Dowmloading Google Maps for when off-line.

WIAWSNB

Hi.

Had the most stunning walk around Morwenstow, but noticed my Pixel 6 was offline for much of it.

Wanted to check our location, and Google Maps could pinpoint us ok, and I could then work out the paths to take back to base, but the 'directions' feature wouldn't work as it was 'offline' - ie no interweb signal.

I'm guessing it's because I entered a postcode in order to get back to our starting point - the Bush, of course - and it needed t'web to find out where this was?

What's the best way to do this in future? I also have ///whatthreewords

Thanks.

outtatune

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

If you buy paper OS maps you also get a code to download the digital version of the map to use offline.

powerspowers

I’d recommend OS maps, the online features are better when you are off road and you can still use offline. 

I recently did a navigation course so feel much more confident using a paper map, it’s very satisfying when the little arrow shows the exact wrinkle in a contour line that you think you are at! 

Undervalued

WIAWSNB said:

Hi.

Had the most stunning walk around Morwenstow, but noticed my Pixel 6 was offline for much of it.

Wanted to check our location, and Google Maps could pinpoint us ok, and I could then work out the paths to take back to base, but the 'directions' feature wouldn't work as it was 'offline' - ie no interweb signal.

I'm guessing it's because I entered a postcode in order to get back to our starting point - the Bush, of course - and it needed t'web to find out where this was?

What's the best way to do this in future? I also have ///whatthreewords

Thanks.

It certainly was possible to select and download a significant area from Google Maps to your phone for this sort of situation. Obviously though you need to do it in advance when you have a decent signal! I think the downloaded map expires after one year (??).

As other have said other maps (e.g OS) may well be better for countryside walking etc but on the whole are not available for free.

WIAWSNB

I'm happy with Google as I'm familiar with it. I'm sure OS is better, but really more than I require.

I'll check out the downloading option as Undervalued describes - that would sound ideal.

PRAISETHESUN

The offline Google maps periodically update themselves once saved, as long as your device connects to the internet every now and then. I've got pretty much all of the UK saved on my phone (takes up a fair bit of storage space). Very useful for when I get caught off-guard without phone signal in the middle of nowhere!

Frozen_up_north

For some time I have been using Maps.Me, it is a free “off line” map app that you can mark places on, eg where you are staying, favourite bar, where you parked, etc. You can use it as a satnav for walking, which I have done many times.

The free version is limited to around 9 map squares, but they are quite large.

In some places the  map detail is really good, for example on Costa Blanca it shows pool outlines and individual trees (as dots).

WIAWSNB

PRAISETHESUN said:

The offline Google maps periodically update themselves once saved, as long as your device connects to the internet every now and then. I've got pretty much all of the UK saved on my phone (takes up a fair bit of storage space). Very useful for when I get caught off-guard without phone signal in the middle of nowhere!

I'd only use a 50 mile radius. Could you explain how to do this, please? :-)

PRAISETHESUN

WIAWSNB said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

The offline Google maps periodically update themselves once saved, as long as your device connects to the internet every now and then. I've got pretty much all of the UK saved on my phone (takes up a fair bit of storage space). Very useful for when I get caught off-guard without phone signal in the middle of nowhere!

I'd only use a 50 mile radius. Could you explain how to do this, please? :-)

On my android phone I'm able to zoom out when selecting the area of offline map to save. There's an upper limit to the amount of map you can save at once (unsure of the exact distance), so I've got a few overlapping map files covering the area of the UK

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

WIAWSNB

Thank you - will give that a bash.