Navigation apps can make your journey smoother when you personalize certain settings that allow for trips with no roadblocks. I like to constantly tweak settings on the app to make my navigation easier, and here are five changes I believe all Google Maps users should check out and change now.
Change your map’s display completely
Google Maps allows for complete customization of your daily navigation experience on the app, from the vehicle icon to Voice Navigation. You can also change how the map and certain other aspects of navigation are displayed, including your map’s color and building view.
Tap on your profile (upper right corner), then go to Settings > Navigation > Map display. Here, choose a color scheme (“Automatic,” which is more adaptive, “Day,” and “Night”). From here, you can also enable or disable other display preferences like 3D building view, speedometer display, speed limits, and map direction (keeping north up).
Further, you can go to Settings > App & Display to customize units for temperature and distance, as well as the scale display for the map.
Add custom vehicles
Another customization feature you can set up on Google Maps is custom vehicles (including their icons). This helps the app provide 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 (gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric), and select more details about the engine, like plugs and adapters, for further personalization. Finally, you can go the extra mile to customize your navigation by setting a driving avatar for your vehicle. Tap on “Custom” under “Driving Avatar,” then select a car type (or go with the classic blue pointer icon), then choose a color. Tap “Done” to finish.
Set up labels for frequent locations
Organizing your travel and navigation efforts on Google Maps can save a lot of time and effort, and there’s no better way to do so than by labeling 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’s display.
To add a label to any location on Google Maps, simply search for the location so you can see a pin for it, then on the options for it, tap on “More.” Tap “Add Label” and select an existing label like “Work” or “Home,” or type your own. Tap “Done” to finish. You can then type the location’s label in the search bar for easy access and navigation, or go to the “You” tab to find a list of labeled locations.
In addition to adding labels, you can also bookmark frequently used routes. To do so, navigate 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 on “Saved Trips.” Note that you can only save driving, transit, and two-wheeler trips.
Create multiple lists
Whether you’re planning a vacation or want to explore local spots, Google Maps can help you keep track of places you wish to visit with one of its most useful features, Lists. This lets you create multiple private or shared wishlists of any location to visit and bookmark them 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 on “New List.” Name and describe the list, select between private or shared, then tap “Save.” Now, tap on “Add Places,” and search for and tap on a specific location, then tap “Save” under the place’s name/address to build your list. You can always go back to the “You” tab to edit existing lists (by clicking the three dots near their names) or create new ones.
Set up your favorite parking spots
One of the most underutilized features on Google Maps that drivers can take advantage of is the ability to find and save parking spots, so you can easily get back to your parked vehicle, especially when you’re traveling to unfamiliar locations.
After tapping your app profile, go to Settings > Navigation > Parking options, then toggle on “Automatically save parking” if it’s not already enabled.
To save a parking spot, open the spot’s location on Google Maps by clicking the blue dot, then tap “Save your parking” (Android) or “Saved parking” (iOS). You can find your saved parking spots by typing in the search bar (“Parking location” for Android and “Saved parking” for iPhone).
Google Maps has many features that, when utilized properly, can take your navigation experience to the next level. If you just switched over to the app, make sure you’re getting the best out of it using some simple yet functional tips.
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