Google’s maps and navigation service continues to improve, even for our Wear OS watch. Google Maps for smartwatches has long been independent of our mobile phone when it comes to turn-by-turn navigation and has recently improved access to its functions with a new card.

But one of the most overlooked functions is the usability. Offline Maps. On Android, it is very easy to download them and in this way we avoid data consumption and also increase battery life by not having to be permanently connected to the mobile network. Google is starting to use this ability in Maps for Wear OS.

Offline maps for Google Maps on your Wear OS smartwatch

Google announced it last week and here it is: at the Pixel 9 presentation we also learned about the new watch from the Mountain View company. The Pixel Watch 3 comes with a refreshed spec sheet as well as improved software. And in this sense, Google Maps for Wear OS continues to make strides.

The next addition is offline maps, a feature that has been on Android for years but has not yet been available on our wrist. Now yes, as we read on 9to5Google, an update adds the ability to view maps We do not have access to the internet.

As soon as Google Maps for Wear OS is updated, we will see a message announcing the change: “Offline maps from your phone will be automatically downloaded to your watch.” And it brings a new section to the app called “Offline Maps”, because it couldn’t be any other way.

Here’s what Google Maps’ “offline maps” feature looks like on Wear OS. Screenshots from 9to5Google

Maps app for watches when enabled will be downloaded automatically map of where we are. As if that were not enough, it also has the ability to synchronize any offline map we have in the mobile application. On the other hand, it will also tell us how much space each map takes up, with a button to delete them and save memory.

Aside from the initial download we mentioned, Maps tells us the following: Offline maps are synchronized when two conditions are met: We are connected to WiFi and the watch is charging. Then it will be possible to use them to guide us from the smart watch even in places where there is no connection, but it will also be useful if our data speed is low.

How Google Maps for Wear OS shows that we are using an offline map Representative cloud icon The cut will appear every time we are not connected to the network. Apart from that, there is no longer any complexity in a function that was missed and this will now improve the use of this application on watches.

It appeared in: Maps for Wear OS version 11.140.0701.Wthat is, it will arrive on your watch in the coming weeks. So Google Maps continues to evolve, following the shortcuts that take us to our home or workplace and the button that activates voice input.

via | 9to5Google

Cover image | Iván Linares for Xataka (edited)

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