Download a map area before you lose signal
Google Maps lets you save a map region to your phone so you can navigate without internet. Once downloaded, you can search for addresses, get directions, and see street view in that area even when you have no signal. The map stays on your phone until you delete it, and you can download multiple regions.
The process takes about five minutes and works on both Android and iPhone. You need a Google account and enough phone storage for the map file — most areas take 50 to 200 megabytes depending on size and detail level.
Key Takeaways
- Open Google Maps, search for a city or region, and tap the name at the bottom to open its details panel.
- Tap the three dots next to the place name and select "Download" to save that map area to your phone.
- Downloaded maps work for navigation, search, and directions but do not include real-time traffic or transit schedules.
- You can download up to 50 map regions per Google account, and each download stays on your phone until you manually delete it.
- Offline maps work best for cities and regions; very large areas like entire states may not download or may be too large to store.
Steps to download a map on Android
Open the Google Maps app and search for the city or area you want to download. Type the name in the search box at the top — for example, "Denver" or "San Francisco." Tap the search result to open that location.
At the bottom of the screen, you will see a panel with the place name and a preview of the map. Tap the place name to expand the full details panel. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of that panel and tap it. Select "Download" from the menu that appears.
A dialog box will appear asking you to select the map area. You will see a rectangle outline on the map showing what will be downloaded. Pinch and drag to adjust the rectangle size and position if needed — make it smaller to save storage space, or larger to cover more ground. Tap "Download" to save the map to your phone. The download usually takes one to three minutes depending on area size and your internet speed.
Steps to download a map on iPhone
Open Google Maps and search for the city or region you want. Type the name in the search box and tap the result. The place details will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the place name to open the full details panel. Scroll down and tap "Download." A map selection screen will appear with a rectangle showing the area that will be saved. You can adjust the rectangle by dragging its edges or corners to make it larger or smaller. Once you are satisfied with the area, tap "Download" to save it. The process takes one to three minutes.
What you can and cannot do with offline maps
Offline maps let you navigate to an address, search for nearby places like restaurants or gas stations, and view street view photos. Turn-by-turn directions work the same way as they do online — just tap a destination and follow the route. You can zoom in and out, pan around, and see the same map detail as you would with internet.
Offline maps do not show real-time traffic, transit schedules, or ride-sharing options like Uber or Lyft. You cannot see live location updates from other people, and you cannot report accidents or road hazards. If you need current traffic conditions or public transit times, you will need an internet connection for those features.
How to find and manage your downloaded maps
To see all your downloaded maps, open Google Maps and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Offline maps" from the menu. You will see a list of every map region you have saved, along with the date you downloaded it and how much storage it uses.
To delete a map, tap it in the list and select "Delete." This frees up phone storage immediately. To update a map with newer information, tap it and select "Update." Google Maps will check for changes and download them if available — this usually takes a few minutes. You can download up to 50 map regions per Google account, though most people use far fewer.
Choosing the right map size and area
When you adjust the download rectangle, think about how much ground you actually need. A single city neighborhood might be 10 to 30 megabytes. A whole city like Boston or Seattle is usually 100 to 200 megabytes. An entire state or region larger than that may not download at all, or the file may be too large for your phone to store.
If you are traveling to a new city, download the downtown area and any neighborhoods where you plan to spend time. If you are driving through multiple cities, download each one separately rather than trying to cover the entire route in one map. This keeps file sizes manageable and makes it easier to update individual regions later.
Troubleshooting common download problems
If a download fails or gets stuck, close the Google Maps app completely and try again. Make sure you have a strong internet connection — downloading over weak WiFi or slow mobile data can cause timeouts. If the area is too large, make the download rectangle smaller and try again.
If you see a message that you have reached the 50-map limit, delete maps you no longer need before downloading new ones. If an offline map is not working after you download it, try updating it — tap the map in your offline list and select "Update." If the map still does not work, delete it and download it again from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do offline maps use my phone's data or battery?
Offline maps use neither data nor extra battery once downloaded. They work exactly like any other app on your phone. The only battery drain is the screen staying on while you navigate, which happens whether you are using offline or online maps.
Can I download a map for a whole country or state?
Very large areas usually will not download. Google Maps limits each offline map to a reasonable file size — typically a few hundred megabytes at most. For a road trip across multiple states, download individual cities and regions along your route instead of trying to cover everything at once.
How often do offline maps update?
Offline maps do not update automatically. You can manually update any downloaded map by opening your offline maps list, tapping the map, and selecting "Update." Google Maps will download any changes to roads, businesses, or landmarks in that area. Updates usually take a few minutes.
What happens if I delete the Google Maps app?
Your offline maps are stored within the Google Maps app, so deleting the app also deletes all your downloaded maps. If you reinstall Google Maps later, your offline maps will be gone and you will need to download them again.
Can I share an offline map with someone else?
No, offline maps are tied to your Google account and phone. Other people cannot access your downloaded maps. They would need to download the same regions to their own phones using their own Google accounts.