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How to Use Navigation in Your Vehicle

HOW TO USE NAVIGATION IN YOUR VEHICLE

Difficulty Level: Novice  |  Time Required: 5 minutes  |  Tools Required: None  |  Related Parts, Products, Services or Technology: Infotainment system must be equipped with navigation system or app.

Your vehicle’s Navigation† system can help you get directions to your destination.

Depending on your vehicle, you might see a NAV icon or a MAPS icon. Select which icon you have on your infotainment screen† to learn how to use it. If you don’t see any of these icons, refer to your Owner’s Manual for instructions.
EMBEDDED NAVIGATION
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If your infotainment system has a NAV icon that looks like a compass rose with an N in the middle, use these instructions to customize your preferences, route to a new destination or explore the route guidance screen.

CUSTOMIZING YOUR PREFERENCES

Here are instructions for customizing your Navigation system:

1. Tap the MENU icon (which looks like three dots) at the bottom of the map screen.

2. Select SETTINGS on the Options screen.

3. From here, you can customize the following things:

  • Routing preferences: When you enter a destination, choose if you want the system to route you based on the fastest (shortest drive time) or eco-friendly (most fuel-efficient) option. You can select road features that you want to avoid, such as toll roads and highways.
  • Map view preferences: Choose from 2D North Up View, 2D Heading Up View or 3D Heading Up View.
  • Navigation Voice Preferences: Turn the prompts on/off, adjust the volume of the voice prompts or turn prompts during phone calls on/off.
  • Day/Night Mode: Pick a lighter Day Mode, darker Night Mode or set it to automatically change based on lighting conditions.

SET UP FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS

You can store your common destinations such as home and work. There are three ways to do it:

1. While Route Guidance is in progress, press and hold a Favourites space on the screen. The final destination will be saved.

2. If a route isn’t in progress, press and hold a Favourites space on the screen to save the vehicle’s current location.

3. Press and hold a Favourites space when you’re looking at your Contact Details list to save a contact’s address.

HOW TO ROUTE TO A DESTINATION

You can enter an address, intersection or point of interest, choose from a recent destination or choose a saved destination.

1. Touch the DESTINATION icon at the bottom of the screen. If the icon isn’t showing on your screen, it may have timed out. Tap anywhere on the screen to bring the icons back up.

2. From here, enter the address by typing it in, tap the VOICE COMMAND icon to enter the destination by voice, or tap a category icon (Address, Intersection, Recent, Contacts, Point of Interest).

  • You can enter a full address or even a partial address. If your exact search isn’t found, the system will suggest a different one.

3. Follow the prompts to route to the destination.

You can also start entering a destination by pressing and releasing the PUSH-TO-TALK button on your steering wheel. After the beep, say “Navigation” and follow the prompts to continue. If you have an eligible service plan, you can also press the blue or white OnStar® button in the vehicle and request directions from an Advisor.

HOW TO USE NAVIGATION ROUTE GUIDANCE SCREEN

After your route appears on screen, here are some of the features you can use:

  • To switch between your ETA and driving distance, touch the ETA information area.
  • Tap the NEXT TURN indicator arrow on the map to see a list of upcoming turns.
  • Tap OVERVIEW to look at the entire route to your destination; tap RESET to return to the regular Route Guidance view.
  • Swipe or pinch and spread the screen to adjust the view. You can also adjust the zoom using the “+” and “-” icons.
  • On highways, a special view appears on the right side of the screen to help you understand merging lanes.
  • To cancel your route, tap the MENU icon and then select “Cancel Route,” or simply press the “X” icon, depending on your model.
NEXT-GENERATION EMBEDDED NAVIGATION
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If your infotainment system has a NAV icon that looks like an arrow pointing up, use these instructions to customize your preferences, route to a new destination or explore the route guidance screen.

If you have Connected Navigation† services, you’ll get enhanced functionality, including real-time traffic, up-to-date location information, fuel prices, parking and more. These services require a paid service plan or trial.

CUSTOMIZING YOUR PREFERENCES

Here are instructions for customizing your Navigation system:

1. To make sure your preferences are saved, make sure you’re signed in to your Personal Profile on the infotainment system.

2. Then, tap the MENU icon (which looks like three dots) on the left side of the map screen.

3. From here, you can customize the following things:

  • Routing preferences: Choose from 3D Heading Up, 2D Heading Up or 2D North Up.
  • Settings: Adjust your map and route preferences, navigation voice control, traffic preferences, alert preferences and more.
  • Edit destinations: Add your most frequent or favourite destinations.
  • Show on map: Choose what types of businesses and locations you want to appear on the map.

HOW TO ROUTE TO A DESTINATION

1. On the map screen, tap the SEARCH icon (a magnifying glass) to reach the menu to enter a destination.

2. There are a few different ways to enter a destination, including:

  • Type a keyword, address or point of interest into the search bar
  • Tap on an icon to search by Recents, Favourites or various categories
  • Tap the VOICE RECOGNITION icon to search for a destination by voice

3. Choose your destination from the list of results on the screen, or change your search to find other locations.

4. Once your destination is selected, you can begin routing by tapping “Go.” Or you can view alternate routes, call the establishment or tap the STAR icon to add the destination to your list of favourites.

You can also start entering a destination by pressing and releasing the PUSH-TO-TALK button on your steering wheel. After the beep, say “Navigation” and follow the prompts to continue. If you have an eligible service plan, you can also press the blue or white OnStar® button in the vehicle and request directions from an Advisor.

