How to Use Google Maps Offline Mode

Daniel Howley
·Technology Editor

Without Google Maps on our smartphones, most of us would still rely on bulky GPS units or even (dare I say it) Apple Maps to navigate unfamiliar places.

But when you’re out of your phone’s signal range (which, coincidentally, is often when you need navigational help most), Maps goes dead. That’s because the app needs a data connection to search for destinations and load things like turn-by-turn directions.

To fix that, Google has introduced a new offline feature that lets you download offline maps, so you can keep navigating whether you have a connection or not.

Here’s how to get them.

  1. Open the Android Google Maps app (Google is still working on an iOS version) and type in the area (destination, city, neighborhood) you want to download in the search bar.

  2. When the area loads, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get more information about the location, and press Download.

  3. Move the box on the next screen to area in which you want to navigate offline and press Download again.

You can now navigate within that area without a data connection. What’s more, when your phone gets a signal again, Maps will seamlessly transition back to online mode.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+.

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