Getting directions using Maps

To start getting directions, search for an address or business. Tap the Search key on your phone or simply tap in the Search Maps text field in the top left of the screen. Here, you'll see a history of past searches. You can scroll through and click any entry to find it on the map. Start typing your search query. You'll see Maps filters your contacts and past searches to save you typing. If you see the entry you want, tap on it to search.

If you're searching within your city then there's no need to enter the city and state. If you're searching for a more distant location though, your results will be more accurate if you include this information. When you're done, hit Go or Enter. Maps will search for addresses nearby. Tap on the entry you want directions to. In the place page, tap the Directions button at the top of the screen. By default, the From field will say "My Location." Just tap in the text field and type the origin if you need to change this.

For either the From or To fields, you can press the Bookmarks icon to choose a point; current location, Contacts, a point on the map or My Places. Current location and Contacts are self explanatory. Point on Map lets you manually select an area on the map by dragging to and then tapping an area. My Places lets you select from points you've marked as favorites with a star.

Select the mode of travel: by car, by public transit, by bicycle or walkiing. The directions you receive will vary depending on the mode of travel you choose. For example, walking directions tries to send you along quieter streets and disregards the direction of one-way roads. Choose your mode of travel then hit Get directions. You'll see an overview of your route. Each instruction is marked as a point on the map. Tap any point to see the associated instruction.

Cycle through each instruction in order using the left and right cursor buttons in the bottom of the screen. In directions view, you can zoom in and out on the map as per usual. Tap the page icon in the bottom left to go to a list view of each instruction in turn. Tap and hold on any item in the list and choose Street view to get the view from the ground. You can also report a problem by going back to the list view, tapping and holding on an instruction and then choosing Report a problem with the directions.

Looking at Driving directions in the List view, you can tap the Menu key to bring up some options. Choose Route options and then check the boxes if you'd like to avoid highways or avoid tolls. At any time in list view, you can change the method of travel by tapping the icon in the top left.

Driving, walking and cycling instructions look similar on the map. Transit instructions, however, are quite different. Rather than seeing a series of turns you have to make, you'll instead see transit schedules, suggested routes and an approximate travel time along with any walking directions you may need.

Under Select a trip, tap on any route to choose it. You can use your phone's Back button to go back one screen and view the other routes Maps has pulled in. Different transit lines are denoted with a different colored line running along the left of the instructions. Walking portions of the route are shown with a dotted line. If you see a small right-facing arrow icon beneath an instruction, tap to expand. You can see all stops a bus or subway train makes or get more detailed walking directions.