Walking navigation

What it does

Walking navigation is designed specifically for people who are blind or have low vision. Its spoken instructions convey map information that you may not be able to see. Its controls are designed for screen reader use and for traveling with a white cane, and it includes a range of supporting features.

When to use it

Accessible walking navigation is an essential tool for independent travel if you are blind or have low vision.

How to use it

Choose a route: After you find a destination and start navigation, you can choose from several walking routes. Each shows the distance and estimated time, along with the number of turns, traffic lights, and road crossings, and whether there are footbridges, underpasses, or stairs. Select “Route details” to hear every step before leaving. For places with multiple entrances, such as shopping centers or hospitals, first choose the entrance you want. The nearest one is labeled “Closest.”

Align your starting direction: Navigation begins with direction alignment. The phone announces that navigation is starting, the total distance and estimated time, and asks you to turn the phone toward the correct direction. If it is not aligned, it announces the number of degrees to the left or right. Once aligned, it says “Direction correct” and vibrates before starting navigation. To skip this step, turn off “Align direction at start” in Navigation settings.

Continue along the road: After you travel a set distance, the phone announces how far to continue along the current road, reassuring you that you are still following the route. The default interval is 20 meters. Adjust it in Navigation settings from 5 to 200 meters.

Turns and intersections: Alerts usually begin about 30 meters before a turn, for example, “Turn left ahead onto this road,” with vibration and further reminders as you approach. At the intersection, a prompt such as “Turn left now and continue east” tells you the direction after turning. For crossings, the order is made clear, for example, “Cross at the traffic lights ahead, then turn right.” Footbridges and underpasses also have advance alerts followed by another prompt when you reach them.

Heading deviation alerts: If the phone points away from the route by more than the selected angle, 45 degrees by default, it announces how many degrees to the left or right and vibrates. When realigned, it says “Direction correct.” Use the “Deviation” button to turn alerts on or off at any time. The button also shows the current angle as it changes. Even with alerts off, touch it to check the angle.

Going off route: If you move far enough away from the route, the phone announces “You are off route,” replans automatically, and tells you which direction to take along the new route.

Arrival: At the destination, the phone announces “You have arrived at your destination” and vibrates for 3 seconds. Destination guidance starts automatically, using ongoing sounds and speech to indicate the direction and remaining distance to the destination. Turn it off on the arrival page if you do not need it. The arrival page also offers “Explore to find destination,” which uses the camera to look for your destination.

Available throughout the journey:

The bottom of the navigation screen always shows the remaining distance, remaining time, and estimated arrival time.
“More” offers several actions: mute spoken navigation, recalculate the route, or open “Route overview” to review all instructions and your progress. If the location error is large, choose “I have arrived” to open the arrival page.
Shake the phone to hear the remaining distance or your current location. Choose what it announces in Navigation settings.
A group of frequently used buttons sits on one side of the navigation screen: My location, Save current place, Pedestrian signals, Along-route announcements, and Heading. Use “Navigation buttons position” in Navigation settings to place them on the left or right, whichever suits you better.

Locking the screen and switching apps: Navigation and spoken guidance continue when the screen is locked or Doeviz is in the background while you use another app.