Google Maps not working? Here’s how to fix it quickly

Google Maps is, arguably, one of the most powerful tools ever made, and it’s incredible that we pay nothing for the service. It’s so ubiquitous that we don’t think twice about navigating anywhere with it, and are often completely lost without it. That last is something we’ll attempt to address.

The Google Maps app is itself very robust and if it stops working as expected, there’s very little chance that Google itself is at fault. Any issues usually boil down to misconfigured internet settings or a problem with the phone or OS. If Google Maps stops working, here are some simple troubleshooting steps you can take to get back on track.

Restart the app and/or phone

The easiest option is to simply restart the app. Depending on your phone, you can do this by opening the multitasking menu and clearing the app, then firing it up again.

If that fails, you can also try restarting your phone. You usually do this by pressing and holding the power button and then tapping ‘Restart’ or ‘Reboot’. You restart an iPhone by pressing and holding the power and volume up buttons until the reboot slider appears.

Restarting the phone should resolve any issues in the majority of cases. In the worst case, you can also try reinstalling the Google Maps app.

Check coverage

Speaking of coverage, Google Maps works best in open areas and requires internet access for navigation. If you’re in an area with limited cell/GPS coverage owing to buildings or trees and the like blocking your signal, there’s not much you can do till you move out of the area.

The Maps servers might be down. It doesn’t happen often but there’s a very slim chance that Google’s servers are down or affected. You can head to downdetector.com to confirm.

Check for updates

Ensure your phone OS (Android or iOS) is updated and running the latest version of the Maps app. If you’re on an older device, it’s also possible that it’s no longer supported and you’ll need to check with the manufacturer’s website to confirm.

If nothing works, you can try reaching out to Google directly.