Google maps annoyance 30 July 2022 at 7:25PM edited 30 July 2022 at 7:25PM in Techie Stuff 14 replies 402 views

Si_Clist

When I open Google maps whether on my Android phone or in Chrome, the map is covered with business names and whatnot and there's a row of things like "restaurants" across the top.  None of these are of the slightest interest to me and they make reading the maps confusing.  Is there a way of removing all this clutter so I just have the map with street names?

Neil_Jones

Yeah its supposed to do that, its always done that.

You need to turn the Label filer off, but you can only do this when the map type is Satellite.

https://techswift.org/2020/08/29/how-to-remove-labels-in-google-maps/

Si_Clist

Thanks mister.  It's a real shame you can't do that in the default view 

EssexExile

That works in map view too. The trouble is it takes everything off, including street names and towns.

shiraz99

On your phone just tap the map and it will expand to full page.

Si_Clist

shiraz99 said:

On your phone just tap the map and it will expand to full page.

Thank you.  I didn't know that.  Shame it doesn't make all the clutter go away, but it's still useful 

RumRat

The point of Google maps is to give as much information as possible. If you just want basic maps try the ordinance survey site Detailed maps & routes to explore across the UK | OS Maps

flaneurs_lobster

The point of Google Maps is to make money for the shareholders of Alphabet Inc, both by monetising the data from it's users and from businesses that pay for advertising via the map interface. That's why they will throw as much data as possible at you, they need the clicks.

Si_Clist

RumRat said:

The point of Google maps is to give as much information as possible. If you just want basic maps try the ordinance survey site Detailed maps & routes to explore across the UK | OS Maps

I don't agree with your first sentence, but thank you for the link to OS Maps, of which I was not aware.  Problem is I don't want to pay for maps, so it looks like I'm stuck with all the crap on Google's 

flaneurs_lobster

There's OpenStreetMap that's free, but I don't know about any implementations of it for Android. 

outtatune

flaneurs_lobster said:

There's OpenStreetMap that's free, but I don't know about any implementations of it for Android. 

There are plently. E.g. OsmAnd

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand