This article will help you set up, learn the basics, and explain various features of Google Maps. You can use the Google Maps app on your mobile device or Google Maps on your computer.
Set your home or work addresses
In your Google Account, you can find directions from your home or work quicker when you set your home and work addresses.
You can also find the fastest route to shorten your commute. Learn how to set your work and home addresses.
Tip: This info may be shared with other Google products and services.
Get info about a place
After you find a place on the map, you can:
- Get directions to it.
- Get info like business hours and menus.
- Find Street View imagery.
Get directions & start navigation
Get travel times and directions to places you might go next, like your home, work, or calendar appointments.
Learn about the app features in Google Maps
When you open the Google Maps app, you can find these tabs at the bottom of the Home screen:
- Explore
: Choose where to go.
- You
: Create lists, recall places, find your saved trips, notifications, and messages.
- Contribute
: Share experiences, add info and reviews, and fix problems.
: Choose where to go.
: Create lists, recall places, find your saved trips, notifications, and messages.Features like Location sharing, Timeline, and Offline maps are available in the top right, in the Profile picture or Initial 
Access Google Maps features
Access the Explore tabYou can find detailed reviews and descriptions of the most popular establishments and hotspots in your selected area. You can also search for local events, trendy restaurants, and things to do.
Saved trips
In the “You” tab, you can find all your frequent trips on the saved trips screen. You can get information about your estimated time of arrival (ETA), traffic reports, and accidents along the way to your destination.
Learn how to save & manage your trips in Google Maps.
Saved places & lists
In the “You” tab, you can find the following personalized content, such as:
- Recently saved places
- Your lists
- Saved trips
- Timeline
- My maps
- Reservations
Learn how to find your places & lists in the You tab.
Notifications & messages
In the “You” tab, you can:
- Find your Google Maps notifications. Learn how to turn Google Maps notifications on or off.
- Check your messages in Google Maps. Learn how to send messages directly to businesses.
To add places, write reviews, upload photos, or suggest an edit, at the bottom, tap Contribute 
You can also:
- Submit corrections to roads and places.
- Manage your Maps profile.
- Find your contribution views and impact.
To find any of these features on Google Maps, tap your Profile picture or Initial
- Sign in and out of your account.
- Your data in Maps.
- Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
- Turn on Incognito mode.
- Your Business Profile.
- Timeline.
- Location Sharing: Choose who can find your location and whose location you can find on Google Maps.
- Offline maps: Find and manage your offline maps.
- Settings: Manage your Wi-Fi, distance units, notifications, and commute settings on Google Maps.
- Help & feedback: Access Help and submit feedback like requesting corrections to roads and places from the same screen.
Add a shortcut to places you often visit
To easily get information from the Google Maps app, add a widget to your Home screen. To quickly look up directions, you can also save the places you visit frequently as shortcuts.
- On your Android phone or tablet, go to the widget section.
- Under Maps
, find the Directions widget.
- Touch and hold the widget and drop it on your Home screen.
- At the top, select a transportation type, like:
- For example, you can select Driving, Transit, or Walking.
- Enter a destination.
- Enter a shortcut name.
- Check any boxes that match your preferences.
- For example, you can check a box to always avoid tolls for driving routes.
- Tap Save.
- When you tap the widget on your Home screen, Google Maps navigates to your saved destination.
, find the Directions widget.This feature is available for phones with Android 7.1 and up. If your phone has another Android version, you can add a widget with the instructions in the section above.
- On your Android Home screen, touch and hold the Google Maps app
- Tap Home or Work.
Manage your privacy settings
To access and manage the following privacy settings, tap your Profile picture or Initial
- Timeline: View and manage your Google Maps Timeline.
- Location Sharing: Choose who can find your location and whose location you can find on Google Maps.
- Your data in Maps: Manage your privacy controls.