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.

If you’re new to iPhone, learn how to navigate in Google Maps with a step-by-step guide.

Start or stop navigation

1. Open the Google Maps app .
2. Search for a place or tap it on the map.
3. In the bottom left, tap Directions. It'll show a car, bus, bike, person waving, or person walking. Learn how to add more destinations.
4. Choose your mode of transportation.
5. If alternate routes are available, they show in gray on the map. To follow an alternate route, tap the gray line.
6. To start navigation, tap 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.
7. To stop or cancel navigation, drag up from the bottom and tap Exit.

Tips:

• 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:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, sign in to Google Maps .
2. Tap your Profile picture or Initial Settings Navigation settings.
3. Turn Show 3D buildings routes on or off.

Find more actions while navigating

To find more actions while you’re navigating to a place:

1. At the bottom of the screen, go to the information card.
2. Swipe up.
3. To hide the menu, swipe the information card down.
   • Share trip progress  : Share your live location until you arrive. Learn more about real-time location sharing.
   • Search along route  : Find a place along your route like a restaurant or gas station. Learn how to search along your route.
   • Preview Route  : Shows a route preview from your current location to the destination.
   • Directions  : Get a list of step-by-step directions.
   • Settings  : Change your settings like when you want to show 3D buildings along your route or switch between miles and kilometers.

Hear voice directions

When you navigate to a place, you can also follow voice directions. Learn how to fix voice navigation problems.

Change the volume on your iPhone or iPad

After you start navigation on your iPhone or iPad, press the device's volume buttons to raise or lower the media volume.

Tip: If you see "Ringer volume" display on your screen, you can try pressing the buttons while the navigation guidance is speaking. You can also change your settings:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
2. Tap Sounds & Haptics Change with buttons.

Change Google Maps navigation volume

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap your profile picture or initial  Settings   Navigation settings.
3. Choose Louder, Normal, or Softer.

Change the volume level while connected to CarPlay

To change the volume when connected to CarPlay, use your vehicle's volume controls when navigation guidance is speaking.

Mute, unmute, or hear alerts

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app .
2. Start navigation.
3. At the top right, tap Sound . Then, tap one of the following:
   • Mute .
   • Alerts . You’ll hear updates about traffic, construction, and crashes. You won’t hear turn-by-turn directions.
   • Sound . You'll hear updates and turn-by-turn directions.

Change the language

1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to your device settings.
2. Tap General Language & region iPhone Language.
3. Select another language.

Tips:

• This will change the language of your device's menus and other apps.
• You might not hear street names when you change your language.

More things you can do with navigation

Report traffic alerts

Report speed cameras & traffic accidents

To help improve Maps for yourself and others, you can share information along your route. You can report:

• Slowdown
• Crashes
• Speed traps

Note: Only make a report if it's safe to do so.

Add a report

1. Open the Google Maps app .
2. Start navigation.
3. Tap Report Choose an option.
4. A report appears on the map where you were on your route. The report will be anonymous.

Find alerts from others

If someone else reported something, you’ll find it on the map as you move closer. Depending on your alert settings, you may also hear a warning.

When you reach the alert, you’ll find a prompt that asks “Is this still here?” To let others know if the report is still true, tap Yes or No.

Tips for saving battery life when using navigation

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.