To get easy, turn-by-turn navigation to places, use the Google Maps app. Maps shows you directions and uses real-time traffic information to find the best route to your destination.
With voice navigation, you can hear traffic alerts, where to turn, which lane to use, and if there’s a better route.
Important: Navigation and info about which lane to use aren’t available in all countries, regions, and languages. Oversized or emergency vehicles aren’t the intended users of navigation.
What you need to use navigation
On your phone or tablet:
- Turn on your GPS.
- Let Google Maps use your current location and audio speakers.
Android iPhone & iPad
Start or stop navigation
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
.
- Search for a place or tap it on the map.
- At the bottom left, tap Directions. If you touch and hold the button instead, you’ll start navigation and can skip steps 4 through 6. Learn how to add more destinations.
- Choose your mode of transportation.
- If other routes are available, they’ll show in gray on the map. To follow an alternate route, tap the gray line.
- To start navigation, tap Start
. If you see “Searching for GPS,” your phone is trying to get a GPS signal. For example, you might be in or near a tunnel, parking garage, or other location where there’s no GPS signal.
- To stop or cancel navigation, go to the bottom left and tap Close
.
Tips:
- You can see traffic info, public transit options, and local places of interest in just a few seconds. Learn more about nearby places and travel.
- To find the map from your point of view, tap the compass.
- Learn how to add a shortcut to get directions to a place you travel to often, like work or home.
Find more actions while navigating
To find more actions while you’re navigating to a place, go to the information card at the bottom of the screen and swipe up. To hide the menu, swipe down on the information card.
- Share trip progress
: Share your live location until you arrive. Learn more about real-time location sharing.
- Search along route
: Find a place along your route, like a restaurant or gas station. Learn how to search along your route.
- Directions
: Get a list of step-by-step directions.
- Show traffic on map
(while Driving only): Find traffic delays along the way, such as crashes or construction work.
- Show satellite map
: Review the map in more detail, using satellite images.
- Settings
: Change your settings, like switching between miles and kilometers or avoiding toll roads.
Hear voice directions
When you navigate to a place, you can hear voice directions. Learn how to fix voice navigation problems.
Change the volume level
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
- Tap your profile picture or initial
Settings
- Choose Louder, Normal, or Softer.
Mute, unmute, or hear alerts
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
- Start navigation.
- At the top right, tap Sound
. Then, choose one of the following:
- Mute: Tap Mute
.
- Hear alerts: Tap Alerts
. You’ll hear alerts like traffic, construction, and crashes. You won’t hear turn-by-turn directions.
- Unmute: Tap Sound
- Mute: Tap Mute
Mute voice directions during phone calls
If you get a phone call while navigating somewhere, you can answer the call, but you’ll hear voice directions unless you mute it.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
- Tap your profile picture or initial
- Turn on or off “Play voice during phone calls.”
Change the voice
You might be able to switch to another voice from your phone or tablet’s text-to-speech settings.
- Go to your phone or tablet’s settings app.
- Tap Language and input.
- Tap Text-to-speech output.
- Under “Preferred engine,” select another text-to-speech option.
- Voice navigation uses the voice you select. This changes the voice in other apps too.
Change the language
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
- Tap your Profile picture or initial
- Under “Sound & voice,” tap Voice selection.
- Select a language.