What Do the Different Icons and Symbols Mean in Google Maps?

Don’t know what a particular symbol in Google Maps means? This list will help.

Google Maps is one of the most important apps on your phone. You can never be truly lost if you know how to use this app. While the app is simple to use, all the symbols and signs on the map can be hard to decipher at times. It doesn’t help that new signs are constantly added to the app. To make things easier, here is the meaning behind all the major icons and symbols on Google Maps.

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In This Article

Map Page Icons

Target icon: The icon shaped like an aim or a target is the Recentre button that takes you to your current location as soon as it is pressed.

Blue icon with an arrow: This icon is placed right below the target icon. Tapping this icon takes you to the journey page, where you can find the route by setting your current location and destination.

Compass icon: This is pretty self-explanatory. The red end of the compass points towards the North. Tapping on this compass realigns the map in the proper direction.

Layer icon: This icon is placed above the compass icon on the map page. Tapping it lets you change the style of the map. If you want to access Google Street View or Satellite View, this is the button you should hit.

Journey Icons

Yellow road: State and national highways are represented with a yellow road on the map.

Colour-coded road passage: A blue passage on the map represents that there is minimal traffic on that stretch of the road. Meanwhile, an orange passage means there’s mild traffic on the road and a red passage symbolises stagnant traffic.

Red car icon: When you see this icon, it means that there has been a crash or a collision on the road.

Exclamation Mark: This icon means that the road ahead is closed.

Shovel sign: This icon comes up when the road ahead is under construction.

Red icon with a minus sign: This means that the road ahead is closed.

Two arrows: Tap this icon to see the bird’s eye view of the route to your destination.

Loudspeaker icon: This icon can be used to mute the voice directions.

Magnifying glass icon: Searches locations along the route.

Plus icon in a chat bubble: This button can be used to add a report about a collision, congestion, roadwork, or any other event along the way.

Recentre: This button takes you to your current location.

Icons and Symbols for places on Google Maps

Yellow pin with a star: All your saved locations on the map will be marked by this pin.

Fork and Knife pin: This pin marks any restaurant or eatery in the area. Tap on the pin to learn more about the restaurant. You can even set it as a destination. 

Man sleeping on bed pin: This pin is used to mark all the hotels, motels, and hostels on the map. Tap on this pin to get to know all the details about the hotel including availability, price, etc.

Academic cap pin: This pin is used for schools, colleges, and other places of learning.

Gas pump pin: This pin marks all the petrol pumps on the map.

Shopping bag pin: Marks the convenience stores, grocery stores, and shopping malls on the map.

Shopping cart pin: Used for denoting local markets on the map.

H pin: Hospitals and medical clinics.

Places like banks, tourist spots, post offices, parks, sports stadiums, and other places have their exclusive pins too.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Launch the Google Maps app on your phone and tap the blue icon with a right arrow to set your current location and destination. Once that’s done, tap Start to begin navigation.

To report a car crash on Google Maps, tap the chat bubble icon with a plus icon and select ‘Crash’.

To save a location on Google Maps, simply tap on it to drop the pin and hit ‘Save’.

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Conclusion

These are the major icons, signs, and symbols you will encounter on Google Maps and their respective meanings. If there’s any symbol missing from this list that you can’t decipher on the app, let us know in the comments and we’ll get back to you!

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