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Google Maps: 11 incredibly useful features you may not know about

The app has lots of hidden tools and options you might never have come across before

Aatif Sulleyman

Monday 23 October 2017 12:42 BST

Google Maps is an app many of us would literally be lost without.

There are plenty of rival mapping apps out there, but Google's is the undisputed number one.

It's easy to use, packed full of features and fantastic on both mobile and desktop.

The fact that it comes pre-loaded on most phones doesn't exactly damage its cause either.

Though many of you may use it for directions every day, there are lots of hidden tools and functions you might never have come across before.

We’ve rounded up a selection of the best Google Maps tips and tricks. Click on the gallery below to start browsing.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Show all 11

1/1111 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Time travel

You can see how places have changed over the years in Street View, by dragging Pegman (the small yellow figure) onto the map and clicking the clock icon. It’s not available for all locations though - only the places Google has pictured for older versions of Street View - and the furthest back you can go is 2008. It’s fun though, and if you look closely, you’ll see Pegman turns into Back to the Future’s Doc Brown.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Dive into your history

You can view your Google Maps History by visiting myactivity.google.com. In the search bar at the top of the page, you can filter by lots of different products, and Maps is one of them. Doing so will show you all the Maps data has on you, which you can delete.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Zoom with one finger

Phones seem to be rowing bigger by the year, and it’s not always easy to use them one-handed, especially if you want to zoom in on something on your screen. On the Google Maps app, you can zoom in and out with one finger by double-tapping - but keeping your finger on the screen on the second tap - and then dragging it up and down.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Create your own map

You can create your own custom map on desktop by opening the menu and clicking Your Places, Maps and Create Map. Give your map a name and a description, and add all of your favourite places. You can also collaborate on a map with other people, ideal for when you’re planning a holiday. My Maps is also available as an app, separate to Google Maps.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Calibrate your compass

This isn’t an issue that’s specific to Google Maps, but it’s incredibly annoying. Every now and then you might find yourself walking in completely the wrong direction because your phone’s compass has gone wrong. Fortunately, you can calibrate it by moving your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Add stops to your journey

Everyone knows Google Maps can direct you from one location to another, you can add multiple stops to your journey too. On the app, after you’ve entered your starting point and destination, hit the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen and select Add Stop. On desktop, click Add Destination and drag and drop the addresses to reorder your journey.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Explore

You can easily find great places to hang out by tapping Explore in the main menu of the Google Maps app. Each of the sections is split into specific sub-sections (such as Keep it Cheap and Quick Bites), and every place has a rating and a description. Also, if you’ve ever wondered what the orange shaded bits on Google Maps indicate, they’re “areas of interest” Google believes to be worth exploring.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Share the places you love

If you’re planning to meet friends somewhere, you can make the process much smoother by sharing the right location with them. On the app, find the location you’re after, tap More Info and Share. On desktop, find the right address and click Share.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Share your location

You can track your friends or let them track you in real-time with Google Maps, so everyone knows who’s on time and who’s running late. In the app, hit the menu button and tap Location Sharing.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Save data

You can save mobile data (and money) by downloading offline maps for certain areas in advance. On the app, hit the menu button and select Offline Maps, then find the area you want and hit Download. You can also find Wi-Fi Only mode in the main menu of the app, which means you can only access your saved offline maps. On desktop meanwhile, you can use Google Maps Lite for when you’re on a slow internet connection.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Remember where you parked

The Google Maps app can save where you’ve parked your car. Once you’ve found a spot, all you need to do is tap your blue location dot and select Save Your Parking.

Read all of our latest Google news here.

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