This Hidden Google Maps Feature Instantly Improves Walking Directions

The thoughtful upgrade of Google Maps walking navigation: Turn on detailed voice guidance and travel with peace of mind!

Google Maps has always provided voice navigation, but did you know it has a more powerful "detailed voice guidance" feature? This feature is not only suitable for visually impaired people, but also provides more comprehensive route information for all walking navigation users, allowing you to feel more at ease in unfamiliar environments.

I often use Google Maps' voice navigation to walk to unfamiliar places, but sometimes I want it to provide more detailed information. It was not until I discovered this hidden setting that I really improved my experience.

Why do I use Google Maps voice navigation while walking?

I like to walk as many times as possible on my trip to get a better feel for the atmosphere of the destination. The Google Maps mobile app (which is not just a navigation tool, but one of my most used apps) is able to quickly plan the best routes and make it easy for me to set off.

Google Maps' glimpse of the route feature allows me to view route updates without unlocking my phone. But sometimes, especially in bustling cities where the risk of cell phone theft is high, I don’t even want to take out my phone. Although I have enabled all the anti-theft features of my phone, I still can’t completely avoid the risk of being snatched.

Related content: How to enable the anti-theft function of Android system

Be cautious is the best.

Related Articles 3 So, I usually wear headphones and use Google Maps' voice navigation. In this way, I can get voice route guidance without touching my phone, avoiding looking like an unsuspecting tourist.

Google Maps' voice navigation should be enabled by default, but you can click on the profile picture in the upper right corner to go to "Settings" > "Navigation", and set "Mute" to "Not Muted" to check. You can also turn up the voice navigation volume here if you want.

While the voice navigation function is already pretty good, I often hope it provides more detailed and reliable information. For example, when I walk along a long street, Google Maps may remain silent for a long time, probably because I'm on the right route, but what if I go wrong?

I thought I could not get the information I wanted, but then I found it in the app settings: "Detailed Voice Boot".

What is detailed voice guidance?

Detailed voice guidance is a feature released by Google in 2019, originally designed to help people with visually impaired. But this feature helps everyone.

When this feature is enabled, Google Maps provides more detailed voice route information. For example, it will explicitly inform you if you are on the right route, addressing the uneasiness I have created when I have not had a voice prompt for a long time.

It will also tell you how far you are from the next turn, allowing you to cross the road in time, and tell you where you are walking. Also, if you go the wrong way, it will prompt you with a voice to re-plan your route.

I personally think some tips are more useful than others, but I understand that as a person with normal vision, this feature is not designed specifically for me. It would be even better if you can customize which accessibility features you need.

When the detailed voice guidance was announced on Google Keyword, Wakana Sugiyama, a blind woman living in Tokyo, said: "With Google Maps' detailed voice guidance, my journey has become much easier and I can focus more on what I want to do at the end. This may not sound special for people with normal vision, but for people with blind or low vision, it can help us explore new, unfamiliar places."

While my experience is different from Sugiyama, I agree with the benefits of detailed voice guidance and now I spend less time worrying about my journey.

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The essential applications for travel.

Related Articles How to enable detailed voice guidance

Enable it is very easy if you find detailed voice guidance useful. First, open Google Maps and click on the profile picture in the upper right corner. Then, click "Settings" and then click "Navigation". Finally, under Walk Options, enable Detailed Voice Guide.

If you feel that it is not for you and want to restore standard-level voice guidance, just go back to the same screen and turn off the switch – but if you want to disable it immediately halfway through the route, you will need to exit to access the settings.

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I have been using Google Maps all the time, and I didn't discover this feature until recently, which shows that there are many convenient features in Google Maps that we may not have used.

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