Gemini is now stepping out of the car and onto the sidewalk. On 29 January 2026, Google announced that you can navigate with Gemini in Google Maps while walking or biking, bringing conversational help directly into the navigation experience.
Instead of switching apps or stopping to type, you can ask questions and give commands while staying on the map screen. The rollout expands what Google started introducing in late 2025, hands-free, conversational navigation, now tailored to pedestrians and cyclists who need quick, glanceable guidance.
From conversational driving to walking and cycling
In November 2025, Google began framing Gemini in Maps as a hands-free, conversational navigation layer, initially spotlighting driving scenarios like finding places along your route, reporting incidents by voice, and handling quick route-related tasks. Around the same time, Google also talked about landmark-based directions to make guidance feel more natural (“turn left after the…”) and easier to follow.
By late 2025, early rollout signals suggested Gemini was appearing across navigation modes, not only behind the wheel. Reports noted UI elements like a Gemini “spark”/microphone placement inside the navigation interface, hinting that Google was preparing broader, mode-agnostic assistance.
That expansion became explicit on 29 January 2026: Gemini guides walking and cycling in Google Maps. The shift matters because walkers and cyclists often need context (safety, rest stops, quick detours) and can’t afford distraction. Google’s positioning is clear: keep navigation running, keep your hands free, and keep the conversation going.
How Gemini appears in the Google Maps navigation screen
The January 2026 coverage emphasizes that Gemini can be accessed while you remain in the navigation view. That means you don’t have to abandon turn-by-turn directions to ask a question, check an idea, or refine your plan mid-route.
Practically, the experience is designed for quick back-and-forth. Multiple sources describe multi-turn conversations: you can ask a question, follow up with a refinement, and continue navigating without starting over each time.
Google Maps has an enormous scope, reportedly over 250 million places and more than 2 billion users globally, so bringing Gemini into the navigation screen is also about scale: making it easier to query that vast place knowledge at the exact moment you need it, whether you’re on foot or on two wheels.
Activation: Gemini icon, voice, and staying hands-free
In the January 2026 rollout details, activation is described as simple: tap the Gemini icon in Maps or use voice (such as “Hey Google”) to start interacting. The goal is to minimize manual input, especially important when walking in busy areas or cycling in traffic.
Hands-free interaction is central to the feature pitch for walkers and cyclists. You can ask questions out loud and get answers without leaving the navigation screen, useful when your phone is mounted on handlebars or kept in a pocket with audio guidance.
Availability notes in the same reports indicate iOS support is rolling out worldwide where Gemini is available, while Android is rolling out as well. As with many Google releases, the practical takeaway is to watch for the Gemini prompt/icon inside navigation and ensure your Maps and Gemini-related apps/services are up to date.
Prompt ideas for pedestrians: turn-by-turn plus local context
Google’s January 2026 announcement included examples that make pedestrian navigation feel like a guided experience. One prompt style is the “walking tour guide” approach, asking Gemini to explain what you’re passing, suggest a themed stroll, or help you understand the neighborhood as you move through it.
Other examples highlight practical, in-the-moment needs: asking about attractions along the route, what a neighborhood is known for, or where to find bathrooms while you’re already navigating. These are high-intent questions that typically require stopping to search; Gemini aims to answer them conversationally.
This is also where the multi-turn design matters. You might ask, “What are the must-see spots on this route?” then follow up with “Which one is best for a 20-minute stop?” and then “Add it as a stop,” all while Maps keeps you oriented.
Prompt ideas for cyclists: safety, timing, and fewer distractions
Cycling has different constraints: speed, situational awareness, and route comfort. The January 2026 rollout materials mention prompts around cycling safety and ETA, exactly the kind of information cyclists want without tapping through menus.
Some examples also point to communication support, like asking Gemini to help with texting while you’re navigating. For cyclists, the value is obvious: reduce screen interaction, keep both hands available, and still handle quick coordination tasks.
Because the interaction happens inside navigation, Gemini can respond in a way that stays anchored to your trip: discussing your current route, potential changes, and what’s a, without making you restart directions or juggle separate apps.
In-navigation commands: change the route without breaking flow
Beyond Q&A, Gemini in Maps supports navigation-style commands. January 2026 reports cite examples like “Add stop” and “Mute guidance,” which are small controls but meaningful when you’re moving and want to keep attention on your surroundings.
For walkers, “Add stop” can turn a casual question (“Is there a coffee shop nearby?”) into immediate action (“Add it as a stop”) with minimal friction. For cyclists, “Mute guidance” can be helpful if you’re in a quiet area, riding with a group, or temporarily relying on visual cues.
The broader pattern is conversational route management: you ask, you decide, you execute, without leaving the navigation screen. That continuity is what makes Gemini feel less like a separate chatbot and more like a copilot embedded in Maps.
Why this matters: a more human navigation experience at Google-scale
Navigation has traditionally been transactional: start route, follow steps, arrive. Gemini changes the expectation by making navigation exploratory, closer to talking to a local guide or a well-informed companion who can answer questions as they arise.
Landmark-based guidance and conversational prompts both point toward the same goal: reducing cognitive load. When you’re walking in an unfamiliar city or cycling through complex intersections, “after the park” can be more reassuring than a street name you can’t see.
And because Google Maps serves billions of users and indexes hundreds of millions of places, integrating Gemini into walking and cycling navigation turns that scale into something usable in the moment, helping people make better decisions without interrupting their movement.
Gemini guides walking and cycling in Google Maps marks a clear next step in Google’s navigation strategy: bring conversational help into the live journey, not just the planning phase. With hands-free access, multi-turn dialogue, and in-navigation commands, the experience is built for real-world motion.
If you already rely on Google Maps for walking or biking, the practical impact is simple: you can ask richer questions, about neighborhoods, attractions, bathrooms, safety, and timing, and act on the answers without leaving the route screen. As the rollout spreads across iOS and Android where Gemini is available, navigation becomes less about following instructions and more about having an informed guide alongside you.
