3 New Features Coming to Google Maps Contributor

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Google announced three new features being introduced to the “Contribute” section of its mapping service, Google Maps.

The newly announced features for the Google Maps “Contribute” section include media access, Gemini-powered caption suggestions, and a UI refresh for Local Guides. Except for the Gemini caption suggestion feature, these updates will be rolled out globally.

Media Access

To make it easier to post photos taken on your smartphone to Google Maps, a new setting called “Media access” is being rolled out to the Google Maps app.

By turning on media access in the Google Maps app, your recently taken photos and videos will appear in the “Contribute” tab, allowing you to post them directly with just a few taps. This media access feature is currently rolling out to the Android version of the Google Maps app worldwide and is scheduled to reach the iOS version within the next few months.

Gemini Caption Suggestions

You can add captions to photos you post to the Google Maps app.

Now, Google’s AI, “Gemini,” can analyze your uploaded images and generate editable captions for you. This feature is currently available in the iOS version of Google Maps for English-language users in the United States.

It is also scheduled to roll out to other regions globally and to the Android version of the Google Maps app within the next few months.

Local Guides UI Refresh

For users registered with the Local Guides community—a crowdsourced spot information sharing platform—your earned points and current level will now be displayed prominently on your Google Maps profile page.

Additionally, the achievement badge designs have been updated, making it easy to see at a glance whether a user is an expert researcher, a skilled photographer, or an up-and-coming beginner. Furthermore, within place reviews, high-level Local Guides will now appear with a new gold-colored profile, helping you quickly identify reliable and trustworthy reviews.

These UI updates for Local Guides are currently being rolled out to desktop, Android, and iOS versions of Google Maps worldwide.

Google Maps App Links

Source: Google Maps