Google Maps brings Bluetooth beacons for tunnel navigation on Pixel and other Android devices

Millions of users worldwide rely on Google Maps for navigation. Surprisingly, unlike Waze, its subsidiary, Google Maps has long lacked the capability to provide navigation inside tunnels. Fortunately, this is about to change.

While Waze has long boasted the ability to guide you through tunnels using strategically placed Bluetooth beacons, Google Maps has remained frustratingly silent in these subterranean stretches. With a recent update, Google has addressed this limitation in the Maps app, ensuring GPS navigation even within tunnels. As noted, Waze has been supporting tunnel navigation through Bluetooth beacons in major cities like New York City, Chicago, Paris, Brussels, and more, so it’s great to see Google Maps finally catching up.

A recent report by 9to5Google indicates that Google Maps is finally incorporating support for Bluetooth beacons to allow for tunnel navigation. The new feature can be found in the app’s Settings menu, specifically head to Settings > Navigation settings > Driving options > Tunnel navigation. Simply toggle the switch on to activate the feature. With Google Maps embracing the power of Bluetooth beacons, it means no more relying on guesswork or outdated maps for tunnel navigation.

While the feature was first spotted in October 2023, it is now rolling out widely for Google Pixel and other Android users. Notably, this feature isn’t available for iOS users yet, but the wait shouldn’t be long now that it is rolling out widely for Android users. It’s also important to note that this feature is initially disabled, requiring users to manually enable it in order to access navigation inside tunnels.