The reason ETA times on Google Maps sometimes turn black

Google uses different colors to highlight key elements of the Google Maps user interface that users should pay attention to. For example, route suggestions are painted in shades of blue, with the main suggestion appearing in dark blue. Likewise, the estimated time of arrival (ETA) may appear in different colors, not all of which may be obvious. If you’ve ever seen the ETA indicator turn black, you may not know what that means. However, black isn’t always bad news for your ETA, depending on where you see it. Indeed, black ETAs can appear in both driving mode and transit mode. For driving, this is just a trivial choice that may appear depending on your display settings. This may also represent a lack of live data. For public transportation, the color means that the app does not receive real-time updates on your current journey.

Google explained in January 2025 the meaning of the ETA color options in a Google Maps support forum in response to a user asking why numbers may appear black and white. The answer indicates the three important colors: green (for light traffic), orange (moderate traffic) and red (heavy traffic). This should provide quick visual guidance on the route ahead and the potential for delays. Black and white may appear to improve contrast in dark mode or when there is a lack of real-time traffic information, according to Google.

Another support document explains the colors and symbols Google uses for real-time transit navigation data: green (on time), orange (ahead), and red (late). If you see ETAs in black, navigation data in transit is not receiving live updates. Finally, you can see a white exclamation point inside a red diamond for construction and other delays.

ETA color choices are a key part of the Google Maps experience that can help the user quickly adjust their route based on this visual information, as long as they understand UI colors. For example, seeing a red arrival time in driving mode may prompt you to seek an alternative route to your destination to avoid possible delays. You might not always find one, but you would at least be informed that you might be late. On the other hand, an orange arrival time in transit mode can tell you that the next bus or train is arriving earlier, which can impact your travel time. You will have to hurry to catch it or wait for the next option. It’s only when you see ETAs displayed in black and white that you may not be able to adjust your travel plans.

Google said in 2020 that it had partnered with research lab DeepMind AI to improve the accuracy of its traffic prediction algorithms. Prior to the partnership, Google Maps ETA predictions were “consistently accurate for over 97% of trips,” according to the company. After using data from DeepMind AI, Google was able to further reduce the percentage of inaccurate ETAs.

Google also offered more details on how Google Maps suggests directions. The app takes into account various data points, including road quality and size, historical traffic patterns (up to four weeks), local government data (speed limits, tolls and restrictions), and real-time information from other Google Maps users.

Google’s claims about ETA accuracy aside, it’s easy to check the data, especially if you drive the same route often. You can start the app and see if the ETAs offered match the actual driving experience. You can test transit navigation ETAs in the same way. Compare actual travel time to Google Maps predictions.

That said, you can’t change ETA colors in the app, but you can try to avoid seeing black or white ETAs while driving. This may involve turning off dark mode on your handset to reduce the likelihood of seeing numbers in black or white. However, it may not be comfortable for driving at night. But ETAs may appear black when the app cannot access real-time traffic information for driving and transit modes. For example, using Google Maps for offline navigation can also lead to black ETAs, as the app would not have access to live traffic information. This is speculation based on how Google explains the black and white color choices for the ETA UI.

When it comes to navigating public transportation, you won’t be able to change the ETA color scheme, as black indicates that the app doesn’t have real-time information about the next bus or train you’re about to take. However, you can change your route based on ETA colors to try to avoid any delays that may be caused by heavy traffic or public transport disruptions.