Tip Day: Change Miles to Kilometers on Maps
This guide explains how to switch the distance units on Google Maps from miles to kilometers (or back) on both mobile and desktop. You’ll learn the exact steps for each platform, how the setting works, and what to do when the change doesn’t stick.
Why the Unit Setting Matters
Google Maps automatically picks distance units based on your device’s region and language settings. If you’re traveling abroad, using a VPN, or your phone’s locale is set to the US, you’ll see miles even if you think in kilometers. This can be confusing when estimating driving times, walking distances, or reading route lengths on a map you’re not familiar with.
How to Change Units on the Mobile App (Android and iOS)
The mobile app doesn’t have a direct “miles vs. km” toggle inside the map view. Instead, it follows your phone’s system language and region. Here’s how to change it:
- Open your phone’s Settings app (not Google Maps).
- Go to General management (Samsung) or System (stock Android) → Language and input → Language. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Language & Region.
- Add a new language or change the region to one that uses kilometers (e.g., United Kingdom, Germany, Australia).
- Reopen Google Maps. The distance labels on routes, the scale bar, and the “distance to destination” readout should now show kilometers.
Note that this changes the entire phone UI language, not just Maps. If you want to keep your phone in English but use km, set the region to a country like the UK or Australia while keeping English as the language.
How to Change Units on the Desktop (Web Browser)
The web version of Google Maps has a dedicated unit setting that doesn’t depend on your browser language:
- Open maps.google.com in your browser.
- Click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
- Click Settings.
- Scroll down to Distance units.
- Choose Kilometers or Miles.
- Close the menu; the change applies immediately to the scale bar and route distances.
This setting is stored in your Google account, so it should persist across browsers and devices when you’re signed in.
What About the Scale Bar?
The scale bar (the small ruler at the bottom right of the map) also changes with these settings. On mobile, it follows the phone region. On desktop, it follows the Distance units setting. If you want a quick visual check without changing anything, you can tap the scale bar on mobile to toggle between miles and kilometers temporarily—but this only lasts for that session and resets when you close the app.
Common Problems and Fixes
Sometimes you change the setting but the map still shows miles. Here are the usual culprits:
- App cache: Force-close Google Maps and reopen it. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → Google Maps → Storage → Clear Cache.
- Signed out: On desktop, if you’re not signed in, the setting may not save. Sign in to your Google account.
- Multiple Google accounts: Check which account is active in Maps. The setting applies per account, not per device.
- Region override: Some Android phones have a separate “region” setting under Language & Region. Make sure both language and region are set to a km-using country.
- iOS specific: On iPhone, if you use a custom keyboard or have a secondary language, the region must be changed in Settings → General → Language & Region → Region, not just the language.
Comparison: Google Maps vs. Other Map Apps
Other navigation apps handle units differently. Apple Maps, for example, also follows the system region. Waze has an in-app setting under Settings → Display → Distance units, letting you choose miles or kilometers independently of your phone’s locale. If you frequently switch between apps, it’s worth setting each one individually.
Does This Affect Directions and Voice Navigation?
Yes. When you change the distance unit, the spoken turn-by-turn instructions also change. For instance, instead of saying “in 0.5 miles,” it will say “in 800 meters.” This applies to both mobile and desktop (if you use voice guidance on the web, which is rare). The speed limit display, if available, remains in the local unit of the road you’re on—it does not convert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t Google Maps have a simple miles/km toggle on mobile?
Google intentionally ties the mobile app to the system locale to keep the interface consistent with other apps. A separate toggle would allow conflicting settings (e.g., phone in English US but map in km), which can confuse users. The workaround is to change the phone’s region while keeping the language.
Will changing the region on my phone affect other apps?
Yes, it can. Some apps use region for date formats, measurement units (like weather apps showing °C vs. °F), and even app store availability. If you only want Maps in km, you might prefer using the desktop version or a third-party app like Waze that has its own setting.
Does the unit setting affect the scale bar on the printed map?
No, the scale bar on a printed map is fixed at the time of printing. You’d need to re-print with the new setting. On screen, the scale bar updates immediately.
I changed the region but Maps still shows miles. What else can I try?
Clear the Maps app cache, restart your phone, and ensure you’ve fully closed the Maps app. On Android, also check that you haven’t set a separate “region” in the Google app settings (Google → Settings → Language & Region). On iPhone, try restarting after changing the region.
Does the desktop setting sync with my mobile app?
No. The desktop setting is stored in your Google account, but the mobile app ignores it and uses the phone’s locale. You must set both separately if you use both.
Can I use kilometers in Google Maps on a US phone without changing the whole system language?
Not directly in the app. Your only options are to change the phone region (which may alter other apps) or use the desktop version. Some Android launchers allow per-app locale overrides, but that’s not a standard Google Maps feature.
Related
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