Every Android device ships with a built-in navigation app called Google Maps, providing more features than any other. Similarly, Windows 11 also ships with a Maps app backed by Microsoft, which lets you search for locations, get directions, see the point of interest, and more.
Although the Windows 11 Maps app offers some excellent features, such as saving offline maps, saving favorite places, creating collections of places, and more, people still look for ways to run Google Maps on their PCs.
Whenever you need to access Google Maps, open the Windows Start menu and select the Google Maps app. Below, we have shared the two best ways to download Google Maps for Windows. Let’s get started.
Download Google Maps via the Chrome browser
You can use the Google Chrome web browser to turn any website into a desktop app. Hence, we will use the Chrome web browser to turn the maps.google.com website into a Windows app. Here are some of the simple steps you need to follow.
1. First, open the Google Chrome browser on your PC. Next, head to the https://www.google.com/maps website.
2. Once the webpage loads, click the three dots in the top-right corner.
3. From the menu that appears, click on Install Google Maps.
4. On the confirmation prompt, click on the Install button.
5. This will install Google Maps as an app on your Windows 10/11 PC. Now, access the Google Maps desktop app, open the Windows start menu, and click on Google Maps.
Download Google Maps via Edge Browser
Like Google Chrome, you can also use the Edge browser to download Google Maps on your PC. Here’s how to download & install Google Maps as an app on Windows via Edge browser.
1. Open the Edge browser and visit the Google Maps website. Next, click on the three dots in the top-right corner.
2. From the list of options that appears, select Apps > Install Google Maps.
3. Next, on the Install Google Maps prompt, tap the Install button.
4. Google Maps PWA will be installed and open automatically.
5. You can access the Google Maps app from the Windows Start Menu. To do that, click on the Start Menu, search Googe Maps and open it from the search results.
Download & Install Google Maps via BlueStack
Android emulators are another best option for downloading Google Maps for PC. We have used BlueStack to emulate the Android version of Google Maps on the PC. Here’s how to do it.
1. First of all, download & install the BlueStacks emulator on your Windows PC.
2. Once installed, open BlueStacks and click on the Play Store app.
3. On the Play Store, sign in with your Google Account.
4. Once signed in, search for Google Maps on the Google Play Store. Next, open the Google Maps app from the list.
5. Click the Install button behind Google Maps to install the navigation app on your BlueStacks emulator.
6. Once installed, open Google Maps and start using it.
BlueStacks emulator will provide the full Google Maps Android experience on your Windows 11 PC.
Other than BlueStacks, you can use other Android emulators for PC to run the Google Maps Android app on your PC. You can use emulators like LDPlayer, Nox Player, etc. If you’re interested in such emulators, check out this article.
Download Google Maps for PC without BlueStacks
So, other than BlueStacks, do you have any other options? Yes! You do have a few BlueStack alternatives that you can use to emulate the Google Maps mobile app on your PC.
If you want to run Google Maps on a PC without using the BlueStacks emulator, you need to start using emulators like LDPlayer or BigNox. We have shared a list of the best BlueStacks alternatives; you can go through that list and pick the one compatible with your PC’s hardware.
However, download the emulator from their official websites to avoid security or privacy issues.
How to Install Google Maps on Older Windows Version?
The methods we have shared are fully compatible with Windows 10/11. However, if you use Windows 7, the steps may vary a bit.
To download Google Maps for Windows 7, you need to use a compatible Android emulator like BlueStacks. BlueStacks runs fine, even on Windows 8, so you can also download Google Maps on Windows 7/8 via BlueStacks.
Best Google Maps Alternative for Windows?
Since Google Maps’ official app is not available for desktops, the best option is to use an alternative app.
If you use the Windows 10/11 operating system, you can use the Windows Maps app. Windows Maps is developed by Microsoft and is free.
Even if Windows Mapas is unavailable on your device, you can get it from the Microsoft Store. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Click on the Windows 11 Search and type in Microsoft Store. Next, open the Microsoft Store app from the list.
2. When the Microsoft Store opens, search for Windows Maps. Next, open the Windows Maps app from the list.
3. If Windows Maps is unavailable on your PC, click the Get button to download & install it.
4. Once downloaded, you can open Windows Maps directly from the Windows Search.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Google Maps have a desktop app?
No! Google Maps is not officially available for desktop operating systems like Windows and Mac. However, the methods shared in this article will help you install Google Maps as a PWA on your PC.
Is Google Maps free on Desktop?
Yes, the web version of Google Maps, accessible from the desktop, is completely free. You just need an active Google account to get started.
Can you use Google Maps without location services?
If you want to use Google Maps for navigation in real time, the app or the web version needs location services. However, Google Maps also has an offline feature that lets you download maps for offline navigation.
How do I get directions on Google Maps on my computer?
Google Maps can be used to get directions regardless of whether you use the web version on your computer or your mobile device. You just need to open Google Maps, click directions, and add a starting point and destination.
Why can’t I use Google Maps on my computer?
If you can’t use Google Maps on your computer, you must ensure your device is connected to an active internet. Like every other navigation app, Google Maps also relies on the internet to provide you with navigation services. You can also try clearing the browser cache or re-login to your Google Account.
You can use the Google Maps app on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC and access all its features. So, these are the two best ways to download & install Google Maps on Windows 11. Let us know in the comments if you know other ways to run Google Maps on Windows 11.
