These are the best Google Maps settings everyone should know.
Hey friends, I’m Tasia Custode, and welcome back to my YouTube Channel where I share tech
tips, app reviews, and a borderline unhealthy amount of Google content.
Today, I’m sharing the best Google Maps Settings that are sure to make your life easier.
Let’s go!
So first up, you can request fuel-efficient routes.
You guys may have noticed this feature on some of my other Google Maps videos, but here’s
how to toggle that on.
On mobile, from your Google Maps settings, head to navigation.
Scroll down to toggle on the option to show fuel-efficient routes.
So, this won’t only show you that route, but it’ll give you the more fuel efficient
route along side alternat route options.
Gotta love it.
Moving on to number 2 on the list: Customize public transit options.
This is really handy when commuting in a big city, and can be adjusted on both web and
mobile.
With your directions entered on the web, hit the train icon for transit and then click
on options.
Here, you can decide what transport you prefer and the best route options.
The same can be done on mobile as well.
It’s the exact same steps.
After you’ve entered your destination, tap the train then tap on options and voila, you
can customize your transit experience.
But wait, there’s more you can do with your transit options!
If you tap on one of the transit route options, you’ll be able to see information like how
busy that line is at that time, plus you can add information for other users on whether
or not it’s crowded, what the accessibility features are, how the temperature is, and
security onboard.
It’s pretty neat.
Alright number 3 on my list is a setting I just realized is available in Google Maps
and it’s so massive that I probably should have left it to the end.
Seriously, this is like boom!
Did you know you can add music to Google Maps?
Well you can and here’s how.
In your settings on mobile, head back to our navigation section.
Tap on where it says ‘music playback controls’.
Here, you can connect one of your music player apps to Google Maps.
So, on iPhone, you’ll notice you can connect Apple Music or Spotify.
From the Navigatoin section on Andriod, you’ll tap on assistant default media provider.
Here, you can connect a bunch of music services like YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music,
iHeartRadio, Pandora and Deezer.
Once you’ve connected your music app of choice, now when you start your directions,
you’ll have an option to tap your music app to continue playback right from google
maps.
So, set that playlist before you head out on your road trip.
Seriously, how cool is this?
Did you know this was possible and I’ve just been living under a rock.
I love it!
So you’ll be able to control your music right from your navigation in Google Maps,
including browsing those playlists - hence why I tell you to set your playlists prior
to your roadtrip.
Wowza.
Number 4 on my list of best Google Maps settings is one I’ve talked about before, but it’s
a fun one indeed.
You can change your vehicle icon.
You gotta keep your Google Maps fun, right?
So here we are on mobile and we’ve got our directions started.
If you tap on the blue arrow or blue dot depending on whether you’re on ios or android, you’ll
be able to choose a vehicle icon from a few options along the bottom.
Just tap to select.
It’s that easy.
And if you want to change it back, you’ll tap on the vehicle icon on your map and select
a new vehicle or go back to the boring blue arrow or dot.
The 5th Google Maps setting you should know is to learn more about a business.This is
another great accessibility tip too.
On the web, you can search for a business and then click on the about section of the
business where you can see some health and safety measures, service options, and so on,
but also, you can get a glimpse of their accessibility features like whether it’s wheelchair accessible
and so on.
Luckily, the same can be done on mobile.
Simply search the business, then swipe up on the result.
Now scroll left through the options underneath the images and tap on ‘about’.
Here, we now have the same information we saw on the web, including all the accessibility
info too.
Alright, Google Maps tip number 6 is to turn off your location history.
This is handy if you don’t want Google Maps to keep a tab on where you’ve been.
On mobile, let’s tap our profile icon in the top right.
Then select ‘your data in maps’.
Now just tap underneath where it says ‘location history’.
Here, you can simply toggle off the location history option.
Alternatively, and not-so co incidentally tip number 7, you can also view and delete
your Google Maps history.
Back in our location history section, we can also enable the ‘auto delete’ option as
well, where you’ll be able to decide when you’d like Google to auto delete your activity.
Alternatively, if you tap on ‘manage history’, you’ll be able to view all the places you’ve
been based on your location history.
We are nearing the end, I promise.
But in the meantime, if you’re finding this video valuable, please remember to give it
a like and subscribe for more content just like this.
And when I say more content like this, I mean it!
I have so many Google Maps tips and tricks videos all linked for you in the description
below.
Like, seriously, so many.
It’s a little concerning.
But anyway, moving on to Google Maps setting number 8: share your favorite places.
So, for this one, you’ll have to have some of your favorite already saved, which I cover
in this video here.
But, once you know how to do that, you can easily share your favorites.
On the web, click on your saved tab on the left.
Here, click on the three dot menu icon to the right of the list you want to share.
Then, click on ‘share list’.
On mobile, you’ll tap on your saved tab and just like on the web, tap on the three
dot menu icon to the right of the list you want to share.
Here, tap on share list.
Also, let’s go back to the three dot menu icon, because here is where you can set your
sharing options too.
So you can make your list private, or public from here as well.
Coming in at number 9 is a feature I love so much in Google Maps.
You can add reports for other users.
So think, things like traffic, accidents, constuction, lane closures and more.
In fact, did you know, these user generated reports are what Google Maps uses to give
you up-to-date traffic conditions?
It’s true.
They used to rely on cameras, but aren’t we humans more useful?
Once you’ve started navigation, you’ll tap on the message icon with the plus symbol
in it.
Here, you can report a crash, speed trap, slowdown, construction, lane closures, stalled
vehicle, or an object on the road.
When you tap to add a report, Google Maps will add that info to the map based on your
location.
How cool is that?
And coming in last but not least, go incognito.
That’s right, you can enable incognito mode in Google Maps.
So, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of turning off your location history
like we went over in a previous tip, you can enable incognito mode for specific directions.
From mobile, tap your profile icon again and this time tap ‘turn on incognito mode’.
With this enabled, Google Maps won’t save your search history or update your location
history.
You’ll know incognito mode is enabled because your profile picture in the top right will
turn into the little grey and white incognito symbol with the hat and glasses.
You can tap that to then turn off incognito mode when ready.
So remember, this is just a top 10 list of the best Google Maps settings for 2023.
There are a ton of other great features, tips and tricks, and settings you’ll want to
check out in the links in the description below.
Seriously, you could spend the better part of your day watching all my Google Maps content…not
that I expect you to of course!
So those are my picks for the best Google Maps settings.
Now I want to hear from you!
What are your favorite Google Maps settings?
Let everyone know in the comments below.
As always, thanks so much for watching, if you liked this video, I want to know so give
it a like, a share or leave that comment below.
You can click right about here to subscribe to my channel and right here and here for
more Google Maps content.
Thanks for watching, and see ya next time!