For those situations where you are stuck in an unfamiliar territory with no way of scoping out the right direction, the Google Maps application can come in handy. But what happens when you lack access to a Wi-Fi internet connection and you've used up all your cellular data? With most people using Google Maps almost everyday, being able to use an offline map seems like a practical alternative, that's why using Google Maps offline can be advantageous. Here is how you can easily do that:
How to use Google Maps offline
The only restriction of employing Google Maps offline, is that you will need to first use it online to be able to save the necessary data. Keeping this in mind, do the following:- Ensure you have an active internet connection.
- Once online, launch the Google Maps app and then search for the location you want.
- When you find your desired location or the area you were looking for, you can easily save it for later reviewing by heading over to the options sections with a tap on the three-lined icon on the top-left corner of the app and selecting the Offline areas option.
- Afterwards, tap the add / plus icon on the right side at the bottom of the screen and a message will pop up, prompting you to download the area.
- Tap and drag, the map located in the square box, till it's covering the desired area you need a map of. To for a closer look on the area of choice, pinch to zoom by tapping twice on the area to zoom in or out; or alternatively, put two fingers on the specific area on the screen then separate them in opposite directions or bring them together to zoom out or zoom in respectively. Zooming out allows you to cover a larger area.
- Once you are satisfied with the mapped area, select Download to begin downloading the map area for offline purposes.
- A box will appear, where you will be asked to enter the name for your area.
- After downloading the map area to your device, accessing it can be done by simply tapping the options icon at the top left on the Google Maps main page and navigating to the Offline areas tab; here you will find the area you downloaded.