Google Maps has five home screen shortcut widgets most people never notice, including one that puts live traffic conditions right on your screen without opening the app. Here’s how to add them on Android.
Add the Google Maps Widget
- Long-press an empty area on your home screen.
- Tap Widgets.
- Scroll to the Maps section.
- You’ll see two widget options and five shortcut icons — drag whichever one you want to your home screen.
The Traffic Shortcut Widget
This is the one worth grabbing first. It shows live traffic conditions on a small map preview without opening the full app, so a two-second glance before you head out tells you if your usual route is backed up.
Home and Work Shortcuts
Maps only has two saved-location shortcuts by default: Home and Work. Set these up once inside the Maps app under your saved places, and the shortcuts pull directions to either address with a single tap.
I actually set this up on my mother-in-law’s phone. She used to type her mom’s address into Maps every single time she wanted directions — same address, every visit. I showed her the widget once, dropped her most-visited spots on the home screen, and she hasn’t typed an address since. If there’s one shortcut worth the home screen real estate, it’s this one.
One-Tap Directions to Any Destination
Want a shortcut to somewhere that isn’t Home or Work? Open Google Maps, search for the destination, tap the three-dot menu, and select Add route to Home screen. This drops a dedicated icon that jumps straight into turn-by-turn navigation for that specific spot — handy for a gym, a regular client site, or a relative’s house.
Why the Widget Beats Opening the App
Every one of these shortcuts skips the app’s full load time and search screen. For traffic checks especially, that’s the difference between a two-second glance and a fifteen-second detour into the app just to see if you should leave five minutes early.
Same idea as the search bar shortcuts we covered for weather, sports, and news — see our guide on Google app widget shortcuts for the full home screen setup.
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