Google adds offline navigation to Maps

Google is starting to add extensive offline navigation options to its Maps service. Users can easily download maps for areas and then navigate and search for locations offline.

Google is updating the Android version of Maps with the offline capabilities, and the iOS version of the service should follow soon. According to the company, this is a first series of improvements and more offline functions would follow in the future.

Users can search by cities or regions and download the resulting map. An alternative way is to go to ‘offline areas’ in the menu and click on a ‘+’ button to download the map. Google Maps automatically detects when a user has a bad connection or can’t get online at all. The person can then still use turn-by-turn navigation with the map and it is also possible to search for locations and contact information.

Google has promised to bring offline navigation to its service more than once in the past. Downloading maps was already possible, but very cumbersome. Offline use is one of the features that set Here Maps apart. Nokia sold this service this year to BMW, Audi and Daimler.