The Hidden Problem with Google My Maps on Mobile
Google My Maps mobile has layer bugs, no editing, and no offline support. Learn why it fails on phones and find better alternatives.
Google My Maps mobile has significant limitations: layers randomly deselect while navigating, you cannot edit markers from your phone, and custom maps don't work offline. If you need reliable mobile access to your location data, dedicated GPS apps like Gaia GPS or browser-based solutions like Notion to Maps provide a more consistent experience.
You've spent hours building the perfect custom map in Google My Maps. Every restaurant recommendation from your trip research, every hiking trailhead, every potential apartment viewing, all carefully pinned and organized into layers. Then you open it on your phone to actually use it, and the experience falls apart. Layers randomly deselect themselves. Your custom markers vanish in favor of Google's business listings. You can't edit anything. Welcome to the hidden problem with Google My Maps on mobile.
Layer Visibility Issues on Mobile
Many users report a frustrating issue: while zooming into a neighborhood to find a saved location, markers sometimes disappear unexpectedly. Checking the layer panel often reveals that one or more layers have deselected themselves. This appears to be a recurring issue that users have reported in Google's support forums over the years.
The problem may be related to how the mobile app handles memory and rendering. When you zoom or pan quickly, the app might lose track of layer states or reduce visible layers to improve performance. For users who've carefully organized their data into logical groupings, this behavior can undermine the purpose of having layers.
The workaround some users suggest: constantly checking and re-enabling layers as you navigate. Others have resorted to putting everything in a single layer to avoid the issue, sacrificing organization for reliability.
Custom Places Competing with Business Listings
Google Maps has a fundamental tension between your custom data and its commercial mapping product. When you view a My Maps layer in the mobile app, you're viewing it as an overlay on top of regular Google Maps. This means Google's business listings, points of interest, and other default markers share the same visual space as your custom markers.
At certain zoom levels, users report that custom markers can become difficult to see or get lost among Google's default POIs. A restaurant you pinned might appear near Google's own listing for the same restaurant, or be visually obscured by nearby businesses. The map prioritizes its default data alongside your custom data.
This behavior makes sense from Google's perspective. They want the core Maps experience to remain consistent, and custom layers are displayed as additions to rather than replacements for their curated data. But for users who created custom maps precisely because they wanted control over what appears, this can be frustrating.
Why You Can't Edit Google My Maps on Mobile
One significant limitation is that editing Google My Maps on mobile is severely restricted. While viewing custom maps works through the Google Maps app, adding, moving, or deleting markers typically requires accessing the desktop version.
This creates an awkward workflow for anyone who discovers new places while out in the world. Find an amazing bookstore you want to remember? You'll likely need to make a note somewhere else and add it to your map later when you're at a computer. The spontaneity that makes location tracking useful gets diminished.
Google's reasoning likely involves the complexity of the editing interface. The desktop version has drawing tools, styling options, and data import features that would be challenging to translate to a touch interface. For a mobile-first approach to location tracking, consider building a restaurant database in Notion where you can add places from anywhere.
The Offline Problem with Google My Maps
Custom My Maps layers require an internet connection to display. Unlike regular Google Maps, which lets you download regions for offline use, your custom markers exist only in the cloud. Venture into an area with poor cell coverage, and your carefully researched hiking waypoints or rural property listings simply won't load.
This limitation hits hardest in exactly the situations where custom maps are most valuable. Backcountry navigation, international travel without data roaming, or exploring areas with spotty coverage all become problematic. You can screenshot your map before losing signal, but that's a poor substitute for an interactive, searchable map.
For outdoor adventures where offline access is critical, exporting to GPX format and loading waypoints into a dedicated GPS app solves this problem entirely. Our guide on why GPX matters for backcountry navigation explains the workflow in detail.
Why the Mobile Experience Feels Limited
Google My Maps launched in 2007 as a desktop web application, and the mobile experience has always felt secondary. Google previously offered a dedicated My Maps app, but has since directed users toward viewing custom maps within the main Google Maps app. This integration brought some benefits but also meant custom maps became one feature among many within an app optimized for navigation and business discovery.
Development resources at Google naturally flow toward products that drive revenue or user growth. My Maps is a free tool used by a subset of Google Maps users. It's maintained but may not be a top priority, which could explain why some user-reported issues persist and mobile functionality remains limited compared to desktop.
Better Alternatives for Mobile-First Users
If you need reliable mobile access to your location data, several approaches work better than Google My Maps. Dedicated apps like Gaia GPS or Organic Maps offer robust offline support and treat your custom waypoints as first-class features rather than overlays. These apps are designed for field use and handle large datasets gracefully.
For users who want to keep their data in a flexible system like Notion, the browser-based approach often works better than any native app. Notion to Maps generates responsive web maps that work consistently across devices. There's no app to install, no sync issues between platforms, and the map renders your data exactly as you've organized it without interference from business listings.
The export options also matter for mobile use. Downloading your Notion locations as GPX lets you import them into hiking apps with offline support. KML files work with Google Earth's mobile app, which handles custom data more reliably than Google Maps does. Having your data in standard formats means you're not dependent on any single app's quirks. For a comparison of export formats, see our guide on KML vs GPX vs GeoJSON vs CSV.
The ideal solution depends on your specific needs, but if Google My Maps on mobile hasn't been meeting your needs, know that you're not alone. Many users share similar frustrations, and alternative options exist for people who take their location data seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't Google My Maps work on my phone?
Google My Maps mobile issues typically stem from three causes: layer visibility bugs that deselect layers while navigating, the app requiring an internet connection for custom markers, or conflicts between your custom pins and Google's default business listings. Try viewing in a mobile browser instead of the Google Maps app for a more consistent experience.
Can I edit Google My Maps on iPhone or Android?
No, Google My Maps does not support editing on mobile devices. You can view your custom maps in the Google Maps app, but adding, moving, or deleting markers requires the desktop website. This is a fundamental limitation of the platform, not a bug.
How do I use Google My Maps offline?
You cannot use Google My Maps custom layers offline - they require an internet connection. The workaround is to export your map as KML, convert to GPX if needed, and import into an offline-capable app like Gaia GPS, Maps.me, or OsmAnd. These apps let you download map tiles for offline use with your waypoints.
Why do my Google My Maps layers keep turning off?
This is a known issue where layers deselect themselves during navigation, particularly when zooming or panning quickly. The cause appears to be memory management in the mobile app. Workarounds include using fewer layers, putting all markers in a single layer, or switching to a dedicated mapping app that handles layers more reliably.
What is the best alternative to Google My Maps for mobile?
For offline hiking and outdoor use, Gaia GPS and AllTrails offer superior mobile experiences. For travel and general location tracking, keeping your data in Notion and using Notion to Maps provides a consistent browser-based experience across all devices. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize offline access, editing capability, or data organization.