How to give Google Maps for iOS access to contacts

[desertman]

Hi Forum.

Is there a possibility to give Google Maps for iOS access to data from Contacts on iPhone or iPad?


Thanks.

 

[NoBoMac]

No, not directly.

Can sync contacts to Google and the Maps have access.

 

[desertman]

Thanks. I don't want to synchronize all my contacts with Google, but I will put some addresses there manually.

 

[FFR]

Why would you want to give google maps your contact list?

 

[desertman]

I prefer Google Maps over Apple Maps and I would like to be able to let Google Maps find certain addresses by just starting to type the name of the respective contact. However, I do not want Google to have all my contacts stored on their systems.

 

[BrianBaughn]

You are wanting to let Google Maps peek at you contacts to get an address but not "remember" it. That's not going to happen.

Currently, for Google Maps to "know" where a contact lives two things have to be true. One, the contacts must be in a Google account, and, two, that Google account must be logged in (in the Google Maps app).

Your wish, as it stands, is denied.

 

[deuxani]

I think you guys are wrong about this. Google Maps has access to my local iPhone contacts which are stored in iCloud. When I make a change in an iCloud contact I can immediately see it reflected in Google Maps on my iPhone when I search that persons name.

When I go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts, I have Google Maps turned on there. That setting isn't there by default, it's sort of hidden and not logical to get it to show up. I forgot how access was given but I think it was just typing a name of someone in the search field and then scroll to the bottom and there is an item that says something like "search your contacts" and when you tap that it will give the standard iOS Contacts access pop up notification.

Another way that might do it is using the Location Sharing menu item in the Google Maps hamburger menu. Then tap the Contacts+ icon and it should also ask for permission. Once permission is given it should show your local iPhone contacts as well as your Gmail contacts.

As an example, these two contacts are stored on my local iPhone only.

And here you can see the Contacts access setting for Google Maps.

 

[NoBoMac]

Maybe a maybe yes, maybe no situation.

On my Google Maps settings, not showing any Contacts option.

Might be the situation where some apps will only ask "can xyz access your abc" at first invocation of the app and will not add a toggle to the Settings screen. If this is the case, can understand as I don't allow Google to access any of my stuff unless I explicitly turn it on then off after done (I know I've seen threads in the past where this occurred; not sure if that is in violation of Apple's developer terms).

OP might try deleting the app and re-installing and see if gives the "access contacts" permission question.

 

[BrianBaughn]

It's news to me, also. Either way I think you might assume Google is data mining the contact info.

 

[deuxani]

I always used to have my contacts with their addresses in my Gmail, but Apple changed something in iOS so that Google contacts can't show full screen caller images anymore on the iPhone, that's when I moved all my contacts to iCloud and full screen caller images worked again. I removed my Google Contacts, but Google will probably still have that data 😉

So I don't mind if they mine my iCloud contacts, Google still knows everything. If it's not me, they will get my data from tech illiterate friends who share everything.