How to Use Google Maps for Android

Google Maps is an awesome tool that does more than just give you directions if used to its fullest potential.

I. Google Maps Basics

1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone.

2. While using Maps it’s helpful to enable GPS location services on your phone, otherwise you will have to enter your location manually, which can be tricky if you don’t know where you are exactly. Your phone most likely has a GPS toggle (like the WiFi toggle), but if it doesn’t, hold your finger down on the screen, go to phone widgets and a GPS toggle should be an option.

3. On the top right corner of the map page that pops up when you open Google Maps, there is a little compass and once pressed your location will automatically be found. Now you are ready to see what Google Maps has to offer.

II. Tricks and Tips

1. Next to the compass is a button that looks like a stack of papers, these are actually layers that you can select to give you better visuals on where you are. Some of these layers include:

Traffic – very handy when you want to see which highways are backed up,

Transit lines – helpful if you live in an area where train commuting is popular,

Wikipedia – a little ‘W’ pops up on the map and gives you info about different locations around you.

There are other layers that you can play around with too that make life a little more interesting, even if you are in a familiar place.

2. Another helpful tool in Google Maps is the menu on the left that has a thumbnail picture of the Google Maps icon. This brings up a convenient tool called Places, which allows you to find a specific type of establishment near you. There are pre-selected options that Google has deemed popular, but there is also an option to search if you don’t see something on the list that you wanted to find.

3. Using the same menu you can check in at different locations as well, which is useful if you want people to know where you are, or if you want to remember where you’ve been.

4. Finally, you can get a street view by selecting the map tag of the place you searched for and scrolling down the page to more options where you will see Street View.

III. Navigating

1. Perhaps the most important element to maps is the ability to get directions and turn-by-turn navigation. The easiest way to get directions in Google Maps is to press the menu key and then directions. You can either choose two locations that you want to navigate to and from, or let your location be selected automatically and then put in the destination. Once you have the directions up there is a little blue glowing arrow that you can press to get navigation directly in Google Maps.

2. Another way to navigate, is by searching for something on the Map and then selecting the popup that is provided after the search, a page pops up with different options and one of them is directions.

3. The great thing about Google Maps navigation is that you can select different methods of transportation, even walking.

4. When you are done navigation, press the menu key and his Exit Navigation.

This is part of our Android Basics/Tips and Tricks series. Great for anyone new to Android, or anyone just looking to learn a few tips and tricks! For all our Android Basics, head here.