Summary
If you’re preparing for a road trip, you’ll likely want a GPS to tell you where to go. However, if you enter an area without signal, you may have difficulty getting driving directions. Fortunately, you can download maps in advance so you’ll have directions all along your route.
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Remember when a GPS was a separate device we attached to the windshield, and it only got updated when you shelled out the money for it? While phone GPS is nice and convenient, it can be a problem if you lose signal. Fortunately, if you’re prepared, there’s a simple solution.
For Personal Tech Media, this is Two Minute Tech. I’m Jim Herman.
If you think you might be traveling through stretches of road with spotty signal, download your maps in advance. By downloading your maps, you can ensure that you’ll still be able to get guidance, even if you lose signal. Having downloaded maps can keep you from being stranded without the ability to get directions.
To download Google Maps on an iPhone, make sure your device is connected to the internet and open the Google Maps app. Search for your destination, then tap on the result when it comes up to make it full screen. Then, tap on the three dots, select “Download offline map,” and then confirm the download.
On an Android device, open Google Maps and search for your destination. If you’ve searched for an address, tap the address at the bottom, and then select “Download,” and then “Download” again. If you searched for a place, tap on the three dots, then choose “Download offline maps,” and then “Download.”
Apple Maps doesn’t have a full offline mode, but any route you search for in advance will be cached and saved. Apple will remember the route and continue your journey, even if you encounter bad service. However, Apple Maps does have one downside. If your destination doesn’t have signal, you won’t be able to start navigation for your return trip.