Overview
- Multiple outlets replicated a reduced Maps experience for signed-out or incognito sessions that removes reviews, user photos and videos, menus, popular times, and related locations.
- Listings in the limited view still show basics such as address, hours, and phone number, but journalists observed far fewer businesses, labels, and even some street names on the map.
- Google’s on-screen message attributes the limited experience to potential service problems, unusual traffic, or interfering browser extensions, and says signing in might prevent it.
- The change was first flagged on Reddit with side-by-side screenshots, and Android Central reports users outside the U.S., including in Germany, are seeing the behavior.
- Google has not issued a public explanation; a Google Help Community reply suggested clearing browsing data, which a reporting user said did not resolve the issue.