Google Maps for Android helps in tunnel navigation

 Google Maps Will Now Support Navigation Even When Driving Inside Tunnels

Maps is used widely across Android and iOS devices for navigation but tunnels have been challenge for the platform to work inside. There are many occasions when users have struggled to get GPS working while are driving through a tunnel. Even Google Maps isn’t able to help you in these areas but not anymore. The popular app now has a new Bluetooth feature which can restore location tracking even inside tunnels, which is a blessing if you like to wander a lot in the wilderness. It is widely available now, Google Maps now supports Bluetooth beacons to fill in the gap left by tunnels.

Google is using Bluetooth beacons which are now supported in Maps but that is limited to Android users for now. These beacons have been around with Waze (also owned by Google) which operates in many cities across the world. Bluetooth beacons are not really a new idea. Google-owned Waze has supported the technology in tunnels across the globe including major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Paris, Brussels, and many more for quite a while now. However, those beacons have only ever worked in the Waze app.

The Waze Beacons program provides seamless navigation to drivers underground where GPS signals don’t reach, ensuring location services, increased driver safety and better visibility into real-time events inside the tunnel. Now, it appears that Google Maps is finally adding support for Bluetooth beacons as a new tunnel navigation setting has become widely available. This is the first time when Maps will be getting this tech which could be a life saver and more for Android users who are on the move. It has taken Google all these years to bring the technology to Maps for users but we are glad that it is finally here. If you go to settings in Maps you will see the option available but disabled by default, which you can turn on when needed.

The feature appears under Settings > Navigation Settings and under the “Driving Options” section towards the bottom. The feature is disabled by default, but is described saying, Scan for Bluetooth tunnel beacons to improve location accuracy in tunnels. Procedure to enable Bluetooth beacon is given below:-

 Go to Settings on Maps by clicking on the profile photo

 Scroll down to Navigation settings and click on it

 Roll down the page to driving options where you will find Bluetooth tunnel beacons

 Enable the feature by moving the toggle button

 Maps will ask permission to find, connect to and determine the position of nearby devices

 Allow the app to access these sensors and the beacon will be working on your phone

The feature appears to have first shown up for some users around October 2023, but is widely available now. When enabling the feature, Maps for Android will request permission to scan for nearby devices. The feature is not available on Google Maps for iOS. It is likely that once the roll out is complete for Android users, Google will release the feature for those who use Maps on iPhones.