By Jake Peterson
Publication Date: 2026-02-19 22:30:00
I use Google Maps to get from point A to point B, but I also use it for research. It’s an essential tool for finding new restaurants to try, or for identifying well-reviewed hotels in a new area. While many use it with their Google account, others might like to keep some of their data out of Google’s hands. Using Google Maps while signed out is a good way to do that: You can find new locations of interest without having Google know you’re interested in those spots. However, if you like using Google Maps without an account, be warned: The experience is now much more limited.
As reported by 9to5Google, Google is now limiting the amount of data visible when accessing Google Maps without an account. This change includes things like images, reviews, restaurants, businesses, hotels, parks—really, most labels on the map. From what I can tell, essential labels like city names and highway identifiers are left intact, but even some street names appear to be omitted when…
