Google Maps tips, tricks: How to download areas and navigate offline

Google Maps allows users to download and save a particular area from Google Maps to their device and navigate offline. This feature is helpful especially when users have to navigate to a place that has either poor internet connectivity or expensive mobile data. Whatever the case may be, downloading Google Maps area offline has its own benefits when it comes to navigating without active internet connectivity.

Google Maps: How to download a map offline

Google Maps allows users to download Maps on their device or an SD card. In case you change the way you want to save the Map offline, the previously downloaded Maps data will no longer be available and you will have to download the map again. Following the step-by-step procedure on how to download a map:

Step 1: First up, make sure that you have the latest version of Google Maps installed on your phone.

Step 2: Ensure that you are connected to the internet while downloading a Map. Go to Google Maps.

Step 3: Search for a place or area you want to download from Google Maps.

Step 4: Tap the name or address of the place at the bottom > Tap the download icon > Tap 'Download'

Step 5: In case you searched for a place like a restaurant, tap 'More' > Tap 'Download offline map' > Tap 'Download'

Steps to save offline maps on an SD card

Although Google Maps lets users save offline maps are downloaded on the device’s internal storage by default, you can still download a place or an area on an SD card instead. If your device is running Android 6.0 or higher, you can save an area to an SD card.

Step 1: Insert an SD card in your Android phone or tablet

Step 2: Go to Google Maps > Menu > Tap 'Offline maps'

Step 3: In the top right corner, tap 'Settings'

Step 4: Tap Device > SD card under 'storage preferences'

Once you have download a map offline, all you can do is get directions and see routes without requiring to connect to an active internet. An offline downloaded map can also be used for navigation and search for locations.

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