How to Get Offline Google Maps Directions on an iPhone

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 25, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Maps on your iPhone to navigate an area without an internet or cellular data connection.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Downloading the Map of an Area

1
Open the Google Maps app. If you aren't already signed into your primary Google account in the Maps app, you'll need to do so with your Google email address and password.
2
Tap the search bar. This is at the top of the screen to which Google Maps opens.

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3
Type in a location's name or address. For example, you might type a city's name or a neighborhood within a city.
4
Tap Search. This is the blue button on your iPhone's keyboard.
- If you see your location's name pop up below the text field, you can tap that instead.
5
Tap the name of the location. It's at the bottom of the screen. This will pull your location's information up onto the screen.
6
Tap Download. It's to the right of the Share and Save options.
7
Select the area to download. You'll do this by dragging the rectangular frame over your location so that everything you wish to save is inside of the rectangle.
- You can also pinch your fingers outward or inward to zoom in or out, thereby resizing the area you want to save.
8
Tap Download. Your selected area will begin downloading immediately. Once it's done, you'll be able to access your downloaded location offline by typing it into the Google Maps search bar.
- You may need to allow or deny download notifications before your download starts.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Downloading the Map Around a Specific Address

1
Open the Google Maps app. If you aren't already signed into your primary Google account in the Maps app, you'll need to do so with your Google email address and password.
2
Tap the search bar. This is at the top of the screen to which Google Maps opens.
3
Type in a location's name or address. For example, you might type in a university's address or your house's address.
4
Tap Search. This is the blue button on your iPhone's keyboard.
- If you see your location's name pop up below the text field, you can tap that instead.
5
Tap the location's name. It's at the bottom of the screen. Doing so displays your location's information on the screen.
6
Tap ⋮. It's in the top right corner of the screen.
7
Tap Download offline area. This option will pop up at the bottom of the screen.
8
Select the area to download. You'll do this by dragging the rectangular frame over your location so that everything you wish to save is inside of the rectangle.
- You can also pinch your fingers outward or inward to zoom in or out, which will resize the area you want to save.
9
Tap Download. Your selected area will begin downloading immediately. Once it's done, you'll be able to access your downloaded location offline by typing it into the Google Maps search bar.
- You may need to allow or deny download notifications before your download starts.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Managing Offline Areas

1
Tap ☰. This is in the top left corner of your Maps screen. Doing so will open the user menu.
2
Tap Offline areas. It's toward the top of the menu.
3
Review your offline maps. Any areas you've downloaded in the past 29 days should appear here.
4
Select an offline area you wish to edit. You can also remove offline areas in this manner.
5
Rename your area by tapping the pencil icon in the top right corner. This will help you categorize multiple saved locations from the same general area.
- For example, if you have three offline locations in the San Francisco area, you can rename them based on their use (e.g., "Restaurants", "School", "Home").
6
Tap Update to update your offline area. Doing so will re-download your area with any recently added landmarks or locations included. Updating requires an internet (or cellular data) connection.
7
Tap Delete to remove your offline area. You'll have to tap Delete again to remove the map permanently.

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Warnings

If your selected area is too large to download, you'll need to zoom in to reduce the square footage.

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References

↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&hl=en

About This Article

JL

Written by:

Tech Specialist

This article was written by Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 7,116 times.

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Co-authors: 4

Updated: May 25, 2021

Views: 7,116

Categories: IPhone Applications

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