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Configuring widgets on the home screen of our Android smartphone is one of the main advantages of the Google operating system. This reason has led Apple to copy these functions in a certain way. Google Maps is one application that incorporates widgets: find out what each one is for.
How to use the Widgets?
Google Maps provides estimated arrival times and indicates when there is less or more congestion on your route. To access this information, you can open the app or configure its widgets on the home screen of your Android mobile.
All you have to do is touch an empty area of your mobile phone and, at the bottom, select the widgets option. On the screen that appears, scroll to the bottom and choose one of the ones offered to you within the Maps category.
Google Maps Widgets
It is important not to confuse a widget with a shortcut. The latter refers us to the app and does not allow it to be used independently from the home screen, something we can do with the widgets we can configure in Android.
Nearby traffic
As the name suggests, the Nearby Traffic widget will display a live map of your location on your home screen and local traffic status. A floating action button at the bottom right of the widget allows you to zoom in and out without going into the app.
In addition, the widget is perfectly adapted to the system configuration you have established on your mobile. For this reason, it will adapt to the light or dark theme, depending on how you have it configured.
This widget can be opened to cover an entire home page or reduced to a 3×2 size. Configure it as comfortably as it is, depending on how you have organized the phone.
Search nearby places
The Google Maps Quickly Find Nearby Places widget helps you navigate your surroundings faster by displaying recommended places like homes, Restaurants, Bars, and Hotels in tiles.
The widget is default set on the home screen in a 3×2 tile. However, you can change its size to 2×2 or 4×2 depending on how much information you want to see at a glance. You can find four to eight recommendations if you set it between minimum and maximum.
In addition to these widgets, which avoid opening Google Maps, there is a small button that we can also set on the home screen to quickly share the location of our mobile. It occupies a 1×1 tile.
This widget allows you to share your real-time location with friends and family. You can set a timer for how long you want to share your location (from 15 minutes to a day). Use this link to share it with whoever you wish to through any messaging apps on your phone.
