A Google Maps bug is giving users on both Android and iOS fewer options when searching for somewhere to spend the night. The issue prevents hotel locations from appearing on the map, leaving travellers with a limited view of available accommodation.
Google Maps typically displays red pins showing the locations of nearby businesses when the app is opened, and users can search for specific places such as restaurants or coffee shops. This feature usually includes hotels, but the current bug stops many properties from being pinned after a search.
What the Google Maps bug does
One user reported that when searching for hotels, no red pins appeared on the map to display either the location or the price. Zooming in and out made no difference, and searches in different areas produced the same result. When the same user searched for restaurants, the red pins showed up as expected.
Attempts to fix the problem locally were unsuccessful. Clearing data from the Google Maps app and restarting the device did not restore the missing hotel pins. The issue had persisted for several days for that user, and others reported the same behaviour.
On the Google Maps Help forum, one user described the problem across three different devices, including a OnePlus model, a Samsung Galaxy handset and a PC. In an area with many hotels, only a couple of pinned properties appeared. The same shortage of results occurred when searching for hotels in other locations.
Which platforms are affected
The bug has been affecting users running both the Android and iOS versions of the app. One user said that pinned hotels had begun returning a few days ago, although this was not confirmed by others.
Testing on a Pixel 6 Pro appeared to show all of the hotels in Kissimmee, Florida, and in Manhattan. The iOS version of Google Maps, running on an iPhone 15 Pro Max, showed only a small number of hotels in both areas, despite both locations being known for a large volume of accommodation.
A widely used platform
Google Maps has more than 2 billion Monthly Active Users, making it one of the most used apps in the world. The only other apps to exceed 2 billion monthly active users are Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, along with YouTube and TikTok.
Source
Image: phonearena.com
