Best 10 Fixes for Google Maps Voice Navigation Not Working on Android and iPhone

Have you ever been on your way to an unknown place, using only Google Maps on your phone as a road guide, but the application refuses to give voice instructions? You want to resolve the issue as soon as possible, as it is dangerous to take your eyes off the road for instructions from your screen. You also don’t want to get lost. In this article, we’ll walk you through ten different ways to get your Google Maps voice navigation working again.

There are many factors that can prevent Google Maps voice navigation from working, and there are many ways to resolve the problem. If you’re using an Android device or iPhone, one of the troubleshooting tips should help you restore Google Maps to normal. Let’s get straight to the point.

1. Check volume and sound profile

If you notice that your Google Maps application is not giving voice directions as it normally should, you should check and confirm that the volume on your phone is not muted.

For Android

Press the volume up button on the side of your device to increase the volume (preferably at the highest level) and check if Google Maps voice navigation now works. You can also go to Settings> Sound. Then check that the media volume is not at the lowest level (or zero). If your phone is in silent mode, try turning it off or switching to another sound profile.

For iphone

If your iPhone volume is at the lowest level, you may have problems with Google Maps voice navigation. Press the volume up button to increase the volume on your iPhone and you should now hear Google Maps guide you by voice during navigation. You can also open the iPhone control center by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen and increase the volume bar.

If increasing the volume on your phone does not work, try increasing the volume (using the volume buttons) as soon as Google Maps voice navigation is activated. Indeed, some iPhone users have reported that the voice navigation of Google Maps has its volume control, which is independent of the general volume of the ringtone of the iPhone.

Maybe your iPhone is set to generate 80% volume, but Google Maps voice navigation is 0% volume. Again, immediately press the volume up button on your device to increase the navigation volume when Google Maps begins navigation.

2. Activate voice navigation

Although voice navigation is always turned on by default in the Google Maps app, you may have turned it off by accident. Here’s how to check and re-enable voice navigation on Google Maps.

For Android

Step 1: On the map navigation page, tap the speaker icon.

2nd step: Tap the third speaker icon (as shown in the image below) to reactivate voice navigation.

For iphone

You can do the same for the iPhone. Tap the speaker icon and make sure the voice navigation is set to Mute.

Alternatively, you can re-enable voice navigation for Google Maps of iPhones in the application settings menu. Just follow the steps below.

Step 1: On the Google Maps home page / dashboard, tap the account image in the upper right corner.

2nd step: Select Settings.

Step 3: Tap on Navigation.

Step 4: In the Mute Status section, tap Not Muted.

Your Maps voice navigation should now work.

3. Adjust the guide volume

Some Google Maps users experiencing the same problem have been able to make the application’s voice navigation work again by adjusting the guidance volume settings from Normal to Loud. Here’s how.

For Android

Launch the Google Maps app, tap the menu icon and go to Settings> Navigation settings> Set the guidance volume to Loudest.

For iphone

Launch Google Maps, tap the photo on the account, and go to Settings> Navigation. In the Guidance volume section, tap Stronger to change the volume settings. Now go back to Maps navigation and see if the voice works.

4. Activate Play Voice Over Bluetooth

Connecting your phone to a Bluetooth device (for example, a wireless headset or a Bluetooth car receiver / stereo system) may cause interference with the voice navigation functionality of Google Maps. If Google Maps is not set to read voice when connected to a Bluetooth accessory, voice navigation will not work on your phone.

Here’s how to check (and activate) the Google Play “Voice over Bluetooth” feature.

For Android

Step 1: Launch Google Maps and tap the hamburger menu icon.

2nd step: Select Settings.

Step 3: Select Navigation settings.

Step 4: If this option is deactivated, activate the option “Listen to voice over Bluetooth”.

In addition, you can also switch to the “Listen to voice during phone calls” function so that the voice navigations are played simultaneously when you make a phone call.

For iphone

Step 1: On the Google Maps home page / dashboard, tap the account image in the upper right corner.

2nd step: Select Settings.

Step 3: Tap on Navigation.

Step 4: Make sure the “Listen to voice over Bluetooth” option is turned on and off.

