Google has introduced offline maps support for Wear OS smartwatches, allowing users to access downloaded maps on their wrist without an active internet connection. This feature is part of a broader rollout of new Wear OS capabilities announced last month. To use offline maps, users need to download a map of their desired area using the “Select your own map” option in the Offline maps setting on their phone’s Google Maps app.
Once the download is complete, a notification will confirm that the map can be used normally on all devices, even when offline. The map will automatically sync to the user’s Wear OS smartwatch. Offline maps will be accessible on the smartwatch even if it is not connected to the phone.
Offline maps enhance Wear OS usability
This can be particularly useful if the phone is lost or left at home. Google has also added two new shortcuts to Maps on Wear OS.
These allow users to search for destinations using voice commands or view their surroundings using the redesigned Wear OS tile. The new features are available on all smartwatches running the latest version of Google Maps for Wear OS. The offline maps functionality follows Google’s recent announcement of several new Wear OS features, including improvements for Android’s TalkBack screen reader, music search support in Circle to Search, Chrome read-aloud, and the expansion of the Earthquake Alerts System.
The introduction of offline maps support and new shortcuts enhances the usability and convenience of Wear OS smartwatches, providing users with a more seamless navigation experience on the go, even without an active network connection.
