How to use Google Maps offline so you are never lost without data
Why this matters before you travel
You land in a new city. The airport is busy, your phone loses its signal, and Google Maps will not load. Knowing how to use Google Maps offline solves that instantly.
Google Maps works without a mobile data connection, but only if you download the map before you leave. The app saves a copy of the map area directly onto your phone. When you arrive with no signal, the map is already there.
You need a Wi-Fi connection to download. Your home Wi-Fi before a trip, or your hotel Wi-Fi before a day out, both work fine.
What works in Google Maps offline and what does not
This matters most at ports of call on a small-ship cruise, where ship WiFi and mobile signal are both often unreliable.
Before you rely on offline maps, know what the feature covers. The table below is based on Google’s own support pages at support.google.com/maps, verified June 2026.
| Works without a data connection | Does not work without a data connection |
|---|---|
| Viewing the downloaded map area | Bus, train, tram, and metro directions |
| Your GPS location (the blue dot on the map) | Cycling directions |
| Turn-by-turn driving directions | Walking directions |
| Searching for addresses and landmarks in the downloaded area | Live traffic conditions |
| Viewing places you saved before going offline | Alternate route suggestions based on traffic |
Turn-by-turn driving directions work fully offline. If you are traveling by car or taxi, offline maps handle this without any connection.
Walking directions do not work offline. If you plan to walk between places, check your route while you still have a connection and note the key turns. You can also save specific destinations in Google Maps before you go offline. They appear as pins on the map even without a connection.
Public transport routes, timetables, and live tracking all require an internet connection. If you are using buses or trains, note the route details while you have Wi-Fi, or use your transport operator’s own app, which may have its own offline option.
What you need before you download
You need two things before you can download an offline map.
- A Google account. You must be signed in to Google Maps with your Google account. If you do not have one, you can create one free at google.com. Without a Google account, the offline download option does not appear.
- A Wi-Fi connection. Map files for a city or region can be several hundred megabytes. Download over Wi-Fi, not mobile data. The app shows you the exact file size before you confirm, so you can see what storage it will use.
Checking available storage on your phone
Large map files need free space on your phone. Check before you download.
- On an iPhone or iPad: go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). The bar at the top shows how much space is used and how much is free.
- On an Android phone or tablet: go to Settings, then Storage. The exact label varies by phone model, but the Storage section is found under Settings on all Android devices.
How to download Google Maps offline before your trip
On an iPhone or iPad
- Open the Google Maps app. If you do not have it, download it free from the App Store.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Google account inside the app. Offline downloads are not available in Incognito mode.
- Type your destination in the search bar. For example: Lisbon, Rome, or Cape Town city centre.
- Tap the name or address that appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap More. It appears as three dots or as the word More, depending on your app version.
- Tap Download offline map, then tap Download.
- A box appears showing the area the app will save. Drag the edges to cover a larger or smaller area. Tap Download to confirm.
On an Android phone or tablet
- Open the Google Maps app. If you do not have it, download it free from Google Play.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Google account inside the app.
- Type your destination in the search bar.
- At the bottom of the screen, swipe right on the information panel that appears.
- Tap More, then Download offline map, then Download.
- Adjust the area box to cover what you need, then tap Download to confirm.
Choosing how much area to download
Download more than you think you need. If your route crosses the edge of the downloaded area, directions stop at that boundary.
- For a city visit: include the full city plus the areas just beyond its edges, in case you travel further than planned.
- For a road trip with multiple stops: download each region as a separate map and make the areas overlap slightly. Overlapping areas prevent gaps in coverage.
- You can save more than one offline map at a time, so download every area you need before you leave.
- Larger areas use more storage. The app shows you the file size before you confirm. Check your free space first.
Managing your saved offline maps in Google Maps
To find your downloaded maps, tap your profile photo or initial in the top right corner of Google Maps, then tap Offline maps. You will see every map you have saved. From here you can rename a map, update it, or delete it.
Keeping maps current
Offline maps save a copy of road and address data at the time of download. Roads change, new places open, and an older map may not show those updates.
Google Maps warns you when a saved map is approaching its expiry date. When the warning appears and your phone is on Wi-Fi, the app tries to update the map automatically. You can also update a map manually by going to Offline maps, selecting the map, and tapping Update.
To turn on automatic updates: tap your profile photo, tap Offline maps, tap the Settings icon at the top right, then turn on Auto-update offline maps.
