Over the past few days, Google Maps for both Android, iOS and desktop has received a variety of new updates, both as official updates from Google as well as changes that have accidently been discovered by users.  

Ensure you have the latest version of Google Maps installed on your device. You can download the Android version from the Play Store and the iOS version from the App Store.

We look at the new features for Google Maps including a cleaner design, shaded ‘areas of interest’, and the expansion of making edits and adding details to a business. We also look at a new Wi-Fi only option and a mass transit delays feature that could be rolling out to users in the future.

Wi-Fi only option

While Google hasn’t officially announced this new feature, some users are reporting that there is a new Wi-Fi only option in Google Maps’ Settings. Without an official announcement from Google, we will have to wait and see whether the Wi-Fi only option will replace Offline areas.

If the feature is enabled, Google Maps will use Wi-Fi signals to load the majority of the data. However, when the feature is first enabled there is a reminder that a small amount of data will be used during the Google Maps operation.

The feature has only been spotted by a few Google Maps users. To check whether you have the new Wi-Fi only option, open the Google Maps app > Settings > there will be a new Wi-Fi only option with a toggle to enable or disable it.

Cleaner design and color scheme

The latest updates to Google Maps on desktop, Android, and iOS includes a cleaner design that removes unnecessary elements like road outlines and frees up space for elements like traffic and transit information.

The font used for street names, points of interest, and transit stations, has also been made more distinct to stand out from other elements on the map.

The updated version of Google Maps also includes a subtle color scheme that distinguishes between natural features, like parks, water etc. and man-made features, like highways, hospitals, and schools.  

Know when your train is delayed

Another feature that hasn’t officially been announced by Google, but has been spotted by some Google Maps users is a feature that will show mass transit delays. If the feature is enabled you will receive real-time disruption alerts when your bus or train is delayed. At the moment the mass transit delay feature has only been spotted by a small number of users and could possibly roll out at a later stage.

Find the best spots

In addition to a cleaner design, the latest update for Google Maps also includes ‘areas of interest’, which are shaded orange on the map.

Finding ‘areas of interest’ in your location is as simple as opening up the Google Maps app on your device and searching for the orange-shaded areas. Zoom into the area and find out all the details of the various attractions.

Google use an algorithmic process to determine these areas of interest based on a high concentration of shops, restaurants, and bars.

Check out the new ‘areas of interest’ feature in the video below.

Add places to Google Maps, make edits, add extra details

Google has expanded the ability for users to add missing places or edit the details of an existing business on both the app for Android and iOS as well as through Google Search.

Google Maps for Android also gets a new feature that allows users to suggest extra information about a place, like the atmosphere of the restaurant, whether there are vegetarian options, outdoor seating, etc.  

Vote for new information about a business

When a business has pending suggestions waiting from other users, Google Maps will allow you to vote for these suggestions to help improve the edits.

If a place has suggested edits waiting, you will see a notification saying Someone suggested new info. Click the notification and you can verify the information if it is correct. Once the suggestion receives enough votes it will be published to Google Maps.

The feature is available on the Google Maps app for Android users. While it is available for both Android and iOS users on mobile Google Search.  

Main image credit: ErikaWittlieb; Pixabay | Images via: Google