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Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Say goodbye to followers on Google Maps: Major feature to be removed soon
Google Maps is planning to remove one of its features in the coming months. The company announced that it will disable the ability to follow other users within the app. This means users will no longer be able to follow others or be followed themselves. The change is expected to take place by September and will happen automatically without requiring any action from users. Google Maps will soon remove the follow feature and will end the option to follow or be followed by users.(Unsplash) Google Maps to Remove Follow Feature by September According to a community support post by Google, this update will not affect how visible profiles are on Google Maps. Users will not have to manage follower requests, since the follower system will no longer exist. Google also stated that it will erase all data connected to followers and followings once the feature is removed. Also read: Gaming mouse maker infected users with malware for weeks, then quietly replaced files without warning While the follow feature will disappear, Google Maps will continue to offer ways for users to connect and explore. The Local Guides Connect platform will remain active, allowing contributors to engage with one another. Additionally, users can still create and share lists to discover new places and experiences. This announcement comes shortly after a recent app analysis revealed plans to remove the Follow Places feature from Google Maps. The company seems to be streamlining the app by cutting features related to user connections. Also read: Amazon drone delivers more than a package, surprising customers with an unexpected backyard dust storm Media Controls Return After Temporary Bug In a related development, Google Maps users faced another issue recently. Over the weekend, music playback controls were removed from the navigation screen. Normally, users can play, pause, or skip tracks from their streaming apps while using Google Maps. However, these media controls disappeared, along with the settings that control them. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 review: Flagship features in a handful package Initially, many users worried that the feature was permanently removed. Google later confirmed that the problem was a bug and said it was actively working on a fix. By Thursday, the music controls returned on several devices running recent versions of Google Maps. It seems that the fix was applied via a server update, so the feature should be restored without the need to download a new app.
Tom's Guide
25-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Google Maps is losing these two features — here's what's changing
Google Maps has a lot of great features, but it appears that one of the more social ones will be removed in a few months. According to a recent post on Google's community support page (via Tech-Issues Today), Google Maps users will no longer be able to follow contributors. This planned change will happen automatically in September 2025 and will include the deletion of all data related to your followers, as well as those who follow you. It is also noted that your profile's visibility settings will not be changed, and you can still choose to hide specific content in your profile. While Google is removing the ability to actively follow other users, you can still view contributions made by users. The only major difference is that you will no longer have these reviews and images appear in your For You tab. Google also states that users can still connect with contributors on Local Guides Connect or make use of Google Maps' list feature to find new places to visit. For some, the removal of the follower feature will be disappointing, especially if you value your friends' opinions, reviews and photos of local restaurants and more. However, in the feature's five years on the app, there have been a lot of complaints about bots spamming the follower request, so there is an advantage in not having to deal with constant notifications. On the plus side, while we might be losing this feature, we're seeing a lot more being added to Google Maps, including the rollout of the new screenshot feature. This allows Google Maps on iOS to make finding directions to locations seen online and screengrabbed more streamlined. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It allows Google Maps to quickly scan your photo library and gather together all the images you have that contain location information. You can then use these screenshots to plan your journey. We also recently saw that Google Maps had apparently removed the media playback feature from the Android version of the app. While many were distraught at the loss, Google has since released a statement that this was due to a bug, and not an official update. Google is reportedly working on a fix for the problem, so it should not affect users for too long. This change isn't one that will affect how many people will use the app, but for others, it might be a sign to move to a different app. However, it is not possible to follow other users on either Apple Maps or Waze. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button
Phone Arena
24-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Google Maps will strip down part of its social features
Google Maps is one of the best tools for discovering and reaching new places, but the app offers much more than simple navigation. However, Google plans to kill off one of its social features in the coming months, so you'll have one less follower count to worry about. Yes, Google Maps is losing its follow feature.A new community support post outlines the changes to the Google Maps follow feature. Google says the feature will be gone by September 2025, so you won't be able to follow anyone, nor will other users be able to follow you on the app. You don't need to do anything as the update will be automatic. Google makes it clear that the changes won't impact the visibility of the profiles. You won't need to approve or reject followers anymore, and you can still control who can find your contributions. If you're still looking to socialize in an environment similar to Google Maps, the company says the Local Guides Connect community is still available. There you can find discussions and even some local community of the best social features of the app is the lists, which you can share or invite other people to contribute to and add notes about the places they save. Google says that the feature will remain unchanged. If you still want to keep the information about your followers intact, you need to do it before the feature is gone. Google says it will wipe out all the data related to followers, but you can still check who follows you and who you're following: Open the Google Maps app Tap on your profile picture or initial Tap on Your Profile Tap on Followers or Following Apparently, Google doesn't like its users using a follow feature on Google Maps. Last month, an APK teardown of the Android version of the app revealed that the company might phase out the Followed Places feature. I never paid attention to the follow feature on Google Maps, and I won't miss it. I follow some of my friends on Google Maps, and some of my friends follow me, but I am much more invested in the lists feature. I have a few shared lists with some friends, and we often add new places we like. As long as that feature stays intact, I don't need a more social Google Maps.
Android Authority
24-07-2025
- Android Authority
Google Maps will soon take away all of your followers
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Maps users will no longer be able to follow other users or have profile followers come September. All data related to your followers and who you follow will be deleted. You'll still be able to connect with contributors through Local Guides Connect. Google Maps is chock-full of features, almost to the point of feature overload. However, in the next few months, there will be one less feature for you to worry about. The tech giant is pulling the plug on the app's follow feature. In a community support post, Google announced that you will no longer be able to follow other users on Google Maps. Likewise, other users won't be able to follow you either, meaning you'll be losing your profile followers. The ability to follow contributors in the app is scheduled to be phased out by September. You won't have to do anything as this update will happen automatically. Google notes that this change won't have an impact on your profile visibility. You also won't have to worry about accepting or rejecting followers on your restricted profile since there won't be any followers going forward. Additionally, Google says it's wiping out any data related to your followers and who you follow after the feature is removed. Although the ability to follow will soon be gone, you'll still be able to connect with others through Local Guides Connect. The company also mentions that you'll still be able to create lists for finding new places and opportunities to explore. This news arrives only about a month after we conducted an APK teardown of the Google Maps app. That teardown revealed that Google planned to shut down the app's Follow Places feature.
