This guide shows how to turn your phone into a reliable offline navigator using HERE WeGo.
A free, well-supported app that lets you download country- or region-sized map packages and navigate without a connection.
You’ll also find quick notes on Google Maps, Apple Maps, OsmAnd, and MAPS.ME in case you prefer those ecosystems.
Why “True” Offline Navigation Matters
When your signal disappears, your phone’s GPS still works.
That’s because satellites broadcast one-way timing signals your device can read without sending any data back—no mobile or Wi-Fi needed.
What you do need are maps saved on the phone so it can turn raw coordinates into streets, turns, and places.
Why Use it?
Saving maps ahead of time ensures that directions continue to work in remote areas or while traveling abroad.
Stable turn-by-turn guidance. You can follow routes and see where you are, even with Airplane Mode on, as long as the map data is stored locally.
Privacy and reliability. Navigation continues even if local data networks are congested or down. GPS itself is a global, open service.
The App To Use: HERE WeGo (Android and iOS)
A full navigation app from HERE (the mapping company used by many automakers).
It supports large, granular offline downloads—entire regions, countries, or continents—and provides voice guidance when offline.
Why pick it for offline use
Big downloads, less fiddling. Grab a whole country before a trip and you’re covered even if plans change.
Designed for no-signal scenarios. The app exposes an explicit “Use app offline” switch so it won’t try to fetch live data and fail unexpectedly.
Flexible storage. On Android, you can direct map files to an SD card to save internal storage.
What works offline and what doesn’t
You can search, plan routes, and get turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, and cycling using only your downloaded maps.
Live traffic, alternative-route suggestions, and other online extras will be limited or unavailable until you reconnect.
Set It Up (5 Quick Steps)
Tip: Keep maps updated periodically—accuracy and corrections arrive through map updates.
- Install HERE WeGo from Google Play/Apple Store and open it.
- Download maps: open the menu ▸ Your maps ▸ Download maps, pick a continent, then choose the country/region packages you need.
- Choose storage (Android only): in Download maps ▸ Storage media, select SD card if available.
- Force offline mode: toggle Use app offline in the app menu so routing and search rely only on your saved maps.
- Test before you go: switch your phone to Airplane Mode, reopen the app, and start a sample route inside your downloaded area.
Quick Alternatives if You Don’t Want HERE WeGo
Prefer to stay within an ecosystem you already use? Apple Maps and Google Maps handle offline trips well with a few caveats.
Outdoor enthusiasts should consider OsmAnd or MAPS.ME for deep, open-map detail.
Google Maps (Android & iOS)
Excellent overall, familiar interface, and easy area downloads—just remember its offline limits.
After saving a custom area, you can navigate as long as your entire route stays inside the saved region.
Offline mode does not provide transit, bicycling, or walking directions, and you won’t see traffic or automatic reroutes. (Maps can be auto-updated)
Apple Maps (iOS 17+)
Native integration and robust offline across modes, with a simple “Only Use Offline Maps” control.
You can download areas and still see place details (hours, ratings) and get turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, cycling, and transit.
There’s also an Only Use Offline Maps switch to force offline behavior. Features and coverage can vary by region.
OsmAnd (Android & iOS)
This app is openStreetMap-based with detailed offline maps, frequent updates, and rich outdoor layers for hiking or biking.
MAPS.ME (Android & iOS)
Longtime favorite for travelers—fast, detailed, and entirely offline once you download the regions you need.
How to Choose The Right App For Your Trip
Make sure your country/region is downloadable. Most apps support most places, but check ahead of time.
If you rely on transit or walking directions offline, Apple Maps or HERE WeGo are safer picks.
Country-scale maps can be large. If your device is tight on space, favor apps that allow SD-card storage on Android (HERE WeGo, Google Maps).
For backcountry use, OsmAnd’s offline POIs, contour lines, and GPX tools are hard to beat.
Why Here We Go is The Best Choice
Here’s the short case for HERE WeGo as the best all-around pick when you need reliable offline GPS:
- Unlike apps that quietly fall back to the internet, WeGo has an explicit “Use app offline” switch. Turn it on and the app routes and searches only with the maps saved on your phone—no surprises if you lose signal.
- You can download a region, country, or even a continent all at once, so last-minute detours still work offline. On Android, you can store large maps on an SD card to save internal storage space.
- HERE WeGo supports car, pedestrian, and bike guidance and lets you switch the app into offline mode for navigation—useful when you’re walking or cycling in places with spotty service.
- Voice turn-by-turn instructions rely on your phone’s text-to-speech engine, so once your maps are downloaded, guidance continues even when you’re disconnected.
- Google Maps is excellent online, but offline, it’s mostly driving-only, and your whole route must remain inside the saved area—easy to violate on road trips. WeGo’s country-sized downloads and offline toggle make it harder to “fall off the edge.”
- Apple Maps added strong offline support, yet it’s iPhone-only. If you ever switch devices—or share routes across mixed households—WeGo keeps the same offline model on both platforms.
- Live traffic and smarter reroutes need a data connection (as with other apps). WeGo lets you toggle traffic on/off; when you’re offline, expect classic, map-based routing only.
Pro Setup Checklist Before You Go Offline
Download wider than you think. Include airports, detours, and day-trip areas so you don’t hit the edge of a saved map mid-route.
Force offline mode. In HERE WeGo and Apple Maps, you can tell the app to use only offline data, which prevents surprise network calls.
Update maps on Wi-Fi. Enable auto-update options so your data stays fresh.
Move maps to SD (Android). If available, offload downloads to an SD card to free up internal space.
Bottom Line
You don’t need a data signal to know where you are—your phone’s GPS works independently of the internet. The key is saving maps ahead of time.
For the simplest and most robust experience, start with HERE WeGo for its country-level downloads, offline-first toggle, and SD-card flexibility.
Set it up once, test in Airplane Mode, and your navigation will keep working wherever the road—or trail—takes you.