Optimizing Google Maps Speed on Android and iOS (iPhone)

Google Maps is an essential tool for many people, but can be frustrating when they run slow. This article provides solutions to help speed up Google Maps. In this article we're going to explain in detail how to solve the problem of the app lagging on Android and iOS (iPhone).

Accelerating laggy or slow Google Maps:

Accelerating laggy Google Maps on Android

Slow loading of the Maps via a browser on Android can be caused by the following problems:

Software installed on smartphone is outdated

How to fix it

Step 1. Go to Play Store,

Step 2. Tap the three-bar Menu icon in the upper left corner and select "My apps and games".

Step 3. Scroll down the opened list till you see the "Maps" app.

Step 4. Tap "Update".

Too much data is stored in app cache

Every time you open a virtual map, build a route or view any locations, all this data is stored in the memory of your smartphone. Overloaded cache can cause the slow running of the program. Sometime it takes forever to load the app.

How to fix it

To clear the maps cache:

Step 1. Go to your Android Settings and select "Apps",

Step 2. Select Google Maps app from the list (it's easier to use the search bar at the top of the screen),

Step 3. Go to the "Storage" section,

Step 4. Tap "Clear cache".

You can also use the browser version of Google Maps instead of the mobile app. But this option is pretty inconvenient and we find it suitable only in rare cases.

Ask the experts from Google Help website

Try searching for an answer on the Google Maps help forum for how to fix the laggy app.

Step 1. Using the search box, you can ask the question related to Google Maps.

Step 2. Take your time: look at the list of favorite questions. Perhaps someone has already faced a similar difficulty.

Step 3. Pay attention to posts that are getting more and more popular. You can also look for an answer in the "Categories" section.

Step 4. If that doesn't help either, click on the "Ask Questions" button and send your feedback about Google Maps and your personal experience.

Visit the forum by following this link: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/maps

Enable High Accuracy GPS via Settings on Android

You may want to increase the accuracy of your Google Maps. Do the following actions:

Step 1. Go to Settings.

Step 2. Scroll down to "Location".

Step 3. Open the Location services > "Google Location accuracy" section.

Step 4. The option "Improve location accuracy" will appear. Turn it on.

Switch the map display to another mode

Google Maps on Android has 3 types of maps to display: 1. Default; 2. Satellite; 3. Terrain.

According to user observations, satellite-type drawings consume most of the charge. Terrain consumes less traffic and phone resources. If you want to save as much phone resources as possible, choose "Default". In the "Map settings" you can disable 3D mode, bicycle paths, display of traffic jams and transport (if they are circled in blue).

Download and use offline maps

Sometimes you need maps to navigate the area. However, you don't always have access to fast Internet. Consequently, this slows down Google Maps.

To solve this problem, download offline maps on Android or iOS. You should:

Step 1. Run Google Maps app.

Step 2. Tap on the profile icon in the upper right corner.

Step 3. Select the "Offline maps" option.

Step 4. Tap on "Select your own map".

Step 5. A window opens with the highlighted area.

Step 6. Select the area you want to save for offline access.

Step 7. Tap on "Download" and wait.

Step 8. Repeat the actions for other cities and locations.

Switch to the Google Maps Go app

The Google Maps Go app is considered a simplified version of Google's regular maps.

It takes up many times less space on your device. It works almost like the original version of Google Maps but uses much less traffic and does not slow down on weak mobile devices. The app also allows you to find out the schedule of the subway, buses and trains.

As in the standard version, you can save your favorite places, use tags and read reviews about places.

Use Waze navigation as an alternative

The Waze app is good for those who drive a car all the time. It is a good way to study traffic patterns and find out what is happening on the road. You can also find out the locations of the speed cameras, which is a great way to save money.

The Waze app is available on Android, Windows Phone, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Blackberry.

Mobile Internet is slowing down

It is quite a common cause of Google Maps slow loading. Perhaps the problem is not in the cache, laggy app or the phone, but in the speed of the mobile Internet.

Step 1. The easiest way is to restart your mobile device.

Step 2. After rebooting, clear the app cache to resume stable operation.

Step 3. Also the cause of a weak connection to the network can be an old version of the device. Some outdated phones still work on 2G.

Connect to Wi-Fi if possible

The Google Maps acceleration method is suitable for those who use Google Maps at home.

If you can’t join a Wi-Fi network, try to find the nearest access point.

Fixing Google Maps on iPhone

The problem with the slow loading of the Maps on Apple smartphones is caused by either the absence of the latest update or the overloaded memory of your smartphone due to the excessive amount of cache.

Clearing cache

How to fix it on iPhone or iPad

In order to update the navigation app on iPhone / iPad, you have to:

Step 1. Go to the official App Store.

Step 2. In the lower right corner of the screen, tap "Updates".

Step 3. Tap the "Update all" button.

Step 4. Wait until all the programs and games installed on your smartphone are updated.

Step 5. Restart Google Maps.

