It’s taken more than seven years, but Android Auto users can finally use the live speedometer and speed limit signs on Google Maps without setting an active destination. Google first added live speed limits and a speedometer to its Maps app in 2019, expanding the information the app offers drivers. However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that Android Auto users were able to take advantage of this feature, even though CarPlay had it for much longer.
While the arrival of the speedometer is good news, one thing was still missing: the ability to see your live speed and the speed limits of the road you are currently traveling without having a defined destination. Fortunately, that seems to be changing now. User reports on Reddit suggest that the live speedometer has started appearing even without a destination set, giving Google Maps users running Android Auto an additional feature that they can take advantage of more easily. (via 9to5Google)
This is a very useful update to Maps, especially for users who like to see details like upcoming roads, stop signs, and traffic lights, which reports say should now display more reliably without a set route.
It’s rolling out now
Thai Liang Lim/Getty Images
Unfortunately, Google has only announced so far that the feature is rolling out. It hasn’t been made clear exactly what timeline users should expect to get their hands on the new feature. In the meantime, it might be worth looking to other navigation apps if you absolutely need these features without navigation.
Being able to see more information at a glance without selecting a destination is one of the reasons why some users prefer Waze over Google Maps, as it allows you to customize the display of speed limits, set speed limit alerts, and more. However, Waze may seem more designed for passive use, since you can still receive alerts about construction work and other warnings even without a destination in mind. Google Maps, on the other hand, tends to shine more when you have an actual destination in mind. However, the company regularly makes updates, like its Immersive Browsing update, to encourage passive use as well.
But if you don’t like Waze or just want to stick to Google Maps all the time, you can rest easy knowing that the feature will be rolling out to your device at some point in the future. Unfortunately, some users also report issues with the speedometer not appearing at all. If you are affected by this bug and the speedometer suddenly no longer appears, this is probably why. Google is aware of the issue and the Android Auto team is working to resolve it, but also hasn’t released a timeline on when to expect a fix.
