8 Useful, But Underused Google Maps Features

Google Maps is clearly the best mapping app out there. But I bet you've only used a fraction of its features, all of which make navigating easier.

8. Save to favorites

Saving locations is one of the easiest, yet often overlooked, features of Google Maps. Using it, you can mark places you want to visit in the future. You can also save places you've been to.

To save a place to Favorites on Google Maps:

1. Click on the location.
2. Click Save .
3. Select the list you want to save your location to.

If there is no list that matches the location you want to save, you can create a new list. If you want to find a place to park your car, select Parking and choose one of these locations to save.

7. Indoor positioning

Indoor positioning isn't available everywhere, but you can use it in some notable locations, like the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and Canary Wharf Underground Station in London.

In places where indoor positioning is available, simply hover the orange person over the map. You'll then see an interface similar to Street View.

6. Send to phone

One important reason why Google Maps is the best navigation app is that you can use it on multiple devices.

In the left sidebar, you'll see an icon that looks like a phone and arrow. Once you tap this icon, you can choose to have directions or recommendations sent to your phone.

In addition to using this feature on your computer, you can send Google Maps search results to other mobile devices from your smartphone or tablet.

5. "Nearby" feature

When you use Nearby, you can search for an address, neighborhood, town, or city. You'll then see an option called Nearby in the list of options.

After clicking Nearby , you can choose to search for hotels, restaurants or any other information. The app will automatically find what you need.

4. Share location

Google Maps also has a feature that allows you to share your location. Turning it on is simple.

1. Select your profile icon.
2. Click Location Sharing .
3. Tap Share location and select who you will share your location with.

You can customize how long you share your location. Anyone you grant this permission to will also see your device's battery percentage.

3. Add home and work addresses

Manually entering the same address you visit over and over again can be tedious. The good news is that Google Maps has an option to save your work location and your home location. That way, you can just tap either option and get directions from your current location.

1. Go to Settings > Account Settings .
2. Select Edit home or work .
3. Select the address you want to edit. You can choose from the map or enter the address manually.

2. Personalize search

Just like how Google searches are personalized to your needs, you can get better results in Google Maps. Search personalization is turned on by default. This gives you more customized results based on how you've used the app in the past.

Aside from setting up Google Maps alerts for your daily commute, personalizing search is one of the best ways to customize the app to suit you.

1. Search by segment

Searching by segment in Google Maps is another often overlooked but powerful way to get more out of the app. When you open the app and search for an area, you'll see the option to choose from a variety of options, including:

1. Park
2. Restaurant
3. ATM
4. Pharmacy

Once you select one of these categories, you can further segment to get the results you want. For example, you can select restaurants based on price, rating, and opening hours. This feature is available on both mobile and desktop.

Marvin Fry

Update 24 July 2025