If it doesn't work, clear the cache on your phone. In order to do this you have to:

Step 1. Open the official Google Maps app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Open the menu via the three-bar icon and select"Settings".

Step 3. Tap "About, terms & privacy" > "Clear application data".

Step 4. Tap "Clear data".

Step 5. Confirm your action by choosing "OK".

When you start the program for the first time (after deleting its cache data), you will have to wait for some time until the needed data is reloaded into your device memory.

Disable Power Saving Mode

This mode slows down both the Internet connection and the device itself. This function should be used in extreme cases. In daily life, it is not needed.

To disable the power saving mode on iPhone 10, 12 and above, do the following:

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Go to "Battery" section.

Step 3. If the "Power saving mode" option is enabled, disable it by tapping on the slider.

Speeding up Google Maps in browser (the manual for Windows PC)

Google Maps usability is undeniable since they are available on almost all gadgets, including personal computers via a browser. But even owners of powerful PCs can face the issue of the app running too slowly.

The problem is rarely related to the Internet connection speed. It usually occurs when a map size is too large, as well as when objects are displayed in too much detail after you zoom in an area.

How to fix it on Windows 11

You can tackle the issue by activating the lite version of the app in your browser. This version of Google Maps is designed specifically for weak PCs and browsers which can't support the app full functionality.

In order to fix Google Maps lagging:

Step 1. Open the browser you use.

Step 2. In the address bar enter www.google.com/maps/?force=lite instead of the standard link.

Step 3. You will be automatically redirected to the Lite version of the Google Maps service which loads faster.

Step 4. After the mode is enabled you will see the lightning icon by tapping which you can automatically switch to the full version with all its features.

Update your browser

Next we will talk about Google Chrome. The reason for the slow performance is the outdated version of the browser. To update your laggy browser,

Step 1. Go to Settings - About Chrome.

Step 2. If the Chrome version is too old, the program will automatically prompt you to update. If so, there will be an "Update" button on the right.

Step 3. If you don't need to update, there will be a green checkmark on the right.

Step 4. Relaunch the program.

Restart your browser and reboot PC

Sometimes the Google Maps service works fine, but something strange happens in other browser tabs, as a result of which not only Google Maps, but the whole browser is slowing down.

Solution:

Step 1. Close the browser and reopen it

Step 2. Log in to Google Maps using your personal account.

Step 3. Check Wi-Fi network connection.

Step 4. As a last resort, reboot the computer.

Clear DNS cache

The DNS cache stores the IP addresses of websites that have been visited. It is needed to load the browser page faster by finding it in the local IP address database. But sometimes it should be cleared. To do this:

Step 1. Press Win + R.

Step 2. Type cmd in the line.

Step 3. The console will open. Type the command "ipconfig/flushdns" into it.

Step 4. Press Enter.

Now try to open the desired web site. The maps should display properly.

Slow running of the Maps can also be caused by the following facts:

• Problems with your browser. Simple restart of the program often helps. In addition, you can check for the latest version of the browser on its manufacturer website > Download Chrome
• Outdated operating system. We recommend allowing your computer to download and install the latest Windows OS updates (you can enable this feature via "Update Center").
• Your computer doesn't have the latest version of DirectX. This software speeds up the processing of graphic objects. It's quite possible that the latest version of DirectX will help the Maps load much faster.

If the mentioned above methods don't solve the problem and the app continues to load slowly regardless of the speed of the Internet connection you have, you can report on the issue directly to the Google Maps support via the link.

TLTR

10 reasons why Google Maps lagging on iPhone

Do you use Google Maps on iPhone or Android? Is it working properly for you? If not, here are 5 reasons why it happens:

1. Poor network connection: A slow or unstable internet connection can cause Google Maps to lag on iPhone.

2. Outdated app version: Make sure you have the latest version of Google Maps installed on your iPhone.

3. Too many apps running in the background: Closing all other apps running in the background can help Google Maps run more smoothly.

4. Not enough memory: If your iPhone has a low memory, Google Maps may lag due to lack of storage space. The phone is garbaged by apps cache.

5. Not enough RAM: If your iPhone has limited RAM, Google Maps can also lag.

6. Poor GPS signal (Weak or unstable GPS connection): Poor GPS signal can also cause Google Maps to lag on iPhone.

7. Too many app updates: If there are too many app updates pending on your iPhone, Google Maps may not run as expected.

8. Outdated iOS version: Make sure you are running the latest version of iOS on your iPhone.

9. Location services not enabled: If location services are not enabled on your iPhone, Google Maps may not work as expected.

10. Battery saver mode: If your iPhone is in the battery saver mode, it can cause Google Maps to lag.

If too many objects are displayed on a map at the same time (which might be the case when you load the maps of densely populated cities), the service can significantly slow down its operation and as a result, it's quite challenging to find the information you need.

Some potential causes of slow Google Maps include having too many apps running in the background, insufficient RAM, or an insufficient internet connection. The article provides tips on how to improve the speed of Google Maps, such as closing apps in the background, clearing the cache, and ensuring that the device meets the minimum system requirements.