Get started with Google Maps

This article will help you set up, learn the basics and explain various features of Google Maps. You can use the Google Maps app on your mobile device or Google Maps on your computer.

Set your home or work addresses

In your Google Account, you can find directions from your home or work quicker when you set your home and work addresses.

You can also find the fastest route to shorten your commute. Learn how to set your work and home addresses.

Tip: This info may be shared with other Google products and services.

Get info about a place

After you find a place on the map, you can:

  • Get directions to it.
  • Get info like business hours and menus. 
  • Find Street View imagery.

Learn how to search for places on Google Maps.

Get directions & start navigation

Get travel times and directions to places you might go next, like your home, work, or calendar appointments.

Understand Google Maps app features

To help you access features faster, Google Maps app has been updated.

When you open the Google Maps app, you can find these tabs at the bottom of the Home Screen:

  • Explore Explore: Choose where to go.
  • You Save place: Create lists, recall places, and find your saved trips, notifications, and messages.
  • Contribute Contribute: Share experiences, add info and reviews, and fix problems.

Features like Location sharing, Timeline, and Offline maps are available in the top right, in the profile picture or initial Account Circle.

Access Google Maps features

Explore

You can find detailed reviews and descriptions of the most popular establishments and hotspots in your selected area. You can search for popular locations, local events, trendy restaurants, or things to do in Google Maps.

Learn how to use the Explore tab in Google Maps.

You

Saved trips

In the “You” tab, you can find all of your frequent trips on the saved trips screen. You can get information about your estimated time of arrival (ETA) and the traffic reports and the accidents along the way.

Learn how to pin & manage your saved trips.

Saved places & lists

In the “You” tab, you can find the following personalized content:

  • Recently saved places
  • Your lists
  • Saved trips
  • Timeline
  • My maps
  • Reservations

Learn more about how to find your saved places & lists.

Notifications & messages

In the “You” tab, you can:

Contribute

To add places, write reviews, upload photos, or suggest an edit, at the bottom, tap Contribute Contribute.

You can also:

  • Submit corrections to roads and places.
  • Manage your Maps profile.
  • Find your contribution views and impact.

Learn more about how to contribute to Google Maps.

Profile picture

To find any of these features, tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle:

  • Sign in and out of your account.
  • Your data in Maps
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Service
  • Turn on Incognito mode.
  • Your Business Profile
  • Timeline: Find and manage your Location History.
  • Location Sharing: Choose who can find your location and whose location you can find on Google Maps.
  • Offline maps: Find and manage your offline maps.
  • Settings: Manage your Wi-Fi, distance units, notifications, and commute settings on Google Maps.
  • Help & feedback: Access Help and submit feedback like requesting corrections to roads and places from the same screen.

Manage your privacy settings

To access and manage the following privacy settings, tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle​​:

  • Timeline: View and manage your Google Maps Timeline.
  • Location Sharing: Choose who can see your location and whose location you can see on Google Maps.
  • Your data in Maps: Manage your privacy controls.

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