Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Google Maps is the go-to destination for disgruntled Apple users who've had enough of the limited experience in Apple Maps.
Apple's navigation software has evolved significantly in the last couple of years, getting must-have features, including offline maps support (introduced in September as part of the iOS 17 operating system update).
However, the bugs that users occasionally encounter in Google Maps on CarPlay make the transition off Apple Maps more difficult. One of them became widespread a few weeks ago.
Users took to Google's forums in late September to report that Google Maps failed to load on CarPlay, with the application loading just a blank UI on the infotainment screen. I encountered the same problem with CarPlay, with Google Maps most often showing just a blank card on the Dashboard screen instead of the actual map.
Switching to the full-screen interface didn't work either, as Google Maps failed to load the maps, showing only the typical blue arrow used to indicate your location. Users discovered that manually launching Google Maps on the iPhone allowed the app to load correctly on CarPlay, too, though this didn't always work on the first attempt. In some cases, users had to repeatedly force-close and relaunch Google Maps on their smartphones to allow the app to load the maps on CarPlay.
The release of iOS 17 in September was believed to be the culprit despite all the other navigation apps, including Google-owned Waze, continued to work correctly on CarPlay.
Google shipped Google Maps version 6.85.5 on September 26, trying to resolve this mysterious bug on CarPlay. Some users said this update brought things back to normal, while others claimed the fix was only temporary, with the issue returning after a few days.
Now, it looks like Google Maps version 6.86.1 restores the complete functionality of Google Maps on CarPlay, addressing the blank screen bug on the Dashboard and in full-screen mode. I can confirm this version fixes the glitch on CarPlay – I use an iPhone 14 Pro running the latest iOS 17 build with Google Maps 6.86.1. Several users have also confirmed on Google's forums that everything is back to normal after installing this latest update.
Google has never commented on the bug publicly, but if you, too, are struggling with the blank screen issue, head over to the App Store and install the latest Google Maps version.
If the issue persists after updating Google Maps, you must check the location permissions on your iPhone. Navigation apps unable to load the maps is typically a glitch caused by incorrect permissions, as the likes of Google Maps can't retrieve your location and download the necessary data to provide navigation. You can find the Google Maps location permissions under Settings > Google Maps > Location > While Using/Always.
However, the bugs that users occasionally encounter in Google Maps on CarPlay make the transition off Apple Maps more difficult. One of them became widespread a few weeks ago.
Users took to Google's forums in late September to report that Google Maps failed to load on CarPlay, with the application loading just a blank UI on the infotainment screen. I encountered the same problem with CarPlay, with Google Maps most often showing just a blank card on the Dashboard screen instead of the actual map.
Switching to the full-screen interface didn't work either, as Google Maps failed to load the maps, showing only the typical blue arrow used to indicate your location. Users discovered that manually launching Google Maps on the iPhone allowed the app to load correctly on CarPlay, too, though this didn't always work on the first attempt. In some cases, users had to repeatedly force-close and relaunch Google Maps on their smartphones to allow the app to load the maps on CarPlay.
The release of iOS 17 in September was believed to be the culprit despite all the other navigation apps, including Google-owned Waze, continued to work correctly on CarPlay.
Google shipped Google Maps version 6.85.5 on September 26, trying to resolve this mysterious bug on CarPlay. Some users said this update brought things back to normal, while others claimed the fix was only temporary, with the issue returning after a few days.
Now, it looks like Google Maps version 6.86.1 restores the complete functionality of Google Maps on CarPlay, addressing the blank screen bug on the Dashboard and in full-screen mode. I can confirm this version fixes the glitch on CarPlay – I use an iPhone 14 Pro running the latest iOS 17 build with Google Maps 6.86.1. Several users have also confirmed on Google's forums that everything is back to normal after installing this latest update.
Google has never commented on the bug publicly, but if you, too, are struggling with the blank screen issue, head over to the App Store and install the latest Google Maps version.
If the issue persists after updating Google Maps, you must check the location permissions on your iPhone. Navigation apps unable to load the maps is typically a glitch caused by incorrect permissions, as the likes of Google Maps can't retrieve your location and download the necessary data to provide navigation. You can find the Google Maps location permissions under Settings > Google Maps > Location > While Using/Always.
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