How to Turn Off the Voice in Google Maps

Voice guidance and navigation on Google Maps makes things much easier for you. However, you may want to turn this feature off from time to time. Maybe you find it annoying, or simply want to follow the map without any spoken instructions.

Fortunately, this feature can be turned off with relative ease. This article will explain everything you need to know and help you make the most out of the voice feature.

Turning Off Voice on Google Maps on iPhone and Android

It’s not hard to turn off Google Maps voice for iOS and Android users. Below are the steps to follow:

1. Open Google Maps.
   
2. Initiate a route to a destination of your choice.
   
3. Press “Start.”
   
4. Select the sound icon and tap the mute icon (the crossed-out speaker). This turns off Google Maps voice guidance completely.
   

Muting Directions When You’re Making a Call

You may get a phone call as you navigate somewhere. However, you’ll still hear the voice directions. If that’s the case, you can mute the voice.

1. Open Google Maps.
   
2. Tap the initial settings or your profile picture.
   
3. Tap “Navigation settings.”
   
4. Turn “Play voice during phone calls” on or off.
   

Choosing to Mute, Unmute, or Hear Alerts

1. Being able to control Google Maps Voice feature means you can turn it on and off as needed. Open Google Maps on iPhone or iPad.
2. Begin navigation.
   
3. Tap “Sound” at the top of your screen (right).
   
4. Tap “Mute” if you don’t want any spoken alerts or directions.
   
5. Tap “Alerts” for updates on crashes, construction, or traffic.
   
6. Tap “Sound” to hear turn-by-turn directions and updates.
   

Why People Turn Off Voice on Google Maps

Voice guidance is an important navigation tool. However, it can become irritating at times. The voice feature may interrupt your music, for example. You may also be surrounded by noisy people in the car, making it impossible to hear the voice guidance.

Using Navigation in Google Maps App

Google Maps has altered the way people travel. Offering more than just directions, you get traffic information in real-time to help you find a suitable route and avoid delays.

By activating voice navigation, things get even better. You can hear everything while on the move, including traffic alerts. You get information on the best lanes and when it’s time to make a turn. If a better route is available, you’ll be notified as well.

Here’s how to use the navigation on your tablet or phone:

1. Navigate to GPS and turn it on.
2. Allow Google Maps to use your audio speakers and current location.
   

Using Navigation on iPad, iPhone, and Android

For new users, navigation can be a godsend. If you want to either start or stop the feature, do the following:

1. Open Google Maps.
   
2. Tap or search for a location.
   
3. Tap “Directions.” You’ll see a person walking, a person waving, a bike, a bus, and a car.
   
4. Choose a transportation mode. Alternative routes are shown in grey.
   
5. To begin navigation, select “Start.” You may see a pop-up “Searching for GPS.” This means your device is trying to get a signal. For example, you may be in an area with no signal, such as a parking garage, tunnel, etc. With an active signal, navigation should begin automatically.
   

To cancel or stop the navigation initiated, tap exit by dragging up from the bottom.

Important tips:

• Tap the compass if you want to see the map from your point of view.
• Add shortcuts for directions to places you frequent, like home or work.
• Share your progress as you navigate: A live location can be shared throughout your trip. Real-time location sharing is possible on Google Maps.
• Search a route: If you want, you can look for places along the way.

Changing the Voice

You may change to another voice on your tablet or phone through text-to-speech.

1. Open your tablet or phone settings.
   
2. Select “Text-to-speech.”
   
3. Select the text-to-speech option you want under “Preferred engine.”
   
4. Voice navigation will use what you select. Note that this will change the app’s voice as well.
   

Changing the Voice Navigation Volume on iPad and iPhone

When you begin navigating, changing the media volume is easy. Press the volume buttons to lower or raise the volume. For example, if the screen displays “Ringer Volume,” press the volume buttons as the guide speaks. Here’s how to use settings to change the volume:

1. Open “Settings” on your iPhone.
   
2. Tap “Sounds and Haptics,” then change using the buttons.
   

Changing the Navigation Voice Volume

Adjusting the navigation voice volume allows you to choose what works for you depending on your location and surroundings. To adjust the volume, follow these steps:

1. On iPad or iPhone, open Google Maps.
   
2. Select the Account Circle or profile picture if already set up.
   
3. Tap “Settings” followed by Navigation settings.
   
4. Choose between softer, normal, or louder.
   

Change Navigation Language

If the current voice navigation language doesn’t work for you, it can be changed as well.

1. Go to device settings on iPad or iPhone.
   
2. Select “General.”
   
3. Tap “Language and region.”
   
4. Tap “iPhone Language” and set another language.
   

Changing your device language affects settings in other apps and menus. For example, street names may not be provided if the language is changed.

Turning On Voice Guidance on Google Maps

Enabling voice guidance on the app can be helpful.

1. Open Google Maps on your device.
   
2. Select the account icon on your screen (top right).
   
3. Tap on ”Settings.”
   
4. Scroll to “Navigation settings” and tap.
   
5. Select “Muted” under the Sound and voice .
   

The voice guidance volume can be adjusted using “Guidance Volume” in the navigation settings.

Using Google Maps with Enabled Voice Directions

After making sure that voice guidance is enabled, open Google Maps and request walking directions. For example: “Google, navigate to the bus stop by walking.”

You can customize your experience by requesting pit stops along the way. Instead of heading to the bus stop directly, you may request a stop a restaurant: “Google, add a restaurant to my current route.”

If you make a request, and Google Maps can find multiple locations matching the requested destination, it will display the first three matches closest to you. These will be shown onscreen. On the downside, Google Maps doesn’t read these options for you. To remedy this, you should make Alexa the default voice assistant. An important tip is to make your destinations as accurate as possible.

In case you need walking directions, you need to specify. If you fail to do so, Google Maps offers driving directions instead. This is the default setting.

Voice Commands

Typically, Google will give you some regular updates regarding your progress. The best part is that you can request more assistance using different voice commands:

• “How far is the next turn?”
• “How long until I get to my destination?”
• “What is my next step?”
• “Mute/unmute voice guidance.”
• “Exit navigation.”

Google Voice Settings at Your Fingertips

Google voice navigation and guidance are essential for everyone. The app recommends the best route to take to help you avoid delays. By turning the voice on and off, you can create the best experience for yourself and your passengers.

Have you ever turned off the voice on Google Maps? Did you use any of the tips and tricks outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.