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How have I gone so long without knowing about this secret Google Maps trick?

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:59PM EST
Google Maps Driving Directions

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Sometimes you come across a feature so terrific and so simple that you wonder how you ever lived without it. Such is the case with a simple little Google Maps trick that makes finding directions on your phone and navigating to your destination easier than ever. Of course, Google doesn’t publicize this nifty feature so it’s something of a secret. Or at least, it was something of a secret until now.

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A BGR reader emailed me this morning to let me know that he found this little trick on Droid-Life, and I knew right away that this was something I would use constantly in the future. At the same time, it’s a tiny bit annoying that something so simple has gone largely unnoticed because Google hasn’t made any real effort to let users know about it.

But the past is the past — here’s how it works:

You’re sitting at home or in your office, getting ready to drive somewhere new. You do some searching on Google Maps to check out the area or to see how traffic is at the moment. Then you power down your computer, get in your car, and perform the same search all over again so you can navigate to your destination with Google Maps on your phone.

Now, there’s a better way.

On your computer, simply type “send directions” (no quotes needed) in the search box on Google.com and hit enter. On the next screen, you’ll see the following box:

Pretty awesome, no? You can now type your destination into that field and hit enter. Then choose the appropriate Android phone from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner if you have more than one, and click “Send directions to my phone” at the bottom of the box.

Before you know it, Google Maps will open on your handset and it’ll be ready and waiting to guide you to your destination.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.