Every Google Maps user should change these settings now
Navigation apps can make your journey smoother when you customize certain settings that enable barrier-free travel. I like to constantly change app settings to make my navigation easier, and here are five changes I think all Google Maps users should check out and change now.
Completely change your map view
Google Maps allows complete customization of your daily navigation experience on the app, from vehicle icon to voice navigation. You can also change how the map and some other aspects of navigation are displayed, including your map color and building view.
Tap your profile (top right corner), then go to Settings > Navigation > Map view. Here, choose a color palette (“Automatic”, which is more adaptive, “Day” and “Night”). From here you can also enable or disable other display preferences such as 3D building view, speedometer display, speed limits, and map direction (keeping north up).
Additionally, you can go to Settings > App & Display to customize temperature and distance units, as well as map scale display.
Add custom vehicles
Another personalization feature you can configure on Google Maps is personalized vehicles (including their icons). This allows the app to suggest fuel-efficient routes based on your vehicle’s engine type and personalize location recommendations for charging in the case of hybrid or electric vehicles.
From your Google Maps profile, go to Settings > Your Vehicles. Now, choose an engine type (petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric) and select more engine details, like plugs and adapters, for further customization. Finally, you can go the extra mile to personalize your navigation by setting a driving avatar for your vehicle. Tap “Custom” under “Driving Avatar,” then select a car type (or use the classic blue pointer icon), then choose a color. Tap “Done” to finish.
Configure labels for frequent locations
Organizing your travel and navigation efforts on Google Maps can save you a lot of time and effort, and there’s no better way to do this than by tagging frequently visited places. The navigation app lets you assign custom private labels to a location so you can easily find them at the top of your search or on your map view.
To add a tag to any location on Google Maps, simply search for the location so you can see a pin for it, then on the corresponding options, tap “More”. Tap “Add Tag” and select an existing tag like “Work” or “Home,” or enter your own. Tap “Done” to finish. You can then enter the location tag into the search bar for easy access and navigation, or go to the “You” tab to find a list of tagged locations.
In addition to adding tags, you can also add frequently used routes to your favorites. To do this, go to the directions for a location, then tap the “Save” icon under the navigation options. You can find saved routes under the “You” tab by tapping “Saved Trips”. Note that you can only record trips by car, public transport and two-wheelers.
Create multiple lists
Whether you’re planning a vacation or want to explore local sights, Google Maps can help you track the places you want to visit with one of its most useful features, Lists. This allows you to create multiple private or shared wishlists of any place to visit and add them to your favorites for future use.
To create a list on Google Maps on your mobile device, tap the bookmark icon (“You”) in the middle of the toolbar, then tap “New List.” Name and describe the list, choose private or shared, then tap “Save.” Now, tap “Add Places,” find and tap a specific location, then tap “Save” under the location name/address to create your list. You can always return to the “You” tab to edit existing lists (by clicking the three dots next to their names) or create new ones.
Configure your preferred parking spaces
One of the most underutilized features of Google Maps that drivers can take advantage of is the ability to find and save parking spots, so you can easily return to your parked vehicle, especially when traveling to unfamiliar locations.
After tapping your app profile, go to Settings > Navigation > Parking Options, then enable “Automatically save parking” if it’s not already enabled.
To save a parking space, open the location of the space on Google Maps by clicking on the blue dot, then tap “Save your parking” (Android) or “Saved parking” (iOS). You can find your saved parking spaces by typing in the search bar (“Parking location” for Android and “Saved parking” for iPhone).
Google Maps has many features that, when used correctly, can take your browsing experience to the next level. If you’re just switching to the app, make sure you get the most out of it by using a few simple but functional tips.
Google Maps gets a navigation upgrade
You can use landmarks instead of counting hundreds of feet to turn.
