Most Useful Tricks for Google Maps

Google Maps becomes a friend when you’re traveling. Every time you step out to new roads and new adventures, Google Maps will always guide you to your location. Currently, due to the social distancing situations, you might not be going places, but some countries have begun to open their states and cities, and soon the world will again look for the best ways to commute and places to go for adventures.

 

The world will go back to normal, eventually, but before that, you must learn these useful hacks and tricks that you can find on Google Maps to make your commute much more comfortable and easier. Google Maps already enables you to know the best restaurants, night shelters, ATMs, and various services. You can also find multiple activities to do on Google Maps. Apart from all this, did you know that Google Maps allow you to download offline maps so you can use them later without any internet connection? Just like this, there are several other features that no one knows about and how to use them.

So, we have listed a few features tips and hacks that you can use on Google Maps:

Incognito Mode

This feature will keep your location hidden from other users. If you are afraid that you are being tracked or you want to surprise someone by keeping your location protected, then you can switch to incognito mode. To use the Incognito Mode, go to your Profile on Google Maps and tap on ‘Turn on Incognito Mode.’ Follow the same procedure to switch off the incognito mode.

Plan Routes

If you believe that Google does not give accurate time consumption for road trips, then it is possible that Google didn’t quote the multiple stops along the way to your destination. But you can add stopping points on your own so that you can get more precise and accurate destination timings or duration. Follow these steps to use this feature:

1. Enter your first destination or stop, such as a food court, gas station, etc.
2. Go to Directions and click on the three-dotted menu on the top corner of the screen.
3. Enter your stops at the ‘Add Stop’ option.
4. Tap on the ‘Done’ option once you have added all your stops. This way, you will get more accuracy.

Live View

If you are someone who finds it difficult to follow the navigation arrows inside the Google Map to reach your destination, then this feature will solve your problems. The ‘Live View’ feature will provide you with the complete vision of the places where you have to take turns to reach your destination. It is currently available for walking navigation only as it uses your camera to scan buildings and places around you and displays huge arrows on your way to indicate where you have to make turns. Follow these steps to use this feature:

1. Enter your location and destination on the Google Maps app.
2. Tap on the walking icon and click on the Live View button given next to the Start button.
3. This feature on the app will require access to your camera. Start walking while pointing your camera at the buildings and street signs, so that the app can navigate your location and show you the best routes. Huge arrows will appear on the street of your phone screen to guide you.
4. Follow the arrows to reach your destination.

Offline Map

As we mentioned earlier, Google Maps allow you to download maps for offline uses, so that you can reach your destination even when your mobile network service is poor. Follow these steps to download the offline map:

1. Enter your location and destination on the map
2. When the app shows you the route, tap on your destination’s name on the screen.
3. A new page will open up, showing details about your destined location. On the top right corner of the page, tap on the three dots, and select ‘Download Offline Map.’
4. Then select the area from the map for which you want to download the locations and click on ‘Download.’

Your map will be downloaded.

Find your Parked Car

Finding your car in a shopping mall’s parking area or any other similar congested area can be a difficult task. To solve this issue, Google Maps has come up with this new feature on the app that directs you to your car.

1. Once you have entered your location on the Google Maps app, click on the Direction.
2. You will find a parking icon (P) in a red circle, which indicates that the parking is limited, and if the circle is in blue color, then it will mean that you can find parking easily.
3. Click on Find Parking, and it will show you a list of available parking spots. Click on one of the options from the list.
4. Click on ‘Add Parking,’ and when you step out of your work, the first stop or destination on your route will be your parking spot.

Get Indoor Directions

If you find it challenging to locate directions inside any work station, airports or metro stations, then Google Maps can help you with that as well by showing you the nearby gates, platforms, food courts, etc. To use this feature, zoom in and zoom out to see the insides of the buildings, stations, or any place you are at, and you can also switch the floors by using the Level Switcher given on the bottom right corner of the screen.

All of the above-mentioned features are available on both iOS and Android devices, and the procedures to use the features remain the same as well.

Mia Watson is an avid technical blogger, a magazine contributor, a publisher of guides at Blogs Book, and a professional cyber security analyst. Through her writing, she aims to educate people about the dangers and threats lurking in the digital world

Source: https://yextpages.uk.com/blog/most-useful-tricks-for-google-maps/