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Using Google maps offline

peregrina2000

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Sorry amigos, though I am now getting pretty proficient at Wikiloc on my phone, I have a google maps question. One of the gurus of the Geira has sent me a link to a google maps document that has tracks of the Geira on it. I do have the wikiloc tracks for this route, but the added attraction here is that he has inserted a little “detour“ to allow me to stay on the Roman road a little longer (details here if you are interested, but it’s irrelevant to the question).

I know how to download google maps, and I was able to download the map via the link he sent me. The problem was that when I went off-line, the actual map of Portugal was there but not the tracks.

I assume I am missing some step that will allow me to incorporate the tracks on the map I download.

Here is what he sent me via WhatsApp. As I said, I can download the map for off-line use without any problem, but when I do that the tracks are not there. Thanks in advance if anyone has an idea. Buen camino, Laurie

Caminho Geira Arrieiros - Google My Maps

CGA -Geira s/descer a Terras de Bouro e Ponte Assureira - Castro Laboreiro p/GR50
www.google.com
 
Camino Inglés Walking Holiday - UK
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
This worked for me:
Open Google Maps
Centre on Santiago de Compostela
Make sure that the search bar at the top is clear
Touch Saved at the bottom of the screen
Then scroll right to the bottom of all the content you see

Now touch the blue Maps icon just above the bottom menu, see screenshot above

A new screen will appear (see above). Your friends map should be at the very top (unless you have done other stuff since viewing it), if not scroll down until you see it. It has the same name as the top entry above.
Touch that map entry
You will see the map on a screen with (probably) a blue line.
At the bottom of this screen touch view map legend
Scroll through the legend until you see an item that does not have a tick in its tick box (which one probably doesn't matter but I ticked all of them).

Once you have finished ticking items, use the back arrow to exit this screen. Do NOT click on Close
You will be back looking at the map and now the line or part of it will probably be yellow (if you ticked everything).
If you now place your phone in airplane mode the map will stick around

It is very long winded.

Once you have done other things with G Maps this map will disappear. To get it back, go to Saved _ Maps and touch the name again. It may not always be at the top. You probably need network coverage when you do this so remember to do it when you have WiFi or other coverage.

This is a somewhat dependent on network coverage and so if you want guaranteed access to this map when offline then you probably need to load it into a different mapping tool.
 
Last edited:
Doughnut NZ said:
This is a somewhat dependent on network coverage and so if you want guaranteed access to this map when offline then you probably need to load it into a different mapping tool.
Click to expand...
To make things even morr confusing is there some way to get the track on the GMaps map downloaded as a kml or kmz file?
 
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You probably need your friend to send you the kml or gpx file(s)
 
Rick of Rick and Peg said:
To make things even morr confusing is there some way to get the track on the GMaps map downloaded as a kml or kmz file?
Click to expand...
Only on a PC (not on a phone) and probably only for maps that either you have created your self or shared maps where you have been given edit level access (not sure about shared maps).

A snippet from the the MyMaps help below:



Edited 13:27 NZST:
Yes, it is possible to download files that were shared with you. I have done that in the following post from me.
 
Last edited:
This is something I need to try after a good nights sleep and a couple of cups of coffee. I will report back but I am extremely appreciative of the help.
 
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Here's what worked for me.

Open the Google Maps app. At the bottom of the screen tap on "saved"


On the next screen tap on "maps" at the bottom of the screen.







You will then have a screen with the maps that you have saved.

 

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Yep, that is it, thanks. However if you stop here then if you lose your network connection then this map will disappear. Try turning on Airplane mode.

That is why I added the additional requirement to change one of the tick boxes within the map legend. This forces G Maps to (temporarily) download that map to the phone. Without this last step as soon as you lose network connectivity you also lose the shared map.
 
Success! I was able to see the route off-line. Now that I have the entire route on wikiloc I will probably not be using google maps for my walk, but I really appreciate the google maps tutorial. I will come back to this thread the next time it’s an issue for me, because I am sure I won’t remember it. Having the steps so patiently laid out is a huge help. So once again to the tech angels, I am very appreciative.
 
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