Is Google Maps not working on your Android device? Here’s what you can try to fix it.
Google Maps is the default application that is already installed on Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Sony, Samsung, Realme, etc. Android phones.
But in some devices, the app very often encounters a problem or there is some kind of bug that causes it to stop working.
How to Fix Google Maps Not Working Error on Android
Is Google Maps not working properly on your Android device? There are various reasons why this happened.
It’s possible that the location accuracy option is disabled, you’re using an older version of the app, or you don’t have proper access to the internet.
The Google Maps app itself may also have issues. Cache files and other app data can sometimes cause various problems with apps.
Fortunately, there are many ways to solve Maps app problems on your Android phone. Here, I will show you how to troubleshoot Google Maps for Android.
1. Enable Location Accuracy
One of the problems you can experience with Google Maps is that the app does not show your accurate location. This usually happens if you disable the location accuracy option on your Android device.
After you enable the option, Maps should be able to show your correct location.
To improve your location accuracy:
- Select your profile picture on the top right, then select Settings from the menu.
- Scroll down the Settings screen and tap Google location settings.
- On the Location screen, tap Google Location Accuracy.
- Turn the switch at the top to the On position.
Now launch Google Maps again and it should be able to detect your accurate location.
2. Turn off the Wi-Fi Only Option
If you’re having issues with Google Maps not updating your map data, it’s likely that you’ve enabled the Wi-Fi only option in the app.
If this option is enabled, Maps will only download new data when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. It will not update anything when you are using mobile data.
To fix this problem, simply turn off the Wi-Fi only option in the Maps app on your Android device:
- Open Google Maps on your Android device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the upper right corner and select Settings.
- On the Settings screen, turn off the Wi-Fi Only option.
- Close Settings and return to the main Maps screen.
It will now start consuming your mobile data, so make sure you have a large enough data allowance if you use the app a lot.
3. Check your Internet Connection
As you may already know, Google Maps requires access to the internet to download and update maps.
If your map isn’t updating or you’re not getting real-time data, it’s possible that your phone has lost connection to the internet, or your phone’s internet is too slow.
In this case, make sure there is an active internet connection on your Android device.
To check if your phone is having internet problems open a web browser like Google Chrome on your phone and try to access any website.
If the site loads fine, your internet is working. If the site fails to load, there is a problem with your internet connection.
In this case, try rebooting your phone, or contact your internet provider. Or, Google Maps may be down.
Check this via the Google Maps platform status page to see if Google Maps is down for everyone or just you.
4. Calibrate Google Maps
On Google Maps, your location is displayed with a blue dot. If the dot file is too wide, Maps will have a little trouble determining your location.
To fix this, recalibrate the Google Maps application on your cellphone. You can do this as follows:
- Open the Google Maps application on your Android device
- Move your phone in the direction that draws the number 8. Do this a few times.
- The blue dot beam will get narrower when you recalibrate the app. This is an easy and simple Google Maps trick.
5. Clear Google Maps Cache and Data
One of the many reasons Google Maps won’t work is because of its cache and system files.
The Maps application stores certain temporary data on your Android device.
While this usually speeds up performance, this data eventually gets too large and sometimes starts causing problems with apps.
In that case, you can safely delete the app’s data and see if that makes Maps work again.
Note that clearing cache and data does not delete the actual Maps app on your device.
Here’s how to clear Maps data:
- Open the Settings application on your Android device.
- Tap Apps & notifications in Settings.
- Select Maps in the application list. If you don’t see it, tap See all apps.
- On the Map screen, tap the Storage & cache option.
- Tap Clear cache, then tap Clear storage.
- Launch the Maps app and it should now work again.
6. Update the Google Maps App
Whatever the case may be, you should keep the Maps app on your Android device up to date.
Older versions of apps often have lots of issues, which are fixed in newer versions.
If you are using an older version of the Maps application, consider updating the application.
Android devices usually automatically update all installed apps unless you have disabled the automatic update option.
In this case, you can update Maps manually as follows:
- Launch Google Play Store on your device.
- Search for Google Maps and tap on the search results.
- On the app page, tap Update to update the app.
- Open the app when it is fully updated.
7. Use Google Maps Go
Recently, many application developers have released light versions of their applications.
These apps consume less resources and usually work faster than the original apps on low resource devices.
Google is no exception, and has also released a lite version of the original Google Maps app, called Google Maps Go.
With this version of the application, you can still find directions to various places but without too many resources draining from your smartphone.
When Google Maps doesn’t work on your Android device, we recommend moving to a lighter version of the app called Google Maps Go.
Especially if you have an older or slower device. This app works pretty much the same as the original Maps app, so there’s nothing app-specific you need to learn here.
Conclusion
Like any other application, Google Maps also suffers hiccups from time to time. However, this problem should not prevent you from using the app.
If you have ever faced problems with Google Maps on your Android device, please follow some of the tips from saparapi.id above. Good luck.
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