Google Maps Update: Never Miss a Turn Again With This Exciting New Feature!

The Mountain View-based company is currently rolling out a Google Maps update that is proving to be extremely useful in various ways. If you often find the Settings menu cluttered or the directional instructions somewhat vague, you will likely appreciate this update.

Google Maps is continuously being enhanced, both on Android and iOS platforms. While some updates radically transform how we use the app, others simply make our lives easier – and sometimes even save the day.

A recent update falls into both categories. Firstly, taking a cue from Apple Maps, Google Maps has gone a step further in simplifying direction changes. Secondly, Google has overhauled the Settings menu of its flagship GPS application. Here’s what you need to know.

Simplified Navigation and Redesigned Settings: What’s New in Google Maps

Understanding directions from Google Maps right off the bat isn’t always straightforward: estimating the distance to a turn can be tricky, and a moment’s hesitation might lead you to turn too soon or miss it entirely. To aid drivers in anticipating their moves, the app now mentions a noticeable landmark visible from the road, such as a gas station, a restaurant, or a significant building.

The selection of these landmarks is based on cross-referenced analysis: Gemini pulls from the continuously updated data of over 250 million locations on Google Maps and combines it with Street View imagery. This is the theory. It remains to be seen whether these landmarks will indeed make navigation easier in practice.

The Settings menu of Google Maps has also been given a makeover for more intuitive use. What used to be a long and somewhat chaotic list has now been organized into seven thematic categories:

• App and Display: theme, map buttons, accessibility options
• Navigation: driving, walking, public transport modes
• Your Vehicles: engine type, connected vehicles
• Location and Privacy: your trips, Google Maps history, profile
• Offline Maps: download options, updates
• Notifications: reminders, recommendations
• Info and Conditions: app version, privacy policy, legal notices, etc.

To remind you, to access the Settings menu, open Google Maps, tap on your profile picture (located to the right of the search bar at the top of the screen), and then tap on Settings. This simplified menu is already available on our iPhone 15 running iOS 26.1.

If these new features are not yet available on your smartphone, you’ll need to be patient. According to our colleagues at PhoneArena, they should be gradually rolled out on the stable version 25.49 of Google Maps – on both Android and iOS.