Use navigation in the Google Maps app

To get easy, turn-by-turn navigation to places, use the Google Maps app. Maps will show you directions and use real-time traffic information to find the best route to your destination.

With voice navigation, you'll hear traffic alerts, where to turn, which lane to use, and if there's a better route.

Important: Navigation and info about which lane to use aren't available in all regions and languages. Navigation isn't intended to be used by oversized or emergency vehicles.

What you need to use navigation

On your phone or tablet:

  • Turn on your GPS
  • Let Google Maps access your current location and audio speakers

Start or stop navigation

  1. Open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Search for a place or tap it on the map.
  3. In the bottom left, tap Directions. It'll show a car, bus, bike, person waving, or person walking.
  4. Optional: To add additional destinations, go to the top right and tap More and then Add stop. You can add up to 9 stops. When you are finished, tap Done.
  5. Choose one of the following:
  6. If alternate routes are available, they will be shown in gray on the map. To follow an alternate route, tap the gray line.
  7. To start navigation, tap StartStart. If you see "Searching for GPS," your phone is trying to get a GPS signal. For example, you might be in or near a tunnel, parking garage, or other location where there's no GPS signal.
  8. To stop or cancel navigation, drag up from the bottom and tap Exit.

Tips:

  • To see the map from your point of view, tap the compass.
  • Learn how to add a shortcut to get directions to a place you travel to often, like work or home.

See more actions while navigating

To see more actions while you're navigating to a place, tap the white bar at the bottom of the screen. To hide the menu, tap it again.

  • Search along route: Look for a place along your route, like a restaurant or gas station. Learn how to search along your route.
  • Directions: Get a list of step-by-step directions.
  • Settings: Change your settings, like switching between miles and kilometers.

Hear voice directions

When you navigate to a place, you can also follow voice directions

Change the volume level on your phone or Bluetooth device

Step 1: Change the volume on your phone

After you start navigation on your iPhone or iPad, press the device's volume buttons to raise or lower the media volume.

Note: If you see "Ringer volume" display on your screen, you can try pressing the buttons while the navigation guidance is speaking, or you can change your settings:

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, openSettings.
  2. TapSounds & Haptics and then Change with buttons.

Step 2: Change Google Maps navigation volume

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.

  2. Tap your profile picture or initialAccount Circle and then Settings and then Navigation settings.
  3. Choose Louder, Normal, or Softer.

Change the volume level while connected to CarPlay

To change the volume when connected to CarPlay, use your vehicle's volume controls when navigation guidance is speaking.

Mute, unmute, or hear alerts

Fix voice navigation problems

Hear directions through your phone instead of Bluetooth

Bluetooth devices don't always connect easily. If you're having trouble hearing Maps instructions through your Bluetooth speakers, play Maps audio through your phone's speakers instead. You can choose which speakers to use in Google Maps settings.

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, turn off Bluetooth.
  2. Open the Google Maps app Maps.
  3. Tap your profile picture or initialAccount Circle and then Settings and then Navigation settings.
  4. Turn off Play voice over Bluetooth.

Fix other navigation problems

Step 5: Download voice directions

Sometimes voice directions aren't downloaded or need to be updated on your device. When this happens, you'll hear a chime instead of voice directions.

  1. Make sure you're connected to the Internet. Voice directions will download faster if you have a strong Internet connection.
  2. Get directions.
  3. Use the Google Maps app as you normally would. Voice directions will be downloaded while you have the Maps app open.
  4. When the voice directions are done downloading, you'll hear directions instead of chimes when navigating to a place.

More things you can do with navigation

Play music while navigating

See speed limits

Note: This feature is not available in all locations.

In certain areas, you may see speed limit information during your trip.

In some locations, the maximum speed limit appears as a black and white box Box_speed_limit. In other locations, the maximum speed limit may appear as a red and white circle Circle_speed_limit.

You can turn off speed limit information in your navigation settings:

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initialAccount Circle and then Settings and then Navigation settings.
  3. Under "Driving options," turn off Speed limits.

Important: Speed limits shown in Maps are for informational use only. Make sure to confirm speed limits on your trip with posted traffic signs.

Change the language

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to your device settings.
  2. Tap Generaland then Language & region and theniPhone Language.
  3. Select another language.

Notes:

  • This will change the language of your device's menus and other apps.
  • You might not hear street names when you change your language.

Tip for saving battery life when using navigation

Your battery is used faster with navigation because Maps uses these things from your device:

  • Your current location
  • Your screen
  • Your speakers

Battery-saving tips

  • Use a power adapter: You don't need to worry about your battery draining if your phone is charging. We recommend using a power adaptor, especially when your trip is longer than 30 minutes.
  • Turn off your screen: If you don't need to see the screen while using navigation, press the power button on your device to turn it off. You'll still hear voice directions.

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