5 useful Google Maps accessibility features most people overlook (and they help everyone)

Published Oct 7, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT Viraj Gawde is a Tech Journalist with bylines at Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, Android Headlines, 91Mobiles, Croma Unboxed, etc. He has written thousands of news pieces, how-to guides, product comparisons, listicles, and op-eds on consumer tech. Currently, Viraj is obsessed with the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence and how it is reshaping the way we work, create, and use tech. As a curious generalist, Viraj's work extends into a wide range of subjects, formats, and storytelling styles. When away from desk, he is a finance, sports, and travel geek with a constant curiosity for new experiences. Google Maps is usually associated with directions, traffic updates, and finding nearby places. But it also has a solid set of accessibility tools that many people don’t know about. These cover different needs, including mobility, vision, and hearing, and many of them help everyone, not just the people they were built for. Stair-free walking routes can help if you’re carrying luggage or pushing a stroller, and spoken walking directions let you keep your eyes up while you move. Wheelchair-accessible routes Plan journeys without steps or surprises Google Maps can filter public-transit routes based on wheelchair accessibility. It helps identify step-free options and routes that avoid stairs wherever possible. This matters most on journeys with multiple buses, trains, or stations, where one inaccessible stop can derail the whole trip. Stair-free paths are also easier with luggage, strollers, or a walker during a long journey. On Android or iPhone, search for your destination, tap Directions -> Transit -> Options, and then select Wheelchair accessible under Trip Options. For shorter distances, if you have this feature enabled, switching to the walking tab favors routes with elevators and gentle inclines over the fastest option. Wheelchair-accessible places Find ramps, restrooms, and seating While wheelchair-accessible routes help you move from A to B without stairs, this feature tells you what to expect when you arrive. A wheelchair icon is visible to everyone by default, and places without an accessible entrance get a struck-through version. Depending on the listing, you can find information such as accessible entrances, restrooms, seating, parking, and elevators. This makes it easier to check places like restaurants, malls, and businesses before you visit. To make this information easier to spot, go to Google Maps Profile -> Settings -> App and display -> and turn on Emphasize accessibility info. Then tap the place listing, open the About page, and the Accessibility section spells out the details. Remember, the information comes from business owners and the Maps community, so results can vary, and you may see more complete details for popular places than for smaller ones. Detailed voice guidance Walk by audio cues, not by screen Detailed voice guidance in Google Maps is built for users with vision impairments. But it also works for anyone who finds it challenging to walk while constantly looking at their phone screen. The feature gives you proactive spoken information, such as the distance to your next turn, whether you’re heading in the right direction, and when you’re being rerouted. Detailed voice guidance also alerts you when you’re approaching a large intersection, which is useful when crossing roads or walking in places where you’d rather keep your phone in your pocket. You can just listen to the updates instead of glancing at the screen to confirm you're still on track. To use this, open your profile in Maps, go to Settings -> Navigation. Scroll to Walking options and turn on Detailed voice guidance. Use Lens in Maps with a screen reader Scan nearby surroundings Credit: Google For people who are blind or have low vision, Lens in Maps can help in identifying what’s around them. It uses your phone camera to recognize and provide information about nearby locations. Maps can announce nearby places like ATMs, restaurants, or transit stations. Instead of simply following a predetermined route, you can understand what’s around you and how far away your destination is. The feature works best when you hold your phone up and turn slowly. Lens in Maps requires a screen reader, so you first need to turn on TalkBack on Android or VoiceOver on iPhone. Then you can open Maps, tap the camera icon in the search bar, and slowly pan around. Auracast Find places that stream to your hearing aids Auracast is a Bluetooth broadcasting technology that lets compatible devices like hearing aids and earbuds tune in to the same audio source at once. It is designed for public venues where important information is delivered through a public audio system. Businesses can add Auracast attributes to their Maps profile, so people who need hearing assistance can find venues that can cast to their hearing devices. Coverage varies because venues have to add it themselves, but it is growing. In Google Maps on Android and iOS, look up a place and open its listing. Tap About and look for Auracast under Accessibility. Google Maps can be more accessible for everyone These five Google Maps accessibility tools can make planning and navigating considerably easier. They can make the difference between arriving prepared and discovering an accessibility problem when you’re already at your destination. Since much of this information comes from business owners and Maps users, we recommend checking accessibility information before you leave. If you notice something missing or incorrect, you can fix it after your own visit, which helps the next person who searches for that place.