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Google Maps settings live in different places, depending on what you want to change. Use Layers for the map’s appearance, navigation settings for voice and units, your Google Account for home and work addresses, and your device’s location settings to fix the blue dot.
The steps below reflect Google’s guidance as of August 18, 2026. Menu names and availability can vary by platform, app version, and location.
Choose what you want to change
- Map view or overlays: Open Layers.
- Navigation voice, volume, sound, or units: Open Google Maps navigation settings or the controls during an active route.
- Maps language: Use Google Maps settings on Android, iOS Settings on iPhone or iPad, or the Maps menu on a computer.
- Home or work: Edit the address in your Google Account’s Personal info.
- Route or starting point: Open Directions and edit the route fields.
- Current location: Check device location services, permissions, and GPS rather than changing a map-style setting.
Google documents these controls separately: map layers, Android navigation, iPhone and iPad navigation, languages and domains, and Google Account addresses.
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Change the map view or add layers
A map type changes the base map; a layer adds information over it. The usual base choices are Map, Satellite, and Terrain. Satellite imagery may include labels, but its presentation can vary by platform and zoom level.
#1 Best Overall
- Bright, high-resolution 5” glass capacitive touchscreen display lets you easily view your route
- Get more situational awareness with alerts for school zones, speed changes, sharp curves and more
- View food, fuel and rest areas along your active route, and see upcoming cities and milestones
- View Tripadvisor traveler ratings for top-rated restaurants, hotels and attractions to help you make the most of road trips
- Directory of U.S. national parks simplifies navigation to entrances, visitor centers and landmarks within the parks
Android
- Open Google Maps and tap the stacked-layers Layers icon, usually near the upper-right of the map.
- Choose Map, Satellite, or Terrain, if shown.
- Use the additional layer controls to switch on available overlays such as traffic, transit, biking, Street View, or air quality.
iPhone or iPad
- Open Google Maps and tap the stacked-layers icon. Its position or label may differ across screen sizes and app releases.
- Select a base map such as the default map, satellite, or terrain.
- Turn any additional overlays on or off in the layer controls.
Computer
- Open Google Maps in a browser and click Layers at the bottom left.
- Choose Map or Satellite.
- Point to Layers and click More to find terrain and other available overlays.
Google lists traffic, transit, biking, Street View coverage, air quality, and Travel Time among additional layers. Availability depends on the area and feature support; Street View lines appear only where imagery is available. Traffic and transit information can be useful context, but coverage is not universal. See Google’s layer instructions.
- Map: A practical choice for road names, businesses, and directions.
- Satellite: Provides visual context for landmarks, parking layouts, and construction, though it can be harder to read while driving.
- Terrain: Helps show elevation and landforms such as mountains and valleys.
- Traffic, transit, and biking: Show relevant conditions or infrastructure where data is supported.
Change navigation voice, volume, sound, or units
Android navigation settings
- In Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial.
- Tap Settings, then Navigation settings or Navigation; wording can vary.
- Adjust the available voice, guidance volume, distance units, route display, or other options.
For voice selection, Google’s documented Android path is Profile picture → Settings → Navigation settings → Voice selection. For guidance volume, use Profile picture → Settings → Navigation → Guidance volume; the documented choices are Softer, Normal, and Louder. See Google’s Android language instructions and Android navigation help.
iPhone and iPad navigation settings
During navigation, adjust guidance volume with the device’s volume buttons while Maps is speaking, or open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Settings → Navigation → Guidance volume. If you use CarPlay, adjust the vehicle’s volume while guidance is speaking. Depending on the setup, volume buttons may affect media or ringtone volume rather than Maps guidance. Google’s iPhone and iPad navigation help covers audio controls.
Rank #2
- 6” high-resolution navigator includes map updates of North America
- Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
- Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
- Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
- Access live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
Choose what navigation says
Once a route is active, tap the sound icon and choose the mode you want:
- Sound: Turn-by-turn directions and alerts.
- Alerts: Traffic, construction, and crash updates without normal turn-by-turn instructions.
- Mute: No navigation audio.
To change miles versus kilometers, look for the distance-units option in Maps settings or navigation settings; the exact label and location vary by platform. Route options such as avoiding tolls or highways may be available when setting up a route, but are not necessarily exposed as a universal permanent preference for every trip.
Change Google Maps language
Maps language, navigation voice, the device’s language, and the country or region setting are distinct controls. Changing one does not necessarily change the others.
Rank #3
- Explore confidently with the reliable handheld GPS
- 2.2” sunlight-readable color display with 240 x 320 display pixels for improved readability
- Preloaded with Topo Active maps with routable roads and trails for cycling and hiking
- Support for GPS and GLONASS satellite systems allows for tracking in more challenging environments than GPS alone
- 8 GB of internal memory for map downloads plus a micro SD card slot
Android
In Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial, then go to Settings → Navigation settings → Voice selection to change the navigation voice language. For available language and domain options, see Google’s Android instructions.
iPhone or iPad
- Open the device’s Settings app.
