Essential Skills

Beginner

8 min read 7 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

How to Use Google Maps for Directions (Step-by-Step)

Google Maps gives spoken turn-by-turn directions from your phone. Searching, navigating, muting, and what to do when you miss a turn.

At a Glance

Open Google Maps and search for a destination

~47s

Open the Google Maps app on your phone. You will see a map of your general area, with a blue dot showing your current location. At the top of the screen there is a search bar. Tap it and type in where you want to go. You can type an address (like "123 Main Street, Dallas TX"), a business name (like "Walgreens"), or a general description (like "pizza restaurant near me"). As you type, Google Maps suggests locations below the search bar. Tap the one that matches your destination. A card with information about that location will slide up from the bottom of the screen, showing the address, hours if it is a business, and how far away it is.

Quick Tip

You can also speak your destination instead of typing. Tap the microphone icon inside the search bar, then say the address or business name clearly.

Review the route and tap Start

~59s

After you tap a destination, tap the blue "Directions" button. Google Maps will calculate the best route and show it on the map as a blue line. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the estimated travel time (for example, "23 min") and the distance. If there is more than one possible route, you will see multiple options — the fastest one is highlighted in blue. You may also see options to avoid toll roads or highways. When you are ready, tap the large blue "Start" button at the bottom right. Your phone will begin giving you spoken directions.

Quick Tip

Before you start driving, glance at the route overview on screen. This helps you get a sense of the general direction and any major roads you will be taking — useful as a sanity check before you are in motion.

Warning

Never operate Google Maps while your phone is in your hand while driving. Mount your phone on a dashboard holder, or set it in a cup holder where you can glance at it safely. The spoken directions are designed so you do not need to watch the screen.

Follow the spoken directions and understand the display

~39s

While navigating, Google Maps speaks each turn aloud: "In 500 feet, turn right on Oak Street." The screen shows your current street, the next turn highlighted in a large arrow at the top, and your estimated arrival time at the bottom. The blue line on the map shows your path. The moving blue dot is you. The app automatically updates as you drive. You can glance at the top of the screen for the upcoming turn instruction without needing to read the map in detail.

Quick Tip

The arrival time shown at the bottom is live. It updates based on current traffic. If traffic slows down ahead of you, the estimated time will increase. If traffic clears, it will decrease.

Mute or unmute the spoken directions

~47s

If the voice directions are too loud, too quiet, or you prefer silence, you can adjust them without stopping navigation. While actively navigating, tap the speaker icon on the screen. It appears near the top-right area or in the side panel. Tap it once to lower the volume, again to mute it entirely (you will see a line through the speaker icon), and again to bring the voice back. Alternatively, you can use the physical volume buttons on the side of your phone to turn the navigation voice up or down. If you use your phone connected to your car's Bluetooth or a speaker, the directions will play through that speaker.

Quick Tip

If you listen to music or a podcast while driving, Google Maps will automatically lower the music volume and speak directions over it, then raise the music again. You do not need to pause your audio manually.

What to do when you miss a turn

~42s

Missing a turn happens to everyone. Do not panic and do not try to make an unsafe U-turn. Google Maps will automatically recalculate the route from wherever you are within a few seconds. You will hear "Recalculating..." and then new directions will begin. The map updates to show a new blue line with a corrected path to your destination. Continue driving safely — Google Maps will get you there via the new route. You do not need to do anything.

Quick Tip

If you find yourself on a road that feels wrong and the app is not recalculating, check that your internet connection is still active (look for the signal bars at the top of your phone screen). If you have lost signal, the app may briefly pause until you reconnect.

Search for nearby places while navigating

~38s

You can search for places along your route without canceling navigation. While Google Maps is giving directions, tap the search bar at the top (it may be minimized — swipe up from the bottom bar to reveal it). Type what you need: "gas station," "pharmacy," "McDonald's," "rest stop," or "hospital." Google Maps will show options that are near your current location or along your route. Tap one to add it as a stop. The app will update your directions to include that stop, then continue to your original destination afterward.

