Download Google Directions Offline Android
Erinn Hickel
When I had an iPhone, I was able to view my location even when offline. This was very useful for directions, as I could download an offline Google Map and figure out where I was. Now I can't seem to do that with my Android-- even with Location enabled, the location dot stubbornly stays gray (unless I connect to WiFi).
There is actually a Google Maps Offline version app you can download. I always had problems getting directions with google maps on devices that didn't have cellular connections, I now use one of my old smartphones as a dedicated GPS for my car.
"When using the Google Maps API, certain restrictions may apply. Google continually updates the imagery within Maps; thus, caching may result in stale or even impermissible imagery. You may also not mass download or use bulk feeds of any Content, including but not limited to extracting numerical latitude or longitude coordinates, geocoding, text-based directions, imagery, visible map data, or Places data (including business listings) for use in other applications."
Google maps introduced last month (November 2015) the offline mode, does not only download the map, but also the different locations (images, tiles, etc) within. Even if downloading just the maps is possible since 2012, maybe the introduction of offline features can change their perspective over their offline assets terms, but until they do not change their permissions agreement, it is just speculation.
What I want is to display a simple offline map using OpenStreetMap. I cannot find in the web the right tools to create map tiles and use it to display a map in Android. I have downloaded different resources but it seems that I don't have any idea where to start. I want to integrate images from OpenStreetMap using JOSM but i don't know if I can use it on Android.
Alternatively to map tiles you can also use vector data for your offline map, for example mapsforge or the Mapbox Android SDK. For more information consult the OSM wiki about offline OSM and Android libraries.
Quick tip: Downloaded maps do expire. According to Google, you have up to 15 days after you dow load it before it's automatically deleted. Make sure you update the directions on Google Maps during that time frame.
4. Tap Download twice. Or, if you searched for a place like a restaurant, you'll have to also tap More and then Download offline map followed by Download.
You can find downloaded Google maps within the app's Offline Maps section. By tapping into the listed offline maps, you'll have the option to delete them, rename areas (via the edit function), or update them.
Hi there, I'm heading to Portugal in the near future, and I'm trying to determine if there's an Android GPS app that I can use for turn-by-turn WALKING navigation while on airplane mode. It seems to me that most apps will be able to plot a route, but won't do turn-by-turn walking when they're offline fully; they require a temporary data connection to initiate the turn-by-turn navigation, even if the map data has been downloaded ahead of time for the navigation area.
Eventually, after hours of trying different roads, we managed to get to our cabin, but we could have avoided all that trouble by simply downloading Google Maps offline (and also by not taking that "shortcut"). Even without internet service, Google Maps can still help you navigate where you need to go -- you just have to download the correct map.
To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps application on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map.
Note: Alternatively, you can type a city or other area into Google Maps and then hit the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to download the map offline, but this only works on the iPhone.
You must be connected to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to download over cellular, go to the Offline maps page, tap the gear icon on the top right, tap When to download offline maps and select Over Wi-Fi or mobile network. Once your map is downloaded, you'll be sent back to the Offline maps page, where you can see all your offline maps.
Now you'll be able to use Google Maps even when you're offline in the area you downloaded -- and in that area only. You won't get extremely accurate travel times or alternate route options because traffic and other road issues are not accounted for, but you will get a general ballpark of how long your trip should take. Transit, bicycling and walking directions are also not available offline -- only driving directions.
If you don't care about using your own data source and want to rapidly implement custom (not google/apple) maps into your project - there are dozens of solutions for you as well. You could think of Mapbox, Scobbler, GetYourMap or, again, just google it to find more. There is actually a great article on OSM website about most popular libraries and apps for android ever developed.
Offline maps are great additions to your smartphone arsenal. You can't always rely on network access or Wi-Fi, and the last thing you want is to find yourself lost in a new area with no reception. To save you from calamity in far-flung regions, here are the best free offline maps on Android.
Of course, no offline maps list would be complete without mentioning the fact that Google Maps allows you to download maps for offline usage too. Since its most recent update, the Google Maps offline functionality is better than ever, maintaining its great navigation system even without the internet.
The best thing about Google Maps offline is that most people are already very familiar with it and have it on their phones already. All you have to do is go to the Google Maps settings, hit Offline areas and start adding them. These will remain available for the next 30 days, after which they are automatically deleted.
Offering free offline global maps based on OpenStreetMap data, Maps.Me has all the essentials covered: clear, easy to read maps (including street numbers) with just the right level of detail, searchable points of interest and addresses, offline navigation, location sharing, and no roaming charges or need for online data transfer. This app is a one-stop offline map solution. It's also the easiest to use and nicest looking.
I came across OSMand a long time ago and was floored by its offline navigation possibilities. While many offline maps allow routing these days, OSMand has been doing it well for a long time. Based on the same OpenStreetMap data as Maps.Me, OSMand provides the same level of accuracy in a very different package. If anything, it provides a little too much map data.
OSMand offers rich offline navigation, including turn-by-turn voice guidance, re-routing and search. OSMand comes in both a free and paid version. The free version limits you to 10 map downloads (one of which must be the world base map) and some map add-ons, such as like contour lines, need to be paid for. Others, such as trip recording, audio/video notes and distance calculator, simply need to be enabled.
Nokia's HERE Maps is a great addition to the Android offline map apps family. It's a very different experience to most Android maps and you'll need to register if you want to download maps for offline use. Once you've done that, you'll be able to download unlimited free offline maps.
HERE offers turn-by-turn navigation, search, satellite and traffic imagery, and an altogether different feel to an offline map. You can even set HERE to stay offline, so that it doesn't suddenly start consuming data again. If you're looking for a fresh take on offline maps, especially one that looks different from the others, give HERE a try.
Locus Map Free, as clumsily named ass it is, is a cracking free maps app for those who love the great outdoors. You can use Locus to plan, edit, record and save trips, as well as share them with your friends and family. It features geocaching, meaning you can download maps for offline use. There's also an audio coach for sports tracking, live tracking like you can do in WhatsApp to show somewhere where you are, and smart GPS technology that saves you battery life.
Bonus tip: Did you know you can quite often find offline maps for a specific city in the Play Store too? You can also download zoom-able PDFs for transit, city streets or points of interest for most major travel destinations in the world. They're a great alternative to occasionally rather large offline maps if storage space is at a premium.
I've used it with no issues in the British isles, Ireland, Norway, and all over the USA. I've had no trouble plotting driving directions and routes and listening to it tell me where to go. If you're going to be in the middle of nowhere without wifi I consider it indispensable.
Adam, it has been a while since i have used Google Maps offline. But when i did i found it a bit awkward having to highlight areas that i wanted to use off line. I was always worried that i may have missed something by not covering all the areas or failing to zoom in enough. On the other hand, the more you zoomed in, the more layers of information get downloaded. I could care less about getting a writeup on every single restaurant in a city that I was only going to be visiting half a day. I just preferred not fiddling with offline Google Maps.
I read the great reviews about City Maps to Go. I downloaded it and have tried to work with it, but neither I, nor any of my friends (nor our children) can get a handle on it. Is maps.me easier to work with? If not, is there anyone out there who has figured out how to work with the city maps. I downloaded a map of Milan, but can figure out how to get it to show the streets level nor how to find directions from one place to another.
thank you
Lori