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Google Maps is an incredibly versatile tool that makes it quick and easy for you to find your way from point A to point B--whether that's a quick jaunt down the street or a cross-continental trip. Best of all, it's completely free. This wikiHow teaches you how to get started with Google Maps on your computer, phone, or tablet. With a little practice, you'll never get lost again!
Method 1 of 7:Get directions to a location. Use the search bar at the top to search for an address or the name of a place. Then tap Directions to get directions to the name of a place.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap … . It's the icon with three dots to the right of the search bar at the top. This displays the options menu.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap Add Stop . It's in the menu that appears when you tap the icon with three dots next to the search bar. This adds another search bar below the starting and ending search bar at the top.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap Done . It's the blue button below the list of stops at the top of the screen. This finalizes your route. You can tap Start to begin guided navigation.
Advertisement Method 3 of 7:Get directions to a location. Use the search bar at the top to search for an address or the name of a place. Then tap Directions to get directions to the name of a place.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap … . It's the icon with three dots to the right of the search bar at the top. This displays the options menu.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap Route Options . it's the first option at the top of the Options menu. This displays route options you may want to avoid.
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. On Android, tap the blue button that says Done On iPhone and iPad, tap the icon that resembles a bracket pointing left in the upper-left corner to return to the map.
Advertisement Method 4 of 7:Get directions to a location. Use the search bar at the top to search for an address or the name of a place. Then tap Directions to get directions to the name of a place.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap … . It's the icon with three dots to the right of the search bar at the top. This displays the options menu.
Fair Use (screenshot)Tap Share directions or Share location . These are the last options in the options menu. "Share directions" allows you to share directions to a location. "Share location" allows you to share your current location.
Fair Use (screenshot)Select how long you want to share your location. If you are sharing your location, you can select how long you want your location to be sharable. You can tap the radio option next to "For 1 hour" and tap the plus (+) or (-) icon next to the option to increase or decrease the time your location will be available. Tap the radio button next to "until you turn this off" to share your location until you turn your locations off or close.
Fair Use (screenshot)Select a contact. Use your email or messaging app to select a contact you want to share your location or directions with.
Fair Use (screenshot)Compose a brief message. Write a brief message to explain to your contact that you are sharing directions or your location, and that they can view it using Google Maps on their own device.
Fair Use (screenshot)Send the message. Once you compose with the URL in it, tap the option to send the message. Your contact will be able to view your location or directions in the Google Maps app on their own device.
Advertisement Method 5 of 7:wikiHow Staff Writer
Hunter Rising is a wikiHow Staff Writer based in Los Angeles. He has more than three years of experience writing for and working with wikiHow. Hunter holds a BFA in Entertainment Design from the University of Wisconsin - Stout and a Minor in English Writing.
Hunter Rising"If you're planning a vacation or just want to keep track of places you want to visit in your city, it's so helpful to save places of interest on Google Maps. If you find a restaurant you want to try or a museum you'd like to visit, just click "Save" and add it to a list. When you're stuck figuring out what to do, open up one of your lists in the "Saved" section to see all of the places marked on the map."
Advertisement Method 6 of 7:Open Google Maps. Google Maps is available on both computers and mobile devices. To access Google Maps on a computer, visit https://www.google.com/maps google.com/maps in a web browser. On mobile phones and tablets, tap the Google Maps icon on your home screen or Apps menu. It has an icon with a red, green, blue, and yellow map marker.
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Fair Use (screenshot)Open Google Maps. Google Maps is available on both computers and mobile devices. To access Google Maps on a computer, visit https://www.google.com/maps google.com/maps in a web browser. On mobile phones and tablets, tap the Google Maps icon on your home screen or Apps menu. It has an icon with a red, green, blue, and yellow map marker.
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Fair Use (screenshot)Tap the Street View option (smartphone and tablet app only). It has an icon with a person in the middle. This displays blue lines on streets where Street View is available
Fair Use (screenshot)Click or tap and drag to rotate your view. To rotate your view in Street View mode, you can tap and drag the screen on smartphone and tablets, or click and drag anywhere to rotate your view in a desktop web browser.
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to exit Street View. When you want to leave Street View and return to the normal map view, click or tap the arrow icon in the upper-left corner of the Street View image.
AdvertisementGoogle Maps should generate three different routes for you. By default, after you ask for directions, it should select the shortest of the three routes. This route will be highlighted by a thick blue line. The other routes will be highlighted in thick gray lines. Keep in mind that sometimes the routes overlap, and the blue line might cover up one or more gray lines. To switch to another of the routes, just click on the gray line.
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First, plug your GPS to your computer to install the latest GPS software. Then, go to your car, and plug your GPS into one of your car outlets. Enter your starting destination and your end destination. Attach the sticky grip to your windshield, and you are ready to drive off.
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While in your car, scan your mobile device for Bluetooth devices. Your car should come up. It may have a name like "Tesla" or a computer generated name that is a bunch of letters and numbers. Select the name, and the Bluetooth will connect.
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Have a question or problem that isn't addressed in this article? Visit the official Google Maps support page for more information and answers to virtually any question you could have. [1] X Research source
Looking for satellite imagery, 3D maps, and a more "natural" virtual representation of the world? Try Google Earth, which is similar to Google Maps but with a less practical, more "exploratory" focus. [2] X Research source
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