Google Maps makes navigating to your destination easy, and Android Auto makes that even easier while you’re behind the wheel. But if you’re trying to look ahead, there’s a handy little trick that lets you see upcoming directions while en route.
A typical driving route in Google Maps will include lots of twists and turns, and knowing what to expect can make the drive a lot easier. However, during navigation, you’ll only see the next step.
Through the Google Maps app on Android and iOS it’s rather easy to see a preview of the route while setting up navigation. Then, you can also swipe on the navigation directions to see the next step.
That gesture also happens to work on Android Auot.
The hidden trick was highlighted by a user on Reddit and, judging from the replies, it’s clearly something that’s gone under the radar for most folks. When you’re seeing directions for later steps on the route, Google Maps will skip ahead to that point on the map as well as turning the direction card grey instead of showing it in green.
The gesture has been available through Google Maps on Android Auto for a few years now (for instance, you can see it being used in this article from 2023 as shown by the directions being in grey), but it’s not exactly a very obvious UI element that’s very easy to miss.
In recent weeks, Google Maps on Android Auto has rolled out updates including improved lane guidance and support for incident reports as well.
Did you know about this hidden trick?
More on Android Auto:
- Android Auto is widely rolling out Google Maps incident reporting
- Google Maps update improves home and work addresses on Android Auto
- Latest Android Auto update adds support for EVs that use Tesla’s NACS charger
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