Google Maps is a very useful online service provided by Google. Using Google Maps, we should be able to find our location anywhere, and plan for our trips ahead. However, as it’s an online service, it does need Internet connection. There might be situations when we need to open a map, but we don’t have Internet connection.

In case you don’t know, Google Maps can indeed be used offline, or at least some of its features. To use it offline, we need to save some areas when we have Internet connection, then later on we can view, pan and zoom the maps without Internet connection. Of course, we can only view maps from areas we have saved before.

To start saving, open Google Maps app in your device, then search some location. I usually search the name of a city that I want to make it available offline. In the picture below, I have searched for Melbourne, VIC, Australia. When Google Maps find the location we searched, it will display the map, along with the name of the location being displayed. Tap on the name of the location, and it will bring a screen similar below:

google-maps-offline-1

Next, what we need to do is to tap on the option “Save map to use offline”. Then we will be given a chance to set the exact area that we want to save. I usually zoom out as much as I can to save wider area. When the area is already too large, the “save” button will disappear. It means we have zoomed out too much. Zoom in a little bit until you find the largest possible area, then tap the save button.

We can also choose to save whatever maps is currently displayed on screen instead of searching for specific place. To do this, type “ok maps” in the search box and hit enter. It will show us the same interface to save maps for offline use.

google-maps-offline-2

We will be asked to put a name for that offline maps. I usually go with city name. One offline map is valid for 30 days. Well, we can still use it offline even after 30 days, but the app will start asking us to “update” the offline data every-time we open it with Internet connection.

To manage the saved maps, we need to tap the icon that looks like a person (only visible in the map view when we don’t search for anything). That button will display our Google ID, our reviews, saved places and offline maps. Scroll down to Offline maps section and tap on “View all and manage”. From this screen, we can delete offline maps, rename or update them (even they are not expired yet).

The small catch of this feature is we can’t use the search function when accessing the maps in offline mode. We also can’t get directions. It is also worth to mention that not all areas are available for offline mode. For example, maps of Japan and Spain can’t be downloaded for offline use.

I have all the cities that I visited frequently in my offline maps list. Theoretically, saving offline maps when we have WiFi internet could also save our data usage when we access the map using cellular connection (3G or 4G). But I haven’t actually tested this theory yet. Let me know if you have tried.

That’s it, nice and simple. Hopefully this guide can be useful for you.