You've entered your destination into Google Maps, the route is calculated, everything looks correct. Then you tap the screen expecting to start navigation and all you see is Preview. No Start button.It's one of the most frustrating experiences with the app and I've seen this problem come up repeatedly in comments and messages: people are stuck staring at a Preview button with no explanation for why navigation isn't showing as Start.The frustration is justified, but the fix is quite simple. Google Maps just needs one piece of information to proceed. Here's what's going on and how to actually start your navigation.Why Preview appears instead of Start
(Image credit: Shutterstock)Google Maps shows Preview instead of Start for three specific reasons. First, you haven't set a starting point. Google Maps usually picks your current location automatically, but sometimes it doesn't.Without a clear start point, the app won't let you begin navigation, it can only show you a preview of where you'd go.Second, Google Maps lacks permission to access your location. The app needs to know where you are to confirm your starting point matches reality. If it can't pinpoint your location precisely, Preview is all you get.Third, and this one might surprise you, your actual current location isn't on the route you've selected. Google Maps detects that you're not at the starting point of your route and nowhere along its path. This is intentional behavior. Google Maps prevents you from navigating a route you're not positioned to take.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Set your starting point and grant permission Open Google Maps and enter your destination. After selecting where you want to go, look for "Choose starting point" and tap it.From the menu that appears, select "Your location" at the top. This confirms to Google Maps that your current position is where navigation should begin.
