# Why won't Google Maps GPS talk to me sometimes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2021, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771 "2021-10-02T11:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/1 "2021-10-02T11:31:51Z")
Sometimes it’s a chatterbox, turn here, do this, do that, but other times I can’t get it to speak directions, I’ve checked the volume on my phone, I’ve clicked the microphone icon, and…NOTHING, It seems random, except for talking when I sorta know where I’m going but dummying up when I have no clue. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/2 "2021-10-02T13:52:31Z")
That occasionally happens to me too. The only thing that seems to help is exiting the navigation, then making sure the volume is up, and restarting navigation from my current location. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/3 "2021-10-02T16:03:29Z")
If your phone is Bluetooth-connected to your car, Maps will play the sound through the Bluetooth connection. So if your car audio is off or is not set to Bluetooth, you won’t hear anything. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/4 "2021-10-02T16:29:36Z")
No, I think I’ve got the audio turned on and the Bluetooth setting is on. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/5 "2021-10-02T16:31:32Z")
When this happens to me, it’s usually when I’m driving through an area with no cell signal. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/6 "2021-10-02T17:09:11Z")
Well, if it were me, next time it happens I would turn off Bluetooth on the phone and see if you can hear the voice through the phone speaker. That would confirm or eliminate Bluetooth as a possible issue. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/7 "2021-10-02T18:56:23Z")
This happens in my Verizon phone sometimes. I have to clean up the memory on my phone, and it helps. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/8 "2021-10-02T19:20:37Z")
I have this issue too. I think if you are sitting still when you start it doesn’t talk. But if I’m already moving it seems to talk. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/9 "2021-10-04T05:18:27Z")
Possibly stating the obvious : There are settings in Google Maps to determine how much the Google Lady is talkative while guiding you to a destination. If you’re using the phone application in car mode, this is determined by a little speaker-shaped icon you can click. You can have : - 🔇 – meaning mute - 🔈! – meaning she will only talk to you about exceptional things : accidents, detours, maybe speed traps, etc., or a suddenly-discovered faster route - 🔊 – meaning she will guide you through every turn However, in my experience, this setting remains the same from ride to ride, until you change it by touching the icon. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-maps-gps-talk-to-me-sometimes/951771/10 "2021-10-04T05:31:27Z")
It’s a known bug for certain situations - I Googled it a long time ago when I was frustrated that my Samsung Galaxy with Verizon service wouldn’t give me verbal directions when synched with my car. There were suggestions on how to fix it, but they were kind of scarily technical, so I shrugged and decided I don’t care enough to do something that might screw things up. If I’m on foot or in someone else’s car, Google maps talks to me. In my car, I just got a nice Weathertech mount so I can see the phone and follow the visuals.