How to Use Google Maps: A Comprehensive Guide to Navigation and Features

Getting Started with Google Maps

• 🗺️ Open the Google Maps app to begin exploring its features.
• 👆 Use two fingers to zoom in (move apart) and zoom out (pinch together) on the map.
• 👆 Navigate by dragging your finger across the screen to pan.

Searching and Directions

• 🔍 To find a location, use the search bar at the top of the screen. For example, search for "New York" or "Warsaw".
• 📍 Tap "Directions" after searching for a destination.
• 📍 You can set your current location by tapping "Your location" or by selecting it directly on the map.
• 🚗 Switch between different travel modes such as car, train, walking, or biking to find the best route.

Discovering Nearby Places

• 🍽️ Search for specific types of places like restaurants by tapping the relevant category.
• 🏨 Similarly, you can search for hotels or other points of interest in your area.
• 📍 Places of interest will be marked with icons, such as the red icon for hotels.

Customizing Google Maps Settings

• 👤 Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner to access settings.
• ⚙️ Scroll down to find "Settings" and explore various options.
• 🌐 Key settings include app language, offline maps, and navigation preferences.
• 🏠 You can also add home or work addresses for quicker navigation.
• 🛰️ Additional settings cover trip preferences, location settings, personal content, accessibility, and more.
• 📏 Options like "Distance units" allow you to switch between kilometers and miles.