Google Maps data and storage management

The first snapshot (mid‑July) details how Google Maps consumes mobile data during navigation, noting typical usage of 5–15 MB per hour and higher loads when using satellite or Street View. It advises travelers on limited‑data plans to download offline maps on Wi‑Fi, enable Wi‑Fi‑only mode, turn off background data, and store maps on a micro‑SD card.

A later snapshot (late July) expands the guidance to device storage, explaining that offline maps and timeline data can grow to several gigabytes, especially after timeline data shifted to local storage in 2023. It recommends deleting unused offline maps, disabling automatic updates, and clearing the app cache to free space. The note also introduces the AICore system app on Android 14+ devices, which can occupy up to 7 GB; while it cannot be uninstalled, it can be disabled to reclaim storage at the cost of disabling on‑device AI features.

Together, the snapshots trace an evolving focus from data‑usage concerns to broader storage management, offering practical steps for users to control both bandwidth and device memory when using Google Maps and related Android AI services.