What do you want to know
- Google Maps is experimenting with displaying 3D buildings while navigating on the mobile app and Android Auto.
- Some users reported seeing buildings in 3D while navigating on Maps for Android and iOS, requiring them to enable 3D view before starting navigation.
- A smaller group of users observed the 3D display feature on Maps via Android Auto, where buildings become transparent when they obstruct the route.
Google Maps can now display buildings in 3D while you navigate on the mobile app and Android Auto in what appears to be a new experience from Google.
According to a report from 9to5Google, Google Maps appears to be testing showing buildings in 3D while you get directions on your phone. Until now, you could only see this feature when exploring in the Maps app, not in navigation mode.
If you want to try, just enable the 3D option in the layers menu on the Maps home screen, then zoom in until the buildings become three-dimensional. It seems that a number of users, including yours truly, are already seeing these fancy 3D buildings on the Maps app for Android.
When a 3D building blocks your route on Android phones, it becomes semi-transparent, allowing you to see through the obstacle. This change appears on Android phones running Android 14, although we can attest that it’s also live on devices still stuck on Android 13.
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Google Maps has offered the 3D buildings feature for over a decade now, and you can turn it on or off with a toggle. This immersive view comes in handy when you’re trying to navigate a new city and get your bearings.
But don’t mix it with Immersive view, which is a completely different Maps feature. In February last year, Google introduced Immersive View to spice up the navigation app with a mix of Street View, satellite photos and some AI elements. The result is realistic 3D models of streets and even building interiors.
That said, not all iOS and Android phones have gotten this feature yet, which suggests Google could be A/B testing these 3D buildings.
Meanwhile, a Reddit user noticed that Maps on Android Auto was also recently showing this 3D view of buildings without even lifting a finger from last week’s settings. But the new 3D buildings on Android Auto aren’t available to everyone yet, so we don’t know if this feature will be gradually rolled out to the public or if it’s just part of a limited test.
