Google Maps is one of those handy apps that every Android user should have on their device. It helps you find your way around, especially when you’re in unfamiliar territory (i.e. new town or city). Better yet, Google has made it possible for their app to work offline. That can come in handy in a situation where you need to map a certain route but have no access to a working internet connection. Below are a couple of simple steps that you can follow to be able to use Google Maps offline.

How to use Google Maps offline

First things first – before you can use Google Maps offline, you’ll need to get it online so that you can download the necessary data:
  1. Launch your Google Maps app and search for your intended location.
  2. Once you find this desired location, navigate to the app’s options menu and tap on the three lines (hamburger) icon then tap on the ‘Offline areas’ option.
  3. At the bottom right of the screen, tap on the plus or add You’ll be presented with a prompt asking you to ‘download this area?’
  4. You’ll be presented with a square selection box so that you can choose the area you need a map of. You can easily pinch to zoom so that you close in on the particular area. To zoom out and select a larger area, move your fingers in the opposite direction.
  5. Once you’re happy with the particular area that you have selected, tap ‘Download’.
  6. You’ll be presented with a box where you can put a name for the area you have selected.
  7. Once you have downloaded the map on your phone, access it by tapping on the menu icon located at the top left of the Maps page, then return to Offline areas, where you should now see your Downloaded areas.

What you don’t get with offline maps

While Google Maps offline can be a great tool to navigate through an unfamiliar area when you don’t have an internet connection, it’s not without its limits. The biggest limit has to do with the size of the location you want to store. You can’t download a map of say, an entire country. It’s actually not possible to download anything that could occupy more than 1.5 GB worth of storage space.Since downloaded maps occupy quite a lot of storage space, make sure that you have Wi-Fi turned on before you commence the download. Also, have it in mind that any map you download for offline use will only be stored for 30 days, after which it’ll be deleted automatically.If you’re looking to travel to a new area, downloading Google Maps offline in advance is a great way to make sure that you find your way to your destination.
Image Source: PC World

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What's my model number?

There are several ways to locate your model number:

Option 1
On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
Option 2
Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
Option 3
Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool

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