How to Download Google Maps from the Play Store
Google Maps is one of the most popular and useful navigation apps available for Android devices. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets, real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike, air, and public transportation. Whether you want to explore new places, find local businesses, or get directions to your destination, Google Maps can help you with that and more.
But how do you download Google Maps from the Play Store? And what are some of the features and benefits of using this app? In this article, we will answer these questions and show you how to download, install, and use Google Maps on your Android device.
What is Google Maps and why you should use it
Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It was launched in 2005 and has since become one of the most widely used navigation apps in the world. According to [Google](^1^), over 220 countries and territories are mapped on Google Maps, with hundreds of millions of businesses and places on the map. You can also access Google Maps on your computer, iPhone, iPad, or other devices.
There are many reasons why you should use Google Maps on your Android device. Here are some of the features and benefits that make this app stand out:
Google Maps features and benefits
- Real-time GPS navigation: You can get turn-by-turn directions to your destination with voice guidance, live traffic updates, lane guidance, speed limits, and more. You can also choose from different modes of transportation, such as driving, walking, biking, or public transit.
- Offline maps: You can download an area from Google Maps to your device and use it when you’re offline. This can save you mobile data charges and help you navigate without an internet connection.
- Street View and indoor imagery: You can see what a place looks like before you go there with Street View and indoor imagery. You can explore restaurants, shops, museums, airports, malls, stadiums, and more with 360° panoramic views.
- Discover places and explore like a local: You can find local restaurants, events, activities, and attractions that matter to you with Google Maps. You can also see what’s trending and new places that are opening in your area. You can decide more confidently with “Your match”, a number that shows how likely you are to like a place based on your preferences. You can also create lists of your favorite places and share them with friends.
- Eco-friendly routes: You can find the most fuel-efficient route to your destination with Google Maps. This feature can help you reduce your carbon footprint and save money on gas.
- Toll prices: You can see the toll prices you’ll have to pay on different routes with Google Maps. This feature can help you plan your budget and avoid surprises.
- Mall and airport directories: You can see the stores and businesses present in any mall, airport, or transit station with Google Maps. You can also view the detailed business information, such as phone numbers, addresses, reviews, photos, hours, etc.
- Insurance information: You can see what insurance plans are accepted by hospitals with Google Maps. This feature can help you find the best health care provider for your needs.
How to use Google Maps offlineOne of the most useful features of Google Maps is the ability to use it offline. This can come in handy when you’re traveling to a place with poor or no internet connection, or when you want to save your mobile data. Here’s how to use Google Maps offline:
How to use Google Maps offline
- Download an area from Google Maps: To use Google Maps offline, you need to download an area from the app to your device. To do this, open the Google Maps app and sign in with your Google account. Then, tap on your profile picture at the top right corner and select “Offline maps”. Tap on “Select your own map” and zoom in or out to choose the area you want to download. You can also search for a place or city in the search bar. Tap on “Download” and wait for the map to be saved on your device. You can see the progress and size of the download on the screen. You can also rename the map or delete it later.
- Use Google Maps offline: Once you have downloaded an area from Google Maps, you can use it offline anytime. To do this, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Offline maps” and choose the map you want to use. You can see a blue dot showing your location on the map. You can also search for places, get directions, and see information such as hours, ratings, and photos. However, some features may not be available offline, such as live traffic updates, satellite view, transit routes, etc.
- Update or delete offline maps: To keep your offline maps up to date, you need to update them regularly. To do this, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Offline maps” and tap on the map you want to update. Tap on “Update” and wait for the map to be refreshed. You can also delete offline maps that you no longer need. To do this, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Offline maps” and tap on the map you want to delete. Tap on “Delete” and confirm.
How to update Google Maps
To enjoy the latest features and improvements of Google Maps, you should always keep the app updated on your device. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Play Store app on your device: To update Google Maps, you need to open the Play Store app on your Android device. This is where you can download and update apps from Google and other developers.
- Search for Google Maps in the search bar: To find Google Maps in the Play Store, you need to search for it in the search bar at the top of the screen. Type “Google Maps” and tap on the magnifying glass icon.
- Tap on the Google Maps icon and select Update: To update Google Maps, you need to tap on the Google Maps icon that appears in the search results. This will take you to the app’s page in the Play Store. If there is an update available for Google Maps, you will see a button that says “Update”. Tap on it and wait for the app to be updated.
- Open the Google Maps app and enjoy: Once Google Maps is updated, you can open it and enjoy its new features and improvements. You can also check what’s new in Google Maps by tapping on your profile picture at the top right corner and selecting “What’s new”.
