Google Maps is quietly becoming a lot less useful if you're not signed into a Google account. Over the past week, users have started noticing a new "limited view" mode that kicks in when you're browsing Maps without being logged in.
The only info about this limited view mode Google ever disclosed is within Google Maps itself. There’s a help prompt that says the limited view can appear if Maps is "experiencing issues," if "unusual traffic" is detected on your network, or if browser extensions are interfering. The prompt also encourages users to sign into their Google accounts to avoid seeing the limited experience.
9to5Google put the limited view side by side with how the service looks when you’re signed in, and the difference is significant. Without an account, you lose access to user reviews, photos, popular times, menus, dine-in and delivery status, and a chunk of nearby businesses and attractions disappear from the map entirely. You also can’t see the prices of hotels and properties.
The core information like addresses, phone numbers, and opening hours, is still there, but that's about it.
The reviews are probably the biggest loss. Google Maps has spent years building one of the largest repositories of local business reviews on the internet, and that information is now effectively locked behind a Google account.
This comes as Google is also pushing Gemini deeper into Maps. The company definitely prefers its users to be signed in everywhere, so it can serve more personalized experiences - and have a better insight into users' data.
There's also a possibility that Google wants to shield this info from an increasing number of bots and scrapers that extract millions of reviews and other info about businesses from Google Maps every day. By removing the most valuable Google Maps info from guests, Google may want to make sure only actual users have access to it. Though those users are still being encouraged to sign in regardless.
Google hasn't officially announced the change, and it's unclear whether this is permanent or if something is still being tested.
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