Verified from Google’s support page: the auto-update runs when a map’s expiry date is within 15 days and the phone is connected to Wi-Fi. Google does not publish the exact expiry period on its support pages. Check your maps are current before each trip rather than relying on a fixed number of days.
Setting maps to download over Wi-Fi only
By default, Google Maps may update offline maps over mobile data if Wi-Fi is not available. To prevent unplanned data use, set the app to download and update maps over Wi-Fi only.
Tap your profile photo, tap Offline maps, tap the Settings icon at the top right, then turn on Download over Wi-Fi only. This prevents any offline map download or update from using your mobile data.
Using Google Maps offline once you arrive
Open Google Maps as you normally would. No special mode, no separate menu. When your phone is in the downloaded area and has no mobile connection, the app switches to the saved map automatically.
Your blue location dot still works. GPS uses satellites, not a mobile network, so your position shows correctly even when your phone has no signal at all.
To get driving directions, tap the search bar, type your destination, then tap Directions. The app calculates a route from the downloaded map and gives you spoken turn-by-turn instructions as you drive.
Set your destination while you still have a Wi-Fi or mobile connection if you can. The app calculates the route with current road data before you go offline.
Countries where Google Maps offline downloads are not available
Google Maps offline downloads are not available everywhere. Google states on its support pages that this is due to contractual, language, or technical reasons specific to certain regions. If you try to download a map for a restricted area, the app tells you directly that the download is not available there.
If this happens, you need a different navigation app for that destination. Maps.me, HERE WeGo, and Apple Maps on Apple devices each allow you to download map data for offline use. Check the specific app’s instructions for your destination before you travel.
Common Google Maps offline problems and how to fix them
The download option does not appear
Check that you are signed in to your Google account inside the app. Also check that you are not in Incognito mode. Either one prevents the download option from appearing.
The map shows as expired
Tap your profile photo, tap Offline maps, select the map, then tap Update. You need a Wi-Fi connection to complete the update.
Directions stop partway through a journey
Your route left the boundary of the area you downloaded. Go to Offline maps, select the area, and download a larger region that covers your full route from beginning to end.
The app requests an internet connection inside the downloaded area
Close Google Maps fully and reopen it. If you are within the downloaded area, the app switches to the offline map. If it does not, delete the map and download it again over Wi-Fi.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use Google Maps offline?
Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Google account inside the Google Maps app. Search for your destination, tap More, then tap Download offline map. Once the download finishes, Google Maps switches to the saved map automatically whenever your phone has no signal.
Does Google Maps work without internet?
Yes, but only for what you have downloaded in advance. Viewing the saved map, your GPS location, and turn-by-turn driving directions all work with no connection. Walking directions, public transport routes, and live traffic do not, based on Google’s own support pages.
Why is my Google Maps showing as offline?
Usually because the saved map has expired rather than anything being broken. Google auto-updates a downloaded map when it is within 15 days of expiring and your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. If you are not on Wi-Fi during that window, the map lapses. Check Offline maps and tap Update before you travel to avoid this.
Does Google Maps offline work for walking directions?
No. Google’s own help page says that when you are offline, “transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable.” You can still open the downloaded map and use it to find your way on foot. If you plan to walk a lot, look up your route on Wi-Fi before you leave your hotel.
Does Google Maps show my location offline?
Yes. Your phone’s GPS does not need mobile data or Wi-Fi to find where you are. Google’s Android help explains that without its extra location service, the phone uses GPS and its own sensors alone. This can be slower and less accurate, so give the blue dot a moment to settle.
Can I get driving directions offline?
Yes, as long as the whole route is inside the area you downloaded. Google says your offline maps “can guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.” Live traffic and alternate routes come back once you are online again.
Before your next trip
- Make sure you are signed in to Google Maps with your Google account.
- Check that your phone has enough free storage for the map.
- Open Google Maps, search for your destination, and download the offline map over Wi-Fi.
- Make the downloaded area larger than your planned route, including any day trips.
- Turn on auto-update and set downloads to Wi-Fi only in the Offline maps settings.
- Before you leave, put your phone in aeroplane mode for a moment. Your blue dot and the downloaded map should still appear. If they do, the download worked correctly.
Two more things worth setting up before you go. See how to set up an eSIM before your trip so your phone works abroad, and how to video call your family while traveling without the confusion.
For more step-by-step help with your phone and apps, see our Tech for Travelers guides.