Since its launch on iOS 6, Apple has improved their Maps app over the years, but it still doesn’t cut it when you compare it to Google’s own Maps app. Sadly, Apple has monopolised navigation apps in on its CarPlay platform with their own Maps app (and who can blame them).
With this simple CarPlay How to guide, you can get Google Maps app navigation audio coming through your CarPlay system whilst maintaining full functionality of other CarPlay services, such as Siri, calling, messaging, listening to music apps and more.
Follow these simple steps to get Google Maps working alongside your Apple CarPlay apps:
- First enter the ‘Settings’ app.
- Select ‘General’ settings.
- Select ‘Background App Refresh’ settings.
- Make sure ‘Background App Refresh’ has its switch set to the On (green) position.
- Scroll down to Google Maps and make sure the switch is set to the On (green) position.
- Next go back to the ‘Settings’ first screen and scroll down to ‘Privacy’ settings.
- Select ‘Location Services’ settings.
- Make sure ‘Location Services’ is set to the On (green) position.
- Scroll down on this screen to ‘Google Maps’ and make sure it is set to ‘While Using’.
- If the last step isn’t set correctly, tap on it and select it from the sub screen.
- Now connect your iPhone to your CarPlay system and open the Google Maps app on your iPhone (Note: it will not be on the CarPlay display).
- On your iPhone, select the location you like directions for and start the turn-by-turn navigation by pressing the start navigation button in Google Maps.
- With your navigation started, you can now navigate away from Google Maps and start any other CarPlay enabled app. Google Maps will now run in the background, uninterrupted, and it will alert you with directions over any CarPlay app without closing it.
Avoid app switching too much, because the Google Maps app has to keep running in the background, and should any CarPlay apps take up too much memory on your iPhone, the Google Maps app has a strong chance of being automatically closed by the iOS system.
This work around isn’t as good as having true Google Maps navigation running on your CarPlay display, but if you run all your routes and contacts through Google Maps than Apple’s own Maps app, this is the next best thing. Have full control of CarPlay apps whilst being navigated by Google Maps in the background.
This work around also works with any other navigation apps, such as Waze navigation app.
[Thanks: Redmondpie and @Djonesy410 for the tip]
