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Google Maps does not download a standalone route file for offline use. Instead, it saves a map area to your phone or tablet. Driving guidance works offline only when your complete trip remains inside that saved area. Download the area over a reliable connection before leaving, then check the download and its expiration date before you depend on it.
What “offline routes” means in Google Maps
The official Google Maps workflow is an offline map-area download. You select a rectangle covering the roads you expect to use, and Maps stores the map data on the device. When the phone loses service, the app can provide turn-by-turn driving guidance from that stored data if the planned drive is contained within the saved area.
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This is different from exporting a route as a separate file. There is no documented Google Maps menu that saves one itinerary as an independent offline route package. Your preparation task is therefore to make the downloaded boundary large enough for the journey, destination and likely detours.
Offline maps are useful before a flight, on a road trip, or anywhere cellular coverage is unreliable. They do not reproduce every online feature, so treat the download as a navigation backup rather than a complete replacement for a connected phone.
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Check these conditions before downloading
- Use the regular Google Maps app on an Android phone or tablet, or on an iPhone or iPad. Google Maps Go does not support downloading map areas or offline navigation.
- Connect to the internet before starting. A stable Wi-Fi connection is preferable for a large area.
- Make sure the device has enough free storage for the selected area.
- Plan the route far enough in advance to include the starting point, destination and roads you could reasonably need if you miss a turn.
- Check that offline downloads are available where you are traveling. Some countries and regions are excluded because of contractual limitations, language support, address formats or other local restrictions.
- On Android, sign in to Google Maps. On iPhone and iPad, turn off Incognito mode before you download.
Download an offline map on Android
Method 1: Start from a searched place
- Connect the Android device to the internet, open Google Maps and sign in.
- Search for the destination or another place in the area you need.
- Open the place sheet for that result, then tap More.
- Choose Download offline map.
- Adjust the highlighted area so it contains the entire drive, then tap Download.
The place you searched for is only a starting point for selecting the area. Inspect the map boundary rather than assuming that a destination search automatically includes every road on your journey.
Method 2: Choose the area from Offline maps
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial to open the account menu.
- Tap Offline maps.
- Select Select your own map.
- Pan and zoom the map until the highlighted rectangle covers the complete intended drive.
- Tap Download and wait for the save to finish while the device remains connected.
Use this second method when you are covering a long corridor, several possible destinations or a route that does not begin at the place you searched. The map can be repositioned and resized before you confirm the download.
Put Android downloads on a portable SD card
Supported Android devices can store offline maps on a portable-storage SD card instead of internal storage. This is optional; it is not required for ordinary offline maps and compatibility varies by phone, tablet and card.
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- Insert a compatible SD card and set it up as portable storage if Android asks you to format or configure it.
- In Google Maps, open the profile menu and tap Offline maps.
- Open the offline-map settings and choose the SD card under the storage preference.
- Download the map again. Changing the storage method requires a fresh download.
Verify the device supports portable SD storage and that the card has sufficient free space before changing this setting. Removing or replacing the card makes maps saved there unavailable until the card is restored.
Download an offline map on iPhone or iPad
Method 1: Start from a searched place
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to the internet and open Google Maps.
- Make sure Incognito mode is off.
- Search for the destination or another place near the journey.
- Tap the place name or address to open its details.
- Tap More, choose Download offline map, adjust the map area, and tap Download.
Method 2: Select your own map area
- Open the Google Maps menu and choose Offline maps.
- Tap Select your own map.
- Move and resize the displayed area until it covers the complete planned drive.
- Tap Download and leave the app connected until the download completes.
iOS uses the same area-based model as Android. The important preparation is the boundary you select, not whether you began from a destination search or from the Offline maps screen.
Make sure the saved area covers the trip
Before you leave service, open Offline maps and select the saved area to inspect it. Compare the boundary with the full route you intend to drive. Include the origin, destination, border crossings within the trip, motorway interchanges and plausible detours for closures or missed turns.
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For an out-and-back journey, check both directions and any side trips. If a route follows a narrow strip through a large region, enlarge the map until the strip and every planned exit remain inside the selection. A download that contains the destination but not the starting point, or that ends before a planned detour, is not sufficient for the whole drive.
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Download separate adjoining areas when one selection cannot sensibly cover a very large journey. Give each area a clear name in your own travel notes so you can confirm that all sections are present before departure.