- Scroll to and tap Google Maps.
- Tap Language and select a language.
This changes the Google Maps app language rather than requiring a change to the whole device. To change the iPhone’s system language instead, use Settings → General → Language & Region → iPhone Language; that affects device menus and other apps too. Google warns that spoken street names may not be available after changing language. See its iPhone and iPad language instructions and navigation help.
Computer
- Open Google Maps and click Menu in the upper-left.
- Choose Language and select a language.
Google also documents a separate country or region control: click the country name in the lower-right, select a country under Region Settings, then click Save. Region or domain settings can affect the Maps domain and how some place names or local results appear; they do not change the physical map data for a place. Google distinguishes language and region behavior in its computer instructions.
Rank #4
- 8” navigator with high-resolution, dual-orientation display and map updates of North America .Special Feature:Large Display; Voice Assist; Hands-Free Calling; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams and Parking; Smart Notifications,Driver Alerts; Tripadvisor; National Parks Directory; Find Places by Name; Garmin Real Directions Feature.
- Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
- Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
- Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
- Access live traffic, fuel prices, weather, parking and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
Change your home or work address
Saved home and work addresses are Google Account details, not map-display settings. Make sure you are editing the account you use in Maps.
- Open your Google Account settings and select Personal info.
- Select Home address or Work address.
- Enter the new address and save it.
On a computer, sign in to the relevant account before editing. On Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Google Account settings and confirm the selected account first. Google says these addresses can support shortcuts, nearby results, directions, and personalization across Google services. It also says they may be used for relevant advertising and measurement. To remove an address, use the same Personal info controls. See Google’s address instructions and its location-data explanation.
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If you mean “change where Maps starts,” edit the route rather than your saved home address or current location.
Best Value
- Bright, high-resolution 5” glass capacitive touchscreen display lets you easily view your route
- Get more situational awareness with alerts for school zones, speed changes, sharp curves and more
- View food, fuel and rest areas along your active route, and see upcoming cities and milestones
- View Tripadvisor traveler ratings for top-rated restaurants, hotels and attractions to help you make the most of road trips
- Directory of U.S. national parks simplifies navigation to entrances, visitor centers and landmarks within the parks
- Search for the destination and select Directions.
- Select the starting-point field, usually labeled Your location, and enter another starting point.
- Choose a travel mode, then select a preferred route from the alternatives shown.
- Start navigation if you are ready to travel.
A route preview can differ from the route during navigation as traffic and route information change. Mobile navigation needs location access and GPS. For route and navigation details, see Google’s Android navigation guidance.
Fix an incorrect or stale blue location dot
You cannot manually edit the blue dot as a normal map preference. Its position and direction depend on device location services, permissions, GPS reception, and sensors.
- Turn on device location services and allow Google Maps to access location.
- Turn off airplane mode if it is blocking location or data access.
- Move outdoors if you are in a tunnel, parking garage, or enclosed space. Google notes that Maps may show “Searching for GPS” where a usable signal is unavailable.
- Check the blue dot’s accuracy circle; a large circle means the estimated position is less precise.
- If the dot is in roughly the right place but points the wrong way, recalibrate the compass using Maps’ on-screen prompt if offered.
- If location stays stale, close and reopen Maps, then restart the device.
- Check the selected Google Account if personalized settings or saved places also appear wrong.
For more on GPS and navigation prerequisites, see Google’s Android navigation help.
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- A layer disappears during navigation: On supported devices and regions, Android’s 3D navigation map details can turn off traffic and satellite layers during navigation without changing the home-screen layer settings. Google’s current Android help describes availability in the U.S. on certain device types with Maps version 26.27 and above. If available, the setting is under Maps settings → Navigation → Map display → Map detail → 3D. See Google’s Android navigation help.
- A layer or control is absent: Features vary by location, device, zoom level, and Maps version. Exit active navigation and check the Layers control from the main map screen.
- Voice or directions differ by region: Navigation and lane information are not available in every country, region, or language.
- Your address change did not show up: Check that you updated the same Google Account selected in Maps.
- The menu does not match these steps: Update Google Maps through your device’s app store, then reopen it. Labels and icon placement can change between releases.
If the normal controls remain stuck, confirm the device, app, and account; reopen Maps; check the relevant location, audio, or app-language settings; and restart the app or device. On Android, clearing the app cache may help if the interface is stuck; clearing app data is more disruptive and can remove local state or require signing in again. On iPhone or iPad, check the Google Maps app’s iOS settings separately from the device language. If a road or place fact itself is incorrect, use Maps’ correction or contribution tools rather than trying to fix it by changing the view.
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