How to Download A Google Map to Use Offline

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Did you know that you don’t need data, or even a WiFi connection, to use Google Maps when you travel?  I always download specific Google Maps onto my phone so that I can access them even in remote locations, before I get connected to the local phone network, or without using up all the data on the tourist SIM card I bought upon arrival in my destination.

Downloading Google Maps to use offline is surprisingly easy. You don’t have to be tech-savvy to download a Google Map onto your phone, and you don’t need any extra apps, passwords or payments. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to downloading Google Maps right onto your phone!

Why Download a Google Map to Use Offline?

There are several reasons why you might want to download a Google Map onto your phone:

• It uses less data.  When you access Google Maps via 4G or 5G, or any other kind of cellular data, it uses up some of your allowance. Few data plans allow unlimited international data, so this keeps you from hitting your data limit mid-trip.
• It works in remote locations. If you’re hiking, on a boat, or even just in a rural area, you may not be able to connect to the internet to access Google Maps normally.  If you’ve already downloaded the Google Map for the area where you’re visiting, you can get your bearings even offline.
• It works upon arrival. This one is key for me. Airport WiFi is unreliable, and the SIM cards sold at the airport are usually a rip-off.  If I download the Google Map for my destination in advance, I can easily navigate from the airport (or train station) to my accommodation without internet access.

How to Download a Google Map to Use Offline?

To write this guide, I went through the process of downloading a Google Map onto my own iPhone.  I also have an old Android phone and the process is very similar, so you should be able to follow these instructions on any type of phone.

Step 1: Download the Google Maps App

If you don’t already have Google Maps on your phone, download it now!  Google Maps is a free app, and in my opinion it’s the best map app out there (sorry Apple Maps and maps.me!).

You can find Google Maps in the App Store on your iPhone, or in the Google Play on your Android phone (if it didn’t come pre-loaded). 

Careful! These instructions only work with Google Maps, not with Apple Maps.

Step 2: Log Into Google Maps

Next, you’ll want to log into Google Maps.  You can use your Gmail account, or any other Google account that you already have set up.  If you don’t have a Google account yet, now is the time to create one!

Step 3: Choose the Area You Want to Download

I’m en route to Kusadasi, Turkey, so I decided to download the Google Map for that city.  I started by searching for Kusadasi and centering the area I wanted to download on the screen.

Step 4: Find the Google Maps Offline Maps Tool

To find the Offline Maps tool, click on your profile picture in the search bar (circled in the photo in Step 2) and then look for the Offline Maps option.

Click on “Offline Maps” to go to your offline maps page, which will show you any maps you already have downloaded and will give you the option of downloading a new offline map.

Step 5: Click on “Select Your Own Map”

This screen will show you any maps you already have downloaded (I have two: Istanbul and Home).

Since we’re going to download a new map, you’ll want to click on “Select Your Own Map”.

Step 6: Confirm the Area You Want to Download

 

Now you can play around with the map to find the exact area you want to download.  Move the map left, right, up and down until you have the whole area you want to download.

If you zoom in to save a small area, it won’t take up much space on your phone.  But if you zoom way out and capture a large area, it will use a lot of the storage on your phone.  I circled the storage space in pink in the photos above to show the difference between downloading one city compared to an entire region.

Once you’ve decided on the area you want to download, click on “Download”.

Step 7: Rename An Offline Map

While you wait for the Google Map to download, click on the pencil icon to give it a name.  Here, I named my map “Kusadasi”, as that’s the region that it focuses on.

Don’t worry if the map finishes downloading before you can rename it – I’ll explain what to do in Step 9.

Step 8: Confirm Your Google Map Downloaded for Offline Use

When you return to your list of offline maps, you should now see the new region that you just downloaded.  Good job!

Step 9: Update, Rename or Delete Your Offline Google Map

The three dots beside each map’s name opens a menu that gives you three options: update, rename or delete the map.

• Update – This connects to Google Maps and fetches new information, like new restaurants that may have opened or roads that may have closed.
• Rename – You can use this to change the map’s name.
• Delete – When you’re home from your trip you can delete your offline map to free up space on your phone.

Using Your Downloaded Google Maps When You’re Offline

Once you’ve downloaded a Google Map to your phone, you can use Google Maps normally in that area even if you’re offline.  For example, if you downloaded a map of Bangkok, it might look like the map shown above.

You will have access to the “Default” view for the destination you downloaded (shown above), including street names, attractions and businesses, and (usually) opening hours. You will also have access to driving directions.

You won’t have access to reviews or photos.  You also won’t be able to get directions for walking, cycling or public transit.

Even if you’re offline (including in airplane mode), offline Google Maps can use your phone’s location services to show where you are on the map (indicated by a blue dot) as long as you’re within the boundaries of the zone you downloaded.

Happy navigating!

Have you ever downloaded a Google Map?  Let me know in the comments below!

For  more travel tips, I recommend my guide to saving money when you’re traveling and my new guide to avoiding common beginner travel mistakes.

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