How do I get Google Maps access to my microphone?

This article will explain how to enable microphone access for Google Maps on your device. Granting mic access allows you to use helpful voice commands while navigating with Google Maps. Voice controls can make it easier and safer to use Google Maps while driving or walking, as you don’t have to look at the screen or type to enter an address, get directions, or control certain functions.

With voice commands enabled, you can search for destinations, get turn-by-turn navigation, listen to traffic updates, control music playback, and more using just your voice. Voice input is fast, hands-free, and convenient. It’s a useful feature that many Google Maps users overlook. We’ll cover everything you need to know to start using your mic with Google Maps on your smartphone or tablet.

Prerequisites

To use voice commands and microphone access with Google Maps, you’ll need:

The latest version of the Google Maps app installed on your Android or iOS device (https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6041199?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid)
An internet connection on your device
Location services enabled on your device

A working microphone on your device
Google Assistant enabled and set up on your device (comes pre-installed on most Android devices) (https://www.autoevolution.com/news/5-google-maps-voice-commands-everybody-should-use-210286.html)
Access to your device’s microphone granted for Google Maps

As long as your device meets these requirements, you should be able to use voice commands within the Google Maps app.

Enable Microphone Permission

To allow Google Maps to access your device’s microphone, you need to enable the microphone permission for the app in your Android settings. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.

2. Tap “Apps & notifications”.

3. Select “App permissions”.

4. Tap “Microphone”.

5. Find “Google Maps” in the list and make sure the toggle next to it is enabled (blue).

If the toggle is gray, tap on it to enable microphone access for Google Maps. You may see a pop-up asking you to confirm granting microphone permission to Google Maps – tap “Allow” to enable it.

Enabling the microphone permission this way will allow Google Maps to access your microphone for voice searches, navigation guidance, and any other voice features offered by the app. You can repeat these steps at any time to disable microphone access if desired.

Source: How to manage your camera and microphone permissions

Activate Voice Commands

To activate voice commands in Google Maps, simply tap the microphone icon in the top right corner of the app. This icon allows you to use your voice to search for locations, get directions, control navigation, and more.

According to an article on Gadget Hacks, “Just tap the microphone icon in the upper right corner and say what you want to do.”¹ Tapping this mic icon is the first step to start using the voice control features of Google Maps.

Once the microphone is activated, you can say voice commands like “Navigate home,” “Find gas stations,” or “Traffic conditions.” Google Maps will process your voice input and take the requested action.

The microphone feature allows hands-free control of Google Maps on both iPhone and Android. As the article on Gadget Hacks states, “Google Maps can be controlled by voice.”¹ So whether driving, walking, or biking, voice commands are a convenient way to use Google Maps on the go.

Voice Guidance

One of the most useful features of Google Maps is using your voice to get turn-by-turn navigation directions. With microphone access enabled, you can speak voice commands to navigate to a destination. Some examples of navigation voice commands include:

“Directions to the nearest gas station”
“Take me home”
“Navigate to 123 Main Street in Springfield”

Google Maps will interpret your spoken directions, provide an overview of the route, and begin turn-by-turn voice guidance to the destination. Having the app read out directions frees you to focus on driving while still getting where you need to go. You can also use commands like “mute guidance” to temporarily quiet the voice.

Search by Voice

One of the convenient features of Google Maps is the ability to search for places just by saying their name out loud. Here’s how to enable and use voice search on Google Maps for Android:

First, make sure you have the latest version of the Google Maps app installed on your Android device. Open the app and tap on your profile icon in the top right corner. In the menu, ensure that “Voice search” is enabled.

Now you can start a voice search anytime by tapping on the microphone icon near the search bar. When prompted, say the name of the place you want to search for loudly and clearly. For example, say “Navigate to Starbucks on Main Street.”

Google Maps will process your voice command and show search results for that location. You can tap on a result to see more details, get directions, or start navigation.

For best results, speak in a clear voice and use the full name of places. You can search for generic terms like “coffee shops near me” or specific locations like “Empire State Building.” Voice search works for destinations across cities and countries.

With voice search enabled, you can quickly lookup places on the go without typing. It makes searching Google Maps faster and easier while walking or driving.

Voice Typing

One of the most useful features that utilizes the microphone in Google Maps is the ability to type using your voice instead of manually typing on your device. This feature is called Voice Typing and allows you to dictate text which will be automatically converted into written words in the search bar or other text fields.

To use Voice Typing in the Google Maps app on your mobile device, tap on the microphone icon next to the search bar. After enabling microphone access, you will see the microphone icon turn red, indicating it is now listening. Speak clearly into your phone’s microphone to dictate your search terms or other text. As you speak, your words will be transcribed in real-time into written text in the search bar or text field.

Voice Typing is extremely useful for entering longer search queries or addresses hands-free, without having to tediously type everything out on a small touchscreen keyboard. It’s faster, easier and more convenient. Just tap the microphone, speak naturally as if you were talking to someone, and Google Maps will transcribe your speech into text automatically using speech recognition technology.

According to a February 2019 blog post from Google [1], Voice Typing is now available on more budget Android phones running KaiOS, making the voice-powered Google Assistant more accessible to millions more users globally. Voice Typing enables you to dictate text quickly and easily on more devices, without needing to actually type.

Troubleshooting

If Google Maps’ voice commands and microphone are not working properly, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:

Make sure microphone permissions are enabled for Google Maps in your device settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Maps and ensure Microphone permission is toggled on. You may need to restart the app after changing permissions.

Check that your phone’s microphone is working properly by trying it with other apps. Make an audio recording or phone call to confirm the mic is functioning.

Ensure you have an active internet connection, as voice commands require an online connection. Try toggling Airplane mode on and off to reset the connection.

Restart your device to clear any glitches. Microphone issues are sometimes fixed by a quick reboot.

Update Google Maps and your phone’s operating system to the latest versions, as a buggy app or OS could be the culprit.

Try using voice commands in different environments to rule out background noise interference. Move to a quieter area and speak clearly and loudly toward the microphone.

As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the Google Maps app. This wipes any corrupted data that could be preventing voice actions.

If issues persist after trying the above, check the Google Maps help center or contact customer support for further assistance in resolving microphone difficulties.

Privacy Considerations

When enabling voice features in Google Maps, it’s important to be aware of the privacy implications. Google states that personal information like recordings and location are not shared with third-party services accessed through Google Assistant [1]. However, voice data is collected and stored by Google to improve speech recognition and other services.

Users can manage privacy settings for microphone access and other permissions in Google apps. For example, pausing location history and voice & audio activity can increase privacy [2]. Google also allows users to delete past activity data at any time.

Overall, while voice features provide hands-free convenience, users should be thoughtful about enabling them. Checking microphone permissions and privacy settings periodically can help manage concerns. Turning off microphone access or deleting activity history are options to increase privacy.

Conclusion

In summary, giving Google Maps access to your microphone allows you to enable helpful voice features. To get started, you need to enable microphone permissions for the Maps app in your phone’s settings. Once microphone access is granted, you can activate voice commands within Google Maps to search locations, get turn-by-turn directions, control music playback, and more using just your voice. The voice guidance can be extremely useful for navigating safely or assisting visually impaired users. While voice features provide convenience, it’s important to be aware of potential privacy concerns and disable microphone access if desired. When used properly, voice commands can greatly enhance the Google Maps experience on both Android and iOS devices.