How to Get Google Maps Talking Again on Android and iPhone

If you encounter the issue of Google Maps not talking on iPhone or Android, it can make using the navigation feature less reliable. This guide will outline potential reasons for the Google Maps voice issue and provide solutions to fix it.

Solution 1 – Make sure voice is turned on in the Maps app

• Open the Google Maps app and enter your destination as you normally would.
• Once you’ve entered your destination, tap Start to begin navigation.

• Look at the upper-right corner of the screen while navigating. You’ll see a sound button.
• Make sure the sound button is enabled. If it’s not, tap it to turn on voice guidance.

Solution 2 – Clear the app’s cache

We move from obvious solutions to clichés now. If you still can’t hear any voice from Google Maps, clearing the app’s cache could be a solution. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the Settings app on your Android device.
• Scroll down and select Apps or Apps Manager. Depending on your device’s software version, you might need to look for Application Management or similar.
• Locate Google Maps in the list of apps. If you can’t find it immediately, you may need to select options like Show all apps or Show system services in additional settings.

• Once you find Google Maps, tap on it to access its settings.
• In the app settings, select Storage.

From here, you can clear the cache of the Google Maps app. This can help resolve any temporary issues or corrupted data that may be causing problems with voice guidance.

Method 3: Check the Bluetooth Connection

To resolve the Google Maps not talking issue, you need to pair your phone with your car’s Bluetooth system and ensure the Play Voice over Bluetooth feature is enabled. Here’s how to do it:

1. Pair Your Phone with Your Car: Ensure your phone is paired with your car’s Bluetooth system. Refer to your car’s manual for pairing instructions if necessary.
2. Launch Google Maps: Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
3. Navigate to Settings: Tap on the account icon (your profile picture or initial) at the top right corner, and then select Settings.
4. Go to Navigation Settings: In the Settings menu, select Navigation settings.
5. Enable Play Voice over Bluetooth: In Navigation settings, make sure the Play Voice over Bluetooth feature is enabled.

Once you’ve enabled Play Voice over Bluetooth, you should hear the Google Maps voice through your car’s audio system during navigation.

Note: If you prefer not to use Bluetooth or are not connected to a Bluetooth device, disable the Play Voice over Bluetooth feature to avoid any issues with Google Maps audio not working. This will allow the voice guidance to play through your phone’s speakers.

Solution 4 – Disable navigation over Bluetooth

Here’s how you can disable the Play voice over Bluetooth option:

• Open Google Maps: Launch the Google Maps app on your phone.
• Navigate to Settings: Tap on the account icon (your profile picture or initial) at the top right corner, and then select Settings.
• Go to Navigation Settings: In the Settings menu, select Navigation settings.
• Disable Play Voice over Bluetooth: In the Navigation settings, find the Play voice over Bluetooth option and disable it by toggling it off.

Solution 5 – Update Google Maps

Updating Google Maps on Android:

• Open Google Play Store: Launch the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
• Search for Google Maps: In the search bar at the top, type in Google Maps and press enter.
• Select Google Maps: When you see the Google Maps app in the search results, tap on it.
• Update the App: If there is an update available, you’ll see an Update button. Tap on it to update Google Maps.

Updating Google Maps on iPhone:

• Open App Store: Launch the App Store app on your iPhone.
• Search for Google Maps: In the search tab, type in Google Maps and press enter.
• Select Google Maps: Once you find Google Maps in the search results, tap on it.
• Update the App: If an update is available, you’ll see an Update button next to the app. Tap on it to update Google Maps.

Solution 6 – Reinstall Google Maps

Reinstalling Google Maps can help resolve any issues you may be experiencing with the app, such as it not talking or functioning correctly. Here’s how to reinstall Google Maps on both Android and iPhone:

Reinstalling Google Maps on Android:

1. Open Settings: Go to the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Navigate to Apps: Scroll down and select Apps or Apps Manager (depending on your device’s software version).
3. Find Google Maps: Locate Google Maps in the list of apps.
4. Uninstall Google Maps: Tap on Google Maps, then tap Uninstall to remove the app from your device.
5. Reinstall Google Maps: Open the Google Play Store, search for Google Maps, and then tap Install to reinstall the app.

Reinstalling Google Maps on iPhone:

1. Find Google Maps: Locate the Google Maps app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Delete Google Maps: Press and hold the Google Maps app icon until a menu appears. Select Remove App, then confirm your choice to delete the app.
3. Reinstall Google Maps: Open the App Store, search for Google Maps, and then tap the download icon to reinstall the app.

Reinstalling Google Maps can give you a fresh installation of the app, which may resolve any underlying issues affecting its performance. After reinstalling, you may need to reconfigure any settings to your preference.