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  • Get Out of Google Maps “Lite Mode”?

Get Out of Google Maps “Lite Mode”?

March 13, 2017 / Dave Taylor / Computer & Internet Basics, Google, Chrome & Gmail Help / 1 Comment

Not sure what’s happened, but now when I go to Google Maps on my computer, I don’t get as much info about venues as before. What’s going on and how do I fix it?

Like many online services, Google Maps tests your network bandwidth and tries to adapt its behavior to your net connection. On a super fast Internet line? You’ll get the full experience, for sure. But where this can be a problem is when you’re on a really slow connection, either because it’s clogged (think hotel during a social media conference!) or because you’re just in the boonies and the connection itself is slow.

In those instances, Google Maps will automatically roll back to what’s called “Lite Mode” or “Google Maps Lite”. It’s not a huge difference, as far as I can tell, but the one place you do notice that there’s a difference is in the preview photos and information associated with a venue or destination you’ve looked up. There’s just less info presented!

I’ll show you what I mean, and how to switch back and forth both!

Let’s have a quick look at the lovely city of Bozeman, Montana by searching Google Maps for “bozeman, mt”. You can see that there’s very little information shared on the left side:

google maps lite mode - venue = missoula mt

What you want to focus on, however, is the tiny lightning bolt on the lower right:

lightning bolt icon button graphic, google maps lite

That’s the indication that you’re in Lite Mode. And oh, it’s subtle. Then again, if you move your cursor over it, you’ll get a smidge more info about what’s going on:

you're in lite mode - google maps

A click on the line “Switch back to full Maps” and you’re in regular Google Maps mode again. Phew!

bozeman, mt search in google maps

This time it shows quick facts, offers a weather forecast and – most importantly – offers up the Directions button and other shortcuts for saving the venue, what’s nearby, sharing, sending to your phone, etc.

And on the lower right? Look closely, the lightning bolt has changed, as explained if you move your cursor over the image:

full google maps mode switch to lite

In fact, you can always switch back and forth between Lite and full Google Maps mode now that you know about the lightning bolt button. Why it’s a lightning bolt? Who knows. But now you know!

And me? It’s off to Bozeman…

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Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
bandwidth, geomapping, google maps, google maps full, google maps lite, map directions, mapping, slow connections

One comment on “Get Out of Google Maps “Lite Mode”?”

  1. Don says:
    March 15, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Apparently I have the full boat Google maps (whew) on my home computers. Have to check my laptop when I’m out somewhere. But one thing I do NOT have is the lightning bold. parenthesized or otherwise. Nothing there at all.

    Reply

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