Using your Sat Nav abroad - Download maps in UK

Download your maps before you go abroad to save data charges!

Using your phone abroad (if you are from the UK), can be quite expensive. Although new regulations mean that travelling within Europe will be included in your package with most networks from mid-June, it is still very expensive to use your handset outside of Europe. One thing that you might find that starts to empty your bank account is when you use your sat nav while travelling worldwide. 

Google maps, for example, will download each map location that you are at. Even though you are using the GPS on the phone, that does not cost you to use, the software on your phone is having to download information about the area you are currently in.

Google has offered a solution that allows you to download your maps while still in the UK!

If you're going where the Internet is slow, mobile data is expensive, or you can't get online, you can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you're abroad.

How do you do this, you ask?

For Android users;

On your phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .

1. Make sure you're connected to the Internet and signed in to Google Maps.
2. Search for a place, like San Francisco.
3. At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place. If you search for a place like a restaurant, tap More .
4. Select Download

Store offline areas to an SD card

Offline areas are downloaded on your phone or tablet’s internal storage by default, but you can download them on an SD card instead. If your device is on Android 6.0 or higher, you can only save an offline area to an SD card that's configured for portable storage.

Learn how to configure your SD card.

1. On your phone or tablet, insert an SD card.
2. Open the Google Maps app .
3. In the top left, tap the Menu Offline areas.
4. In the top right, tap Settings.
5. Under "Storage preferences," tap Device SD card.

Use offline areas

After you download an area, use the Google Maps app just like you normally would.

Get directions and see routes / Use navigation / Search for locations

If your Internet connection is slow or absent, you'll see a lightning bolt and Google Maps will use your offline areas to give you directions.

Notes:

You can get driving directions offline, but not transit, bicycling, or walking directions. In your driving directions, you won't have traffic info, alternate routes, or lane guidance. You also can't modify routes like avoiding tolls or ferries.

To save cell data and battery life, use "Wi-Fi only" mode. In this mode, when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, Google Maps will only use data from the offline areas that you’ve downloaded. 

Before you use this mode, make sure you download offline areas. To turn on this mode, open the Google Maps app Menu Settings next to "Wi-Fi only," turn the switch on.

For iPhone users;

Download an area to use offline

On your phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .

Make sure you're connected to the Internet and signed in to Google Maps.

Search for a place, like San Francisco.

At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place. 

If you search for a place like a restaurant, tap More .

1. Select Download.
2. Use offline areas

By downlaoding your pre-planned route whilst in the UK, you will be able to avoid those charges incurred from using your data abroad!

Hope this helps!