Finding your way around a new place on foot can be intimidating. We created Live View walking directions to keep you pointed in the right direction.
To use Live View, just search for a destination in Maps and tap “Directions.” Above the map in the travel mode toolbar, select the icon indicating walking and in the bottom center, tap “Live View.” Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location, and once it knows where you are, you’ll get directions through the camera view on your screen. Your phone will even vibrate when it’s time to make a turn or you’ve reached your destination. You can even use Live View to navigate tricky places indoors, like airports, train stations, and malls – or to explore an unfamiliar area, just by lifting your phone.
“This was one of the most technically complex features to implement in Maps, since it relies on Street View imagery paired with state-of-the-art AI and augmented reality technology,” says Amanda Leicht Moore, director of Product Management for Maps. “People would always joke that they wished we could draw blue dots on the ground in front of them so they’d always know which way to go, and this gets us pretty close to that!”