Google Maps is a useful application to install on iPhone and Android phones, and it is one of the most important navigation applications in the world. However, if you’re planning a vacation or business trip to China, be aware that you’ll need to get your navigation and directions from another app. This is because Google Maps is not supported in China, as Google abandoned the Chinese market over a decade ago. The move was made following disputes with the Chinese government over how Google services, starting with Search, should operate in the region. Eventually, China banned Google services in the region, including Google Maps.
Therefore, Google’s navigation app cannot be installed on Android phones sold in China because these devices do not come with Google Mobile Services pre-installed, meaning they do not run the official Google Play store. Google Maps is listed on the Chinese version of the App Store, so it can be downloaded on iPhones sold in the region, but it likely offers a reduced navigation experience compared to other countries. That said, Google Maps may offer limited functionality in the country, as map data may be more limited or inaccurate and lead to navigation errors.
In addition to the lack of official support, the difference in map coordinates also needs to be taken into account. This means that even if the Google Maps app is already installed on the iPhone or Android phone, alternative navigation should be considered when traveling in China.
Why is Google Maps banned in China?
Google began operating a local Google search service in China in 2006, and initially agreed to the government’s demands for local censorship, displaying selected search results to Chinese users. By the end of 2009, Google Search accounted for about a third of the search market, behind Chinese technology company Baidu, showing that it has become an important tool for Chinese users, despite strict censorship laws affecting Internet use in China. In early 2010, however, Google announced that it would no longer censor the Chinese version of Google Search, after allegations that Chinese hackers had targeted Google software, including Gmail accounts belonging to human rights activists in China.
In 2014, China blocked Google services still available in the region, after years of significant growth for local technology companies that offered alternatives to Google services, including apps like Gmail and Google Maps. According to the MIT Technology Review, Google then attempted to develop software experiences for the Chinese market, a version of Google services aimed at Chinese users that excluded online search. The company also worked on a censored search engine for China, according to reports from The Intercept in 2018. In December of that year, Google told Congress that it had no plans to relaunch products in China.
Alternatives to Google Maps
The ban on Google may seem contradictory since some of the world’s leading suppliers of Android phones come from China. Companies like Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo (including its subsidiary OnePlus) and others make high-end Android smartphones that rival the Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S models and iPhones. These Android handsets come preloaded with Google apps, including Google Maps, but only in international markets. The same versions of phones sold in China will not work on the Google Play Store but will instead use other app marketplaces.
Apple Maps is an alternative to Google Maps in China. Apple operates in the region and Apple Maps navigation is available in China. Apple Maps offers map data from Amap Software, with Apple saying users do not need to sign in to their Apple account to use Apple Maps in the country. Apple notes that it uses “privacy-preserving techniques” to protect user privacy.
Android users may want to install one of the navigation apps available to Chinese users. The list includes Amap, Baidu Maps, Organic Maps and OsmAnd. There are other free Google Maps alternatives that can serve users in various other regions besides China. Users can consider installing these apps before leaving for China, while still enjoying reliable access to the Google Play Store. The same apps are also available on iPhone, in case they want options for Apple Maps.
