Google Maps keeps stopping or won't load on Android: what to check

By Abu Bakar Saadat · Reviewed by Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 4 steps · Published 7 October 2026

Device

Android

Shown on

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › Maps: Force stop

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Force stop Maps

   Open Settings, Apps, Maps. Tap Force stop at the bottom and confirm, then open Maps again.

   Done

2. 

   Clear the cache

   On the same page tap Storage, then Clear cache. Do not tap Clear data: it resets Maps and removes downloaded offline maps. Ours had 4.02 MB of cache.

   Done

3. 

   Check the result

   Cache drops to 0 B. On our phone Data also went down a little, from 27.83 MB to 22.78 MB, and Maps opened normally.

   Done

4. 

   Check your connection

   Without Wi-Fi or mobile data, Maps can only show areas you downloaded. Open Settings, Connections and switch on Wi-Fi or check Mobile networks.

   Done

About this guide

A blank grey map, a spinning wheel or "Maps keeps stopping" usually comes down to a stuck app, a bad cache or no connection.

The screenshots are from Google Maps 26.31.02 on a Samsung Galaxy A57 5G with Android 16 and One UI 8.5, in dark mode. Maps looks the same on other Android phones; only the phone's own Settings screens differ by brand.

Good to know

Still crashing? Open the Play Store, search for Google Maps and tap Update if it offers one, then restart the phone.

If the map loads but your position is wrong, see Google Maps showing the wrong location.

In short: Settings, Apps, Maps: Force stop. Storage: Clear cache, not data. Check Wi-Fi or mobile data. Update Maps.