How to Download an Area in Google Maps for Offline Use

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Download a map from Google Maps on your phone, tablet, or computer

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: February 1, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using the Mobile App
|
• Using a Computer
|
• Video

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Downloading a map area to your phone or tablet lets you find your way around without using mobile data. Though there's no way to download a map area to a computer, you can download or print directions in advance of a trip so you don't have to worry about Wi-Fi. This wikiHow teaches you how to download area maps for offline use in Google Maps.

Quickly Save a Map

1. Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
2. Enter the name or address of a location in the search bar.
3. Tap your location.
4. Click the More tab below the location name.
5. Tap Download offline map.
6. Adjust the map and tap Download.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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1. 
   1
   Open Google Maps. It's the map icon with a red pushpin. You'll usually find it on the home screen or in the apps menu.

   • Map downloads use a lot of data, so it's best to download maps when connected to Wi-Fi.
   • If you don’t have Google Maps on your mobile device, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store on Android, or the App Store on iPhone and iPad.
2. 
   2
   Enable saving to your SD card (optional) (Android only). Downloaded maps will save to your internal memory by default, which is fine if you have a lot of internal memory. As long as you've already formatted your SD card as Portable Storage, you can opt to save maps to it instead. Follow these steps if you want to save to the SD card:

   • Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Settings.
   • Tap Offline Maps.
   • Select SD Card under "Storage Preferences."
   • Tap Save.
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3. 
   3
   Enter the name of a location. Use the search bar at the top of the Google Maps app to enter an address or the name of a location. Tap the location you want to go to.

   • If you prefer, you can select a location visually on the map. To do this, return to the map and tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner. Tap Offline Maps and tap Set your own Map. Tap and drag to change the location, and use pinch-zoom to zoom in and out. Tap Download to download the map.
4. 
   4
   Tap ••• More. It’s one of the tabs below the location name in the panel at the bottom. You may need to scroll all the way to the right to see this tab.
5. 
   5
   Tap Download offline map. It’s about halfway down the More menu.
6. 
   6
   Drag the box to select the area you want to download. The area within the box will be downloaded to your phone or tablet for offline use. You can capture more or less of the selected area by zooming in or out.

   • Pinch two fingers together on the screen to zoom out, or reverse-pinch to zoom in.
7. 
   7
   Tap Download. It's at the bottom of the screen. The selected map area will now download to your mobile device.

   • Though you can still get driving directions when you're offline, you won't be able to get public transit, walking, or biking directions.
   • You can manage your offline maps by tapping You at the bottom of the screen (iOS only). Then tap your profile icon, then Offline Maps. Tap a map to view it. Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) next to a map and select the option to update, rename, or delete the map.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Computer

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1. 
   1
   Go to maps.google.com on your computer. Though there's no way to download a map area when you're using a computer, you can download directions in advance and print them or save them as a PDF.
2. 
   2
   Enter the name of a location. Use the search bar at the top of the Google Maps app to enter an address or the name of a location. Click the location you want to go to.
3. 
   3
   Click Directions. It's in the left panel. Look for the blue icon with a road sign containing an arrow.
4. 
   4
   Enter a starting point. Just as you searched your destination, enter the name or address of the location you're traveling from into the box at the top-left corner of the page.
5. 
   5
   Click the starting point in the search results. This will display a map that shows the route from the starting point to the destination.
6. 
   6
   Select a route. There may be multiple routes to your destination. Click the route you want to save.
7. 
   7
   Click Details below the route. This displays step-by-step directions for the trip.
8. 
   8
   Click the printer icon. It's in the left panel in the top-right corner of the screen. A small pop-up will appear.
9. 
   9
   Click Print including maps. This will include the map in the downloaded directions.

   • If you don’t need the map image, click Download text only instead.
10. 
    10
    Click Print. It's the blue button at the top-right corner of the page. This opens the print panel.
11. 
    11
    Select a printer ot select Save as PDF from the "Destination" menu. It's near the top-left corner of the Print dialog.
12. 
    12
    Click Print or Save. It's the blue button at the top-left corner of the dialog.
13. 
    13
    Select a folder and click Save. This will save the map as a PDF to your computer. You may also want to change the file name, but that's up to you. This downloads the directions to the selected folder.

    • Now that the directions are saved to your computer, you can review them without the need for an internet connection. Just double-click the PDF to open it.
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