When you are using the Google Maps app on your iPhone, you can pinch the screen if you want to zoom in or out.
Adjusting this zoom can dramatically change the scale of the map, so locations that seem like they might be close to one another could actually be miles apart.
Fortunately, there is a scale in the Google Maps app that you can use to determine how far places are from one another.
However, that scale is typically only visible when you are zooming and will hide when the map is stagnant. Our tutorial below will show you how to change a setting so that the scale is always visible in Google Maps.
How to Enable the Scale in Maps on an iPhone
The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 7 Plus in iOS 11.3. The version of Google Maps being used was the most current version available when this article was written.
When you complete the steps in this guide, you will have adjusted the display in the Google Maps app so that the scale is always shown at the bottom-right corner of the map.
Typically this is only shown when you are zooming in or out, but these steps will leave that scale visible at all times.
Step 1: Open the Google Maps app.
Step 2: Touch the three lines icon at the top-left of the screen.
Step 3: Select the gear icon at the top of the screen.
Step 4: Choose the Show scale on map option.
Step 5: Tap the Always option.
Now that you know how to always view scale in the Google Maps app on your iPhone, you can continue to have a good idea of the distances on a map even when you have adjusted the zoom level.
Now when you return to the map view of the Google Maps app, you will see the scale shown at the bottom-right of the map. Pinching the screen to zoom in or out will cause that scale to update accordingly.
Have you dropped a pin on a map, and you want to share that location with someone? Find out how to share pin location information from the Google Maps app and send that information to someone through a text message, social media, or email.
One of the many applications and devices having a zoom feature is the Apple Watch. The next part describes how to unzoom an Apple Watch if the screen has become zoomed-in and you are unable to change it.
How to Unzoom a Zoomed Apple Watch
The Apple Watch’s screen is usually rather clear and easy to view despite its small size, but occasionally you might find that zooming in on an image or piece of text that is a little too small to read comfortably is helpful.
This SolveYourTech guide about why my Apple Watch keeps zooming in contains more instructions on how to use the zoom feature.
Whether you zoomed in on your Apple Watch on purpose or accidentally, it may be difficult to operate the device until you undo the zoom.
You can either double-tap the watch face with two fingers or follow the instructions below to unzoom your Apple Watch from your phone.
- First, launch the Watch app.
- Select the My Watch tab.
- Tap on Accessibility.
- Choose the Zoom option.
- Turn off the Zoom function.
Knowing how ot unzoom with the steps above will ensure that you no longer find yourself in a situation where you can’t use the watch fully because the screen is zoomed in.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.