www.makeuseof.com How to Fix Google Maps When It's Not Working on Android

Is Google Maps not working as it should on your Android device? There are various reasons why this happens. It’s possible the location accuracy option is disabled, you’re using an older version of the app, or you don’t have proper access to the internet.

The Google Maps app itself may have issues, too. Cache files and other app data can sometimes cause various issues with the app.

Luckily, there are several ways to get around the Maps app issues on your Android phone. Here, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot Google Maps for Android.

1. Enable Location Accuracy

One of the issues you can experience with Google Maps is the app not showing your accurate location. This usually happens if you have the location accuracy option disabled on your Android device.

Once you turn the option on, Maps should be able to pinpoint your correct and accurate location.

To improve your location accuracy:

1. Pull down from the top of your phone’s screen and tap the cog icon to open Settings.
2. Scroll down the Settings screen and tap Location.
3. On the Location screen, tap Advanced and then tap Google Location Accuracy.
4. Turn the toggle at the top to the ON position.

Now launch Google Maps again and it should be able to detect your accurate location.

2. Turn Off the Wi-Fi-Only Option

If you’re experiencing an issue where Google Maps won’t update your maps data, it’s possible you have turned on the Wi-Fi-only option in the app. When this option is enabled, Maps will only download new data when you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. It won’t update anything when you’re using mobile data.

Related: Google Maps for Android Tricks That'll Change How You Navigate

To fix this issue, simply turn off the Wi-Fi-only option in the Maps app on your Android device:

1. Open Google Maps on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon at the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. On the Settings screen, turn off the Wi-Fi Only option.
4. Close Settings and go back to the main Maps screen.

This will now start to use your mobile data, so make sure you've got a big enough data allowance if you use the app heavily.

3. Check Your Internet Connection

As you probably already know, Google Maps needs access to the internet to download and update maps. If your maps don’t update or you don’t get real-time data, chances are your phone has lost connection to the internet, or it's too slow.

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In this case, ensure there’s an active internet connection on your Android device.

To check if your phone has internet issues:

1. Open a web browser like Google Chrome on your phone.
2. Try to access any website.
3. If the site loads just fine, your internet is working.
4. If the site fails to load, there’s an issue with your internet connection. In this case, try rebooting your phone, or speak to your internet provider.

Related: Steps to Speeding Up a Slow Mobile Data Connection

4. Calibrate Google Maps

In Google Maps, your location is shown with a blue dot. If this dot’s beam is too wide, Maps is having a bit of an issue pinpointing your location.

To fix this, recalibrate the Google Maps app on your phone. You can do this as follows:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your Android device
2. Move your phone in the direction that draws the number 8. Do this a few times.

The blue dot’s beam should get narrower as you recalibrate the app.

5. Clear Google Maps’ Cache and Data

One of the many reasons Google Maps won’t function is due to its cache and system files. The Maps app stores certain temporary data on your Android device. While this usually speeds up performance, this data eventually gets too large and sometimes starts causing issues with the app.

In this case, you can safely remove that data for the app and see if that makes Maps work again.

Note that clearing the cache and data doesn’t delete the actual Maps app on your device. Here’s how to clear the Maps’ data:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps & notifications in Settings.
3. Select Maps in the apps list. If you don’t see it, tap See all apps.
4. On the Maps screen, tap the Storage & cache option.
5. Tap Clear cache and then tap Clear storage.
6. Launch the Maps app and it should work now.

6. Update Google Maps

No matter the issue, you should always keep the Maps app up to date on your Android device. Older app versions often have many issues in them, which are rectified in newer versions. If you’re using an older version of the Maps app, consider updating the app.

An Android device usually automatically updates all the installed apps, unless you have disabled the automatic update option.

In which case, you can manually update Maps as follows:

1. Launch Google Play Store on your device.
2. Search for Google Maps and tap it in the search results.
3. On the app’s page, tap Update to update the app.
4. Open the app when it’s fully updated.

7. Use Google Maps Go

In recent times, many app developers have released lightweight versions of their apps. These apps consume fewer resources and usually work much faster in comparison to their original counterparts on low-resource devices.

Google is no exception, and it has also released a light version of the original Google Maps app, which is called Google Maps Go. With this app version, you can still find directions to places but without having too many resources being used on your phone.

When Google Maps doesn’t work on your Android device, it’s a good idea to move to the app’s lighter version called Google Maps Go—especially if you have an older or slower device.

The app works pretty much the same as the original Maps app, and so there aren't any app-specific things you need to learn here.

Download: Google Maps Go (Free)

Many Ways to Resolve Issues With Google Maps on Android

Like any other app, Google Maps also experiences hiccups from time to time. But, these issues shouldn’t keep you from using the app. If you ever face an issue with Google Maps on your Android device, one of the methods outlined above should help you fix the problem.

This comprehensive Android troubleshooting guide will help you solve the most common Android phone problems.

Mahesh is a tech writer at MakeUseOf. He's been writing tech how-to guides for about 8 years now and has covered many topics. He loves to teach people how they can get the most out of their devices.

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