Introducing voice guidance

Google Maps tips & tricks
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Caption: An imagine of a woman crossing the street with a white cane, with a man out of focus in front of her.

A new option is rolling out to Android and iOS devices: Detailed voice guidance. This new feature changes the way more than 215 million people worldwide who have moderate or severe vision impairment navigate their world with Google Maps.

Detailed voice guidance helps users navigate to their destination by providing more detailed guidance on their route. For example, new types of verbal announcements let users know when extra caution should be used, or when the next turn is coming up.

While this option was built with those with vision impairments in mind, it’s one that everyone can use to make their trip a little easier.

Watch the video below to see how voice guidance works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PEbPYy56XI

This feature is currently available only in English in the United States and Japanese in Japan, but additional languages and countries are on the way. If you’re in the U.S. or Japan, to turn the feature on:

  • Go to your Google Maps settings and select “Navigation”
  • At the bottom of the list you’ll find the option to enable “Detailed voice guidance” under the “Walking options” heading

We hope you’ll use voice guidance and tell us how it’s helped you by sharing in the comments below. If you have ideas for other Google Maps features, we welcome them in the Idea Exchange.

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Excellent news @TraciC !

This new feature will help a lot of people for sure!

I will be waiting anxious its availability in Spanish, as I think it would be very helpful for my mother that has some vision problems.

Thanks for sharing!

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This is a great idea @TraciC and one that will help many.people. Looking forward to hearing how it works for LGs in the US and Japan!

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Yess, @TraciC

This is really wanted, so I hope it will be extended soon to other languages.

We had a post long time ago about a help in Google Maps for Visual Impaired People, so it makes me really happy to see the dream becoming true. Thanks Google for this.

@davidhyno , @LuigiZ , you must read this announcement

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@TraciC This is a great addition. Especially for the accessibility movement. This will help the disabled navigate more easily using Google Maps.

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Hi. :slightly_smiling_face:

Congratulations. Great job Team!

Sharing with my friends. :slightly_smiling_face:

@user_not_found

@OSAMA

Best regards.

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This is good news @TraciC ! An easier way to move with the Maps. No doubt, this is one huge step for accessibility. Hopefully, in the future, the function is rolled out to more regions.

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Great News @TraciC !

This new feature will help lot of people. Thank you very much for sharing with us.

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Another great step for humanity. :slightly_smiling_face: This video literaly made me shed a tear. I am happy there are people like Duong, that are using their skills for something great!

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Cuantos adelantos tan positivos que ayudan a nuestros hermanos, gracias por compartir esta valiosa informaciĂłn @TraciC

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great news @TraciC hope across the world will get this update soon.

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This is such a wonderful news. Thank you for announcing such a great news @TraciC . From now on, no visual Impairments will be a challenge for people to navigate. Hope the team comes up with Bangla voice soon as well. There are so many people in my country who need this service so badly.

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Hi everyone, this is fantastic! congratulations! well done!

thanks my friend @Haruki for sharing the news

@alexandradias look at the news

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This is a beautiful and long awaited good news @TraciC !

Having more safety while walking, especially for the blind, can make the difference whether to go out alone or not!

So any help is needed to give more support and more security to Maps users!

I had so much desired this new feature that I’m really excited to warn Fabio about it!

And yes @ErmesT and @LuigiZ , hope to have this essential functionality soon in Italy!

Have a good day, (and today it is!)
David

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Excellent update @TraciC . It would be really helpful to visually impaired people. Eager to try it out ASAP. Thank you so much.

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@TraciC Thanks, another great initiative.

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Awesome news, @TraciC , hope it will be available soon to the Arab countries !

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@TraciC

amazing news , thanks google maps team

best wishes

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Congratulations, @TraciC , and Google Maps team. As a local guide, I feel pride that Google keeps working to improve the quality of life and accessibility for for Visual Impaired People

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Hi @TraciC ,

this feature will be super helpful for many people. :grinning:

Thanks a lot for implementing the detailedvoice guidance in the Google Maps-navigation. :guide_dog: :older_woman:t2: ‍:probing_cane: :+1:t2:

I hope it will be available also in the German language someday. :grinning: :pray:t2:

I’m looking forward to use it here. :grinning:

I wish you a nice day and many warm greetings from Hamburg, Germany.

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