{"id":82996,"date":"2021-12-28T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/?p=82996"},"modified":"2024-05-31T01:44:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T05:44:33","slug":"how-to-download-maps-on-google-maps-for-offline-viewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/how-to-download-maps-on-google-maps-for-offline-viewing\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Download Maps on Google Maps for Offline Viewing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google Maps is an amazing navigational resource and one of the most popular mapping apps in use across the world. Its one weak point is that it requires an active internet connection to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One workaround to keep Google Maps working for you when you travel to locations where there\u2019s no cellular data is to download maps for offline viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can do this on your laptop (if you plan to take your laptop with you traveling), or this is an embedded feature<\/a> using the Google Maps mobile app for iOS<\/a> or Android<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download Google Maps for Offline Viewing via the Browser<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can download maps on Google Maps for offline viewing<\/a> from the browser. However, this feature isn\u2019t built-in as a one-click option. It requires a workaround using custom maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download Your Map in KML\/KMZ Format<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This solution involves downloading a Google Map location in KML\/KMZ format. You can then use any map client (like Google Earth<\/a>) that can view this map format to use your map offline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Open Google Maps<\/a> and log into your Google account. Open the Google Maps menu and select Your places<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. This will take you to your list of saved places. Select Maps<\/strong> from the menu to view your list of custom maps that you\u2019ve created. This will be blank if you haven\u2019t created any. Select Create Map<\/strong> to create a new custom map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. On the next map, use the search field to find the location you want to travel to. Select the blue magnifying glass button to find that location on the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Select Add to map<\/strong> next to the location pin. This will place the location on the left pane. It will be located outside of any existing layer. You\u2019ll need to add the location to a layer before you can export it as an offline map. Select the +<\/strong> icon next to that location to add it to an existing untitled layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Next you can export the map for offline use. Select the three dots to the right of the map name to open the menu. Select Export to KML\/KMZ<\/strong> from the menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note<\/strong>: Make sure you\u2019ve zoomed out the map to the level of detail you\u2019d like to include in your offline map before you select the Export option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. On the pop-up window, make sure the dropdown has Entire map<\/strong> selected. Select the Download<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Finally, save the map file to your computer where you\u2019ll remember where to access it when you need to use it offline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

View Your Offline Map on Your Computer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The most common map client that can read KML or KMZ files is Google Earth. Launch Google Earth on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Select File<\/strong> from the menu and select Open<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Browse to and select the KML\/KMZ file that you previously saved. You\u2019ll see the location appear in the left navigation pane in Google Earth under Temporary Places<\/strong>. Select this location and Google Earth will open that map in satellite view in the right window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can now use this map for navigation even if you\u2019re not connected to the internet. Using this approach with your laptop, you can stop anywhere along your route and check your map for navigation. If you don\u2019t have a smartphone to use Google Offline Maps, this is a good alternative solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do have a smartphone with the Google Maps app installed, then move on to the next section to use Google Maps in offline mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download Maps on Google Maps for Mobile Offline Viewing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using offline maps is much easier in the Google Maps mobile app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download Your Map in the Google Maps App<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Using the Google Maps app, you won\u2019t need to deal with KML or KMZ files because the offline viewing feature is embedded right into the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Open the Google Maps app and use the search field to find the location you want to be able to navigate offline. You\u2019ll see the red marker on the map for the location. Tap that marker to see the location details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Select the three dots at the upper right to open the menu. Select Download offline map<\/strong>. On the next confirmation window, select the Download<\/strong> button. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This will download the map inside the blue frame to your phone\u2019s local storage for viewing offline later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

View Offline Google Maps in the Mobile App<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After you\u2019ve downloaded your offline maps, you can recall them for offline viewing any time inside Google Maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Open the Google Maps app and select your profile image. Select Offline maps<\/strong> from the menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. You\u2019ll see a list of all of the offline maps you\u2019ve saved to your mobile device. Select the three dots to the right of the map you want to view and select View<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. This will open that map in the same navigational view you\u2019re used to seeing in Google Maps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note<\/strong>: If you choose Update from the menu, you\u2019ll see the map with a small section displaying what portion of the overall map you\u2019ve downloaded for offline use. You can adjust the size of this and select Update<\/strong> to download more of the map. Keep in mind you\u2019ll need an internet connection to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When you\u2019re viewing your map in offline mode, you can even search the area for businesses and navigate roads. This is possible because when you previously downloaded the map, the download included all of that information as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downloading Maps on Google Maps for Offline Viewing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do a lot of travel in locations that are remote or otherwise off-the-grid, offline viewing with Google Maps is critical. So whenever you\u2019re planning your next trip, keep this in mind and remember to download all of the areas you’re going to travel to. This will ensure that you\u2019ll never find yourself lost, without any way to navigate your way around.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google Maps is an amazing navigational resource and one of the most popular mapping apps in use across the world. Its one weak point is that it requires an active […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":83009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[5405],"class_list":{"0":"post-82996","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-internet","8":"tag-google-maps"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/google-maps1.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Ryan Dube","author_link":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/author\/rdube\/"},"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t