How to zoom in or out of Google Maps with just one finger

Google Maps allows you to zoom in and out with such a simple gesture that only requires one finger, and it is not the classic one of clicking several times on a point on the map.

Google Maps continually adds new improvements to compete with Waze, another of the most used navigation applications in Spain. The latest updates include options with artificial intelligence or improvements in satellite connectivity.

The application has numerous functions that few users know about and some hidden tricks that will help you never get lost. The last of them is the possibility of enlarging and reducing the map with a small gesture on the screen.

The most common practice among most users is to use two fingers. This gesture is quick and simple, but may be impossible for those who can only use one hand. Holding your phone and using two fingers is so unnatural that very few can do it.

How to zoom in Google Maps with a single finger

Google Maps has the solution with several tricks that couldn't be simpler. The first of them is him classic gesture of double-tapping the screen that integrates iOS devices and Android. This technique is relatively common in many non-map applications, including browsers.

The gesture is effective, but it often does not offer the precision that many users need and loses all meaning. Google Maps has kept another secret and allows you to zoom in and out of maps with a single finger in one second:

• Press twice on the screen as in the previous gesture.
• Keep your finger pressed on the last touch.
• Swipe up to zoom in or down to zoom out.

The gesture is just as simple as the first and can be done with the same hand you hold the phone with. The movement may seem strange at first, but The precision it offers is identical to that of the technique of zooming in and out the map with two fingers.

The problem was a thing of the past thanks to the “+” and “-” buttons included in Google Maps to enlarge or reduce the screen without having to make gestures. The icons remain in the web version, although more and more users choose to use the mouse wheel or gestures identical to the mobile phone on the trackpad or touch panel.

This feature is not new, but has been present in Google Maps for a few years. Other applications such as Apple Maps are also compatible and few users know it.