How to Use Live View on Google Maps for Walking Directions

To use Live View in Google Maps, find your destination, tap Directions, choose Walking, and open the camera-based navigation option at the bottom of the route preview. On iPhone, the button may say Live View; Google's current Android instructions call it Navigate. Point your camera at nearby buildings or signs so Maps can locate you, then follow the directions displayed over your surroundings.

Google now describes this augmented reality (AR) experience as Lens in Maps. It helps pedestrians orient themselves on unfamiliar streets, but it isn't designed for driving or cycling.

What you need before using Live View

Live View requires the Google Maps app on a compatible Android phone or iPhone, permission to use its camera, and an outdoor area with enough Street View coverage. Your phone must support Google's AR technology (ARCore on Android or ARKit on compatible Apple devices). Availability also varies by country and location, even if ordinary Google Maps directions work there.

Choose a well-lit place where the camera can see recognizable buildings and street signs. A clear sky alone, a dark street, or a path lined only with trees may not give Maps the visual information it needs. You can check Google's Android instructions or iPhone instructions for current availability and controls.

How to use Live View for walking directions

1. Search for the place you want to visit

Open Google Maps and enter an address, business, or landmark in the search bar. You can also tap a destination directly on the map. Select the correct place and tap Directions to see routes from your starting point.

2. Select Walking and open the camera view

In the row of travel modes above the route, choose the walking person icon. At the bottom of the walking route preview, tap Live View on iPhone or Navigate on Android, according to Google's current help pages. Labels can differ by platform and app release. You do not need to visit the Navigation settings menu first to start a walking route.

3. Let Maps recognize your surroundings

If Google Maps asks for camera access, allow it. Hold your phone upright while standing safely on the sidewalk and point the camera toward buildings or signs across the street. Follow any prompts on screen while the app determines your position. If recognition fails, try a brighter area with more visible storefronts, building fronts, or street signs.

4. Read the AR directions, then lower your phone

Once Maps recognizes where you are, the camera view shows directional cues over the street scene. Check the indicated direction while stopped, then put your phone down and walk normally. Google says the device can vibrate when you reach the next navigation step or your destination. To see the camera directions again, bring the phone upright and tap the camera navigation button if needed.

Switch between Live View and the regular map

You can use the standard 2D map whenever you don't need camera guidance. By default, tilting your phone can switch between the camera view and the map. If you'd rather keep the map from switching automatically, check Profile picture or initial → Settings → Navigation and look under Walking options for the Live View or tilt-related controls. Settings may differ by device and app version; turning a Live View switch off is not a required setup step.

Why is Live View missing or not working?

• Wrong travel mode: Select Walking. AR guidance is for the walking portion of a trip, not for navigation in a moving vehicle.
• Unsupported location or phone: Lens in Maps is available only in supported areas with useful Street View coverage, on AR-compatible devices. Having Street View imagery somewhere in a country does not guarantee Live View for every route.
• Camera or location access is blocked: Check the phone's app permissions for Google Maps and allow camera and location access as appropriate. Install available Maps updates.
• Maps can't find your position: Move outdoors into better light and aim at buildings and signs rather than people, trees, or the ground. You can also tap your blue location dot and select Calibrate when that option is available.

If the camera option never appears, use the ordinary walking directions instead. There isn't a reliable switch or workaround that forces AR navigation in an unsupported area.

Live View, Lens search, and Street View: what's the difference?

Live View walking navigation places turn guidance over what your camera sees. Lens in Maps search, accessible through the Lens icon in the search bar where supported, helps identify or explore nearby places through the camera. Street View lets you examine previously captured panoramic street imagery. They are related features, but viewing Street View photos or tapping Lens search is not the same as starting a Live View walking route.

Use AR directions as occasional orientation checks, not as something to watch continuously. Stay aware of traffic, crossings, obstacles, and posted signs, and follow actual street conditions if a visual arrow appears inconsistent with a safe pedestrian route.