If your car entertainment system can only make and receive phone calls via Bluetooth, you can also activate the “Play as a Bluetooth phone call” option.

Google Maps voice navigation would look like a phone call so you can hear the driving directions through your Bluetooth car speaker.

5. Turn off the Bluetooth device

In the event that your phone is unable to establish an appropriate connection with your Bluetooth device or car radio, the voice navigation function of Google Maps will not work. Turning off your device’s Bluetooth and restoring the connection may help. If the voice navigation still does not work via Bluetooth, the Bluetooth device (s) are probably faulty.

Turn off your phone’s Bluetooth and use your phone’s speaker or a wired headset to listen to voice navigation from Google Maps.

6. (Forcer) Fermer Google Maps

Si la navigation vocale Google Maps ne fonctionne toujours pas après avoir effectué toutes les modifications et configurations ci-dessus, vous devez fermer l’application et la rouvrir. Cela rafraîchira l’application et devrait faire fonctionner à nouveau la navigation vocale.

Pour iphone

Si vous utilisez un iPhone avec un bouton d’accueil physique (iPhone 8 Plus et plus ancien), appuyez deux fois sur le bouton d’accueil et faites glisser vers le haut Google Maps pour le fermer. Pour l’iPhone X et les modèles d’iPhone plus récents, faites simplement glisser le bouton d’accueil vers le haut depuis le bas de l’écran et faites glisser vers le haut l’application Google Maps pour le fermer.

Lancez à nouveau l’application et vérifiez si la navigation vocale fonctionne désormais.

Pour Android

Pour les utilisateurs d’Android, vous pouvez actualiser Google Maps en fermant simplement ou en arrêtant de force l’application.

Voici comment arrêter de force l’application Google Maps sur Android.

Étape 1: Lancez le menu Paramètres.

Étape 2: Sélectionnez «Applications et notifications».

Étape 3: Appuyez sur Informations sur l’application.

Étape 4: Locate Maps and tap it.

Étape 5: On the app info page, tap the Force Stop icon.

Step 6: On the pop-up card, tap OK to continue.

Now tap Open to launch the Maps app and see if voice navigation now works as it should.

7. Clear App Cache

Clearing the Google Maps cache could help fix whatever issue is causing the voice navigation not to work. Here’s how to clear the Google Maps app cache on Android.

Launch your phone’s Settings menu and navigate to Apps & notifications > App info > Maps > Storage & cache. Now tap the Clear cache option to clear the Google Maps cache. Relax, that will not delete the Google Maps data.

Relaunch the app and see if voice navigation works.

8. Update Google Maps

You want to make sure you are running the latest version of the Google Maps app on your device. Open your device’s app store and head to the Google Maps app page. If there’s an Update button on the page, that means you are running an old (or outdated, maybe) version of Google Maps. Tap the update button to get the latest version installed on your device.

Update Google Maps (for Android)

Update Google Maps (for iPhone)

9. Upgrade Device OS

The Google Maps voice navigation isn’t working on your device? It’s possible that your phone’s running an outdated operating system that no longer supports some Google Maps features (like voice navigation).

Upgrade your phone to the latest operating system available and see if the issue with the Google Maps voice navigation not working would be fixed.

For Android

To check for a system update on Android, follow the steps below.

Étape 1: Launch the Android Settings menu.

Étape 2: Scroll to the bottom and select System.

Étape 3: Tap Advanced.

Étape 4: Select System update.

Étape 5: Tap ‘Check for update’ and follow the prompt to upgrade your phone’s OS (if any).

For iPhone

Étape 1: Launch the Settings menu.

Étape 2: Select General.

Étape 3: Select Software Update.

Your iPhone will check for available updates, and you will be prompted to download and install any available updates. Otherwise, a ‘Your software is up to date’ message is displayed on the screen.

If your software is up to date and the Google Maps voice navigation still doesn’t work, proceed to the next (and final) troubleshooting option below.

10. Uninstall Google Maps

A handful of Android and iPhone users who have encountered this same issue in the past were able to fix it by uninstalling the Google Maps app from their device and reinstalling it.

If you have tried all the tips mentioned above and nothing worked, you should uninstall the app from your device and reinstall it.