How do you get voice directions on google maps

If you’re on holiday in a foreign city, you probably rely on Google Maps. So, the last thing you want is something to go wrong. But it could happen. For example, Google Maps may suddenly stop showing you where to go or talking.

In case you stop hearing voice directions from Google Maps, you’ll probably want to solve this problem quickly. Because navigating unknown surroundings while constantly staring at your phone is neither safe nor convenient. And since you’re in a foreign city, there’s a good chance Google Maps’ location sharing won’t be possible, so the whole service will probably be rendered useless.

So, check out some of our solutions and you” learn how to get Google Maps to talk again. At least I hope so.

Table of contents:

1. How do I get voice directions on Google Maps?
2. How to resolve the “Google Maps not talking” issue in Android
3. Check your device’s volume
4. Make sure voice is turned on in the Maps app
5. Clear the app’s cache
6. Check your Bluetooth speakers
7. Disable navigation over Bluetooth
8. Update Google Maps
9. Reinstall Google Maps

How do I get voice directions in Google Maps?

As a quick reminder, let’s first see how can you get voice directions in Google Maps in the first place. Here’s how to  enable voice directions:

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Go to Settings > Navigation settings > Voice level.
3. Choose Guidance volume (Softer, Normal, or Louder).
4. If you’re using Bluetooth earbuds, make sure to enable Play voice over Bluetooth.
   

Now that you know voice directions are enabled, let’s see what we can do if this feature stops working.

Why would Google Maps stop talking?

Some of the most common reasons why the Google Maps voice is not working are:

1. Your phone’s volume is turned down.
2. You’re connected to a Bluetooth device.
3. Voice isn’t turned on inside the Google Maps app.
4. There’s a bug inside the app.

What to do when Google Maps voice navigation stops working

Here are some of the most common solutions for the voice navigation problems in Google Maps:

Solution 1 – Check your device’s volume

I know this one sounds obvious, but I cannot tell you how many times I had my sound on mute without noticing. So, tap the volume button or go to settings and make sure your ringer is on. On the other hand, maybe something causes the volume on your Android phone to go down, so you’ll want to check that as well.

Solution 2 – Make sure voice is turned on in the Maps app

Another obvious one, but let’s exploit all our options. Here’s how to check if the sound is turned on inside the Maps app:

1. Enter your destination, and tap Start.
   
2. Tap the sound button in the upper-right corner, and make sure it’s enabled.

Solution 3 – Clear the app’s cache

We move from obvious solutions to clichés now. If you still can’t hear any voice from Google Maps, clearing the app’s cache could be a solution. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to Apps or Apps Manager (depending on your phone and ROM).
3. Locate Google Maps in the Apps Manager (if you can’t find it, choose Show all apps or Show system services from additional settings).
4. Tap Google Maps and choose Storage.
   
5. Tap Clear cache. Note: This process may vary on your phone, but you have an idea of what to do.

You can also try and Clear data instead of cache, just keep in mind it will completely reset the app, so all your settings and downloaded maps and routes will be deleted.

Solution 4 – Check your Bluetooth headphones

If you’re using your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds to listen to Google Maps, make sure these are properly connected. I already showed you above how to enable Google Maps voice over Bluetooth, so if that one’s in check, try reconnecting your wireless headset once again. Hopefully, you won’t encounter any problems with pairing your phone with Bluetooth headphones.

If everything’s in place, move on to the next workaround.

Solution 5 – Disable navigation over Bluetooth

If you don’t use a Bluetooth headset and have Google Maps ‘talk’ through your phone’s speaker or wired earbuds, you might want to disable the Play voice over Bluetooth option. In fact, a few users reported that disabling this feature actually resolved the problem.

So, just go back to Settings > Navigation settings > Voice level, and disable Play voice over Bluetooth.

Solution 6 – Update Google Maps

Even though it’s a full-fledged service, you still use Google Maps as an app on your phone. And apps tend to go a little mad sometimes. If something inside the app’s code is preventing Google Maps from sending voice directions, Google will probably notice it.

And when it does, you can expect the patching update to arrive soon. So, besides trying all these workarounds, make sure Google Maps is up to date, as well.

Solution 7 – Reinstall Google Maps

If you still can’t make Google Maps ‘talk’ to you, maybe it’s time to ‘break the wheel’. Go on and delete the app, and then install it from the Play Store once again. Yes, you’ll lose all your settings, downloads, and permissions, but a few users reported that reinstalling the app actually solved the problem, so it might be worth it.

That’s about it. I hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the Google Maps voice navigation problem. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below. Also, feel free to pay us a visit on  Twitter or Facebook and learn more about ways to address all kinds of issues on Android and iOS.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May 2019. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.

FAQ

Google Maps works without a stable internet connection. However, if you're not a cellular connecting, you'll need to download Offline Maps.

You can use Google Maps with the Airplane Mode turned on. The Airplane Mode won't hide your location, and Google Maps will still show the blue dot, so you can know exactly where you are.

Google Maps doesn't use a huge amount of data. On average, expect Google Maps to eat up about 3MB to 5MB of data per hour of use