Google Maps has a neat little feature that lets you download entire regions or areas onto your device for offline use. These offline maps work just like normal maps—you can look up locations, ask directions for driving, and use the route navigator. Let me show you how you can set it up in advance for your next trip.

Why You Should Use Offline Maps

The way the “offline maps” feature works is that you select an area on a map and save it to your device. The next time you’re in that area and your internet is off, Google Maps will fall back to offline mode, where you can use the basic navigation features without internet access.

So, if you’re planning a trip to an area where the internet connection might be spotty or unavailable, it’ll be a good idea to download that area’s maps in advance.

Credit: Jorge Aguilar / How To Geek | Google

Or, if you’re on a limited data plan, you can download and update the maps when you’re on Wi-Fi, and you’ll never have to use data for navigation. That way, you’ll also save on roaming charges when traveling internationally.

Also, using mobile data with navigation on sucks up a lot of juice, so if you’re trying to save battery, consider switching to offline maps.

Google says that the Maps app can detect when the network is patchy and automatically switch to offline maps, but in my experience, that doesn’t work. Maps just freeze or go blank on a slow connection, but if I turn off data or enable Airplane mode, offline maps kick in right away. Your mileage may vary, so I recommend testing the feature on the device you’ll be taking with you before you use offline maps in the wild.

How to Set Up Offline Maps Correctly

Downloading and setting up offline maps is pretty easy. Start by opening the Google Maps app and tapping the profile icon at the top. Scroll down and tap “Offline Maps.”

Here, we’ll select an offline map to download for later use. Tap the big “Select Your Own Map” button on the bottom and select the area you wish to download. Pinch to zoom and swipe to move around the selection. Once you have it, tap “Download” and wait for the download to complete. That’s it. Your offline map is now ready for use.

Alternatively, you can search for a place and download its map. Use this method if you’re looking to navigate a single specific place as opposed to an unspecified region.

Tap the search bar and type the town or city name you want to navigate offline. Then tap the place’s name from the search menu.

Under the place name, you’ll see a carousel of buttons: Directions, Save, Share, and More. Tap more, and select “Download Offline Map.” Google Maps will automatically make a selection for you, and all you need to do is press Download.

You can delete saved maps by jumping back into the list of Offline Maps and tapping the three dots next to a saved map. Select “Delete.”

Manually selected maps get auto-generated names like “Maps 1” or “Maps 2.” You can tap the three dots, select “Rename,” and give it a helpful name. It will also come in handy if you have saved multiple maps of the same city.

How these Offline Maps Update

In case you’re planning a long trip in a remote area using offline maps, please remember that Google has put a hard limit on this feature. Every 15 days, your device needs to connect to Wi-Fi so that the saved maps can update. If your phone doesn’t connect to the internet for two weeks, the offline maps will expire, and you’ll lose access to your downloaded maps.

There are a few ways you can update maps. Sometimes Maps will automatically send you a reminder to update your saved maps. If you get that, just tap “Update” and the maps should update in the background. You can also manually update saved maps by navigating to the list of Offline Maps. Look for a saved map that needs updates, tap the three dots next to it, and select “Update.”

By default, Maps automatically updates offline maps over Wi-Fi. You can make sure those automatic updates are on, so you don’ t lose access when you’re out and about.

There’s a gear icon on top of the Offline Maps menu. Tap it and make sure the toggles are all enabled. You can also change Download Preferences here and set offline maps to download over data as well as Wi-Fi. By default, updates only use Wi-Fi.

The Features You Lose

Offline maps exclusively offer driving instructions, so you can’t get walking, cycling, or transit directions.

Google Maps typically offers real-time traffic updates and estimates your arrival times based on those updates, but you don’t get either with offline maps. You also get alternative routes when navigating the main route on the regular Maps app, but you lose those with offline maps. Satellite and street view modes don’t work either.

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Offline maps can save you a lot of data, especially if you’re on a long road trip, but be sure to save your route in advance and update it every two weeks. Otherwise, you will lose access to downloaded maps.