Let’s take a quick minute for some self-reflection.
When was the last time you actually asked strangers the way to a location you weren’t completely familiar with?
How about searching for the destination yourself by going from one street to another?
Probably from before you first owned a smartphone, right?
We know for sure that it’s been a long while for us, but that doesn’t mean it’s a completely outdated method of finding your way.
Nevertheless, it’s no longer an efficient or time-saving wayfinding process- which explains the popularity of Google Maps!
It’s certainly easier to input your destination and wait for Google to find the best route rather than opting for the old-fashioned way.
However, what do you do when the Google Maps app is stuck on “Finding the best route” and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere?
This article will discuss why this happens, and your options to fix it quickly!
Why Can’t Google Maps Find A Route?
There are several reasons as to why Google Maps can’t seem to decide on a route, even when it has never shown any prior signs of defects.
Here are some of the most common factors behind why you’re currently experiencing this Google Maps issue:
Poor Connection
Whether it’s through Wi-Fi or a cellular network, your phone may not be properly connected to the internet.
If this is the reason your Google Maps app is faulty, simply check your phone’s connection and ensure it’s strong enough!
You may even be getting a “Please check your internet connection and try again” message, which is usually a pretty clear indication.
An unstable connection will cause any app that uses the Internet to work poorly (if at all)– despite any attempts on your end to make it work properly.
Outdated App
Always keep in mind the possibility that your app isn’t up-to-date.
If an app isn’t updated to its latest version, a quick fix to getting it to perform optimally is to… update it immediately!
An outdated Google Maps app- like any other app that isn’t up-to-date– may not work properly.
Even if it does work, there’s a possibility of it being stuck in one state. Therefore, always remember to update your apps as soon as new versions are available.
Switched-Off Location Services
Quite understandably- given the nature of Google Maps as a navigation app- it requires the device’s location services to be turned on for it to work correctly.
The app won’t be able to find the best available route (or the exact location you want) without enabling this feature. This applies for both Android and iPhone users.
Poor Calibration
Any minor miscalibration can cause the app to provide incorrect directions or the wrong location.
You don’t always need to calibrate the app, and most of us never need to do it for as long as we have our phones.
However, you may need to check the calibration if your app gets stuck or stops working.
Miscalibration will affect your app negatively, causing it to stop working on your phone. Fortunately, there are ways to fix the app and get it to run efficiently again (as we’ll explore in the following section!).
How Do I Get Google Maps Back To Normal?
The following are some of the simple steps you can take to get Google Maps back to normal again:
Improve The Network Connection
The simplest solution to remedy an unstable connection is to find practical ways to improve it!
If you’re using Wi-Fi, find a stronger connection by connecting to another source or moving closer to the router.
If you’re using cellular data, turn it off and back on again. This may help to reset the network connection issues.
Also, it might be a good idea to consider rebooting your phone.
A reboot can be very useful for fixing network issues and resetting the app and phone.
Simply turn the phone off, wait a few minutes, and turn the device back on again. Then, check to see if the app is working as it should be!
Turn Location Services On
Your phone’s location services must be on for Google Maps to work.
Google typically notifies you if the services are unavailable, but it helps to check in the event of accidentally turning it off.
Go to your phone’s quick settings to activate the services by following these steps:
- Go to Settings and find Apps & Notifications.
- Locate All Apps, and then find Google Maps.
- Open the app, find Permissions, and select Location under it.
Here, you’ll find the option to enable location access all the time. Set the Location to Allow All The Time, and try using Google Maps again to find the best route.
Update Google Maps
If fixing your device’s location settings doesn’t get the app to work as intended, it may be time to update the app.
Google sends updates to fix bugs and improve features for all of the apps they provide.
The problem may stem from continued use of an outdated app. Follow these steps to manually update your app:
- Go to the Play Store and select your profile photo.
- From the drop-down menu, select “My Apps & Games”.
- Select Google Maps and tap Update next to it.
While you’re at it, you may want to update other apps that need an upgrade and save yourself from future issues!
Once the app updates, check to see if it’s working properly. Find the best route, and be on your merry way!
Calibrate The App
It may be a good move to calibrate the app’s compass so that it can find the best route every time you use it.
This way, Google Maps will use your exact location to search for and find routes close to you.
As mentioned in the above section, poor calibration can lead to the app not working or sticking to one spot.
To calibrate the app, follow these steps below:
- Open the Google Maps app
- Find the blue dot that represents your current location.
- Tap it, and it will take you to a page with your location.
- Find “Calibrate Compass” at the bottom left corner; tap it and follow the ensuing instructions.
This process should fix an uncalibrated app from being stuck on finding the best route!
Uninstall Updates
Some software updates may not work well for the app, thereby causing problems during usage.
If your Google Maps was working correctly and stopped working after a particular software update, consider uninstalling some of the updates by following these steps:
- Go to Settings and locate Apps & Notifications.
- Find App Info or See All Apps, and select Maps.
- Click on the three dots at the top right corner, and Uninstall Updates will appear.
Selecting this option will reset the app to factory settings, erasing all configurations and data.
While you’re at it, you can also clear cached data.
Storage and Cache will be the third option on the same page where you have the Maps app.
Select this and clear temporary files that may be affecting the app’s efficiency.
Finally, resetting Google Play Services may also fix the problem if none of the above works.
Simply follow these steps:
- Go to Settings and select Apps & Notifications.
- Select Google Play Services
- Select Storage and Cache, and choose Clear Storage.
- From there, click Clear All Data and allow the process to run.
In Conclusion
Google Maps is usually an efficient app (when you can find it, that is) and is certainly useful when you’re in need of it!
However, the app can stop working or get stuck while in use.
Following our guide should help you fix the issue of your Google Maps being stuck trying to find the best route.
The reason why your Google Maps doesn’t work could be because of an outdated app, poor internet connection, disabled location services, miscalibrated compass, or a combination of any of those factors.
Fortunately, our methods detailed in this article should help you solve the problem within minutes!
Make sure to follow the instructions carefully, and only uninstall the app if nothing else works.
If it comes down to that, uninstalling and reinstalling the app should be enough to make it work properly again.
Happy navigating!