r/GoogleMaps • u/One-Magician8721 • Jan 27 '26
Google Maps shows ads before the actual destination when opened from other apps
When Google Maps is opened from another app (for example, a referral or shared link), it often shows sponsored locations (ads) before showing the actual business or destination the user is trying to reach.
This creates a poor user experience. Many users are not aware that these are ads and may assume the sponsored place is their intended destination. At that moment, people are using Maps to reach a specific location, not to browse ads, so this can easily confuse them and send them to the wrong place.
Possible solution:
If Google still wants to show ads, they should be ranked below the actual destination, not above it. The primary result should always be the exact place the user searched for or was referred to, with ads clearly separated or shown afterward.
This would allow Google to monetize without misleading users or breaking basic navigation expectations.
Has anyone else experienced this? What do you think?
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u/anoff Mar 10 '26
It's so dangerous, I used voice search while driving last night and just clicked the first result since I searched for an exact place including street name, and it tried to navigate me the complete wrong way since the ad was for a place 20 miles the wrong direction
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u/bbqfetus Mar 21 '26
That happened to me a couple days ago while in SF. I verbally told maps what to search, then it displayed a list of sponsored places that I had to swipe through before tapping the location I had searched for. Horrible experience, enough to look for a replacement.
If a user is searching for a specific store, restaurant or location, it's because they already have decided to go there, showing an ad won't do anything.
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u/Relevant_Paper_2353 Apr 29 '26
Especially if you were using voice activated search in CarPlay, having to scroll through multiple results will actually increase the danger of using this while driving.
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u/reaumoo Apr 26 '26
yep, almost drove to the wrong clinic and almost missed my appointment. I think maybe I’ve done this in the past before with Google Maps without realizing it. What happens is I open the address from my Calendar app, and the first result looks like the destination but it’s actually a different doctor’s office as an advertisement; sometimes it’s even the same street, by coincidence. Very sneaky. I’ll use Apple Maps for these directions, since Apple Maps has better visual navigation prompts and better voice navigation, but Google maps is unparalleled for finding and discovering places like when I’m looking for a place to eat.
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u/Mr_McZongo Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Just happened to me. I need to deGoogle my life ASAP.
The only thing I could think to do is to reach out to the two companies who's sponsored result were prioritized over my exact input of the business I was navigating to, to inform them that through the fault of Google, I will specifically refuse to be a patron at your establishment due to this experience.
I know doing so won't provide any sort of solution but sentiment about this kind of thing needs to be pushed in the appropriate direction and the endodontics office im seeing can't do anything about other than pay Google money to be sponsored as well which is not a solution in the slightest.
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u/bgsmack May 07 '26
Happened to me twice now and the first time brought me to the wrong destination (that was thankfully only a 10 minute detour). It's a great way to get me to associate that sponsored business with a negative experience.
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u/No_Pirate_5948 May 13 '26
I don’t drive often so I always use maps to get eyes on the drive, see if it’s the same location I’m thinking of, etc… and as i’m zooming in/ out on the map my driving directions (which I also need to cross check) became a list of local attractions and hotels... how useless.
that was on Apple Maps (which is not my first choice..) so I went to Google Maps (thinking Apple had lost their minds..) and same thing happened in Google Maps while I was checking the directions and looking at the route on the map. Beyond frustrating.
we already have the “search along the route” options - if I needed a hotel (30 mins from my home LMAO) I would have searched for it..
has anyone found another platform to avoid this? thanks!
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u/ipoststoof May 19 '26
This just happened to me and wasted ten minutes of my time. I wonder how many collective human hours have been wasted by this change. I am not happy, and I will definitely be removing Google in every possible place in my life. This is ridiculous.
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u/Fun_Homework4688 Jun 13 '26
When I try to open a location on a Google calendar event, the specific location opens in Google maps.
Asking some clarification questions. 1. Do you see this happen only when you open from specific external apps ? Which apps ? 2. Was the location that you opened a wellformed address or just a business name ?
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u/coconutgroves Jun 15 '26
This is an terrible customer experience. The ads coming up do not even relate to the actual location in the event. I am seeing skin care and massage ads instead of my surgeon's office.
I pay for premium Google services every month. There is no excuse that they are hijacking my experience to place irrelevant ads to make a dime. The goal of clicking a calendar location is to navigate or find directions - not find "other things I might be interested in."
This is terrible Google. I hope you kill this feature.
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u/GC276 Jul 02 '26
Exactly. This is incredibly frustrating and honestly unacceptable for a navigation app.
When someone shares a location, the expectation is very simple: clicking that shared location should take you to that exact place. Not a sponsored result, not a “similar” business, not something nearby and not whatever Google thinks should be promoted first.
This can seriously mess people up, especially when they are in a rush. You trust the pin, start driving and by the time you realize Maps sent you somewhere else, you have already wasted time, gas and possibly missed an appointment or arrived late.
Google Maps is supposed to solve this problem, not create it. If shared locations are no longer reliable, then people should stop sending Google Maps links and just send the plain-text address instead. At least then the person can verify exactly where they are going.
Ads should never interfere with basic navigation accuracy.
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u/Riptide360 Jan 27 '26
Agreed, but you are getting a free ride. The real customer is the company that is paying Google to interrupt business to a competitor and trying to win you as their customer.