Google Maps: activate the new widget with a Material You look

The new Material You-style Google Maps widget is coming to everyone on Android. So you should be able to activate it.

New Google Maps widget // Source: Frandroid

Google Maps is getting a new widget on Android – even for people who have not yet tasted Android 12. Indeed, according to Xataka Android, the deployment of this novelty seems to have been activated for everyone globally. As a reminder, this widget had been expected for a few weeks already.

At Frandroid, we have indeed been able to observe the arrival of the new Google Maps widget on an Oppo Find X3 Pro updated to Android 12 and on a Samsung Galaxy A41 running Android 11. As a reminder, so far, the application of navigation instead offered shortcuts to integrate into the home screen – not quite what you would call widgets.

The new widget in question features multiple tiles and rounded corners — that's where we feel the influence of Material You's aesthetic guidelines.

Shortcuts to guide you home

The window thus includes several shortcuts (Home, Work, Restaurants, Bakery, etc.) which will allow you to directly launch the corresponding request in Google Maps. There is also a search bar. Be aware, however, that you won't actually be typing anything into the widget. Indeed, if you press the bar in question, you land in the app with the keyboard deployed.

It should therefore be seen more as a shortcut to Google Maps search and not as a function to find an address without leaving the home screen. Remember that new widgets are also shown on other Google applications.

We can cite that in X of Google Drive or the widget also in roundness of Google Photos.

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