You can superimpose a compass on Google Maps by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Quick Actions bar, then tapping the compass icon to lock it in place.
Google Maps on Android now includes a swipe-up compass widget that shows your heading relative to true north. It appears when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and disappears when you swipe it away. The widget is part of Maps 10.62+ and is enabled by default; no extra download is needed beyond keeping the app updated as of 2026.
What’s happening under the hood
Your compass widget overlays a translucent circle with an arrow on top of the map layer.
The compass widget overlays a translucent circle with an arrow on top of the map layer. It uses the device’s magnetometer and GPS to calculate your bearing in real time, so it only shows when you’re moving above walking speed. If the arrow jitters or points in the wrong direction, it’s usually a sensor calibration issue rather than a software bug.
Step-by-step: turning on the compass widget
To turn on the compass widget, update Google Maps, open the app, center the map on your location, swipe up to reveal the Quick Actions bar, and tap the compass icon.
- Make sure Google Maps is updated to version 10.62 or higher.
- Open the app and center the map on your location.
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen once to reveal the Quick Actions bar.
- You should see a small compass icon labeled “Compass.” Tap it once to lock it in place; it will now appear every time you swipe up.
- If the icon is missing, go to Settings → Map display → Compass widget and toggle it on.
