A small but potentially rising number of Google Maps users are sharing fatal bug experiences, starting just a few hours ago. About three hours ago, Reddit user XenonOxide shared how their app crashed straight to the home screen when searching for transit directions. Despite trying basically every common fix in the book, the issue persists, and other users shortly chimed in, noting identical experiences (Source: Reddit). Following the initial reports, Android Police has confirmed the bug’s existence, at least on one version of the app.
A purely public transit-oriented problem
Other types of navigation and directions appear unaffected
The effect is simple, so far: searching for directions via public transit results in an immediate crash. User reports come from all around the Western Hemisphere, including the US, the UK, and Germany. Android Police editor Dallas Thomas managed to recreate the crash in the US, confirming it exists in Google Maps version 25.30.00.78516346. So, while no additional social media reports have yet emerged, it wouldn’t be surprising if more surfaced soon.
Meanwhile, over at trusty Downdetector, the Google Maps app is displaying a slightly elevated rate of complaints over the last few hours. That, in itself, would hardly be cause for concern. But, given the geographically spread-out report locations, and our ability to recreate the bug, there does appear to be something afoot with that particular version of Google Maps. For what it’s worth, my personal devices and their slightly older Google Maps version did not exhibit the crashing behavior.
If you’re one of the unfortunate souls unable to find directions somewhere via bus, subway, or train without the Maps app crashing, please feel free to share your region and app version. The bug has made it into the official Google support forums at this point. Hopefully, Google gets to the bottom of this as soon as possible.
