Fix Google Maps not talking or giving directions.
Google Maps should give voice guidance when you start navigating to a place. Voice navigation is very useful if you need to keep your eyes on the road while driving or cycling. Google Maps voice navigation is stable and almost always works.
However, a slow internet connection, incorrect navigation settings, and temporary system glitches can ruin functionality. This guide covers 12 fixes to try if Google Maps is not talking or giving voice guidance on your device.
1. Download Voice Directions
Do you hear a beep instead of voice guidance when using Google Maps? This is because Google Maps didn’t load the voice guidance or the voice guidance is out of date.
Google Maps requires a reliable internet connection to download voice directions. If this is your first time using Google Maps, make sure you have cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection on your phone. Keep Google Maps open and wait a few minutes for the app to automatically load voice guidance in the background.
You should start hearing voice guidance when Google Maps has finished loading. If the problem persists, try the troubleshooting steps below.
2. Increase Your Device’s Volume
You won’t hear Google Maps voice navigation if your device’s volume is low or muted. Press the volume up button on your phone to increase the voice navigation volume. If your phone is connected to your car speaker, use your car’s volume control to turn up the Google Maps volume.
3. Unmute or Enable Voice Navigation
Google Maps allows you to turn off traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions, and other traffic updates while navigating. You can quickly turn on alerts in the navigation interface.
When Google Maps starts navigating to your destination, tap the speaker icon in the top right corner. Select “Unmute” (normal speaker icon) in the far right corner to have Google Maps play all navigation alerts.
Here’s what the three Google Maps volume settings mean:
Mute Alerts: This is the crossed-out speaker icon (), which disables all navigation and alert sounds.Only hear alerts: The speaker icon with an exclamation mark (). This setting disables turn-by-turn direction alerts.Mute: The regular speaker icon () turns on all alerts and navigation sounds.
You can also change the behavior of Google Maps navigation alerts in the app’s audio and voice navigation settings.
Enable Google Maps alert (Android and iOS)
Open Maps (or Google Maps on iOS) and tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
Select Settings.
Scroll down the page and select Navigation Settings. On iOS devices, tap Navigation under Access.
Set Mute State to Enable.
4. Disable or Enable Play Voice Over Bluetooth
When connected to wireless audio devices, your phone can play Google Maps navigation via Bluetooth. If your phone is connected to a Bluetooth device, make sure Play Bluetooth Voice is turned on. Otherwise, Google Maps will not talk while navigating.
Interestingly, this feature sometimes interferes with Google Maps voice navigation even if your phone does not have a Bluetooth connection. Disabling this feature helped some iPhone users who had Google Maps not talking while navigating.
We recommend disabling this feature if your phone does not have a Bluetooth device connected. Instead, turn on Play Voice Over Bluetooth to hear navigation through your phone or tablet’s speakers.
Turn on or play voice over Bluetooth (iPhone)
Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initials in the top right corner.
Click “Settings”.
Select Navigation (in iOS) or Navigation Settings (in Android).
Turn on Bluetooth voice playback.
5. Increase Navigation Guidance Volume
If voice navigation is barely audible or inaudible, turn up the “Hint volume” in your Google Maps settings.
Open Google Maps, click on your profile picture and select “Settings”.
Select Navigation Settings (Android) or Navigation (iOS).
Set the Guidance Volume to Louder.
6. Check Audio Output Device
Make sure your phone is routing audio output to the correct device.you if have multiple audio devices connected to your phone or tablet, disconnect them and leave your preferred device active.
If voice navigation is not working in your car, turn off other audio devices (such as headphones) and check again.
If you are using an iPhone or iPad, please check the Control Center and change the audio output device.
Swipe down from the top right corner of your device screen to open the Control Center. If your iPhone has a home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Tap the AirPlay icon and select your preferred audio output device.
7. Force Close and Reopen Google Maps
Force quitting an Android app can restore some of its functionality. If voice navigation or other features don’t work in Google Maps, force quit the app and check again.
Press and hold the Maps app icon, and then tap the information icon.
Alternatively, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info (or See all apps) and tap Maps.
Click “Force Stop” and select “OK” in the confirmation.
Open Google Maps again and check if voice navigation is working now.
8. Clear Google Maps Cache (Android)
Removing the app cache from your device can fix performance issues, especially if the cache files are damaged or corrupted. Close or force close Maps and do the following:
Press and hold the Maps app icon, and then tap the information icon.Select Storage and cache.Tap Clear cache.
Open Google Maps again and check if the voice navigation works without problems.
9. Update Google Maps
Voice navigation will not work in older versions of Google Maps. Similarly, Google Maps may crash or display incorrect traffic information if it has errors. Go to your device’s app store and update Google Maps to the latest version.
10. Reinstall Google Maps
If Google Maps still doesn’t work after the fix above, uninstall and reinstall the app.
Reinstall Google Maps on iOS.
Press and hold the Google Maps app icon on your iPhone or iPad, select Delete App, tap Delete App, and select Delete.
Open the app store on your device, search for “Google Maps” and click “Get” to reinstall the app.
Reinstall Google Maps on Android
You may not be able to uninstall Google Maps on most Android devices. You should factory reset Google Maps and re-update it from the Google Play Store.
Press and hold the Google Maps icon, and then tap the information icon.Tap More.Press the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner and select Uninstall updates.Press OK ” on the toolbar. prompt for confirmation to continue.Open the Play Store, search for “maps”, select Google Maps and click the “Update” button.
Open Google Maps after the update is complete and check if voice navigation is now working properly.
11. Restart Your Devices
Turn off your phone, turn it back on, open Google Maps again and check if the app gives you voice guidance. If your phone is connected to the car, restarting the audio system or speaker may help.
12. Update Your Phone
Our research has shown that Google Maps has stopped speaking for many iPhone users after updating to iOS 13. There are some bugs in the operating system version that drown out voice prompts in the middle of navigation. Luckily, subsequent updates came with bug fixes that solved the problem.
If you haven’t updated your phone for a long time, go to its settings menu and install any available update.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to the Internet, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then click Download and Install.
To update your Android device, go to Settings > System > Advanced > Software Update > Check for Updates.
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Use “Google Maps Goâ€
Google Maps Go is a “lite” or simplified version of Google’s navigation app designed for Android phones with limited storage. If Google Maps is crashing or crashing on your phone, download and use Google Maps Go instead. You will need to install a companion app (Navigations for Google Maps Go) to use turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps Go. Both apps are faster than the standard Google Maps app.
Google Maps Go is not available for Apple devices. Submit feedback to Google Maps Support if none of the recommendations in this guide restore voice navigation. Or try these alternatives to Google Maps until you solve the problem.
Fix Google Maps not talking or giving directions
Fix Google Maps not talking or giving directions