Who is speaking in Google Maps?

To get easy, turn-by-turn navigation to places, use the Google Maps app. Maps shows you directions and uses real-time traffic information to find the best route to your destination.

With voice navigation, you can hear traffic alerts, where to turn, which lane to use, and if there's a better route.

Important: Navigation and info about which lane to use aren't available in all countries, regions, and languages. Oversized or emergency vehicles aren't the intended users of navigation.

What you need to use navigation

On your phone or tablet:

• Turn on your GPS.
• Let Google Maps use your current location and audio speakers.

Start or stop navigation

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. Search for a place or tap it on the map.
3. At the bottom left, tap Directions. If you touch and hold the button instead, you’ll start navigation and can skip steps 4 through 6. Learn how to add more destinations.
4. Choose your mode of transportation.
5. If other routes are available, they'll show in gray on the map. To follow an alternate route, tap the gray line.
6. To start navigation, tap Start
   
   . If you see “Searching for GPS,” your phone is trying to get a GPS signal. For example, you might be in or near a tunnel, parking garage, or other location where there’s no GPS signal.
7. To stop or cancel navigation, go to the bottom left and tap Close
   
   .

Tips:

• You can see traffic info, public transit options, and local places of interest in just a few seconds. Learn more about nearby places and travel.
• To find the map from your point of view, tap the compass.
• Learn how to add a shortcut to get directions to a place you travel to often, like work or home.

Find more actions while navigating

To find more actions while you’re navigating to a place, go to the information card at the bottom of the screen and swipe up. To hide the menu, swipe down on the information card.

Hear voice directions

When you navigate to a place, you can hear voice directions. Learn how to fix voice navigation problems.

Change the volume level

Mute, unmute, or hear alerts

Mute voice directions during phone calls

If you get a phone call while navigating somewhere, you can answer the call, but you’ll hear voice directions unless you mute it.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap your profile picture or initial
   
   
   Settings
   
   
   Navigation settings.
3. Turn on or off "Play voice during phone calls."

Change the voice

You might be able to switch to another voice from your phone or tablet's text-to-speech settings.

1. Go to your phone or tablet's settings app.
2. Tap Language and input.
3. Tap Text-to-speech output.
4. Under "Preferred engine," select another text-to-speech option.
5. Voice navigation uses the voice you select. This changes the voice in other apps too.

Change the language

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap your Profile picture or initial
   
   
   Settings
   
   
   Navigation settings.
3. Under "Sound & voice," tap Voice selection.
4. Select a language.

More things you can do with navigation

Report traffic alerts

Report speed cameras & traffic accidents

To help improve Maps for yourself and others, you can share information along your route. You can report:

Note: Only make a report if it's safe to do so.

Add a report

1. Open the Google Maps app .
2. Start navigation.
3. Tap Report
   
   
   Choose an option.
4. A report appears on the map where you were on your route. The report will be anonymous.

Find alerts from others

If someone else reported something, you’ll find it on the map as you move closer. Depending on your alert settings, you may also hear a warning.

When you reach the alert, you’ll find a prompt that asks “Is this still here?” To let others know if the report is still true, tap Yes or No.

Tips for saving battery life when using navigation

Your battery is used faster with navigation because Maps uses these things from your phone or tablet:

• Your current location
• Your screen
• Your speakers

Battery-saving tips

• Use a power adapter: You don't need to worry about your battery draining if your phone is charging. We recommend using a power adaptor, especially when your trip is longer than 30 minutes.
• Turn off your screen: If you don't need to see the screen while using navigation, press the power button on your phone or tablet to turn it off. You'll still hear voice directions.

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