Use navigation in Google Maps
To get easy, turn-by-turn navigation to places, use the Google Maps app. Maps shows you directions and uses real-time traffic information to find the best route to your destination.
With voice navigation, you can 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 countries, regions, and languages. Oversized or emergency vehicles aren't the intended users of navigation.
What you need to use navigation
On your phone or tablet:
- Turn on your GPS.
- Let Google Maps use your current location and audio speakers.
Start or stop navigation
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Search for a place or tap it on the map.
- At the bottom left, tap Directions. If you touch and hold the button instead, you’ll start navigation and can skip steps 4 through 6. Learn how to add more destinations.
- Choose your mode of transportation.
- If other routes are available, they'll show in gray on the map. To follow an alternate route, tap the gray line.
- To start navigation, tap Start 👁 Start
. 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. - To stop or cancel navigation, go to the bottom left and tap Close 👁 Close
.
Tips:
- You can see traffic info, public transit options, and local places of interest in just a few seconds. Learn more about nearby places and travel.
- To find 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.
Show 3D buildings along your route
You can choose to view 3D buildings along the route. To have Maps display 3D buildings:
- On your Android phone or tablet, sign in to Google Maps 👁 Maps
. - Tap your profile picture or initial 👁 Account Circle
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Navigation. - Turn Raised buildings routes on or off.
Find more actions when you navigate
To find more actions while you’re navigating to a place:
- At the bottom of the screen, go to the information card.
- Swipe up.
- To hide the menu, swipe down on the information card.
- Share trip progress 👁 Image
: Share your live location until you arrive. Learn more about real-time location sharing. - Search along route 👁 Image
: Find a place along your route like a restaurant or gas station. Learn how to search along your route. - Directions 👁 Image
: Get a list of step-by-step directions. - Show traffic on map 👁 Image
(while Driving only): Find traffic delays along the way such as crashes or construction work. - Show satellite map 👁 Image
: Review the map in more detail through satellite images. - Raised buildings 👁 Image
: View buildings as raised instead of flat. - Settings 👁 Settings
: Change your settings like when you want to switch between miles and kilometers or avoid toll roads.
- Share trip progress 👁 Image
Hear voice directions
When you navigate to a place, you can hear voice directions. Learn how to fix voice navigation problems.
Change the volume level
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap your Profile picture or Initial 👁 Account Circle
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Navigation 👁 and then
Guidance volume. - Select Softer, Normal, or Louder.
Mute, unmute, or hear alerts
Mute voice directions during phone calls
If you get a phone call while navigating somewhere, you can answer the call, but you’ll hear voice directions unless you mute it.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap your profile picture or lnitial 👁 Account Circle
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Navigation. - Turn on or off "Play voice during phone calls."
Change the voice
You might be able to switch to another voice from your phone or tablet's text-to-speech settings.
- Go to your phone or tablet's settings app.
- Tap Language and input.
- Tap Text-to-speech output.
- Under "Preferred engine," select another text-to-speech option.
- Voice navigation uses the voice you select. This changes the voice in other apps too.
Change the language
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap your profile picture or initial 👁 Account Circle
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Navigation. - Under "Sound & voice," tap Voice selection.
- Select a language.
More things you can do with navigation
Add a report
Important: Some incidents can only be reported in certain countries.
To help improve Maps, you can share info along your route. Reports may appear on the map where you’re on your route:
- Open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - To start navigation, tap Start.
- On the right, tap Report 👁 Image
. - On the “Add a report” screen, select the type of incident you want to report.
Trip reports may be retained, but won't be associated with your account. Learn more about Maps content policy.
Tip: Only make a report if it's safe to do so.
Find & vote on traffic incidents reported by others
If another user reports on the Maps, you’ll find it on the map as you move closer during navigation. Based on your alert settings, you might also hear an alert.
When you’re near the incident, you’ll find a prompt that asks “Is this still here?” To let other users know if the report is still true, tap Yes or No.
Turn alerts on or off
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app 👁 Maps
. - Tap your profile picture or initial 👁 Account Circle
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Settings
👁 and then
Navigation. - Under "Alert options," turn Get alerts for reported incidents and other conditions that may impact your drive on or off.
Your battery is used faster with navigation because Maps uses these things from your phone or tablet:
- 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 phone or tablet to turn it off. You'll still hear voice directions.