When you want to go somewhere, use Google Maps to find your way. Google Maps has become synonymous with navigation, whether you use an Android smartphone or aWear OS smartwatch. Google continues to add innovative new navigation experiences, one of which is Immersive View.
Immersive View creates 3D renders of buildings, landmarks, and other items of interest to better represent the world around you. This feature started as a way to see sites and places you’re going but is now available while navigating. This guide details how to use Google Maps Immersive View to navigate.
What you need to know about Google Maps Immersive View
Immersive View uses computer vision and AI to stitch together billions of Street View and aerial images into a 3D model of the world. This gives you a multidimensional experience, letting you preview bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and more.
While Immersive View may sound similar to Google’s AR maps feature called Live View, it works differently. Live View uses your phone’s camera to keep you on track. Immersive View lets you virtually fly over a location to get a sense of the traffic and how busy it is.
Another difference between Immersive View and Live View is the former’s ability to see into the future. Immersive View has a time slider that lets you see how a location looks at different times of day or in various weather conditions.
Immersive View is availablewhile driving, walking, and cycling, but only in 15 cities. The included cities are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo, and Venice.
How to use Immersive View in Google Maps
You can explore new places using Immersive View in Google Maps, but only if they are located in one of the 15 supported cities. You can use the feature on Android and iOS devices. We use an Android phone in this tutorial.
Immersive View lets you tour an establishment from the inside, although this function is limited to a handful of locations. When you’re inside a building, you’ll use a joystick to navigate. Pull it up or down to move forward or backward.
Immersive View isn’t available on the desktop version of Google Maps. Use the mobile app to take advantage of this feature.
How to use Google Maps Immersive View while driving
Immersive View on Google Maps shows what your route looks like before you start your trip, including bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking. This feature is available for driving, walking, and biking directions. It also shows you what traffic will be like at different times of day.
Get immersed in Immersive View
Immersive View is a neat feature that can make navigation and planning easier. It lets you preview or explore a new place and makes planning a visit easier. While Immersive View is a great feature, Google Maps has numerous other features thatimprove your navigation experience.
