Google Maps Finally Updates Long-Neglected Settings Page with Sleeker Design
A long-overdue refresh is rolling out to the Google Maps settings menu, bringing a cleaner adn more organized experience to users. For years, the settings page remained largely untouched despite the app undergoing a meaningful Material 3 Expressive makeover.
The change, first observed in recent weeks, introduces a streamlined interface currently available on both the beta (version 26.02.07.x) and stable (version 25.49) versions of the app, according to reports from 9to5Google. The update is reportedly being deployed via a server-side update, explaining its availability across different app versions.
The updated Settings page now features seven primary menu items: Apps and display, Navigation, Your vehicles, Location & privacy, Offline maps, Notifications, and About & terms. A dedicated “Sign out of Google Maps” button, previously buried at the bottom of the page, is now prominently displayed. Google has also replaced the conventional back button in the top-left corner with an ‘X’ in the top-right, offering a more contemporary navigation experience.
“Google has managed to unclutter the page significantly by moving around multiple options to their respective menus,” one observer noted.
Notably, the Navigation settings remain visually unchanged, with the same toggles and layout as before. Despite this, the overall refresh is considered a welcome improvement, addressing a long-standing user complaint about the outdated settings interface.
Why this happened: Users had consistently voiced frustration with the cluttered and outdated Google Maps settings.Google responded by prioritizing a cleaner, more intuitive design to improve the overall user experience.
Who is affected: The update impacts all Google Maps users on both android and iOS, though rollout is gradual due to the server-side deployment. Both beta and stable app versions are receiving the changes.
What changed: The settings menu was reorganized into seven primary categories, the “Sign out” button was made more accessible, and the navigation was updated with an ‘X’ close button. The overall aesthetic is more streamlined and consistent with Google’s newer design principles.
The inconsistency in design implementation is striking. While the Google Maps account switcher utilizes Material 3 Expressive elements, the settings page itself does not. this contrasts with other Google apps like Clock and Phone, which have fully adopted the new design language in their settings, while Calendar and Gmail have not. Despite this inconsistency, Google continues to steadily integrate M3 Expressive across its suite of applications.
How it was implemented: Google deployed the update via a server-side switch, meaning the changes are being rolled out remotely and don’t require users to download a new app version promptly. This allows for controlled testing and phased rollout.
How it ended: As of the reporting date, the rollout is ongoing. Google has not announced a specific completion date, but the update is becoming increasingly available to users worldwide. The changes represent a completed phase of redesign for this section of the app.
This update underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to refining the user experience within its core applications, even in areas that have been historically overlooked. While the changes may seem incremental, they contribute to a more cohesive and modern feel for one of the world’s most popular navigation apps.
