Download a map area before you lose signal
Google Maps lets you save a map of any area to your phone so you can view it, search it, and get directions even when you have no internet connection. The downloaded map stays on your device until you delete it, and you can download as many areas as your phone's storage allows.
This works on both Android and iPhone. The steps are nearly identical, though the menu names differ slightly between the two. Downloaded maps expire after 30 days — Google Maps will remind you when one is about to disappear, and you can refresh it with a single tap.
Key Takeaways
- Open Google Maps, find the area you want to save, and tap your profile picture or the menu button to find the download option.
- Downloaded maps expire after 30 days, but you can refresh them instantly from the same menu where you downloaded them.
- Your phone's storage limits how many maps you can save — a typical city-sized area takes 50 to 200 megabytes depending on detail level.
- Downloaded maps work for viewing and searching, but some features like real-time traffic and certain business information will not appear without internet.
Download a map on Android
Open Google Maps and navigate to the area you want to save. Zoom in or out until the map shows roughly the region you need — a neighborhood, a city, or a larger area. The download size depends on how much detail you include, so start with what you actually need.
Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. A menu will open. Select Offline maps. On the next screen, tap Select your own map. Google Maps will show you the current view with a blue rectangle around it. Drag the corners and edges of this rectangle to adjust the area you want to download. The size in megabytes appears at the bottom of the screen.
Once the rectangle covers what you need, tap Download. Google Maps will save the map to your phone. This can take a few minutes depending on the area size and your internet speed. You can close the app while it downloads — the process continues in the background.
Download a map on iPhone
Open Google Maps and navigate to the area you want to save. Adjust the zoom level so the map shows the region you need. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
Select Offline maps from the menu. Tap Select your own map. A blue rectangle will appear around the current view. Adjust the rectangle's corners and edges to cover the area you want to download. The file size displays at the bottom.
Tap Download. The map will save to your phone in the background. Like Android, this process continues even if you close the app or lock your screen.
What you can and cannot do with a downloaded map
Downloaded maps let you view the street layout, search for locations by name or address, and get turn-by-turn directions. You can zoom in and out, and the map will show you where you are using your phone's GPS — GPS works without internet.
Downloaded maps do not show real-time traffic, live transit information, or current business hours and phone numbers. You also cannot see satellite or street view imagery. If you need any of these features, you will need an internet connection. Some business details like reviews and photos will not appear offline either.
Refresh or delete a downloaded map
Google Maps reminds you when a downloaded map is about to expire — usually around day 25 of the 30-day window. Open the app, tap your profile picture, and select Offline maps. You will see a list of all your downloaded maps with their expiration dates.
To refresh a map before it expires, tap it and select Update. The refresh takes a few minutes and replaces the old version with the newest map data. To delete a map you no longer need, tap it and select Delete. This frees up storage space on your phone immediately.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or get stuck
If a download stalls or fails, check that you have a stable internet connection — WiFi is faster and more reliable than mobile data for large downloads. If you are on mobile data, move closer to your phone's signal source or switch to WiFi.
If the download still fails, force-close Google Maps completely. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Google Maps > Force stop. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app fully, then reopen it. Try the download again. If your phone is low on storage space, delete photos, videos, or other apps to free up room, then retry.
Very large map areas sometimes fail on the first attempt. Try downloading a smaller area instead — break a large region into two or three overlapping sections. You can have multiple downloaded maps active at the same time.
How much storage space you will need
A typical city neighborhood takes 50 to 150 megabytes. A whole city might take 200 to 500 megabytes. A large region or multiple cities can use a gigabyte or more. The exact size depends on how much map detail Google includes for that area and how much you zoom in when you set the download boundary.
Before you download, check your phone's available storage. On Android, go to Settings > Storage. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you are running low, delete old downloads you no longer need or remove photos and videos you have backed up elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download maps for multiple cities at once?
Yes. You can have as many downloaded maps as your phone's storage allows. Each one counts toward your total storage use, so a phone with 64 gigabytes of space can hold many more maps than a phone with 32 gigabytes. Download them one at a time using the same process.
Do I need to be connected to WiFi to download a map?
No, but WiFi is much faster and more reliable. Mobile data works, but large downloads can be slow and may fail if your signal drops. If you are downloading a large area, WiFi is worth waiting for.
What happens if I travel outside my downloaded map area?
Google Maps will switch to the online map if you have internet. If you do not have internet, the app will show you only the downloaded area and will not display regions outside it. Download overlapping maps if you plan to travel across a larger region.
Can I share a downloaded map with someone else?
No. Downloaded maps are stored only on your device and cannot be transferred to another phone or shared through email or messaging apps. Other people must download the same area on their own devices.
Will my downloaded map update automatically?
No. Maps expire after 30 days and must be refreshed manually. Google sends a notification when a map is about to expire, but you have to open the app and tap Update yourself. The refresh downloads the newest map data for that area.