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10 Google Map Tricks You’ll Never Know If You Miss This

Written by Joseph Hindy
A writer, editor, and YouTuber who likes to share about technology and lifestyle tips.
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We’ve had Google Maps around for a long time but you wouldn’t believe how many tips and tricks there are that people still don’t know about. Some of them can be useful and some of them are for fringe cases only but nevertheless there is still a lot to learn about Google Maps. Here are some Google Map tricks you may not know about yet.

1. Get your maps offline on mobile

Google Map tricks

    Even though most tricks articles have this in them there are still a surprising number of people who don’t know about it or know how to do it. On mobile, you simply need to find the maps you need to save then type “Okay Maps” into the search bar. This will save that map area to your internal storage for your use. There isn’t a reliable way to do it on PC but you can use your computer’s built-in screen capture function to obtain maps if need be or you can try software that does it for you.

    2. Create a multi-stop route

    Google Map tricks

      On Google Maps it is possible to create routes with multiple stops. This is a great trick for people who plan on making multiple stops in a city where they’re unfamiliar and it’s also a great way to plan a full day of driving without re-entering locations. On the left side of the directions toward the bottom there will be a plus symbol. Click it, add in another address, and you’ll get directions to there!

      3. Fix, add, or otherwise contribute to Google Maps

      Google Map tricks

        If something is askew or missing in Google Maps then you can fix it! Using the Google Maps Map Maker you can edit Google Maps. Using the map maker you can add new places and then add details about those places or if an establishment has been moved to another location you can update that. All new edits must be approved by Google’s moderator community but otherwise it’s a great way to put your mark on Google Maps.

        4. Share your location


        Are you tired of texting people directions or even the address of where you are? There is an easier way. In Google Maps on mobile you can share your current location with other people. It can be shared via text message, email, or even social media. Worst case scenario you can still copy the location to your clipboard and paste it wherever you need. This is a good way to give people your location without worrying about spelling or remember where you actually are.

        5. Find postal addresses

        Google Map tricks

          This nifty little trick is easy to do and can be very useful. When looking at buildings and such you can actually click on any one of them to display its postal address including address, city, state, and zip. This is good if you need information about a business or even the address to a house to send mail.

          6. Customize your map

          Google Map tricks
            People probably know about this feature but they don’t know just how powerful this feature can be. When you set your Home and Work addresses, that data will be used in other Google apps to help you. On Android you can use these in Google Now to quickly plot trips from home to your office or get traffic updates on your route before you get in the car. You can also change these by going to the Google Maps website.

            7. Save a place for later


            If you find yourself going to the same places or looking up directions to the same places over and over then you can actually save places. You can view saved places quickly and get directions from wherever you are. These function similarly to the Home and Work locations saved to your Google account. Saving a place is easy as the button is large and right there on both web and mobile versions.

            8. Create your own map

            Google Map tricks

              Did you know that you can create your very own map using Google Maps? Using the custom map feature you can do just that. Using this feature you can add places, shapes, and locations and then share with others. This is an amazing feature if you want to show friends around town or you’re planning a party somewhere and want to give people directions. It’s easy to do and easy to share.

              9. Find directions for public transit, walking, or biking

              Google Map tricks

                Most people use Google Maps for driving but many don’t know that you can use it for public transportation, walking, and biking directions as well. Many would think that it’s just a clone of driving and in some cases that’s true. However, walkers and bikers can take routes that cars and buses cannot and therein lies the magic. You can find bike trails that cut through town or shortcuts while walking that you may have missed without Maps.

                10. See everything Google Maps can see

                If you’re stumped as to what to do, you can always just pop an asterisk into the search and hit enter. This will show you everything that Google Maps has indexed in the area that you search for. This is great if you’re having difficulty remembering the name of a place or you just want to see what’s nearby. It shows everything and sometimes you just need to see what’s there to remember where you’re going.

                Google Maps is an extremely powerful platform and it’s growing every day. Proper use can make travel easier and finding directions a more efficient task. Keep it up with 10 more awesome Google Maps tricks.

                Featured photo credit: Blogspot via 2.bp.blogspot.com

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