Google Maps' Indoor Directions Aren't Quite There, Yet GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Opinion News > Software & Apps

Google Maps' Indoor Directions Aren't Quite There, Yet

Headed in the wrong direction

By Allison Murray Allison Murray Tech News Reporter Southern Illinois University Allison reports on all things tech. She's a news junky that keeps her eye on the latest trends. Allison is a writer working out of Chicago, IL, with her only coworker: her cat Norbert. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on April 2, 2021 02:00PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Software & Apps Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Google Maps’ latest feature provides indoor directions in places like malls, airports, and train stations. Graphics laid over the Live View and directions provided out loud help you navigate to a specific place inside these public spaces. The feature could use some improvements before it offers any real benefits to users. Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images Google Maps’ new indoor guidance could prove helpful, but it still has some kinks to work out before users benefit. This week, Google Maps introduced updates to its app, including directions inside public places like malls, airports, and train stations. As someone who gets turned around quite often inside large public buildings, I was excited to try this new feature in person at a local mall. While Google Maps has proved itself to be a top-tier navigation app, it still has a ways to go for its indoor directions to meet the same quality as its regular directions. The indoor directions only work when you are standing still, so every few feet, I had to stop walking, point my phone in front of me to allow the app to scan my surroundings.

Finding the Way

Right now, the new feature is only available in certain malls in Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. I live in Chicago, so I made a quick trip to one of the confirmed malls that have started to use this new feature. The tech itself isn’t new: Google’s Live View came out in 2019 and uses artificial intelligence cues to understand your orientation. I’ve never used the Live View feature on the streets before, so this was my first foray into using this Google tech. I first used the feature to help me find an ATM within the mall. As with anything on Google Maps, you type 'ATM' in the search bar, pick the one you want to go to, and click 'Get Directions." To use the indoor directions with Live View, you have to switch your mode of transportation to walking and click the Live View option at the bottom. The app asks you to hold up your phone to scan the area around you to see where you are within the public space, then tells you which direction to start walking. The directions are given out loud and appear as graphics over the Live View itself, which helps you see where you will be going next. It even tells you how many feet you have left to walk before the next directional step. However, the indoor directions only work when you are standing still, so every few feet, I had to stop walking, point my phone in front of me to allow the app to scan my surroundings, and see how far I had to keep going. I can see how walking blindly just looking at your phone and not your surroundings could pose some danger, but stopping every few feet to see the directions was annoying and just as cumbersome to people around me. The app took me a very roundabout way to get to the ATM, and when I did get there, there was no ATM, only a Noodles and Company. At a second glance on the map, I saw the ATM was still at least 1,000 feet away, even though the app said I had arrived at the ATM. I did end up finding the ATM on my own, without help from the indoor directions. The second time I tried the directions, I had it take me to a specific store, which seemed to work much more accurately than the ATM fiasco.

Is It Worth It

Google Maps’ indoor directions still have quite a few kinks to work out. For one, you need strong internet service for it to work correctly, and in many crowded public places, the internet service is spotty. Luis Alvarez / Getty Images Also, the graphics that show up on screen didn't always show up, sometimes leaving you hanging. Another issue I had with the feature was that you had to stop every few feet to see the directions in front of you. I can’t imagine stopping every few minutes, staring at my phone in a crowded airport where people behind you are most likely in a rush and have places to be. While I can see the value of this feature in airports or train stations (once the kinks are worked out), I can't really see its value at malls, which already have laid-out directories and are pretty simple to navigate on your own. Overall, while the mall directions were so-so, I’d like to see how this feature holds up in a more crowded and busy place like an airport, but Google needs to make some improvements before it opens up the feature to these places. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Live View on Google Maps How to Add Google Maps to CarPlay How to Avoid Credit Card Skimmers Waze Navigation vs Google Maps Can You Get Google Maps for iOS 6? How to Download Google Maps Offline On Your Android Device How to Add Stops on Google Maps How to Find Alternate Routes on Google Maps How to Avoid Highways on Google Maps The 16 Best Google Home Tricks and Tips Is Google Maps Available for Apple Watch? How to Find Your Parked Car With Google Maps Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: What's the Difference? The 8 Best Home Weather Stations of 2022 by Lifewire How to Turn on Google Maps Dark Mode on Android How to Use the Apple Maps App Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies