- Download an offline map on Android
- Download an offline map on iPhone or iPad
- Pick your own area
- What works offline, and what doesn't
- Some places can't be downloaded
- Where offline maps are stored
- Keep offline maps from expiring
- Rename or delete an offline map
- A quick pre-trip routine
- When to download, and how big
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To download an offline map, open Google Maps on your phone, search for a place, then tap More and Download offline map. Or tap your profile picture, then Offline maps, then Select your own map and drag to cover your area. Do it on Wi-Fi before you travel.
Signal tends to vanish at exactly the moment you need directions: on a mountain road, in a foreign city, in the middle of a car park that has no coverage. An offline map solves it, but only if you download it beforehand. Here's how to save an area in Google Maps, what works without a connection, and the expiry catch that leaves some people with a map that quietly stops working.
Download an offline map on Android
- Make sure you're connected to the internet and signed in to Google Maps.
- Search for a place, such as the town you're visiting.
- In the placesheet at the bottom, swipe right.
- Tap More, then Download offline map, then Download.
Download an offline map on iPhone or iPad
The steps are very close: search for the place and download its map from the placesheet. Google's iPhone instructions add one condition that catches people out: make sure you're connected to the internet and not in Incognito mode.
Pick your own area
The automatic area around a place isn't always what you want. To choose it yourself, tap your profile picture or initial, tap Offline maps, then Select your own map. Drag and zoom the map until it covers the area you need, then tap Download. It's the best option for a hiking route, a road trip corridor or a region with a few small towns.
What works offline, and what doesn't
| Feature | Offline |
|---|---|
| Driving directions inside the downloaded area | Yes, as long as the whole route is inside it |
| Walking, bicycling and transit directions | Not available |
| Live traffic information | Not available when driving offline |
| Alternate routes | Not available when driving offline |
The detail that matters is that last bit of the first row. Google says offline maps can guide you only if your entire route is within the downloaded map. If your route starts inside the area and ends outside it, the app can't plan it offline. So when in doubt, download a bigger area than you think you need.
Some places can't be downloaded
Google says you can't download offline maps in some countries or regions because of contractual limitations, language support, address formats and other reasons. If the Download option is missing for the place you're visiting, that may be why. It's worth checking before you leave, not at the airport.
Where offline maps are stored
By default offline maps go to your device's internal storage. On Android you can use an SD card instead, but Google says that on Android 6.0 or higher you can only save to an SD card that has been set up for portable storage. And if you change where maps are saved, you have to download the map again, so choose before you download a big area.
Keep offline maps from expiring
Offline maps don't last forever. Google says you must update downloaded maps before they expire. When a map has 15 days or less left and you're on Wi-Fi, Google Maps tries to update it automatically. If that doesn't happen, open Offline maps from your profile picture, tap the expired or expiring area and tap Update. On iPhone and iPad you can switch on Auto-update offline maps under Offline maps, then Settings. Turn that on and forget about it.
Rename or delete an offline map
- Rename: tap the map in Offline maps, tap Edit at the top right, type a new name and tap Save. 'Spain trip' is easier to find than a place name.
- Delete: tap the map and tap Delete. Do this once the trip is over to get your storage back.
- Recommended maps: Google can suggest maps for upcoming trips it finds in Gmail, Google Travel and other places.
A quick pre-trip routine
- Download the area on Wi-Fi at least a day before you travel.
- Open the offline map list and check the area covers your whole route.
- Switch to airplane mode and search for a street, to prove the map works without a connection.
- Save the places you need to a list. My explainer on local SEO citations shows how business details end up on the map if you're a business owner.
Business owners, there's a flip side. Customers using offline maps still find you through the listing information already on the map, which is one reason accurate details matter. The Google Maps ranking factors cheat sheet covers what helps you appear.
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When to download, and how big
Download on Wi-Fi, not on mobile data, and do it while you still have a good signal at home or in your hotel. Big areas take longer and use more storage, so choose the region you need and no more. If you're travelling through several places, download each one separately, and give them names you'll recognise, so you can find and update the right one later.
My verdict
Download your area on Wi-Fi before you travel, pick your own map if the default area is too small and turn on automatic updates so it doesn't expire mid-trip. And remember the limits: offline gives you driving directions only, with no traffic.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download offline maps on Google Maps?
Search for a place, swipe right in the placesheet on Android, then tap More, Download offline map, Download. Or use your profile picture, Offline maps, Select your own map.
Can I get walking directions offline?
No. Google says that offline, transit, bicycling and walking directions are unavailable. Driving directions work if the whole route is inside the downloaded area.
Do offline maps expire?
Yes. Google Maps tries to update a map automatically when it expires in 15 days or less and you're on Wi-Fi, or you can tap Update in Offline maps.
Why can't I download an offline map?
Offline maps aren't available in some countries or regions. On iPhone, also make sure you're not in Incognito mode.
Can I save offline maps to an SD card?
On Android, yes. On Android 6.0 or higher the SD card must be set up for portable storage, and you have to download again if you change the storage location.