Quick Tip

Tapping "Add stop" works for multiple stops in a row — useful for road trips where you want to plan fuel, food, and rest stops ahead of time.

Download offline maps so you can navigate without a cell signal

~2 min

If you are going somewhere with poor cell coverage — a rural area, a national park, or a long road trip — you can download a map of that area to your phone ahead of time so Google Maps works without any internet connection. While on Wi-Fi at home, open Google Maps and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Tap "Offline maps," then tap "Select your own map." A box will appear over the map — drag and zoom to include the area you want to download. Tap "Download." The file size depends on the area. A typical county or metro area is 50–200 MB. Once downloaded, Google Maps will use the saved map and still give turn-by-turn directions, even with no signal. The offline map is stored on your phone for 30 days before it asks you to refresh it.

Quick Tip

Download your offline map the night before a trip while connected to Wi-Fi so it does not use your cell data. This is especially useful in mountainous areas, remote highways, or anywhere you have experienced dropped calls before.

Warning

Offline maps do not show live traffic, road closures, or updated business hours. They give directions using the road data saved at the time of download. For most trips, this is perfectly fine — roads rarely change.

You Did It!

You've finished reading: How to Use Google Maps for Directions (Step-by-Step)

How well did this guide stick with you?

Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

Google Maps is a free navigation app from Google. It shows you maps, gives spoken turn-by-turn directions while you drive, helps you find nearby places like gas stations and pharmacies, and can even work without a cell signal if you download a map ahead of time.

This guide is for people who are new to Google Maps or who want a clear walkthrough of how it works from start to finish.

What you need

A smartphone — iPhone or Android
The Google Maps app (free — it comes pre-installed on most Android phones; iPhone users can download it from the App Store for free)
A working internet connection (cell signal or Wi-Fi) for live directions. You can also use offline maps without a connection — see Step 7.

How Google Maps compares to Apple Maps

iPhones come with Apple Maps pre-installed. Apple Maps and Google Maps both offer free turn-by-turn directions and are both accurate and reliable in 2026. The main differences: Google Maps tends to have more detailed information about businesses (hours, reviews, photos), more options for public transit, and works the same way on both iPhone and Android. Apple Maps is slightly more private because your searches are not connected to a Google account. Either app will get you where you need to go. Many iPhone users keep both installed and use whichever they prefer.

Street View

Google Maps includes a feature called Street View that lets you see a 360-degree photo of any street taken by a Google camera car. This can be helpful before driving somewhere new. You can "look" at what the building looks like so you recognize it when you arrive. To use it, search for an address, then tap and hold the map at that spot until a small photo appears in the bottom corner. Tap the photo to enter Street View. Drag your finger to look around.

Saving frequent destinations

You can save addresses you visit often — like your doctor's office, your child's home, or your favorite grocery store — so you do not have to type them each time. In Google Maps, tap "Saved" at the bottom of the screen, then tap "New list" to create a collection, or tap the bookmark icon when viewing any location. Next time you need directions there, you can select it from your saved places instead of typing.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

google maps

directions

navigation

turn-by-turn

driving

offline maps

nearby places

gas stations

maps app

gps

Official Resources

GCFGlobal — Free Digital Skills AARP Technology Tips Senior Planet

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

← Previous

How to Pay with Your Phone Using Apple Pay or Google Pay

How to Check if Your Internet Is Out — Before You Call Your Provider

Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

Book a Verified Tech How It Works

Related Guides

How to Create a Strong Password

Learn the rules for creating passwords that are nearly impossible to crack.

1 min read

How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication on Any Account

Add an extra layer of security to your online accounts with 2FA — a must for everyone.

2 min read

How to Identify Phishing Emails

Spot fake emails designed to steal your personal information before you fall for them.

2 min read