Google Maps has changed the way we navigate the world. Its desktop and mobile apps have not only become a way to get from point A to point B by car, public transport or on foot. The ubiquitous Google service is also a geospatial search engine for the world around us.

Google continues to revamp and improve its map product with features like augmented reality and shuttle options, but there are a host of customizable tools and hidden features already built into Google Maps that you may not be aware of like Incognito mode. Discover our advice to optimize the power of Google Maps.

Plot multiple locations on Google Maps

Car journeys are rarely about getting from point A to point B. More often than not, they look like a journey from A to a coffee shop to a library to Joe's house in B. Fortunately, Google makes it possible to anticipate trips. real trips. To add multiple destinations in the Google Maps mobile app, enter your starting point and your final destination, then click the three dots in the upper right corner. A pop-up menu is then displayed with the “Add a stop” option. Click on it and you can add a route with multiple stops. You'll even have the ability to drag and drop the stops into your route. (Note that this does not work when using the public transport option).

Customize your vehicle icon

If you're driving, Google lets you choose which car shows up on your navigation system in the iOS and Android apps. In the app, enter your destination and start the driving instructions. Touch the icon that shows your current location and a pop-up menu will appear with several car icon options: a sedan, pickup or SUV.

Hey Google, where am I going?

If you want to interact with Maps while driving, you don't want to take your eyes off the road. With "OK Google" voice commands in the Android Google Maps app, you don't have to. For example, if you notice you're out of gas, say "OK Google, find gas stations" and the system will display the gas stations on the map (which you can view when you come to a red light or that you will stop). You can also ask things like "What's my next turn?" "What is my expected arrival time?" or "What's the traffic?" ". On iOS (photo above), you need to press the microphone icon in the upper right, from which you can ask your questions by voice.

Access Google Maps offline

Today, Maps is most useful on mobile, which poses a problem: when you need Maps the most, you may find yourself in a place where the possibilities are limited (or non-existent). gasp-non-existent) . To help you, Google Maps supports offline access. Navigate to the area you want to access offline. Swipe left on the menu at the bottom of the screen and tap Download to download this map, provided your device has enough storage capacity. You can then get information on area businesses and turn-by-turn directions in the downloaded section.

Edit route by drag and drop

When you find a route on the desktop version of Maps, you can modify it by dragging and dropping it to go through specific places or away from them. Just click and drag any part of your route to move it around (this only works for walking, driving, or biking routes, not public transit options).

Find a route with a single click

To get to where you are going, you can enter the address of your destination. You can also right-click where you are going on the map and a drop-down list will appear, which you can use to find directions to or from that location.

Measure any distance

Using the aforementioned right-click tool, you can also calculate the distance between any two points on the Earth. Choose "Measure Distance", which will drop a point (represented by a white dot with a bold black line), then click anywhere else on the map, and the distance between the points will be calculated. Keep clicking to add more points on the map. The total trip distance will be calculated in the main map.

This little person in the corner has a purpose

See the little yellow person in the bottom right corner? It's "Peg Man" (or alternatively "the pegman"). You can pick up the little jabber and drop him anywhere on the maps to be projected into the Street View of that location. Once in Street View mode, it will be oriented according to the current view in the embedded map window in the lower left corner.

Augmented reality walking instructions

If you're walking around a city and need a visual aid other than Peg Man, Google Maps supports augmented reality walking directions in select locations. This feature overlays directional cues over Street View imagery to help you know which direction to walk or turn. It was initially rolled out in 2019 for Pixel phones, then extended to other Android phones with ARCore support and iPhones with ARKit support. The area itself should have robust Street View support; if available, you'll see a "Live View" option at the bottom of your screen when looking for walking instructions.

If you don't have AR view yet, find the blue dot on Google Maps and tilt your phone in the direction you'll be walking. This blue locator dot casts what looks like a shadow in the direction you are facing to help you orient yourself.

Let others drive

Ride-sharing services are a huge part of modern transportation, which is why Google has added ride-hailing options from companies like Uber and Lyft to its mobile app. Once you have entered your destination, click on the icon of the small figure trying to hail a taxi or the public transport option. You'll then see nearby carpool options, along with the estimated time and price. It used to be that you could request an Uber in the Maps app, but Google quietly removed that option a while ago. Now you tap Open App to open Lyft or Uber and book your ride.

Find accessible transit routes and locations

People with mobility issues can search for wheelchair accessible transit routes by typing Options > Wheelchair accessible when looking for directions for the train or bus. When you arrive at your destination, the Accessible places parameter offers you information about the wheelchair accessibility of this place. To enable it, click Settings > Accessibility > Accessible places and activate it. “When Accessible Places is enabled, a wheelchair icon indicates an accessible entrance and you will be able to see if a place has accessible seating, restrooms or parking.” Google says. “If a location is confirmed to not have an accessible entrance, we will also display this information on Maps. »

Remember where you parked

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where the gang spends the entire episode wandering around a parking lot looking for their parked car? This episode (and many more) wouldn't run in 2021, thanks to Google Maps.

On Android, tap the blue location dot and select Save your parking, which will add a tag to the Maps app, identifying where you parked. Tap to add details, such as parking level and space, or time remaining until the meter expires. You can also set parking meter reminders, add a photo of where you parked, and send your parking location to your friends. To find it later, tap the search bar at the top and select Parking space. Or tap Driving at the bottom, and look for Saved Parking. To remove, tap Driving > To erase. Or tap "You parked here" on the map, select More Info in the bottom left and tap Clear.

