How to force a route on Google Maps iPhone?

Taking Control: Mastering Route Adjustments on Google Maps for iPhone

Google Maps on your iPhone offers seamless navigation, but sometimes you need more control than simply accepting the suggested route. While the app excels at finding the quickest or shortest path, unforeseen circumstances—like a known traffic jam, road closures, or a personal preference for specific streets—might demand a more hands-on approach. This article will guide you through effectively forcing a route on Google Maps for iPhone, ensuring your journey unfolds as you intend.

The beauty of Google Maps’ route adjustment lies in its simplicity. There’s no hidden menu or complicated settings to wrestle with. The process is intuitive and requires only a few taps.

The Standard Route Adjustment:

1. Begin Navigation: Initiate your navigation as usual by entering your starting point and destination.
2. Identify the Route: Once navigation begins, you’ll see your chosen route prominently displayed on the map.
3. Tap the Route: A simple tap on the route line itself (the solid blue line indicating your current path) will be your first step.
4. Explore Alternatives: Several alternative routes will then appear, highlighted in light blue. These options represent different paths Google Maps has calculated, factoring in things like distance, traffic, and estimated travel time.
5. Select Your Preferred Route: Simply tap on the light blue alternative route you wish to use. Google Maps will instantly recalculate your journey, adjusting the directions accordingly.

Beyond the Suggested Alternatives:

While tapping the route line provides readily available options, you might have a specific road or area in mind that isn’t among the suggested alternatives. In these cases, you can still influence the route:

• Drag the Route: You can manually adjust the route by dragging the route line on the map. This isn’t perfectly precise, but it allows you to subtly nudge the route in a desired direction. Google Maps will automatically recalculate the path based on your adjustments. This is best used for minor tweaks rather than completely re-routing a lengthy journey.
• Manually Add Waypoints: If your desired route involves a specific intermediate point, adding a waypoint can be highly effective. Before beginning navigation or during your journey, you can add a waypoint by searching for the location and tapping “Add as Stop” in the location details. This explicitly includes the waypoint in your route, often forcing Google Maps to use a path that includes it.

Troubleshooting:

If you’re having trouble forcing a specific route, ensure your destination and starting point are accurately entered. Sometimes, extremely unconventional routes might be deemed impractical by Google Maps’ algorithms. In such cases, manually adding waypoints or using a combination of the methods described above will likely improve your success.

By mastering these simple techniques, you can take full control of your navigation experience on Google Maps for iPhone, adapting your route to match changing conditions or personal preferences, making every journey a smoother and more customized experience.