Tejal Somvanshi
Google Maps mobile app users faced a frustrating roadblock today when the popular navigation tool experienced an outage. The problem affected both Android and iOS versions while the web version at maps.google.com kept functioning normally.
Thousands of users hit digital dead ends with error messages like “Cannot reach server” and “Can’t reach the internet” when trying to search locations or get directions. Downdetector tracked over 4,000 reports during the outage.
The digital disruption appeared concentrated in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, and Chicago, based on report clusters. NBC Chicago confirmed this distribution pattern on Downdetector’s outage map.
Google’s Status Dashboard acknowledged the situation, specifically mentioning issues with the Maps SDK and Navigation SDK. Users who needed directions could still access the service through a web browser rather than the app, use any previously downloaded offline maps, or temporarily switch to alternative navigation services.
The company worked through a systematic resolution process, moving from initial investigation to mitigation efforts before seeing recovery indications. By approximately 6:27 PM ET, Google marked the issue as resolved and noted that an incident analysis would follow their internal review.
For users facing similar issues in the future, simple steps like toggling Airplane Mode, switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or clearing the app cache might help. If these steps don’t work during a confirmed outage, checking the Google Status Dashboard can provide the most current information.
The Google Maps mobile app outage affected Android and iOS devices, with the web version remaining operational throughout. Google’s Status Dashboard tracked the issue from investigation through resolution by early evening ET.