What works offline—and what does not
| Google Maps feature | Offline behavior |
|---|---|
| Driving directions | Available when the entire route is inside the downloaded map area. |
| Traffic information | Unavailable offline; congestion data requires a connection. |
| Alternative driving routes | Unavailable offline. Maps cannot compare live alternatives without current network data. |
| Public-transit directions | Unavailable offline. |
| Bicycling directions | Unavailable offline. |
| Walking directions | Unavailable offline. |
| Map viewing in the saved area | Stored map data can be viewed without a connection, subject to the download remaining available on the device. |
Do not plan on live rerouting, current incident information or a newly calculated route after leaving the downloaded boundary. If conditions change, reconnect before relying on a revised itinerary.
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Use the map during a no-signal drive
- Before departure, open the saved map while you still have service and confirm that the destination and starting point appear inside it.
- Start navigation while connected when possible. This lets Maps calculate the initial drive and gives you an opportunity to review the route.
- Keep location services enabled so the device can determine your position.
- When the signal disappears, continue following the stored driving guidance within the downloaded area.
- If you need a destination or route outside that area, stop safely and reconnect before requesting new guidance.
Offline navigation is a safety aid, not a reason to handle the phone while driving. Set the route before moving, use a suitable mount and follow local traffic laws.
Keep downloads current
Google says offline maps expire. When a saved map is within 15 days of expiration and the device is connected to Wi-Fi, Google Maps attempts to update it automatically. You can also update a map manually from the Offline maps list.
Check the list shortly before travel instead of assuming that a map downloaded months ago is still usable. Open the relevant map and use its update option while connected. If the map has expired or the road network has changed, download the area again and repeat the boundary check.
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Automatic updating depends on the device being connected to Wi-Fi and having adequate storage. A phone that has been offline, is low on space or has had the map removed cannot refresh it in the background.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Android and iPhone/iPad: workflow differences
| Item | Android phone or tablet | iPhone or iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Starting requirement | Internet connection and sign-in to Google Maps. | Internet connection; Incognito mode must be off. |
| Search-based path | Place sheet → More → Download offline map → Download. | Place name or address → More → Download offline map → Download. |
| Custom-area path | Profile menu → Offline maps → Select your own map. | Offline maps → Select your own map. |
| Removable storage | Supported devices may use an SD card configured as portable storage; changing storage requires downloading again. | The documented workflow stores the map on the device; no SD-card option is specified here. |
| Offline transport modes | Driving only, subject to complete route coverage; transit, bicycling and walking directions are unavailable offline. | |
Troubleshooting common failures
The download option is missing
- Confirm that you are using the full Google Maps app rather than Google Maps Go.
- On Android, sign in and reopen the place or Offline maps menu.
- On iPhone or iPad, leave Incognito mode and try again.
- Check whether offline downloads are supported in the country or region you are viewing.
Navigation stops or cannot find the destination
- Inspect the saved map boundary. The route may leave the downloaded area even if most of the drive is covered.
- Reconnect to the internet and download a larger area that includes the missing section.
- Verify that the map has not expired and update or download it again if necessary.
The map will not save
- Reconnect to a reliable Wi-Fi or mobile-data network and retry.
- Free device storage, or on a supported Android device, select a portable-storage SD card with enough space.
- If you changed Android storage preferences, start a new download; existing map data is not automatically moved.
The route differs from what you expected
Offline Maps lacks traffic information and alternative driving routes. A route calculated without current conditions can differ from the route you saw online. Reconnect before departure when you need live congestion data or a new alternative.
A practical pre-trip checklist
- Install or open the standard Google Maps app.
- Confirm that the destination region permits offline downloads.
- Connect to a dependable network and sign in on Android; turn off Incognito mode on iPhone or iPad.
- Select a custom map area or begin from a searched place.
- Enlarge and reposition the boundary until it covers the origin, destination and planned detours.
- Wait for the download to finish, then open it from Offline maps.
- Check free storage and, on Android, confirm the selected internal or portable SD-card location.
- Review the map’s expiration status and update it if the trip is within its expiration window.
- Start the initial drive while connected when possible, then keep the phone charged and mounted safely.
Bottom line
To navigate with Google Maps when service may fail, download the map area containing the entire drive before you travel. Android and iPhone/iPad use nearly identical area-selection controls, with Android requiring sign-in and offering portable SD-card storage on supported devices, while iOS requires Incognito mode to be off. Offline driving works only inside the saved boundary and does not include live traffic, alternate routes or transit, bicycling or walking directions. Check regional availability and the map’s expiration date before treating the download as your navigation plan.
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