How-To

How to Fix Google Maps Not Working on Mac

By Adam Davidson

Updated November 30, 2023

We only realize how much we rely on Google Maps when it stops working. Here’s how to try to fix Google Maps not working on Mac.

It’s hard to remember a time before Google Maps. How did we ever manage to find our way anywhere without it? The ability to navigate to and from any location you want, with turn-by-turn instructions for walking, cycling, and driving, as well as public transport directions is all too easy to take for granted. You can even download Google Maps for offline use on your phone. This ensures you can keep navigating even when your connection is spotty.

All of this makes it even more painful when Google Maps stops working. If you’re trying to access Google Maps on your Mac and it’s not working, don’t panic. Here are some things to try if you’re having problems with Google Maps not working on your Mac.

Refresh Your Browser

If Google Maps isn’t working in your browser, refreshing the page may be enough to get things back up and running again. You can click the reload button in your browser window or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+R to get the page to reload. Once it’s reloaded, try Google Maps again and see if the error still occurs.

Update Your Mac

A lot of Mac users had issues using Google Maps when running Safari 16 in macOS 12.6. Updating the operating system (OS) and Safari fixed these issues for many users. It’s always best to run the most up-to-date OS and browser versions that your computer can run, as updates fix potential security issues. If you’re running out-of-date software, your computer may be at risk.

1. Click the Apple icon at the left-hand side of the menu bar.
   
2. Select System Settings.
   
3. Click General in the left sidebar.
   
4. Select Software Update.
   
5. You will see any available updates listed, including any updates to Safari.
   
6. Apply the updates if available and try Google Maps again once installed.

Update Your Browser

The method above will find any updates for Safari and allow you to apply them. However, if you’re using a different browser, you’ll need to update it through the browser itself. Here’s how to do it on Chrome.

1. In Chrome click the Three Dots menu.
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. At the bottom of the left-hand menu, click About Chrome.
   
4. You’ll see information about whether Chrome is up to date. If it isn’t, Chrome will start installing the update.
   
5. When the update finishes, click Relaunch to apply the update.
   
6. Try Google Maps again to see if the update has fixed the issue.

Restart Your Mac

If everything is up to date, try restarting your Mac. There may be a software issue that could be resolved by rebooting your Mac. Once your Mac has rebooted, try using Google Maps to see if the issue has been resolved.

Disable WebGL via Metal in Safari

If you’re using an older Mac, you may not be able to update to the latest versions of the OS and may still be having issues with Google Maps not working on your Mac. If this is the case, you can try disabling a specific hidden setting, which proved successful when people first encountered the issue with Safari 16 and macOS 12.6. These steps apply to older versions of macOS; you may not find the same settings available in newer versions.

1. Open Safari and click the Safari menu.
   
2. Select Preferences.
   
3. Click the Advanced tab.
   
4. Make sure that the Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar option is checked.
   
5. Close the Preferences window and click the Develop menu in the menu bar.
   
6. Hover over Experimental Features.
   
7. Scroll down and ensure WebGL via Metal is unchecked.
   
8. Restart Safari and try Google Maps again.

Disable Automatic Graphics Switching in Safari

If you’re running an older version of macOS on a laptop, you can also try disabling automatic graphics switching. This a setting that switches between graphics modes to improve battery life. Turning this off may get Google Maps back working again.

1. Click the Apple logo in the menu bar.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Click the Battery icon.
4. Select Battery in the left-hand menu.
5. Uncheck Automatic Graphics Switching.
6. Try Google Maps again to see if the problem is fixed.

Disable Extensions

If you’re using extensions in your browser, these may be interfering with the proper working of Google Maps. You can try disabling extensions to see if this resolves your issues. The method for disabling extensions will differ from browser to browser; here’s how to do it in Safari.

1. Open Safari and click the Safari menu in the menu bar.
   
2. Select Settings or Preferences depending on which version of macOS you’re running.
   
3. Click the Extensions tab.
   
4. If there are any active extensions, ensure that they are unchecked to disable them.
5. Try running Google Maps again.
6. If it works now, enable your extensions one at a time until you find the one that is causing Google Maps to stop working.

Delete Google Maps Data

If nothing else works, you can try deleting the Google Maps data saved by your browser. Clearing this data may help to get Google Maps back up and running again on your Mac. The method for clearing site data will differ depending on your browser. The following steps are for Safari, but you can also learn how to clear the cache on Chrome.

1. Open Safari and click the Safari menu.
   
2. Select Settings or Preferences depending on the version of macOS you’re running.
   
3. Select the Privacy tab.
   
4. Click the Manage Website Data button.
   
5. Type Google in the search field.
   
6. Select an item to remove and click the Remove button.
   
7. Repeat for any other data you want to remove.

Do More with Google Maps

Hopefully, one of the steps above will help if you’ve been having trouble with Google Maps not working on Mac. If you still can’t get Google Maps to work on your Mac, you may need to use your phone until you can find a fix. If you find any other useful fixes, please let us know in the comments below.