On iOS (above), tap the little blue location dot in the app when you arrive at a location. In the window that appears, tap Set as parking location. In the app, a P icon will appear next to a note that says "You parked near here." To get rid of it, press the P and select Delete.

What's the problem with parking?

Google Maps can provide turn-by-turn directions based on live traffic data, but it can also give you insight into the parking situation. When you search for directions to a location on iOS or Android, you may see a P logo at the bottom of the screen, along with one of three designations: limited, medium, and easy. This can help you decide how much time to allocate to parking, or even if another form of transportation might be a better option.

View (and delete) your Google Maps history

Google maintains a very detailed log of your digital activities, which you can view at myactivity.google.com. Hit Filter by date & product under the search bar at the top of the screen. A pop-up will then open where you can search by date or by Google product. For Maps data, click the box next to Maps, then click Apply. You can then see your old search queries in Maps (including on mobile). To delete all your searches, click the three dots to the right of the search bar at the top and choose Delete Results. You can also click on an individual query and remove it from your permanent Google record. Does Google's forgetfulness scare you? Here is a more detailed guide on how to stop Google from tracking you.

Go Incognito

If you want a quick way to wander around Google Maps without leaving obvious footprints, switch to incognito mode. When this mode is activated, Google Maps does not save your browser or search history in your account, and does not send notifications. Your searches or trips will not be added to location history or shared location, if this option is enabled. And Google won't use your activity in Incognito mode to personalize its maps. This mode has advantages if you want to take a peek at a place without it getting mixed up in your search history, but just like in web browsers, it doesn't make you invisible on the app, so use- wisely.

Automatic deletion of location history from Google Maps

Google allows you to periodically and automatically clear your location history from the company's servers. Set to erase data every three months, every 18 months, or retain data until you manually delete it. Go to myactivity.google.com and click Location History > Auto-deleteThis section allows you to choose how often your data is deleted, including where you have been on Google Maps. To delete everything it has captured so far, go to Settings > Personal Content > Delete all location history.

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Share your location

Google Maps now lets you share your current location with people during specific time periods. If you share your location with a specific contact, they will see your icon move in real time on their map. On Android or iOS, tap your profile icon in the top left and select Location Sharing. Choose who you want to share with and for how long, and they'll be able to see where you are.

Time travel with Google Maps

Street View has amassed a huge collection of street images over the years. In 2014, Google introduced Time Travel, a way for users to see how Street View changed over time. A virtual time machine of sorts. Access this four-dimensional map experience in Street View by clicking the little stopwatch icon in the upper left corner, when available, which brings up a sliding scale that lets you jump from one Street View to another. other over time. (For a more in-depth look at changes to the Earth's surface between 1994 and 2018, see the following Google Earth Engine pages.)

Add your own Street View images

Google doesn't rent out its Street View cars, but Android users can now add their photos to the street-level mapping feature. To start contributing, all you need is the latest version of the Street View app on Android and a smartphone with support for ARCore. Once captured, the images can be published through the app and Google's servers will automatically perform the rotation and positioning required to create a series of connected photos. Then they will appear on Street View for all to see for the location you captured.

Add music

If you always have Google Maps navigation open while driving (or walking), you can… add music to your trip without leaving the app. Sync music apps such as Spotify or Apple Music by opening the menu and navigating to Settings > Navigation and then either Music Playback Controls on iOS or Show Media Playback Controls on Android to sync a music app. Once you do, a pop-up to your app of choice should appear while you're driving, and all you have to do is press the button to start your music. Be sure to create your playlists ahead of time so you can keep your eyes on the road.

Find electric vehicle charging stations

The composition of cars on the road is changing, and Google Maps is changing with it. You can now search for “EV charging” or “EV charging station” in Google Maps to find the nearest locations to… charge your electric vehicle.

Find places for safe drug disposal

Google Maps is helping to fight the opioid crisis by offering a search tool. search tool to help users find safe places for drug disposal. Type 'drug disposal near me' in the search bar to get pharmacies, medical centers and local authorities where you can safely dispose of your pills.

Share your favorite places

Google Maps lets you share some of your favorite places with a friend. Just tap the share icon on the location's Google Maps to send it via text, email or any app you like. You can also save your favorite places by touching the save icon; they will show up in the Saved option on the bar. But if you want to share more than one place, you can create a Pinterest-like list in Google Maps. When you save a Favorite Place, tap New List to create a new collection (like "Favorite Thai Places in Brooklyn") or add it to an existing list. You'll find them in the Saved tab under Your Lists; tap the three-dot menu and then tap Share list to send a link to friends.

Become (or consult) a local guide

Think you know your neighborhood better than Google's algorithm? Then consider becoming a Local Guide. While anyone can leave reviews and tips in Google Maps, Local Guides allow you to earn points by leaving more information and data which, as you move up the ranks, can give you access "to higher levels of the program, as well as benefits such as early access to Google features and special benefits from partners," says Google.

Street View turns into “Mars on Earth”.

Google is making Street View more immersive to give users up-close views of breathtaking places and landscapes around the world, including the desert on Mars. Devon Island in northern Canada, near the North Pole, which is the closest piece of land to Mars that can be found on Earth. Watch the Panorama Street View which will be familiar to anyone who has watched the AMC series. The Terror about British Royal Navy ships attempting to find the Northwest Passage in the late 1800s.