Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need Google Maps, but you don’t have an internet connection? Don’t panic, Google has you covered! Here’s how to use Google Maps without internet.
Download Google Maps for offline use
To use Google Maps offline, you first need to download the app (it is not possible to use the browser version). For those who own an Android or Google phone, you can skip this step, as it is the default mapping app. However, iOS users need the app and a Google account for it to work. Luckily, you can find Google Maps quite easily on the App Store for free if you don't already have it.
How to use Google Maps without internet?
The trick to using Google Maps offline is that you need to know where you want to go in advance. That’s because Google Maps can’t save any information when you’re offline. So what we’re going to do is download a map in advance before heading out on your adventure into the wilderness. This is especially useful if you’re planning on going off-road for a hike or if you’re going somewhere overseas and don’t want to use up your phone’s data.
Here's how to download information locally to use Google Maps offline:
- Open Google Maps
- Select your profile at the top right of the screen (your photo)
- Tap on the 'Offline Plans' option
- Press 'SELECT YOUR OWN PLAN'
- Use the window to select the area for which you need map information
- Press 'Download'
If you want to find it later, you can rename the downloaded plan while it is downloading or even after the fact by clicking on the 3 dots next to the downloaded plans.
You can also save maps of a specific location, such as Paris or Lyon, by following the steps below:
- Open Google Maps
- Look for a place like Lyon
- Select the window that appears at the bottom of the map and drag it up to cover the map
- Select the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen
- Tap 'Download offline map'
- In the window that opens, then adjust the area you want to download
- Finally, press 'Download'
The map will then be downloaded and saved to your offline maps in the Google Maps app.
Now if you are in the area of a map that you have downloaded on the application, you will be able to use Google Maps without Internet as if nothing had happened. You will have some limitations in terms of the information available, but you can use navigation, search on the map…
Remember that offline maps expire after one year. After that, Google will offer to re-download the map to update it.
How to use Google Maps guidance offline?
Did you know that you can also use Google Maps guidance without internet? This solution is a bit of a DIY, but it can still come in handy if you're traveling far from any connection.
If you enter your destination while you're still at home, Google caches the directions, so you can leave your house, lose your mobile connection, and continue on to your destination without any hassle.
Here's how to do it:
- Open Google Maps while you still have an internet connection
- Search for the place you want to go to
- Select 'Directions'
- Press 'Start'
And there you have it, everything you need to know about using Google Maps offline for maps and directions. Remember, Google Maps is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you navigate the world whether you’re online or offline. So, keep exploring and discovering all that Google Maps has to offer!
To learn more about the incredibly useful features of Google Maps, check out these other articles on our blog:
- You want to know how to display altitude on Google Maps ? Check our article How to display altitude on Google Maps?
- Wondering how Google Maps knows about real-time traffic? Find out in our article How does Google Maps “know” about real-time traffic?
- Want to know how to display the latitude and longitude of a location on Google Maps? Read our article How to display latitude and longitude of a location on Google Maps?
Article updated on January 10, 2025 by Byothe
