Important: The images in this article are from Google Maps on Android. The interface for Maps on Desktop and iOS might display differently.
There are 3 main alert categories in Google Maps:
- Critical
- Warning
- Informational
Each category appears differently. They're determined by the effect field.
Categorize alerts
| Effect | Alert category |
Alert icon |
Alert text | Alert color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NO_SERVICE |
Critical |  |
No service | Red |
SIGNIFICANT_DELAYS |
Critical | |
Significant delays | Red |
REDUCED_SERVICE |
Warning |  |
Reduced service | Orange |
DETOUR |
Warning | |
Detour | Orange |
MODIFIED_SERVICE |
Warning | |
Modified schedule | Orange |
STOP_MOVED |
Warning | |
Stop moved | Orange |
ADDITIONAL_SERVICE |
Informational |  |
Extra service | Blue |
OTHER_EFFECT /UNKNOWN_EFFECT |
Informational | |
Information | Blue |
COVID-19 messaging
Agencies can create COVID-19-related messages. When the cause field shows a MEDICAL_EMERGENCY value and the effect field shows OTHER_EFFECT or UNKNOWN_EFFECT, the alert heading says "COVID-19 information" with a “Warning” alert category. Any other effect value won’t change the alert heading or category.
Where & how alerts display
Alerts are currently represented in different ways and show up in 5 different areas on Google Maps.