11 smart Google Maps settings everyone should be using

While most of us live in places with fairly decent internet connectivity, our travels can take us to remote places with less robust infrastructure. If you are planning this kind of trip, be sure to download maps for offline use. They won’t have the accurate, up-to-date traffic data you’re used to, but it’s always better to get lost in a place without cell reception.

To download maps, press the profile icon in Google Maps, then select Offline maps. Then press Define your own map and you will see an enlarged map of where you are. All you have to do is move the blue rectangle over the area you intend to visit, then press Download. Before downloading, Google Maps tells you how much space the downloaded maps will occupy on your smartphone. You can use maps offline for up to 30 days from the date of download.