Google Maps brings back the compass, two years after removing it on Android

Google is finally adding back support for a useful feature that was inexplicably removed for Android users years ago, after several users kept asking for its return - the compass needle indicator on the navigation screen.

The compass indicator, which would show up as soon as you started navigation, was removed from Google Maps for Android in 2019, with the company reportedly stating that it was attempting to “clean up” the interface. However, the company has now updated its support thread about the issue to state that the feature is now returning for Android users, as reported by Android Police.

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It looks like users who want the feature will have to actually start navigation to a chosen destination before the compass shows up, unlike the previous version that would show up after you chose a starting location and destination. Oddly enough, iPhone users have been able to access the compass needle from that screen even after it was disabled for Android users, according to 9to5Google.

It is unclear why Google cited cleaning up the interface while denying Android users access to the feature while allowing iOS users to keep using it — most recent Android devices are much larger than their iPhone counterparts, with the exception of Apple’s iPhone ‘Pro Max’ models.

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However, if you simply want to download the latest version of Google Maps, which adds the compass needle back, you can update the Maps app to version 10.62 from the Google Play Store, according to the report. The stable version should already have rolled out to most users, but if you haven’t got it yet, you can grab the installer from a website like APKMirror and install it over your existing version.