- If Google Maps are not connecting to the internet on Android or iPhone (iOS), you can usually fix it with a few simple solutions.
- You can do multiple things regarding network issues, including resetting the app, inspecting network-related settings, or using offline maps.
- We made sure to explain everything below for both Android and iOS users.
Google Maps are one of the most used apps in the world and a Google app without big competition. Over the years, Google Maps got better and more feature-rich. Some burning issues need improvements, like Driving mode, but the app usually serves its purpose. And most of the Google Maps features won’t work if Google Maps are not connecting to the internet.
Google Maps requires a network connection along with location services to load results, and navigation and offline maps offer rather limited exploration options. If you interact with any map entries without a network, you’ll see the prompts that there’s no network connection and won’t be able to access details. Learn more about this below.
No internet connection on Google Maps for Android
1. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi or Mobile data. The first thing you need to do is ensure that you have an internet connection. Because most people use Maps when they are roaming around, Wi-Fi is not an option. So, let’s talk about Mobile data. It would be best if you allowed Google Maps to use mobile data in the background. We talked about data consumption and you don’t need to worry unless you use Satelite view and browse a lot — Maps don’t use a lot of data.
Here’s how to enable background data usage for Google Maps:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Select Google Maps from the list of available apps.
- Tap Mobile data and enable Background data usage.
Disabling the System Data saver is recommended. Also, disable Wi-Fi only in Google Maps settings.
2. Clear local data to reset Maps. The most common troubleshooting step on Android when a particular app is not working as intended is to clear the local data. All apps store it (some more, some less), and clearing it, resets the app. In this case, this won’t delete any of your settings but it will remove offline maps. To clear local data from Google should navigate to Settings > Apps > Maps > Storage and clear data there.
3. Reinstall Google Maps. Alternatively, you can also reinstall the app from Play Store. This is another viable solution whenever an Android app doesn’t work as intended. You can reinstall Google Maps (or uninstall updates from the app) if you open Play Store, search, and expand Google Maps. Once you’ve done that, tap Uninstall and, after a restart, update or install the app again.
4. Leave the Beta program. If you’re a Beta tester for Google Maps, we suggest leaving the Beta program. Although mostly stable, the Google Maps Beta version is not as stable as the official version. You can leave the Beta program in Play Store > Google Maps. Just tap Leave under the You’re a beta tester section. Update or reinstall the app to get the stable version.
Google Maps not connecting to the internet on iPhone
1. Check the network. Just as you would do on Android, you should check if your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or Mobile data before doing anything else. Make sure that you have Mobile data enabled while using Maps and also, open Settings > Google Maps and allow Cellular Data access.
2. Check permissions. Moreover, besides the Cellular Data, you should enable Background App Refresh in Google Maps settings, too. So, once again, open Settings > Google Maps and enable Background App Refresh. In addition, enable Location Services in Settings > Privacy.
2. Reinstall Google Maps on your iPhone. Finally, you can reinstall Google Maps and install the app again. Tap and hold on to the Google Maps shortcut on the Home Screen or in App Library and select Remove App. After that, select Delete App and confirm your choice. Restart your iPhone and install the app again from the App Store. If Google Maps are still not connecting to the internet, report the problem to Google.
And, on that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and feel free to leave your questions or suggestions in the comments section below. As always, your feedback is more than welcome and we look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in June 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
