Of all the first-party apps, Google Maps probably offered the worst settings experience, but a redesign is finally cleaning things up.
The previous settings list was years old, with Google continuously adding menus and on/off toggles to it. It was an eyesore, especially the random emoji, that did not fit everything into one page.
This Google Maps settings redesign sees everything grouped into seven high-level menus with accompanying icons and descriptions. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Google (Search) app, with “Settings” left-aligned and a close ‘x’ at the right.
- App & display: Theme, map controls, accessibility
- Navigation: Driving, walking, transit
- Your vehicles: Engine type, connected vehicles
- Location & privacy: Timeline, Maps history, profile
- Offline maps: Download options, updates
- Notifications: Reminders, recommendations
Old vs. new
Menus like Navigation, Your vehicles, and Offline maps are unchanged from before once you dive in. However, others are new and consolidate related preferences.
We’re seeing this roll out with version 25.49 of Google Maps in the stable channel following a server-side update. It’s not yet widely available on Android.
We’re also seeing this revamp on iOS, though the iPhone app had a different, cleaner design than the Android version.
More on Google Maps:
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