How To Fix Slow Google Maps on Android

For Android smartphones, there are hundreds of navigation apps available right now. Out of all of those, Google Maps was the most popular app in the navigation category. This is due to the fact that Google Maps, which includes a lightweight version called Google Maps Go, is pre-installed on the majority of Android handsets.

Despite being a useful program, Google Maps is difficult for many users to use on smartphones. Recently, a lot of Android users have complained about their smartphones' sluggish Google Maps.

You would never want Google Maps to lag if you depend on it for route finding. Regretfully, a lot of people have also complained about losing connectivity when using Android's Google Maps. Thus, you've come to the correct guide if your Google Maps is running slowly and you're hunting for solutions.

Also Read: How To Use Google Maps Offline On Your Android

How To Fix Slow Google Maps on Android (9 Best Ways)

This article will share a few of the best methods to speed up the Google Maps app on Android smartphones. Let’s check out.

1) Slowly update the Google Maps app 

The Google Maps app for Android should be updated because it may arise from corrupted files or glitches. Updating games and applications guarantees improved performance and eliminates incompatibility problems.

Thus, update the Google Maps app for Android from the Google Play Store before attempting any other techniques.

2) Turn off the mode for data saving.

On Android devices, data saver mode occasionally causes issues with Google Maps' seamless road navigation. For this reason, if you are having issues with Google Maps being sluggish, it is advised to turn off Data Saver mode.

1. Open Settings on your Android and tap on the Network.

2. Tap on the Data Usage option.

3. Now, scroll down and tap on the Data Saving option. You need to Disable the Data Saving option to fix the slow Google Maps issue.

Important: The option to access Data Saving might vary from device to device. Data Saving is generally located under ‘Network’, ‘Sim card & Mobile Data’, etc.

3) Disable the mode for power savings.

Android's Power Saving option prevents background app usage, which causes problems with app utilization. Thus, using Google Maps in power saver mode to prolong the life of your phone's battery may restrict some of its features. Thus, it is recommended that you use Google Maps without using the power-saving mode.

1. First, open the Settings app on your Android smartphone.

2. On the Settings page, scroll down and tap the Battery option.

3. You will find the power-saving option on the Battery page. Turn off the power saver mode.

4) Turn on High Accuracy in Location

If you want location tracking on Google Maps to be more accurate, you must enable this option. This option not only helps in improving the accuracy but also leads to faster location detection. Here’s how to enable high accuracy in Location on Google Maps.

1. First, open the Settings app on your Android smartphone.

2. On the Settings page, scroll down and tap the Location option.

3. On the Location page, tap on the Google Location Accuracy.

4. On the next page, toggle on the Improve Location Accuracy button.

5) Switch to Default View on Google Maps

If you have been using Google Maps for a while, you might know that the app provides multiple map types – Default, Satellite, Terrain. The Satellite option uses more data and requires a capable processor to load the map quickly.

Switching to the default view is the best option if you have a mid-end smartphone. If you do so, the map will load quickly, fixing the slow Google Maps problem. Here’s what you need to do.

1. First, open the Google Maps app on your Android and tap the squared shape icon.

2. You will now see a pop-up. You need to select ‘Default‘ under the Map type.

6) Clear Google Maps Cache

If you face a slower Google Maps issue after following the above methods, you might need to clear the Google Maps Cache. Few users have reported fixing the slow Google Maps issue by clearing its cache. So, this may help.

1. First, open the Settings app on your Android smartphone.

2. On the Settings, tap on the Apps or App List.

3. Now, you will see a list of apps. Find and tap on Google Maps.

4. On the Google Maps app page, tap on the Storage and cache/Storage Usage option.

5. On the next screen, tap on the Clear cache option.

You are done. This is how you can clear the cache file of Google Maps.

7) Use Google Maps Offline

Unstable internet or slow internet is another factor that slows down Google Maps. However, since internet problems can’t be ruled out immediately, we can download Google Maps offline.

If you use Google Maps to navigate a particular city or area, you can consider downloading the map of the city/area for offline usage. We have shared a detailed guide on how to use Google Maps offline.

It would be best to go through the article to download offline maps in Google Maps for easy navigation.

8) Use Google Maps Go

Google Maps Go is a lightweight version of Google Maps. Compared to Google Maps, Google Maps Go is less demanding and designed to run on low-end devices.

Google Maps Go runs fine even on 2G, 3G, and a slow internet connection. So, if you have slow internet speed and are using an old Android phone, it’s best to use Google Maps Go.

9. Reinstall the Google Maps App

If you are still experiencing slowness while using the Google Maps app for Android, it’s time to reinstall it.

It's possible that an issue with the program installation files is to blame for Google Maps loading slowly on Android devices.

Reinstallation is equivalent to a clean installation, which will eliminate errors, incompatibilities, and other problems. It will also download new files directly from the internet.

Go to the Google Play Store and search for Google Maps to reinstall the app. Select Uninstall from the Google Maps app listing screen by tapping on it. You can then tap the Install button after the Google Maps software has been uninstalled from your phone.

Google Maps lag or slowness can be annoying, but these nine fixes will help you get things back to normal.