What you need to know
- Google Maps has been acting strange for users, as reports on Reddit state it’s “limiting” access to features for users not signed in.
- Reports claim that Maps is not showing photos for places, nor is it offering “Reviews” for users who aren’t signed into their Google Account.
- Recent Maps updates expand Gemini’s navigational help to “walking” and “cycling” for hands-free assistance.
Users seeking navigation in Google Maps are noticing a strange occurrence: they’re missing some crucial (expected) aspects of the app.
A post by Android Authority picked up on this, as user reports started flooding Reddit about missing items in Google Maps. The original report claims that, when visiting Google Maps without signing in, the user is unable to view images for a place they’re interested in. The user adds, “I can only see one photo for very popular locations I know had multiple photos before.”
They add that they’ve been given a “You have limited access to Google Maps” and are then given a prompt to sign into their Google account.
More users have joined the discussion, stating that the “Reviews” tab is also missing from Maps when they are not signed into their accounts. While some users have expressed skepticism, stating it could be a bug, others continuously state they are unable to view photos or reviews, and it’s not just happening in the U.S. One user also experienced this in Germany.
The official Google Help Community account is aware of this and informed the user to Open browser > At the top right, select More > Select History > History > On the left, select Delete browsing data > Select Delete data to try to resolve the issue. The user behind the original post did as instructed, though it did nothing to resolve the issues in Maps. Considering this, it’s unclear if this “limited” version of Maps for users signed out of their account is intentional or a bug.
What’s going on with Maps?
While we wait to see what shakes down for Google Maps’ “limited” issue, the company’s latest update for the app expanded Gemini in Navigation. The AI is now capable of helping users walk or cycle with AI-powered navigation. While out, Google gives the example that users can ask the AI about the neighborhood they’re in for information about shops, places to eat, and more.
If you’re biking, Gemni can help by texting someone for you or by giving you the ETA for your destination. Gemini‘s other update for Maps delivered landmark-based navigation, a notable step up from the usual “turn left in X ft.” Proactive traffic alerts and Lens functionality also made the cut.
Android Central’s Take
For a simple tool as Google Maps, it seems strange that it would start “limiting” users by cutting certain features if they’re not signed in. I came across one Reddit comment that said Google might’ve done this to cut back on malicious activity. While this could be a reason, its Community Help account treating this as a bug suggests otherwise. This could be a situation where Maps is just bugging out for users for unknown reasons. However, if it is a new part of Maps, it’ll be yet another thing we’ll have to adapt to.
