Most drivers probably don’t realize they’re missing out on some of the best features of Google Maps. Below that simple surface, though, is a lot of intuitive gestures and features designed to make driving safer, less stressful, and a lot smoother. These are simple, easily accessible interactions built right into the app’s core to make your time behind the wheel secure and seamless.
Once you understand and start using these essential controls, you’ll notice how much better Google Maps is than you’d think. You’ll stop seeing it as some basic guide and realize it can be a helpful co-pilot you never knew you needed for every drive.
Swipe left and right in the direction box
A super-handy gesture that most people overlook
I’ve been using Google Maps to drive, even while I used Uber, yet I only realized last year that you could look ahead on your routes. Just swipe on the Direction Box to see what you will do ahead of your trip. It’s very helpful when you’re dealing with confusing city streets, complicated exits, or just a route you’ve never taken before.
The biggest win for drivers here is that this swipe instantly gives you a route preview, which is a massive upgrade over scrolling through the route to find it yourself. With a quick swipe, you can confirm your next few turns, whether you’re looking for a quick right or a hard left. This convenience isn’t just for your phone, either. It works reliably across platforms like Android Auto and CarPlay on both Android and iOS devices.
Re-center the map
This button should probably be bigger
The Re-center Map function in Google Maps is important for drivers because it gives you a quick and easy way to snap the navigation view back to your current location, which is a huge boost for safety while you’re behind the wheel. I’d call it a must-have feature since we all pan and poke around the map when navigating, particularly when we’re in new or unfamiliar areas, and you need a reliable, instant way to get your bearings back. Just press the Re-center button to re-center your map on your car.
Even in the rare case where the on-screen button might fail because of a bug or an interface issue, you can just use a voice command workaround like saying, “OK Google, Re-center.” From there, it will re-center to where you are, as if you pressed the button.
Two-finger rotate
Get a better view of your route
The Two-Finger Rotate gesture in Google Maps gives you control over the map’s orientation and perspective during navigation. You do this by placing two fingers on the map and twisting them clockwise or counterclockwise to spin the map around. If you’re on an Android device, this means putting your index finger and thumb on the screen and turning them together to the left or right.
It lets you temporarily turn the map to look at things from different perspectives. For example, if you’re someone who prefers to have your map always showing North on top, this gesture lets you quickly rotate it to align with your direction of travel. On the flip side, if you’re navigating in the standard mode where the map follows your car’s direction, the ability to rotate the map lets you quickly look around and align a known direction to get your bearings.
Add a stop
You don’t need to enter an address to add stops to your route
Adding a stop in Google Maps makes planning multi-destination trips both efficient and safe, giving you a ton of flexibility while you’re navigating. No matter how prepared you are for a road trip, drivers often need to make unplanned stops for things like gas, coffee, or food. Knowing how to quickly add one of these stops means you don’t have to exit and restart your navigation, which saves you precious time and avoids the kind of navigational headaches that can really ruin a road trip.
First, set your primary destination and start navigation. From there, you’ve got a couple of options. You can manually tap a point on the map, select the place, and choose “Add stop.” Or, ask for a shop in search, and it will be automatically added to your current route.
Report an accident
Give other drivers a quick heads-up!
Google Maps’ “Report an accident” feature is a super important tool every driver should learn to use, because it improves road safety and community awareness by giving everyone real-time data on hazards. This function lets drivers like you actively pitch in to build a complete picture of road conditions for everyone else on their commute.
While you’re actively navigating, all you have to do is tap the Report icon or the shield symbol to bring up your options for incident reporting. You can report all sorts of hazards, including crashes, speed traps, traffic slowdowns, construction, lane closures, disabled vehicles, flooded roads, low visibility, unplowed roads, or even objects lying on the road. As soon as you select a category, the report submits automatically. If enough users submit reports that match yours, that information pops up on Google Maps.
Turn voice navigation on and off
Sometimes it’s nice to have silence
Google Maps’ voice navigation feature gives you crucial turn-by-turn instructions and real-time traffic alerts, letting you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. If you don’t like it or need it to calm down, you don’t have to deal with it. You can quickly control the audio prompts while navigating by tapping the speaker/sound icon on the bottom right of the screen. This lets you toggle between Unmuted, Mute, or Alerts only.
Choosing the “Alerts only” option is especially useful when you’re familiar with the route but still need vocal notifications about critical traffic incidents like slowdowns, crashes, or construction ahead. For the ultimate hands-free experience necessary for safe driving, you can use voice commands, like saying “OK Google, Mute voice guidance” or even “Shut up,” to control the audio without manually touching the screen. You can also use the voice feature for walking instead of driving.
Share trip progress
No need to open the Messeges app
I share my trip progress with my wife, and she does for me, because this is a great safety feature. Once you start navigating, this feature lets you share your live location, your route, and your estimated time of arrival with the contacts you pick. What’s great is that your friends, family, or coworkers who are waiting for you can follow your progress without you having to constantly send manual updates.
While your navigation is running, you just need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen on the information card that shows your travel time and distance. Doing this brings up more options, including the “Share trip progress” button. This feature isn’t just for cars; it’s useful for traveling by foot or bicycle, too.
Download offline maps
Don’t get stranded by a bad cellular signal
The ability to download offline maps is a crucial tool because it fundamentally solves the reliability problems that always seem to pop up with mobile connectivity, giving you uninterrupted navigation and making the road a lot safer, especially when you’re traveling. This feature lets you save a specific geographical area of a map right onto your device before you leave. This makes sure that your navigation, turn-by-turn directions, and the ability to find your location stay available even when your cell signal is weak or completely gone.
You generally just tap your profile icon, select “Offline maps,” choose the area you want by pinching and zooming the selection box, and then hit Download. Now, to be fair, offline functionality does have some limitations, like not giving you traffic info, alternate routes, lane guidance, or directions for walking, bicycling, or public transit. However, it’s better than nothing. Do what I do and save your specific city.
Change your route in one tap
Make a quick diversion without planning a new trip
You can change the route in Google Maps, and it gives you essential flexibility, efficiency, and control over your journey, especially when traffic conditions are always changing. Google Maps will typically show you the fastest or most efficient path in blue, but if there are other routes you could take, they’ll pop up in gray on the map. The key is that you can simply tap the gray alternative route line to select it. That one tap switches your route, changing the line from gray to blue to show it’s your new path.
You can also forcefully change the route by manually dragging the primary blue route line to create custom midpoints, but only in the web version while setting up a route. It still isn’t in the mobile Maps app.
Learn at least a few of these important gestures
If you do nothing else, please download your city’s offline map. It has saved me multiple times a month when my phone acts up, so I highly recommend it. Otherwise, just keep these features in your mind as handy tools to use whenever you need them.
You can forget about Google Maps just being a way to get from point A to point B. By now, you know it’s way more than that. While you can always keep using the app as just a navigator, knowing how to use these features can make a difference.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
May 25, 2026
