Most of Google Maps’ less obvious controls are grouped under your profile picture or initial. From there, open Settings for navigation preferences and notification categories, or use the profile menu for privacy controls such as Incognito mode and Timeline. The exact labels and placement can vary by device, app version, region, language, and account rollout.
Where to start
Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial. Google’s current help places many app settings in this area; its Maps app overview also notes that the interface has been updated. Choose the setting area that matches what you want to change:
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- Navigation: saved guidance preferences and route options.
- Notifications: notification categories inside Maps.
- Privacy: Incognito mode and Timeline controls in the profile area.
If a label does not match these steps, check the corresponding Settings screen in your current app. Some screens and features vary across platforms and gradual account rollouts.
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Change navigation guidance and route preferences
Save navigation preferences on Android
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial.
- Tap Settings > Navigation.
- Adjust the available guidance options, such as volume, voice or language, and whether voice guidance plays during phone calls.
Google documents three guidance-volume levels: Softer, Normal, and Louder. Availability of voice options and lane guidance can depend on country, region, and language. Standard Maps navigation is not intended for oversized or emergency vehicles. See Google’s Android navigation settings help.
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Change sound while a route is active
During navigation, tap the sound control to choose among muted directions, alerts only, or unmuted directions. Alerts-only mode can keep traffic, roadwork, and crash alerts audible while suppressing turn-by-turn voice prompts. This is an in-route control, separate from the saved preferences in Navigation settings.
Set route preferences
When planning a trip, open the route options to select preferences such as avoiding toll roads. The exact layout can vary. If you are using Maps for a longer drive, Google recommends using a power adapter, especially for trips longer than 30 minutes, because navigation uses your current location, screen, and speakers and can drain the battery faster. That is practical battery guidance, not a required accessory for changing settings; see Google’s battery tips for Android navigation.
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Find and control Google Maps notifications
There are two layers on iPhone and iPad: Maps chooses which kinds of alerts it wants to send, while iOS controls whether the app can send notifications at all. Android exposes Maps notification categories and their individual switches inside the app.
| Device | Per-category controls in Maps | App-wide permission |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications; open a category and switch the desired notification on or off. | Manage notification permission in Android system settings if Maps is blocked from notifying. |
| iPhone or iPad | Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications. | iOS Settings > Notifications > Google Maps > Allow Notifications. |
Google’s examples of Android categories include traffic updates when Maps is not in use, impacts from nearby events on frequent routes, place and review prompts, and crisis-related warnings. For some proactive traffic notifications, Maps requires location and physical activity permissions, and the feature is available only in certain countries or regions. Google’s instructions for traffic updates when Maps is not open specify location permission set to “Allow all the time” and precise location enabled. See Google’s Android notification instructions.
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On iPhone and iPad, examples include event departure reminders, driving-direction notifications, offline-map update prompts, and crisis-related navigation warnings. Google says Timeline must be enabled for some turn-by-turn driving-direction notifications. If an alert is missing, check both the Maps category setting and iOS’s Allow Notifications permission; changing one does not replace the other. See Google’s notification instructions for iPhone and iPad.
Use Incognito mode—and understand what it does not do
To turn Maps Incognito mode on or off, open Google Maps and use the profile picture or initial menu. While it is on, Maps does not save Maps browsing and search activity to your account, update Timeline, or use that activity to personalize Maps. Google lists unavailable features that include Timeline, notifications and messages, and offline maps; the complete set differs by platform. Details are in Google’s Incognito mode help.
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Incognito mode applies to activity in Google Maps; it is not a blanket privacy shield. Google says it does not change data handling by your internet provider, other apps, voice search, or other Google services. Activity outside Maps may still be handled by those services under their own settings.
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Check Timeline and location-history controls
Google says, “Timeline is off by default for your Google Account and can only be turned on if you opt in.” If you enable it, precise device location is regularly saved to Timeline on each device where you are signed in and have enabled Timeline. Depending on your settings, Timeline can support personalized experiences such as commute notifications. Read Google’s Timeline privacy help before enabling it if you want to understand how location is used.
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Google is gradually updating Search services settings, so the controls may not look the same for every account. If the described Timeline settings do not match your screen, Google says history and personalized recommendations may still be controlled by Web & App Activity.
Quick Recap
If a setting or alert is missing
- Navigation voice is silent: Check the in-route sound control first, then review saved guidance volume and voice preferences under Android’s Navigation settings.
- Notifications do not arrive on iPhone or iPad: Check the Maps category under Maps > profile picture or initial > Settings > Notifications, then verify iOS Settings > Notifications > Google Maps > Allow Notifications.
- Android traffic alerts are absent: Confirm the relevant Maps notification category is enabled. Some proactive traffic features also require location and physical activity permissions and may not be offered in your region.
- A privacy screen differs: Google says its Search services settings are rolling out gradually; review Web & App Activity if the Timeline controls do not align with Google’s help page.
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