How to share your location on Google Maps
Another useful feature of Google Maps is the ability to share your location with others. This can help you coordinate with friends, family, or colleagues when you’re meeting up or traveling together. Here’s how to share your location on Google Maps:
- Open the Google Maps app and sign in with your Google account: To share your location on Google Maps, you need to open the app and sign in with your Google account. This will allow you to access your contacts and share your location with them.
- Tap on your profile picture at the top right corner and select Location sharing: To start sharing your location, you need to tap on your profile picture at the top right corner of the screen and select “Location sharing”. This will take you to a page where you can choose who to share your location with and for how long.
- Select a contact or add a new one: To share your location with someone, you need to select a contact from your list or add a new one. To select a contact, tap on their name or photo. To add a new contact, tap on the plus icon at the bottom right corner and enter their phone number or email address. You can also share your location with a group of people by creating a group name and adding contacts to it.
- Choose how long to share your location: To share your location for a specific period of time, tap on the “For 1 hour” option and adjust the slider to your desired duration. You can also choose to share your location until you turn it off by tapping on the “Until you turn this off” option.
- Tap on Share and confirm: To start sharing your location, tap on the “Share” button at the bottom of the screen and confirm your choice. You will see a message that says “You’re sharing your location” and the name of the contact or group you’re sharing with. You can also see their location on the map if they have shared it with you.
- Stop sharing your location: To stop sharing your location, tap on your profile picture at the top right corner and select “Location sharing”. Tap on the contact or group you’re sharing with and select “Stop”. You can also stop sharing your location with everyone by tapping on the “Stop sharing” button at the bottom of the screen.
How to download Google Maps from the Play Store
Now that you know some of the features and benefits of Google Maps, you might be wondering how to download it from the Play Store. Don’t worry, it’s very easy and fast. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Play Store app on your device
To download Google Maps from the Play Store, you need to open the Play Store app on your Android device. This is where you can download and update apps from Google and other developers. You can find the Play Store app icon on your home screen or app drawer. Tap on it to open it.
Step 2: Search for Google Maps in the search bar
To find Google Maps in the Play Store, you need to search for it in the search bar at the top of the screen. Type “Google Maps” and tap on the magnifying glass icon. You will see a list of apps related to your search query.
Step 3: Tap on the Google Maps icon and select Install
To download Google Maps, you need to tap on the Google Maps icon that appears in the search results. This will take you to the app’s page in the Play Store. You will see a button that says “Install”. Tap on it and agree to the permissions requested by the app.
Step 4: Wait for the app to download and install
To install Google Maps, you need to wait for the app to download and install on your device. You can see the progress and size of the download on the screen. You can also pause or cancel the download if you want.
Step 5: Open the Google Maps app and sign in with your Google account
To use Google Maps, you need to open it and sign in with your Google account. This will allow you to access your saved places, preferences, and history. You can find the Google Maps app icon on your home screen or app drawer. Tap on it to open it. You will see a welcome screen that asks you to sign in with your Google account. Tap on “Continue” and enter your email address and password. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one by tapping on “Create account”.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download Google Maps from the Play Store and how to use some of its features and benefits. Google Maps is a great navigation app that can help you explore new places, find local businesses, get directions, and more. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
- Q: How much does Google Maps cost?
- A: Google Maps is free to download and use on your Android device. However, some features may require an internet connection or mobile data charges.
- Q: How do I change the language or voice of Google Maps?
- A: To change the language or voice of Google Maps, open the app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Settings” and then “Navigation settings”. Here you can choose from different languages and voices for the app. You can also change the language of the app by going to your device’s settings and selecting “Language & input”.
- Q: How do I report a problem or suggest a change on Google Maps?
- A: To report a problem or suggest a change on Google Maps, open the app and tap on the menu icon at the top left corner. Select “Send feedback” and choose from the options available. You can report a data problem, edit the map, add a missing place, or send general feedback. You can also attach a screenshot or a photo to your report.
- Q: How do I delete my search history or location history on Google Maps?
- A: To delete your search history or location history on Google Maps, open the app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Settings” and then “Maps history”. Here you can see your recent searches and places you’ve visited. You can delete individual items by tapping on the three dots icon and selecting “Delete”. You can also delete all items by tapping on the trash icon at the top right corner. To delete your location history, go to “Settings” and then “Personal content”. Here you can see your location settings and preferences. You can delete your location history by tapping on “Delete all Location History” or “Delete Location History range”.
- Q: How do I download more offline maps or manage my offline maps storage?
- A: To download more offline maps or manage your offline maps storage, open the app and tap on your profile picture at the top right corner. Select “Offline maps” and tap on the plus icon at the bottom right corner. Here you can download more areas from Google Maps to your device. You can also see how much storage space is used by your offline maps and how much is available. You can free up some space by deleting offline maps that you don’t need anymore.
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