Let’s not argue that having music during the daily commute is not an improvement. However, as a driver, it can be a bit tricky and, most importantly, risky to toggle between maps and music. Unfortunately, conducting all of these actions in different windows simultaneously is quite inconvenient. Luckily, Google Maps has a special feature when using your music streaming application in the same window.
What Music Streaming Apps Can You Link to Google Maps?
While any music app can be paired with Google Maps, the choice will depend on the operating system in question and deals between Google and app developers. For example, an Android user might be given the option to integrate YouTube Music, while an iOS user might not.
Spotify
Spotify is a team player. As much as Spotify songs can be added to the Liked Playlist right from Instagram, the latter can also be integrated into Google Maps. Spotify’s blog revealed that the union between the two apps began early this year (2018) to enable users to add controls to their navigation window on both Android and iOS.
Apple Music
Apple Music can also be linked with Google Maps on an iOS or Android device. That’s right: although Apple is very selective about what is posted on its store, this one can actually be downloaded from the Google Play Store for use with the integration on Google Maps.
YouTube Music
You can also integrate YouTube Music with Google Maps, but this feature is available only to Android users. As of the writing of this paper, iOS users cannot link whatever music streaming app they have installed or even a Google Maps program stored on their device.
As with Spotify, YouTube Music offers music and podcasts, so you don’t lose anything. Second, it is worth noting that there is a YouTube Music app that is completely free but has ads. Instead, a paid subscription will eliminate advertisements and bring features such as offline mode.
How to Connect Your Music to Google Maps
This means that establishing your controls for music playback in this platform will depend on the operating system being used.
iOS
On an iPhone or iPad, open up Google Maps and follow these steps to get the music going:
1. Click on the profile icon on the upper right side and click on settings.
2. On the navigation pane of the Settings app, click Navigation > Music playback controls.
3. Select which media app you wish to connect to.
After you have added your music streaming application, the simple playback controls, and a Browse button are available at the foot of your Google map screen. The Browse button initiates a window preview with your favorite playlists, shows, or artists.
Android
It should be possible to control the music for Google Maps on Android in almost the same way as iOS. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case for all users at the time of writing. If you don’t see the option to Show media playback controls in your settings, there’s another way to connect your music streaming app to Google Maps through Google Assistant:
1. For example, say, “Hey, Google, open Assistant settings.”
2. Popular settings can be extended by tapping on Music under the Tap Music app.
3. Choose which music streaming app you wish to use, and that will be the default player for such features as integration with Google Maps.
