts of extra features that have made it a very popular Google Maps alternative. Many users have especially enjoyed the speed camera report function.

Does Google still have offline maps? ›

You can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you're offline. Tip: You're unable to download offline maps in some countries or regions because of contractual limitations, language support, address formats, or other reasons.

Which map is best for Android? ›

Google Maps is undoubtedly the most popular and widely used map app for Android. It offers a comprehensive set of features that make navigation a breeze. With highly accurate real-time traffic updates, you can avoid congested areas and find the fastest routes to your destination.

What offline maps work with Android Auto? ›

onX Offroad supports offline maps on Android Auto for when you are off the grid. Before you leave cell service, make sure you have downloaded the areas where you will be off-roading on your mobile device. Once the maps are downloaded, simply plug your device into your vehicle and go!

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