SET UP FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS

You can store your common destinations such as home and work. There are a few ways to do it:

1. STAR icon: On the destination entry screen, enter the address you wish to save. When the location appears, tap the STAR icon to save the destination.

2. Profile: On the map screen, tap your profile icon to enter your home or work address.

3. Navigation settings: You can also edit these in the Navigation Settings menu.

Next time you want to route to the saved address, tap “Favourites” on the destination entry screen.

HOW TO USE NAVIGATION ROUTE GUIDANCE SCREEN

After your route appears on screen, here are some of the features you can use:

1. Progress Bar: View your estimated time of arrival and distance remaining, or tap the bar for an overview of the whole route.

2. Arrival Details: Your remaining miles and estimated arrival time are displayed in the bottom right corner. Tap to view estimated remaining minutes.

3. Next Turn: Your next turn appears in the green bar at the top of the screen. Tap it for a list of all upcoming turns.

4. Zoom: Use the + or – icons to zoom in or out, or pinch and spread on the screen.

5. Mute: Tap this icon to mute or unmute voice prompts.

6. Cancel Route: Cancel the route in progress with one tap.
GOOGLE MAPS BUILT-IN
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If your infotainment system is equipped with Google built-in† capability and you see a multi-colored “maps” icon, use these instructions to explore its features. You’ll need an eligible service plan for your vehicle and a Google Account to use it.

HOW TO ROUTE TO A DESTINATION

You can enter a location by typing it in on the screen or using Google Assistant.

1. Tap the MICROPHONE icon to enter an address by voice using Google Assistant.

2. Or tap the SEARCH bar to type in a location, address, point of interest or destination category (e.g., restaurants, charging station).

3. Choose your destination from the list of options on the screen or change your search to find other locations.

4. After you select your destination, available routes will be displayed on the screen. If there are multiple options, choose the route you’d like to use to confirm. You can also tap Routing Options for additional choices.

5. Verify the location and route by tapping Start. Your route will begin.

SET UP FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS IN GOOGLE MAPS

  • When you’re signed in to your Google Account, your saved addresses will automatically appear as suggested destinations in the vehicle. If you’ve programmed home and work addresses into the Google Maps app on your smartphone, they will also appear in the vehicle as long as you’re on the same account.
  • You can also go into the Settings menu in Google Maps and tap “Edit home or work” to save new addresses.

USING GOOGLE MAPS IN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Google Maps offers additional routing features in electric vehicles. When you’re selecting your route, you can display available charging stations along your route and see your estimated charge state at arrival. If your battery state of charge gets low while you’re routing, Google Maps will prompt you to add a stop at a charging station along the way.
GMC MAPS+ APP
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If your infotainment system has a Maps† app icon, or if you see the Maps+ app available for download in APPS in your vehicle, use these instructions to customize your preferences, route to a new destination or monitor traffic on your route. You’ll need an eligible service plan for the vehicle to use this app.

CUSTOMIZING YOUR PREFERENCES

1. From the main map screen, tap the gear icon to enter the Settings menu.

2. From this menu, you can adjust the following options:

  • Turn-by-turn voice directions: When this option is enabled, you will have each step of navigation directions read out to you
  • Avoid tolls: When this option is enabled, navigation will not route you to toll roads when possible
  • Avoid ferries: When this option is enabled, navigation will not instruct you to board ferries when possible
  • Avoid highways: When this option is enabled, navigation will not route you to highways when possible

HOW TO ROUTE TO A DESTINATION

There are several ways to select a destination:

1. From the main screen, press the magnifying glass icon in the lower left corner to search for an address or a search term like “groceries.”

  • When you select a search result labelled “category,” you will see a list of multiple results from that category on the map.
  • Categories include Coffee, Groceries, Parking and more.

2. To navigate to a destination you can see on the Free Drive map screen, press the Points of Interest (POI) icon on the touch-screen. To select a destination that’s not a POI, press and hold the location for a few seconds.

  • After you select a destination, the app will display a destination card on the map. Tap the card and select “Navigate” to begin routing.
  • On the route preview screen, you may see an alternate route displayed that is a similar time or faster. Tap this route to select it if desired.

3. If you ask the available Alexa Built-In† to search for an address or POI, Alexa will load the destination in Maps+.

  • For example, you can say, “Alexa, give me directions to 123 Main Street.”

HOW TO USE MAPS+ ROUTE GUIDANCE SCREEN

  • On the main map screen, you can interact with the map by swiping to move the map, pinching to zoom and using a two-finger swipe to tilt the map.
  • If you navigate the screen away from the vehicle, you’ll see a recentre button appear that you can use to return to your vehicle’s location.
  • You can also use the compass button to toggle between “North-is-up” and “Forwards-is-up” views.
  • When “North-is-up” view is on, the top of your map screen will always point north. “Forwards-is-up” view will make sure your vehicle is always pointing toward the top of the map screen when driving forward.

Note: Some features of the app are not available while the vehicle is in motion. When the vehicle is in motion, features should be used by the passengers only.

RELATED LINKS AND RESOURCES

Setting Up Infotainment Profile and Preferences
How to Use Voice Control

Q&As

Why doesn't the navigation system show how many more miles I have to go on my trip?

On some models, the system will display either your estimated time of arrival or your remaining miles. You can toggle between these by tapping them on the screen.

Why aren’t any of the navigation control icons showing on my map?

Sometimes the map screen removes the control icons when you’re not using them. Tap the screen to bring the icons back up.

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To find out if your vehicle has this feature, contact your dealer or refer to your vehicle’s equipment list. Please check your Owner’s Manual for more information about features.

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