The Tool Desk
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Start with the symptom
| What’s missing or wrong | First checks |
|---|---|
| Blue dot is absent, gray, jumping, or inaccurate | Device location, Maps permission, Location Accuracy or Location Services, signal, and calibration |
| Maps crashes or behaves incorrectly | Update the app; on Android, consider clearing its cache or storage |
| Directions or features disappear without internet | Download the area in advance and check offline-mode limitations |
| Timeline, saved places, or offline maps are missing | Check Incognito mode and platform support |
| A car’s built-in Maps feature is unavailable | Check vehicle, region, language, plan, and offline-map requirements |
Use the instructions below for the platform where the problem occurs: Android, iPhone or iPad, browser, or Maps built into a car. Menu names can differ by device maker and software version.
Fix a missing or inaccurate location dot
Tap the location control in Maps. An absent or gray dot means Maps cannot currently locate the device; it may show the last known location instead. A large blue circle means the reported position is uncertain. Google’s location accuracy troubleshooting explains the prompts Maps may show.
Android
- Turn on the device’s location service in Android settings, then check the Maps app permission under Settings > Location > App location permissions or the equivalent path for your phone. Allow Maps to access location while using the app; allow precise location if that option is shown and needed.
- Check Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Accuracy where available. This is separate from Maps’ app permission. If Location Accuracy is off, the device may rely on GPS and sensors rather than using Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and sensors together, which can reduce precision. See Google’s Location Accuracy instructions.
- Make sure Wi-Fi or mobile data is available and Airplane mode is off. If the dot jumps or updates slowly, temporarily turn off Battery Saver and check whether accuracy improves.
- If Maps asks you to calibrate, follow its on-screen steps. Compass calibration may involve moving the phone in a figure-eight pattern.
- If the location is still wrong, restart the device.
iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn Location Services on.
- In the same settings area, select Google Maps and allow location access while using the app. Enable Precise Location if available and appropriate for the task.
- Check that Wi-Fi or mobile data is available, then temporarily turn off Low Power Mode if the dot is inaccurate or slow to update.
- Follow any calibration prompt in Maps. If the problem remains, restart the device.
Tall buildings, garages, and other obstructions can interfere with location signals. If the dot only fails in one place, move somewhere with a clearer view of the sky and check again.
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Google Maps in a browser
- Allow location access in the browser’s site permissions and in the computer’s operating-system location settings.
- Reload Maps and check that the computer has an internet connection.
- If location remains unavailable, restart the computer. Google’s location help also covers browser location access.
Fix crashes and general app problems
First install any available Google Maps update from your device’s app store. Google’s Android Maps troubleshooting also recommends clearing the app cache or storage for crashes and other problems.
Clear cache or storage on Android
- Open Android Settings > Apps > Maps > Storage (the exact labels vary by phone maker).
- Try Clear cache first, then reopen Maps and check whether the issue is fixed.
- Use Clear storage only if needed. It permanently deletes app data, so do not treat it as a harmless cache refresh.
Check Android version support
Google says Android versions of Maps 11.39 and below no longer work. Google also stopped providing new Maps releases for Android 8.1 and lower after August 2025. Its current Maps requirements list Android 9.0 or later and Maps 11.40 or later for Android updates. If your device cannot update, Google suggests using Maps on the web; Maps Go may be an option on supported older Android devices. Browser Maps may use mobile data, so account for your data plan.
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Restore offline maps and offline directions
Offline maps are a limited backup for connectivity problems, not a full replacement for an internet connection. Download the area while online and signed in, before travelling. On iPhone or iPad, Google says not to use Incognito mode when downloading. Follow Google’s platform-specific offline map instructions.
- Open Google Maps while connected to the internet and signed in.
- Find the area you need and download an offline map for it.
- Check that the entire route—not just the destination—falls inside the downloaded area.
Offline driving navigation does not provide live traffic or alternate driving routes. Offline transit, cycling, and walking directions are unavailable. Offline map downloads are also restricted in some countries and regions.
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Find missing Timeline, saved places, or account features
Check Incognito mode
When Google Maps is in Incognito mode, it disables features including Timeline, Offline Maps, saved places, notifications, and contributions. Turn off Incognito mode from your profile menu and check whether the feature returns. Google lists the affected features in its Incognito mode help.
Check Timeline support and device backups
Google’s current Timeline help says Android requires Maps version 11.106 or newer; Timeline is not available on Android Go. Timeline data is stored on the device. To import it onto another device, backup must be enabled, and Google says a backup can take days to reflect changes. Do not assume Timeline can be recovered if the original device or its data is unavailable.
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Check features in a car’s built-in Maps system
Maps built into a vehicle has different requirements from the phone app. Google says availability can depend on the vehicle manufacturer, region, language, and data plan. Some driver-assistance features use offline map data, so downloading or updating maps may affect their availability. Check the relevant settings and instructions for the car’s system using Google’s built-in Google Maps help.
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When the feature still does not appear
- Confirm which device and version you are using; a feature may not be supported by that platform or an older app or operating system.
- Check that the device is online if the feature depends on current data, and check that the area is covered by any offline map you rely on.
- Turn off Incognito mode when checking personal or account-related features.
- For a car system, check availability with the vehicle’s manufacturer and confirm any region, language, or plan constraints.
- If the problem began after a change in settings or an update, recheck the relevant permission and feature settings before repeating broader troubleshooting steps.
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