You may encounter a number of icons such as a compass, microphone, red-colored roads, etc. while using Google Maps. If you have been wondering what a certain icon or symbol means in Google Maps, let me help. Let’s check the meaning of various icons and symbols in Google Maps.
Table of Contents
Icons on the Home Screen
Microphone Icon: Use the microphone icon to search using your voice.
Temperature: This number represents the temperature at your current location.
Box and a Down Arrow: This icon lets you switch between map types such as satellite, terrain, and default mode. It also allows you to enable or disable extra information on the map such as public transit, traffic, bicycling paths, 3D map, street view, wildfires, and air quality.
Circle IconWith Four Compass Points: Tap this icon to go to your current location in Google Maps.
Blue Colored Right Arrow: Tap on this icon to find a route between two locations. Your current location will be set as the start location automatically.
Icons On New Journey Screen
Two Arrows Pointing in Opposite Direction: This icon lets you swap the beginning and destination location.
Car Icon: Find and calculate the route via car.
Bike: Find and calculate the route via a two-wheeler.
Train: Find a route via public transport like train or bus.
Person Walking: Find a walking route.
Clock Icon Next to Places: It means you have previously searched for the place.
Additional Icons:
Red Pin Icon: This icon represents your end destination on the map
Path Shown by Small Circles: The walking path is represented by tiny circles. In other words, you can walk along this route to get to your destination.
Colored Microphone Icon: Use this icon to activate Google Assistant right from the Maps screen. You can ask Google Assistant to call someone, play a song, and do other cool things.
Search Icon: Tap on the search icon to find places along your route, such as grocery shops, hotels, coffee shops, gas stations, etc.
Speaker: Use this icon to mute or unmute voice navigation. You can even turn on alerts only.
Compass Icon: In the Compass icon, the red symbol points north, and the gray symbol points toward the south. Tap on the icon to find your direction of travel.
Chat Bubble with Plus Icon: Use this icon to report a crash, slow down, construction, lane closure, stalled vehicle, or object on the road.
X Icon: Tap this icon to stop the ongoing journey.
Forked Path Icon: Use this icon to quickly see the entire route till your destination.
Tip: The arrows on the road represent the direction of traffic on the road.
Blue Dotted Path: When Street View is enabled, you will see a blue path with dots on the map. Tap on the blue icons to check Street View, which shows real roads and locations with the help of the images taken by users.
If you find this Google Maps icons and symbols meaning list helpful, we have covered other apps as well. Check out the meaning of symbols and icons on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, and Discord.
Mehvish Mushtaq is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she's always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She's been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps. You can also find her work on Make Tech Easier, Guiding Tech, and Nerds Chalk
