If you have just updated your Android device to the new Google Maps 7.6 version, you may know that this version has made it very difficult to access the application without an Internet connection. You may still be able to get what you want out of Google Maps without having to be connected to a data source or Wi-Fi signal. This information can be of particular help for travelers using Google Maps outside of their data range or for those who just want to save some of their cellular plan’s data so they can make it through to the next billing cycle. The two easiest ways to accomplish this goal are as follows:
- Take a Screenshot
The most basic and fastest way to get some of the information you will need is to zoom in over the area where you are traveling and take a screenshot on your phone. To do this on an Apple mobile device, hold down the home button and the lock button at the same time and it will save the information in your camera roll. If you are running an Android phone with Ice Cream 4.0 or above, press the down volume button and the power button at the same time. This will give you an overview of the area but will not allow you to scroll or find any specifics. This is the best way if you are in a hurry but the directions you obtain may be very vague. If you have the time to wait, you should utilize the next method.
- Cache the Map
To get a cache means that your phone is going to download the data it sees so it will have a record of what it is looking for and what you are trying to find when you do not have an Internet connection. In order to the cache the map, first, scroll over the area that you want to save. While your map is hovering over the desired area, click the search bar and type in OK Maps without the quotation marks. This will cache the map and copy it to your phone’s memory where you’ll see a message popup saying that the map is downloading. That way, the next time you are using your phone and don’t have direct access to the Internet, you can pull up that section of the map, which you will be able to view since it is saved to your phone.
Using these methods won’t give you access to any of the GPS or directional settings of your phone; however, they will give you a general overview of the area and could help you find the destination you are looking for if you are in an unfamiliar city or don’t have the Internet handy to find the information. The only stipulation for using one of these two methods is that you will have to know the exact area of the city where you will be traveling, otherwise, you’ll have to head to your local Starbucks when you get there to access the Internet and find this information.
