Explore Places with Google Maps Immersive View

ByJim Miller

Google Maps' Immersive View is an exciting feature that allows users to explore places in a whole new way. Powered by advanced AI and cutting-edge computing technologies, Immersive View creates a realistic 3D model of a location by stitching together billions of aerial and street photos. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a specific city, Immersive View on Google Maps is a must-try feature. In this article, we'll show you how to use Immersive View on your Android or iPhone device.

How to Use Immersive View in Google Maps

To begin exploring a location in Immersive View, follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Maps on your Android or iPhone device and search for a city that supports Immersive View. Let's take Paris as an example.
  2. Tap on the landmark icon and if it supports Immersive View, you'll see the Immersive View label below the Directions button.
  3. Tap on the Immersive View label to enter the immersive view.
  4. Once inside, use gestures to rotate, zoom in, and zoom out to explore the location.
  5. You can also check the weather forecast of the location by tapping on the Time & Weather button. Drag the slider to check the weather condition at different times. The background scenes will dynamically change based on the weather conditions.

Tip: You can delete and turn off location history on Google Maps to maintain your privacy.

Explore Inside Buildings with Immersive View

Immersive View not only allows you to explore a location in a 3D model but also lets you look inside buildings. Here's how it works:

  1. While in immersive mode, you'll see nearby places with orange color bubbles. These bubbles indicate that you can virtually view the interior of those places.
  2. Let's consider Velvet Restaurant near the London Eye as an example. When you tap on it, the app will zoom in to showcase the building. If you see a black bubble below the location mark, it means you can explore the interior of the building.
  3. Tap on the black bubble to instantly teleport inside the venue. Use the on-screen joystick at the bottom of the screen to control your movement. You can also drag the screen to get a 360-degree view of your surroundings.

Tip: Understand the difference between Google Maps and Google Maps Go for better navigation.

Things to Consider While Using Immersive View

While Immersive View is an impressive feature, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Using Immersive View consumes more data compared to the standard mode of Google Maps.
  • Make sure you have a high-speed internet connection to download high-resolution images or models.
  • Devices with weak or less powerful processors may take time to render the graphics and display the immersive view properly.
  • Immersive View may drain your device battery more quickly than the standard mode of Google Maps.
  • The quality of images and 3D models in Immersive View may vary depending on the location.

FAQs

  1. How much data does Google Maps' Immersive View consume?
    The data consumption varies depending on your device, network connection, location, and duration of use. On average, it consumes around 800 MB to 1 GB of data per hour. Consider using Immersive View over Wi-Fi to manage data usage.
  2. When will Google Maps' Immersive View be available in my area?
    The availability of Immersive View depends on the city or landmark you're viewing. Check the list of supported cities or landmarks to see if your area is included. Once available, you'll see an Immersive View icon below the Directions button.
  3. How many locations support Google Maps' Immersive View?
    Initially, it was limited to a few cities, but more locations have been added. Some of the supported cities include Los Angeles, London, Seattle, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Florence, Dublin, and Venice.

Begin a Journey with Immersive View!

While Immersive View may not be available everywhere yet, it's a fantastic feature to use when planning a trip to supported cities. You can get a 3D model preview of a location before visiting in person. In the future, Google plans to expand Immersive View to provide a 3D view of entire routes on Google Maps. To become a pro at using Google Maps, familiarize yourself with the meanings and use cases of each icon and symbol in the app.