Learn the art of optimizing your device! Find out “How to Create Cache in Google Maps” and reclaim valuable storage space on your Android or iOS device.
All apps on your phone, whether Android or iOS, tend to reserve a small amount of storage for themselves. This storage is then used to store small packets of information, known as the app’s cache, to help the app load faster and consume less data. In the hundreds of megabytes range, Google Maps can consume a significant amount of storage space on your iPhone or Android device.
Not only will this reduce the amount of free space on your phone, but it will also slow down Google Maps and other apps. You can easily clear the Cache of Google Maps if you need to free up storage space or improve your phone’s performance.
Create Cache in Google Maps For Android & iOS
The drawback is that Google Maps may require new mapping information to be downloaded, but it is sometimes the only way to solve a problem with Google Maps or your phone in general. Here we will go over the steps needed to create a cache in Google Maps for Android and iOS.
Google Maps Offline for Android
Do you have an Android phone or tablet that you want to use for Maps on the Go but doesn’t have a mobile data connection? Don’t worry; even after the update to version 7, Google Maps still allows you to cache areas offline. This is useful if you have a device with a built-in GPS but can only connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, such as the Note 10.1 tablet.
And many people still dislike paying the high monthly fees associated with mobile data plans. While there was a direct option for creating an offline Cache in Google Maps in version 6, the method now used is more of an Easter egg than an official feature, but it works nonetheless.
Launch the Maps app on your Android device and select the area you want to cache. Unfortunately, Google Maps will not allow you to cache a map of an entire state because the file size is too large. However, it will enable you to Google Maps cache a moderately large area, which should be sufficient for short trips around your town or county.
Once you’ve located the area you want to cache, type “okay maps” into the search box. Google will “pre-load” the site for a few seconds before saving a copy to your device’s offline cache. Once cached, you can use the map whenever you want, even in Airplane mode. This allows you to fully zoom in anywhere within the boundaries of what was visible when the cache was created. It’s a cool feature that I hope Google revives (and improves) for tablet users like myself. This is also a useful feature if your iPad or iPod touch can only connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. You can bring your device and a map with you.
Google Maps Offline for iOS
If you have an iPhone or iPad and know you’ll be in an area with limited or no data connectivity, you can cache Google Maps for offline use. While you won’t have GPS, you will have a reasonably up-to-date destination map. Of course, you must first download the most recent version of Google Maps for iOS. Then open the app and locate the area on the map that you want to save for offline use. Make sure to pan and zoom to your desired location. You might want to pan out a larger area than you need.
If you choose a too-large area, a message will appear telling you to zoom in to make the overall area smaller.
Next, type OK Maps into the search bar and press the Search button.
Then you’ll see that your map is loading and saving. It’s as simple as that! You can still access Google Maps and the locations you’ve saved when you’re offline. Even if you receive a message indicating that you are offline, you can still use the map. However, you should not expect to see any other areas of the maps than the one you saved. Also, cool features such as nearby locations and traffic aren’t available; at the very least, you’ll know where you’re going.
We hope you found our guide on “How to Create Cache in Google Maps” beneficial. Enjoy a faster, more efficient mapping experience!
