Dec 7, 2016 - Google Maps has an offline mode that allows you to access maps without an Internet connection. Here's how to use it.
Maps is one of the most commonly replaced Apple apps on iOS. It’s not that Apple Maps is in a particularly bad state these days, you understand. In fact, it’s pretty good –. It’s just that after a huge head-start and continual improvement, Google Maps is, for now at least, just plain better. Apple’s bitterest rival actually provided the original iPhone Maps app, right up until the launch of iOS 6 in September 2012. This is when Apple Maps launched in an infamously unfinished state, and the iPhone maker has been playing catch-up ever since.
Here are a few reasons why Google Maps continues to be a great pick for your mapping and navigation needs. The devil is in the detail Google Maps quite simply has better, more up to date, more detailed mapping data than Apple Maps.
Numerous reports over the years have confirmed that Google Maps contains much more thorough, accurate and up-to-date information on locations. This extends to helpful building footprints, which are completely absent from Apple Maps (and every other mapping service, for that matter). You don’t just see the shape of roads in Google Maps but, increasingly, the buildings and landmarks around them too. More location information Select a shop, restaurant, museum, or any other building with a public function in either mapping app, and you’ll get a comprehensive rundown of what it can provide.
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That includes opening times, summaries, images, user reviews and the like. Google Maps goes even further than Apple Maps, however, with more detailed information. It tells you how busy the outlet tends to be at certain times, while very popular spots like museums have a live “busyness” indicator. The app has even started telling you how long average wait times are for a number of restaurants.
Street View This particular piece of location information deserves its own separate heading, and it also feeds into that first point about Google having superior data. Street View is a truly magical thing. Tap on the Street View image in a location listing, down alongside the photos thumbnail, and you’ll be able to get a 360-degree interactive view of the area by touching and dragging. You’ll even be able to double tap to move along roads, which can really help you build a picture of a route in your mind. Offline maps If you’re traveling to another country and your contract doesn’t cover data usage (or it’s just prohibitively expensive), you can use Google Maps “offline” for directions. Simply hit the menu button, select Offline maps, then select the area you’re visiting to download the key data. Apple Maps doesn’t have such a feature, relying on caching data on a trip-by-trip basis.
Best for bikers Both Google Maps and Apple Maps provide custom navigation for drivers, walkers, and public transport users. But Google Maps also includes guidance for bikers. This is especially useful for those who live and commute in congested cities, where pedal power is often the quickest and cheapest way to travel.
How to Download Google Maps Offline 1. Make sure your device has an Internet connection, and sign into your Google account. Open the Google Maps app. Search for the name of the location you want to save offline. It could be a business, a building, or just the name of a town. Note that you can only save maps smaller than 50km by 50km (that's a little more than 30 miles squared). To give you an idea of the distance, it's roughly from the Golden Gate Bridge to Redwood City.
In East Coast terms, it's about from Yonkers to the bottom of Brooklyn. Tap the bottom of the screen where the name of the location is shown. A new screen will appear, and you'll see three vertically stacked dots in the upper right corner. Tap that icon. Select Save Offline Map. The app will prompt you to zoom in or out to capture the area you want. Unlike a screenshot, Google Maps lets you zoom in and see more detail in the map once it's saved offline.
Tap Download to save it. When prompted, name the map however you want and hit Save.
How to Access Google Maps Offline 1. To get at your saved maps offline, open Google Maps (again, you'll need to be signed into your Google account ahead of time) and tap the three vertically stacked bars (the hamburger menu) in the upper left. Tap Your Places. Scroll down to the section labeled Offline maps. Tap any map to open it. You should be able to zoom in and out easily. If you have any starred locations on the map, they'll carry over into the offline map, too.
So go ahead and add stars to locations whenever you see them and want to remember them for later. More Map Tips For more tips on Google Maps and other travel apps that are accessible offline, see:.