Want to view Google Maps in your native iPhone or iPod Touch map app even if you’re online? Here’s how I did it!
So why is it important for me to have access to offline Google Maps? For one, If I’m traveling to some unfamiliar place, Google Maps are extremely helpful to explore the area and get from point A to point B. The iPhone/iPod Touch has a built-in maps application but can only be used if there’s WiFi internet around. Even if you do get connected online, once you close the maps app, all stored (chached) maps are cleared and if you open the app again, only a small portion of the map will be available for viewing. If you’re an iPhone user, you can always connect to the internet through your wireless carrier but you will still be depending on whether there’s a cellphone signal or not.
photo by stevegarfield
I’ll try to explain the steps to viewing maps offline in a simpler way but this initial guide is more targeted for power users (should know what “jailbreaking” and SSH are) and also iPod touch users since I don’t own an iPhone.
How to view Google Maps on the iPhone or iPod touch:
First, you will need to jailbreak your iPhone / iPod touch. Jailbreaking is a mod or hack that lets you install (third party) apps without going through the iTunes app store. I’d like to point out that Jailbreaking and saving data from Google Maps is illegal (or at least frowned upon by Apple and Google), I just want to demonstrate that it’s possible to use the maps app offline so go through the following steps with utmost discretion. I’m not going to give a detailed step-by-step guide on how to hack your Apple products/software since there’s a lot of online documentation about it. A google search of “how to jailbreak iphone” or “how to SSH iphone” will do the trick ;)
There’s basically two ways to store offline Google Maps in your iPhone / iPod touch. I’ll show you the simpler way first using an app called “Maps Enhancer.”
Maps Enhancer – Save cached Google Maps and View Offline
Maps Enhancer adds the ability to automatically save all cached maps data on the built-in maps app so you could view them even if you’re offline.
How to install and use Maps Enhancer
- Open Cydia app in your iPhone / iPod touch
- Go to “Search” tab and look for “Maps Enhancer” from BigBoss
- If you can’t find it, you will have to add the BigBoss source first by going to the “Manage” tab, clicking on “Sources”, then “Edit” button on top right corner, and then “Add” on the top left corner. Enter “http://apt.bigboss.us.com/repofiles/cydia” click “Add Source” and lastly “Done”
- After installation is finished, exit Cydia
- Go to your iPod’s settings, go to “Maps Enhancer”
- Make sure that the “Keep maps cache” setting is turned on. Feel free to change the other settings.
- Go to your Maps app and browse a certain area.
- If you would like to test if it’s working just close Maps, turn the WiFi off, and open Maps again.
The drawback of the Maps Enhancer is that you will need to browse the maps in your iPhone / iPod Touch first when you’re online. Saving maps for a big city can be a daunting task. Plus, if you clear your cache (sometimes you need to do that incase the maps app get buggy), you will lose all your stored maps. If this is an issue for your, then you will need a more powerful app called Atlas.
Atlas (formerly called OfflineMaps) – replaced iPhone / iPod Touch maps cache with downloaded Offline Google Maps
Atlas lets iPhone / iPod touch users to view google maps by loading offline map files using a desktop program called GMDL (Global Map Download Tool). Atlas is great for larger maps such as big cities, countries, and even whole continents. It is more complicated to install though. I’m using a 3rd Gen iPod Touch with OS 3.1.2 and the app works mostly fine for me.
How to install and use Atlas for iPhone / iPod Touch OS 3.1.2:
- Download the Atlas installer from their website (I used Atlas version 3.1.2-2)
- The installer is in .deb format so you need to manually install Atlas via SSH. Visit this page to learn how to manually install .deb files via SSH. Note: Instead of “stack.deb” type in the filename of the Atlas installer (like “Atlas_3.1.2-2_iphoneos-arm.deb”)
- Respring or Reboot to display the Atlas icon on your Springboard
- You have successfully installed atlas, now you will need to download offline Google Maps using GMDL
How to download Offline Google Maps using GMDL (Global Map Download Tool) for Windows 7:
- Download the latest version of GMDL from http://www.in7ane.com/psp/ (I used GMDL version 5.13a)
- Unzip the contents in any folder
- Navigate to the Debug folder – GDML > big > Debug
- If you’re using Windows 7 (or any 64bit OS), copy “System.Data.SQLite.DLL” file in the “x64 SQLite” folder and overwrite the similarly named file on the Debug parent folder.
- Open “Global Map Download Tool.exe”
- Navigate to the area that you want to download and click on the “Preview 1x”, button to see what it would look like. Don’t worry if there a lot of surrounding areas you don’t want to download, you can choose individual tiles you want in the next step
- After you’re done with your preview click on “Download The Map”, and make a new folder where you want to save the temporary map files
- You will now be directed to the preview page where you can check or uncheck the map tiles that you want to download. You can also choose how much detail you want to save, 1x and 2x means that you’ll be able to see the zoomed in maps with more extra details but it also bloats up the file size dramatically.
- Once you have done that click on the massive selection button on the top and wait for it to finish download.
- Once it has downloaded click the “->iPhone” Button on the top right side of the screen and then click on “Process”.
- Once that your iPhone compatible map has finished processing, put the map folder into your iphone via SSH at /var/mobile/Media/Maps, if “Maps” folder does not exist, create one.
- Launch Atlas app in your iPhone / iPod Touch, and you should see you just downloaded. Choose the map, and select “Copy” (not Link).
