Use Live View on Google Maps

Discover and navigate places in the real world with the help of Live View. 

Live View availability

• This feature is only available in select countries.
• Your device must be compatible with ARKit/ARCore.
• The walking area must have good Street View coverage.

You can find Live View  in areas Street View already covers.

Tip: When you try Live View for the first time, a message pops up on your phone to get access to your camera.

Navigate with Live View

Google Maps offers two views for walking navigation: the 2D map and Live View. With Live View, you get directions placed in the real world and on a mini map at the bottom of your screen. You can use Live View navigation during the walking portion of any type of trip.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. In the search bar, enter a destination or tap it on the map.
3. Tap Directions .
4. Above the map in the travel mode toolbar, tap Walking .
5. In the bottom center, tap Live View .
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location.
   Tip: Point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street, instead of trees and people.
7. Once Maps knows where you are, you’ll get directions through the camera view on your screen.
   Tip: For safety and to prolong your battery, we suggest you put away your phone once you know where to go.
8. Your phone vibrates when you reach the next navigation step or destination.
9. When you want to return to Live View, simply tilt your phone to a vertical position or press the Live View button.

Important: Live View is not intended for use in a moving vehicle. 

Switch to the 2D map view

You can alternate between Live View and the 2D map view when you move your phone from the vertical to the horizontal position. The tilt feature turns on by default, but you can follow these steps to modify the setting:

1. In the top right, tap your profile picture or initial   Settings  Navigation settings.
2. Under "Walking options," turn off Live view .
3. Turn off the tilt option. 

Orient yourself with Live View

Quickly orient yourself to your surroundings and nearby landmarks in Live View. You can also find how far away certain landmarks are from you and how to get there. These landmarks can include iconic places, like the Empire State Building in New York City, or easily recognizable places, like local parks and tourist attractions.

There are 2 ways to orient yourself in Live View with the use of landmarks: 

• Search for a place or tap it on the map. Then, in the bottom right, tap Live .
• Search for a category, like “restaurants” or “shopping malls,” then tap View map.
  • Scroll through the selection of places, then choose one.
  • Tap Live .

Once you’re in Live View:

1. Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location.
   Tip: Point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street, instead of trees and people.
2. Once Maps knows where you are, you’ll get the distance to your destination. You can also enter Live View walking navigation.

Tip: Your place’s information card might let you know if your destination is on an upper floor in a building.

Improve accuracy of your location with Live View

1. On your Android phone or tablet, while you're outside, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap the blue dot   Calibrate .
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Tips:

• Point your phone camera at buildings and signs around you, instead of trees and people.
• Depending on Street View availability, Maps may or may not open the Live View Calibrator.
• Your position on Maps becomes more accurate as more data is gathered on your location.

Find people with Live View

Important: This feature is in beta and only available for Pixel phones.

When someone shares their location with you, you can use Live View to visualize their location in the real world. 

1. On your phone, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap your profile picture or initial   Location sharing.
3. In the list of people who have shared their location with you, tap the person whose location you’d like to find.
4. Tap Live View .
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location.
5. Point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street, instead of trees and people.
6. Once Maps knows where you are, you can orient yourself in the direction of the person that shared their location with you. You’ll see a pin that represents their location as well as some additional information on the distance and directional clues. 
   • You can also enter Live View walking navigation.

Search for places in Live View by category

This feature is only available in London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. In the search bar, tap Camera .
3. Pan and point your phone to buildings or signs until you see “Ready!” text.
   • Annotations of nearby places will show up.
4. Hover or tap on an annotation to get more information about the place.
   
   Tip: You can also use the search options at the bottom of the screen. Tap to get a specific category.

How to know whether Live View works

When you tap Live View , a message pops up on your screen. The message tells you to point your phone camera at buildings, street signs, or any element of scenery that Google Maps can recognize against Street View data in the area. Once Google Maps recognizes where you are, it displays the navigation instructions on your phone.

If Live View still doesn't work

Make sure that you use Live View:

• In well-lit areas
• Outdoors
• In places where you can point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street
• In places where Street View is available

For your safety while you use Live View

We recommend that you use Live View only when needed most, such as when you start your journey, you reach a turn, or you're about to reach your destination.

Important: We suggest you put down your phone when you no longer need directions.

Provide feedback for Live View

Tell us about your experience using Live View for walking navigation.

1. Tap Feedback .
2. Answer the question about the type of issue encountered.
3. Enter your feedback.