Google Maps layers gone missing for some iOS users

It seems like some iOS users are navigating more than just roads — they’re also dealing with a disappearing layers button in the latest Google Maps app (v6.136.0). Over the weekend, reports started popping in various forums, with users of models like the iPhone 12, 13, 14, and even the new iPhone 16 Pro Max, all united by one problem: the once-reliable map layers toggle has vanished. Or if it does show up, it’s more like a ghost that you can see but can’t interact with.

The issue seems to play hide-and-seek with the map layers feature, which includes essential views like satellite and traffic. Users report that the layers button either disappears entirely or shows up but refuses to work when clicked. A curious pattern has emerged: reinstalling the app temporarily fixes the issue, but it comes back once the app is closed and reopened. Some users have even tried rebooting their devices — only to find themselves stuck on satellite view the next time they open the app.

The problem seems widespread across different iPhone models, from older ones like the iPhone 12 to the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max, running iOS versions 17.7 and 18.0.1. There’s no obvious fix yet, but uninstalling and reinstalling the app might give you a few hours of smooth sailing before the layers button pulls another vanishing act.

In my own testing on an iPhone XS running iOS 17.7 and an iPhone 13 running the latest iOS 18.1 beta 6 with the latest Google Maps update, I didn’t experience the full extent of this issue. The layers button remained in place, although I did notice some lag when switching between different views, like satellite and terrain. It was more of a glitchy shuffle than a complete no-show, but the layers button never outright disappeared on me. That said, I did encounter times when changes like enabling traffic wouldn’t take effect, leaving me staring at the same map despite my repeated taps.

While it’s reassuring that I wasn’t stranded in satellite-only territory, it’s clear that something is amiss with this latest Google Maps update for a significant number of iOS users. So, if you’re planning to hit the road anytime soon, you might want to double-check those layers — or brace yourself for a less dynamic view of the world. Hopefully, Google will map out a fix soon.

Featured image: CardMapr.nl / Unsplash