- select “Maps”
- You should now be able to view the Google Maps even without an internet connection.
Maps Enhancer and Atlas works fine together though I noticed a few issues.
OffMaps – Offline OpenStreetMaps for iPhone and iPod Touch
If you do not want to jailbreak or prefer to view OpenStreetMaps. Then there’s this program called “OffMaps” which is available for download in the iTunes store. OffMaps uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) not Google Maps. OffMaps is not free but after you’ve installed the program, all you need to do is browse the map, select the area you want to download, and it will get automatically saved in your iPhone / iPod Touch for offline viewing.
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
I’ve been using the Google maps in my iphone a lot since I have not upgraded my portable Garmin GPS yet . It will cost me $70 to do so but, with my Google maps in my iphone, it’s always updated for free. I don’t subscribe to the GPS service with Apple as it will cost me extra $5/month but, the Google maps works just fine with me. I use both Google maps in my iphone & my Garmin GPS when we drive down US or going out of town for long drives (Montreal & Quebec). BTW, my iphone was jailbroken and unlocked when I was there in the Philippines last Jan. I paid someone P1,000 to do the job for me. As long as I don’t upgrade my OS, my iphone will remain in such state. Also, I initially planned to upgrade to 3GS because of the video cam but, I found out lately that one has to install ONLY a free apps (Video Genius) and my 3G works like 3GS. NEAT!
Thanks for your clear instructions, all in one place! I struggled for a while finding bits and pieces of what I needed to do, and so I wrote my post to explain – I wish I had found your post before I went through all that trouble!
http://www.briandesousa.com/2010/06/19/offline-maps-working-on-iphone-os-3-1-2/
cool. Thanks for the linkbank ^_^
Thanks for the post!
I struggled so much to finally get Atlas installed!
I got the iphone files, and copied them into /var/mobile/Media/Maps but when i open atlas, it doesnt show any maps :((
I tried many times, but still there’s no map!
I really don’t understand..anyone can help me?
I exactlly followed your instructions man, even though I couldn’t make maps enhancer work. One error is poping up when I go to its preferences.
That’s the error:
Error Loading Preference Bundle Maps Enhancer
Thanks from now
I had the same problem. It is because you are running IOS4, and Maps Enhancer isn’t compatible :( Hopefully they get it updated soon.
that’s why I haven’t updated to iOS4 yet … when, I do I’ll also post if I find a work around.
Have you guys figured out how to upgrade? Looks like 1.3 has already been released but I don’t see it in cydia – The developer tweeted this a month ago: http://twitter.com/#!/Oranav/status/21447214854
I’ll be updating late this month. I still need the offline maps for the next two weeks … Hope everything gets fixed by then.
with atlas, i’ve noticed that i can’t import some maps that i’ve made (aka Hong Kong, toyko) but other ones I can (taipei, new york city, etc).
any idea? please email me back if you have any clue. thanks.
is there a size limitation?
I noticed that too. I think it’s a bug.
you need to install Maps enhancer 1.3.
You will not find in Cydia up to now, but will find the deb file via google. Works like a charm.
I have Maps enhancer 1.3 working on my ipod touch 3G with IOS4.2.1. When I load a map in Atlas I can’t use it offline in google though.
You need map enhancer 1.3. It’s only on cydia if you add this source http://cydia.myrepospace.com/apps0rama
I finally got Atlas working with my iPod touch 3rd gen running FW 4.2.1. The map file used on my device has the old 128 x 128 images but with an extra locale field in the version table, so I had to manually modify the v5 sqlite database file from GMDL to include the new field and version number, then it works.
More details here:
http://code.google.com/p/iphoneofflinemap/issues/detail?id=59#c40
Thank you so much Tim for the reply. I’m relieved knowing there’s a work-around available.
i dont understand, i did everything according the instructions. when i start Atlas on ipod it asks me to activate wifi. the maps DONT work without wifi at all, I can’t even find an address on it. am i doing something wrong? thanks!
I installed map enhancer from cydia but when i open setting and map enhancer it says…. there was an error loading the preference bundle for map enhancer
same problem here
I have successfully tried the work around posted by Tim for IOS4.2.1
The process is too much of a hassle to do, which is why I’ve stopped using the offline google maps.
Hello.
If you Jailbreak your phone:
You can try xGPS. Google for it and you’ll find the .deb file in the official website. There’s also a windows tool called xGPS Manager.
Install .deb file with a free windows program called ifunbox (google for it too) , updated version support installing cydia apps.
Install xGPS Manager in windows and download the area you need. Then upload the maps to your xGps app in the iphone via wi-fi with a feature included in xGPS Manager.
Supports autorotating the map as well.
It’s working great for me, iPhone 3GS, IOS 4.2.1 Jailbreaked.
thanks for the tip Ian. I wonder if its easier to load offline maps in Andriod than in iOS.
would u plz help me
Thank you. This worked ^^
does it work in IPhone 4 IOS 4.2.1 ? and there is another question how do i exactly Do this
“”" Once that your iPhone compatible map has finished processing, put the map folder into your iphone via SSH at /var/mobile/Media/Maps, if “Maps” folder does not exist, create one.”"”
What do u mean By SSH ……
PLZ answer my Question
Sincerely Alireza
For the first time its worked , but after that It suks
How can i Remove this fucking Atlas APP from my iphone