Tips: Use Google Maps offline during traveling abroad

[:ja]瓜生原[:][:en]Takumi[:] [:ja]琢実[:][:en]Uriuhara[:]

by Takumi Uriuhara

You can use Google Maps offline!

The way to use Google Maps offline
Recently, it’s getting easy to get SIM Free smartphone. If you have a SIM Free smartphone, you can browse the internet abroad just switching your SIM card to a local SIM card though, if your smartphone is locked, you can’t use 3G and 4G abroad and it’s inconvenient.

I think that those who have a SIM-locked smartphone have experienced that have been forced to use paper maps abroad and be struggled to arrive at the destination.

It is good news for you. Actually, you can use Google Maps even when you are in abroad and you are offline.
In this article, I’ll introduce how to use Google Maps without internet.
If you remember just this, you will never get lost abroad!

The way to use Google Maps offline

Before I explain the way to use Google Maps offline, I’ll explain why Google Maps can be used without the internet.

The reason why you can use Google Maps without the internet is that Google Maps is working on GPS. Without the internet, you can’t use features such as route guidance but there is no problem for the purpose of “Get to the destination without getting lost”. (In some regions, you can use route guidance offline, like Jakarta)

The GPS function can be used even when mobile data communication can not be used in the Airplane Mode, so the current location is displayed properly. That’s why you can use Google Maps even if you are offline.

So let’s get started to explain how to get to the destination with Google Maps even if you are offline.
There are three steps to get to the destination as follows.

  1. Open Google Maps and Download the map to your destination in advance
  2. Add star on your destination on Google Maps
  3. Go to your destination while watching the current location on Google Maps

1. Open Google Maps and Download the map to your destination in advance
When you are offline, you can use GPS though you can’t download the map data anymore.
So download the map to your destination beforehand at your hotel or where you can use Free WiFi.
It is OK if you can see the map from your current location to your destination.

2. Add star on your destination to save
Once you have downloaded the map to your destination, let’s add star on the destination as a landmark like the image below.

Add star on your destination as a landmark

3. Go to your destination while watching the current location on Google Maps
One you have added star on your destination, all that is left is going to your destination.

I tried using Google Maps offline actual

I have explained how to use Google Maps offline so far, but I think some people are wondering “can you really use Google Maps offline?”
So I tried this method in Siem Reap, Cambodia actual. I will report how it was with images.

I tried using Google Maps offline on the route from a cafe “Joe to Go” to a bar “The Yellow Sub”.

First of all, I downloaded the map to the destination “The Yellow Sub” with WiFi at Joe to Go.

Download the map to the destination before departing

Tapped the store name displayed at the bottom of the image above and saved the destination with a star.
When I tapped the store name, detailed information of the shop like the next image came out.

Detailed information of the shop

Clicked “SAVE” and saved the destination. When I tapped the map and closed the detailed information of the store, the star was attached under the pin. Saving the destination was now completed.

Add star and save the destination

The preparation was over.

It worked even without the internet

You can see if you see the upper left of the image above, even in the airplane mode the current location was properly displayed like this.

Turn left at the next corner

Turned left at the next corner,

Go straight the alley

Went straight this alley…

Got to the destination with Google Maps offline

Although the location didn’t fit perfectly with the star because of the accuracy of the GPS, even I couldn’t use the internet, I successfully reached the destination using Google Maps!

Summary

If you download the map data to the destination beforehand, Google Maps can be used offline as well.
If you are not good at using paper maps please try it next time you go abroad.

Please be careful not to catch a traffic accident because of watching your smartphone.

By the way

I’m using Google Maps offline so much, there are lots of stars on my Google Maps lol.

Lots of start on Google Maps

Find a Column

Latest Offers from Local Startups

Work with Cambodian Entreprener

Latest Offers from Foreign Startups

Work with Visionary Entreprener

Find a Job at a Startup

Find an Experience