Why is my Google Maps showing kilometers?

Why is My Google Maps Showing Kilometers?

When using Google Maps, you may encounter distances displayed in kilometers (km) rather than your preferred unit of measurement. This is typically due to the default settings or regional preferences associated with your profile. Here’s why this happens and how to adjust it:

Regional Preferences:

Google Maps often defaults to displaying distances based on the regional preferences associated with your Google account. For example, if you have set your profile location to a country that primarily uses the metric system, such as most European countries, distances will be displayed in kilometers.

Default System Settings:

If your Google account settings are not specifically set, Google Maps will rely on the default system settings of your device. If your device’s system settings are configured for the metric system, distances will be shown in kilometers.

How to Change the Unit of Measurement:

To change the distance unit displayed in Google Maps, you can adjust the settings either through your Google account settings or the app’s preferences:

Google Account Settings:

1. Go to “myaccount.google.com”.
2. Click on “Personal info”.
3. Under “Country”, select your preferred country or location.
4. Save changes.

Google Maps App Preferences:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings”.
4. Under “Units”, tap on “Distance” and choose your preferred unit.

Once you have made these adjustments, Google Maps will start displaying distances in your preferred unit of measurement. Keep in mind that if you temporarily use your device in a different country or region, the distance unit may revert back to the local default until you change your settings again.