How to improve CarPlay navigation if you use Google Maps on Apple Maps

Apple Maps has improved a lot since its rocky launch, but many people still prefer Google Maps. This could be due to traffic data, better business listings, or just out of habit. The good news is that you can use Google Maps in Apple CarPlay like any other supported app.

Apple has always been restrictive when it comes to changing the iPhone’s default apps. In the EU and Japan, local regulations allow you to choose your preferred navigation app as the default. This means that when you ask Siri for directions or tap an address, your iPhone and CarPlay will use your favorite app instead of Apple Maps. If you live in one of these regions, you will find this toggle in the Default apps menu on your iPhone, located under Settings > Apps. Select Google Maps as your default maps tool for the best experience.

Otherwise, Apple Maps will remain the default navigation app on CarPlay, but there are a few tricks you can use to improve your navigation experience with Google Maps in your car. While it’s not particularly smooth, one of the simplest is to add “on Google Maps” to the end of Siri requests in the car to avoid opening Apple Maps by default.

If you live outside the EU and Japan, there are still ways to use Google Maps in CarPlay more seamlessly. The first is to place Google Maps on the first page of your CarPlay home screen: on your iPhone screen. Settingsgo to General > CarPlay. Choose on your car and select Applications. Here you can rearrange the order in which apps appear on your home screen: just drag Google Maps up and it will be one of the first apps you see in your car.

If Google Maps doesn’t appear on CarPlay at all, that’s the first place to look. Of course, you’ll first need to download Google Maps to your iPhone from the App Store (among the dozens of CarPlay apps available). Scroll to the bottom of this menu and tap the green More icon to add it if necessary.

Adding Google Maps to your CarPlay dashboard is another method to get there faster. Instead of searching for the app every time, you can add a widget for faster access. Return to the CarPlay settings on your iPhone, but this time tap Widgets instead of Applications. There, search and add a Google Maps widget.

Some cars also offer a split-screen CarPlay dashboard, accessed by swiping right to the left-most panel. This usually includes a mini-map. Start a route in Google Maps once, and it should now pick up this sign.

There are other best practices in the Google Maps app that will make navigating CarPlay easier. Adding your home and work addresses is a good first step, allowing you to start common routes with just one click.

To set them up, open Google Maps on your iPhone and tap your profile picture in the top right. So go to Settings > Location & Privacy. Scroll down until you find Personal and professional addresses. Select this, then use the three points menu for each option to add or adjust it as needed. They will be waiting for you on CarPlay.

When you’re going on a long trip, it’s important to download maps offline, especially to avoid problems if you lose your cellular connection. Back in Google Maps on your iPhone, tap your profile picture and select Offline maps. Choose which areas you want to keep downloaded for browsing without an Internet connection. It’s a good idea to download these maps using a Wi-Fi connection, as large city maps can use a lot of data.

You can also change the appearance of the map. By pressing the compass the button toggles between North and Cape, and the day and night themes can be set to change automatically if you visit Settings > Appearance in CarPlay. Don’t forget to change other important CarPlay settings as well.